How to Clean the Other in MIUI 12: A Complete Memory Freeing Guide for Xiaomi

The Other section of MIUI 12 is a real black hole for your Xiaomi memory, which can take from a few gigabytes to tens, but the system stubbornly does not show what exactly is stored in this mysterious section. Users often face a situation where the space on the device is rapidly decreasing, and the culprit is the Other. Unlike obvious categories like Photo or Video, it accumulates temporary files, app cache, remnants of deleted programs and system debris, which MIUI does not always correctly classify.

Compounding the problem, standard cleaning tools like the built-in Optimizer or Settings → Memory often fail to do this. They only remove the tip of the iceberg, leaving the bulk of the unnecessary data intact. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to effectively clean the Other in MIUI 12, including hidden system folders, update cache and even remnants from previous firmware. All methods have been tested on Redmi Note 9 Pro, Poco X3 and Mi 10T, but will be suitable for any device on MIUI 12 (including MIUI 12.5).

Before you start, consider that some operations require careful attention because they affect system files. Deletion errors can cause app malfunctions or even a bootloop (cyclic reboot). We will indicate which files can be deleted without risk and which are better left. Also, at the end of the article, you will find an FAQ with answers to typical questions, such as why the Other reappears after cleaning or how to turn off automatic backups that take up space.

What is the Other section of MIUI 12 and why does it take up so much space?

The Other section of MIUI 12 is a kind of basket for files that the system cannot categorize as standard: Photos, Videos, Audio or Documents.

• 🗑️ Application and system services cache – temporary files that are created to speed up programs, but often are not deleted after they are closed.
• 📦 Remnants of Remote Applications – folders with settings, logs, and data that remain even after uninstallation.
• 🔄 Update files – downloaded firmware packages (.zip) that were not deleted after installation.
• 📱 Backup copies MIUI — Automatically created backups of settings and data that the system stores “just in case».
• 🖥️ System Logs and Dumps – debugging files that are created when crashes or for diagnostics.

The main reason why Other is growing is the malfunction of the cleaning mechanism in MIUI. For example, when you delete an application through Settings → Applications, the system often leaves its data in the /data/data or /Android/obb folder. The same happens with updates: after installing a new firmware version, old files (update.zip) remain in memory, taking up to 1-3 GB.

Another culprit is Security → Cleaner, which by default doesn’t delete deep cache and system temporary files, but only suggests clearing up the trash on a surface level without affecting hidden folders, which results in users accumulating gigabytes of unnecessary data for years without even knowing it.

Method 1: Cleaning through the built-in Optimizer (basic method)

Let's start with the easiest and safest way to do this is to use the standard MIUI tool, which won't delete all of the Other, but will help you get rid of some of the cache and temporary files.

1. Open the Security app (the shield icon).
2. Go to Optimizer (or Cleaner in English).
3. Press Deep Clean and wait for the scan to be completed.
4. Select Cash categories, Garbage files and App Residues, then click Clean.

This method will remove:

• 🧹 Cache of user and system applications.
• 🗃️ Temporary download files (for example, from a browser or messengers).
• 📱 Remains of uninstalled programs (not always completely).

However, the method has limitations:

• ❌ Does not delete update files (MIUI/OTA).
• ❌ Does not affect system logs and dumps.
• ❌ Doesn't clean folders. /Android/data and /Android/obb play-off.

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If the “Other” section is quickly filled again after cleaning, turn off automatic update downloads in Settings. → The phone. → Update MIUI → Settings (⚙️) → Auto-downloading updates.

Method 2: Manually clean folders through file manager

For a deeper cleanup, you’ll need a file manager with access to system folders, such as Mi File Manager (embedded) or Solid Explorer. Importantly, some folders are hidden, so first enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings.

Follow the following paths and delete the content (but not the folders themselves!):

Attention! ⚠️ Don't delete the folders. /Android/data or /Android/obb All of them will cause the installed applications to crash, and only remove subfolders that are already remote (for example, if you uninstall Facebook, you can safely delete the folder). /Android/data/com.facebook.katana).

For convenience, use a file size search in the file manager:

1. Open Mi File Manager.
2. Press three points (⋮) → Categories → Large files.
3. Sort by size and manually check files (especially with.log,.tmp,.bak extensions).

Backup important data | Check the vacant space (should be ≥10%) | Disable auto-update applications in Play Market | Close all running applications-->

Method 3: Remove cache and system application data

Many MIUI 12 system applications (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music, Themes) accumulate gigabytes of cache that is not cleaned by standard methods.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Press three points (⋮) → Show all the processes.
3. Select the system application (e.g. Downloads, Gallery, Themes).
4. Click Warehouse → Clear the cache and Clear the data (if necessary).

Which apps to clean first:

• 🎵 Mi Music – cache of album covers and downloaded tracks.
• 📺 Mi Video – Temporary video files and thumbnails.
• 🎨 Themes – uploaded themes and wallpaper (can take up to 500MB).
• 📥 Downloads – cache of uploaded files and histories.
• 🔍 Search – Logic of search queries.

⚠️ Note: Clear Data in applications such as Contacts or Messages will result in your deletion SMS For these applications, only clear the cache!

If you're using Google Photos for backup, check the /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/.thumbnails folder, which can store duplicate thumbnails that take hundreds of megabytes. They can be safely deleted.

Method 4: Using ADB for deep cleaning (for advanced)

If previous methods have failed and the Other section is still gigabytes long, it’s time to use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting your smartphone to your computer but allows you to remove system debris that is not available through standard tools.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to unlock the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with adb.exe.
3. Follow the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
4. Delete the cache of all applications (including system): adb shell pm trim-caches -f 1000000000 This command clears the cache that occupies more than 1 GB.
5. Delete temporary files in /data/local/tmp: adb shell rm -rf /data/local/tmp/*
6. Clear the folder with the logs (root rights are required, but you can try without them): adb shell rm -rf /data/log/*

⚠️ Attention: Rm teams -rf If you see a Permission denied error, skip the step. Don't try to root just for the sake of that cleanup, the risk outweighs the benefits.

After completing the commands, restart the smartphone and check the free space. ADB-The method is particularly effective in removing:

• 🗑️ Residual files after updates (folder) /cache).
• 📜 System Process Logs (Folder) /data/log).
• 🔄 Temporary installer files (folder) /data/local/tmp).

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ADB-Cleaning is the most powerful method of any of the above, but it requires caution. Do not use commands that you do not understand, especially with rm. -rf systemfolder.

Method 5: Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If all previous methods failed, and the Other still takes up an exorbitant amount of space (e.g., 10+GB on a 64GB device), it leaves a complete reset, a radical method that will bring the smartphone back out of the box by removing everything, including:

• 📱 All installed applications and their data.
• 📷 Photos, videos and music (unless synced to the cloud).
• 📞 Contacts, SMS Call logs (if no backup is made).
• ⚙️ All system settings and accounts.

How to perform the reset:

1. Back up your important data (via Mi Cloud, Google Drive, or manually on your PC).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose to erase all data and confirm the action.
4. After restarting, set the device as new.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi devices may have a folder after reset MIUI/backup/AllBackup Delete it manually through the file manager if you don't plan to restore data.

Reset is guaranteed to clear the Other, but this is the last option when other methods have failed.

• ✅ Install only the necessary applications.
• ✅ Turn off automatic backup in Settings → Accounts. → Mi Account → Backup.
• ✅ Clean the cache regularly through Security → Optimizer.

How to prevent the “Other” section from being refilled?

To prevent the “Other” section from growing again, follow these recommendations:

• 🔄 Turn off automatic update download: Settings → The phone. → Update MIUI → Settings (⚙️) → Auto-downloading updates → Turn it off.
• 🗑️ Clean the cache weekly: Use Security → Optimizer → Deep cleaning.
• 📱 Remove Apps correctly: Before uninstallation, clear their data into Settings → Annexes → [name] → Warehouse → Clear the data.
• 📁 Use cloud services: Set up automatic uploads of photos and videos to Google Photos or Mi Cloud so you don’t store them locally.
• 🛑 Limit background activity: In Settings → Battery → Select the mode to turn on the Power Saving mode to reduce the creation of temporary files.

It is also useful to disable unnecessary system applications that actively cache data:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an unneeded app (such as Mi Video or Mi Music).
3. Click Disable (if the button is active).

If you install and delete games frequently, check the /Android/obb folder regularly, which can leave files that are several gigabytes long after you uninstall them.

FAQ: Frequent questions about MIUI 12's "Other" section