Budget smartphone owners often face a shortage of internal memory, and the Xiaomi Redmi 7A is no exception, exacerbated by the mysterious “Other” section, which can take up tens of gigabytes and is not amenable to standard removal, which accumulates system cache, temporary update files, data from remote applications and media remnants.
Understanding the nature of this storage is the first step to a successful cleanup, and unlike photo or video folders, the content of the Other category is hidden from the user's eyes in a standard file manager, and system algorithms classify files that don't fall into the standard categories here, which over time leads to critical filling of the drive.
In this article, we will discuss effective ways to free up space without losing personal data, how to safely remove debris using MIUI built-in tools and third-party tools, and how to act consistently to avoid damaging the operating system.
Memory analysis and search for hidden files
Before you start doing something, you need to understand what's taking up space. The standard storage analyzer in settings gives you a general idea. For a deeper analysis, you should use Xiaomi's built-in Security app, which scans the system for large files and duplicates that are often hidden in the Other section.
But embedded tools don't always tell the whole story. Many users don't know that the MIUI folder at the root of internal memory contains hidden directories with logs and time data. File system audits reveal specific applications that are leading in the consumption of hidden space. Often the culprits are messengers, streaming services or browsers.
Note the social media folders. Even after you delete the application, the residual files can be saved. The Tencent or Android/data folder often grows to giant sizes because of the autoload of media files. Regularly checking these directories through a file manager with permission to access the system folders will help keep things under control.
Cleaning the cache of applications and system services
The safest and most effective way to reduce the size of the Other partition is to clear the cache. Cache is the temporary data that apps use to load content quickly. Over time, it accumulates and ceases to be useful, turning into digital garbage. For the Redmi 7A, with its limited memory capacity, this is a critical procedure.
You can clean up each app separately through the settings menu, which is more time-consuming, but allows you to control the process. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, select a heavy app (like YouTube or Telegram) and click Clear → Clear cache. Don't confuse it with the Clear Everything button, as this will delete your logins and settings.
☑️ Daily Memory Hygiene
There is also a method of mass cleaning through an engineering menu or special commands, but on modern versions of MIUI they are often blocked. Therefore, manual cleaning or using a regular cleaner remain the most reliable options, the regularity of such operations directly affects the performance of the smartphone.
⚠️ Attention: Clearing the data (not the cache) will result in the application being completely reset to factory status, you will lose correspondence, saved passwords and settings within the program.
Working with Android folder and debris from updates
A significant part of the Other section is made up of files left over from system or application updates, Android/obb and Android/data folders store caches of Google games and services, and sometimes there are files from old versions of programs that the system somehow did not delete automatically.
Special attention should be paid to the Download folder and hidden update folders. Firmware files that are automatically downloaded can weigh several gigabytes. If the update is already installed, these files are no longer needed. They can be found at the root of internal memory or through the file manager by sorting the files by size.
Should I delete the folder.thumbnails?
Access to system daddies may require advanced rights or a computer connection. When working with the Android directory, be careful: remove only those subfolders that belong to already remote applications or are clearly garbage (for example, folders with names of remote games).
Use of Third-Party File Managers
The regular file explorer in Xiaomi Redmi 7A has limited functionality for deep cleaning. Installing a specialized file manager like Total Commander or FX File Explorer opens up hidden partitions. These applications are able to display hidden files (starting from a dot) and system directories.
With these tools, you can find and delete files with the.log,.tmp, or.bak extension, which often inflate the "Other" section. File size search is another useful feature that allows you to instantly find the "heavyweights" lurking deep in the file system, which is especially important for finding forgotten video files or archives.
| File type | Expansion | Can I remove it? | Where to find |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary file | .tmp | Yes. | System root, application folders |
| Log file. | .log | Yes. | MIUI folder, system directories |
| Backup copy | .bak | Careful. | Messenger folders, voice recorder. |
| Cash miniature | .thumbnails | Yes (content) | DCIM/.thumbnails |
When using third-party software, remember access rights. Modern versions of Android restrict applications from accessing system folders for security reasons. Therefore, some files may not be available for removal without root rights, obtaining which on Redmi 7A can lead to loss of warranty and disruption of banking applications.
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Use the “Storage Analysis” feature in third-party file managers – it visualizes memory as a diagram, which helps you find large hidden files faster.
Resetting settings and radical methods
If the soft cleaning methods didn't work and the Other section continues to grow, the file system may have crashed, in which case a complete factory reset is an effective but radical method, which would completely clear the internal memory, including the Other partition, returning the smartphone to the out-of-the-box state.
Before performing a reset, it is critical to back up all personal data. Photos, contacts and documents will be irretrievably lost. Resets can be done through the Settings menu → About phone → Resetting → Clear everything. Make sure the battery is at least 50%.
⚠️ Warning: Full reset removes ALL data from the internal drive. Don't skip the backup phase to the cloud service or computer. Once reset, the Other partition will be minimal, but it will start growing again as you use your phone.
There is also a less radical method, resetting network and application settings. This won’t delete personal files, but can fix errors in system services that report memory incorrectly. Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Recover and Reset, and select resetting Wi-Fi, mobile internet, and Bluetooth settings.
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Full reset is the only guaranteed way to completely clear the Other partition if it has grown due to file system errors.
Preventing the filling of the vault
To prevent the problem with the “Other” section on Xiaomi Redmi 7A from returning too often, it is worth changing your smartphone usage habits, especially for messengers. In the Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber settings, turn off automatic saving of media files to the gallery, this will prevent duplicate files and cache proliferation.
Check the Downloads folder and the gallery cart regularly. Deleted photos often stay in the cart for 30 days, continuing to take up space. It's also useful to audit installed applications once a month: delete those you don't use. Their residual files continue to lie dead weight.
Using cloud storage (Google Photos, Yandex.Disk) with the function “free up space” helps to keep local memory clean. Photos and videos will be stored in the cloud, and only their thumbnails will remain on the phone, which significantly reduces the load on the internal drive and reduces the amount of data that falls into the category “Other”.