How to Clean the Other section on Xiaomi Redmi Note: The Complete 2026 Guide

The “Other” section in Xiaomi’s Redmi Note memory is a real headache for smartphone owners, which can take up 5 to 30 GB for no apparent reason, while the system insists that these are “system files” that can’t be deleted, and in practice, this section accumulates update cache, remnants of deleted applications, log files and temporary MIUI data that can and should be cleaned manually.

Compounding the problem, standard cleaning tools in Settings → Memory often fail: they only remove surface debris, leaving deep “pounds” of unnecessary files. In this article, we will analyze 5 proven ways – from secure embedded tools to advanced methods using ADB and third-party utilities. All instructions are relevant for the Redmi Note 8/9/10/11/12 on MIUI 12-14 (including global and Chinese versions).

Before you start, make sure you have:

• 🔋 Battery charge not lower than 50% (when cleaning through the ADB — 100%).
• 📱 Backup of important data (photos, contacts, messages).
• 🔌 Stable Wi-Fi connection (for downloading tools).

1.What is the “Other” section and why is it filled in?

In MIUI, the Other section is a container for files that the system cannot categorize as standard (applications, music, photos, etc.) and includes:

• 🗑️ Update cache (OTA): temporary firmware files that remain after installation.
• 📦 Remnants of Remote Applications: Folders /data/app-lib/ and /data/data/ often not completely cleaned.
• 📜 Log files (logs): reports on failures, memory dumps and services Google/Xiaomi.
• 🔄 Temporary files (tmp): created during installation APK, file-breaking.
• 📱 Systemic debris MIUI: Duplications of themes, wallpaper, cache Mi Cloud and Mi Video.

The main reasons for the growth of the “Other”:

🔍 How to check what exactly takes up space? Install a file manager with access to system folders (e.g., file manager, FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer and go to the /data (root rights are required or ADB). Without them, you will only see a portion of the files.

⚠️ Note: Do not manually delete files in folders /system or /vendor — This will lead to a device blink (completely inoperable).The "Other" section is only cleaned by the safe methods described below.

Method 2: Standard cleaning through MIUI settings

The simplest, but least effective method is suitable for removing surface debris (app cache, temporary files).

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings → Memory.
2. Slip on "Clean" in the "Junk" section.
3. Choose “Deep Cleanup” (if available).
4. Confirm the deletion of cache and unnecessary files.

What's removed:

• 🧹 Cache of user applications (/data/data/*/cache).
• 🗑️ Temporary download files (/data/media/0/Download/.tmp).
• 📁 Empty folders from remote APK.

📌 Method limitations: Does not affect the system cache (/cache), log files and update residues, usually frees up no more 1–2 GB.

3. Method 2: Cleaning through Safe Mode (Safe Mode)

Safe Mode loads MIUI without third-party apps, allowing you to remove their residues and cache, which are usually blocked.

How to log in to Safe Mode:

1. Press the power button before the off menu appears.
2. Slip and hold the “Switch off” option (a suggestion to switch to safe mode will appear).
3. Confirm the reset.

Further action:

• 🔄 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 📦 Sort the list by size and remove the cache from all apps (especially Google Play Services, Mi Video, Gallery, etc).
• 🗑️ Remove unused apps (in safe mode, it is made cleaner).
• 🔄 Restart your phone in normal mode.

💡 Why does it work? Safe Mode disables background processes that can block file deletion, such as the regular Google Play Market cache often sticks and doesn't clear.

⚠️ Warning: If after leaving Safe Mode, the phone began to brake - reset the settings MIUI before the factory (Settings) → The phone. → Resetting. This is due to access rights conflicts.

Method 3: Manual garbage disposal via ADB (without root)

The ADB (Android Debug Bridge) tool allows you to delete system files without superuser permissions.The method requires a connection to a PC, but is safe when used correctly.

📌 What's the matter:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (original).
• 📥 Google's Platform Tools utility.
• 🔧 Included debugging by USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap; then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Redmi Note to your PC and confirm debugging access.
2. Open the command line (cmd) in the folder with the platform-tools.
3. Enter commands in turn: adb shell pm clear com.miui.cleanmaster # Cleaning the cache of the standard cleaner rm -rf /data/local/tmp/* # Delete temporary files rm -rf /cache/* # Clean up the update cache (requires reboot) exit
4. Reboot the phone.

📊 What files can be deleted through ADB:

⚠️ Do not delete: Files in /system, /vendor or /data/app (If you're not sure, you'll miss the command.

💡

Before executing ADB commands, create a restore point in TWRP (if installed) to revert the changes to the error.

5. Method 4: Use of third-party utilities (with and without root)

If standard methods didn't work, you can use specialized applications, and we tested 3 tools with different levels of access.

1 Without root: Files by Google

• 🔍 Scanning garbage in user folders (/storage/emulated/0/).
• 🗑️ Remove duplicate photos, old ones APK, messenger-cache.
• ⚠️ It does not affect system files.

2.C root: SD Maid or Root Cleaner

• 🛠️ Cleansing. /data, /cache, /system/logs.
• 📦 Removes Remnants of Remote Applications (Orphaned Files).
• 🔧 Allows you to set up automatic cleaning.

3.For Advanced: MiXplorer (with Root Add-on)

• 🗂️ Full access to the file system (including: /data/data/).
• 🔍 Search by mask (such as.log or.tmp).
• ⚠️ Dangerous with careless use.

📌 Recommendations for selection:

• 🔹 Without root: Files by Google + hand-cleaning ADB.
• 🔹 root: SD Maid (regular cleaning) + MiXplorer (for in-depth analysis).

6. Method 5: Reset to factory settings (last chance)

If the Other partition takes up more than 15 to 20 GB and is not cleaned by other methods, then the radical solution is hard reset, which will delete all data, including system debris, but return the phone to its original state.

📝 Preparation:

1. Create a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
2. Copy photos and videos to your PC or cloud.
3. Write down logins/passwords from accounts (they will be erased).

🔧 How to drop:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select “Erase all data”.
3. Enter your password (if installed) and confirm.
4. Wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

🔄 What to do after a reset:

• 📱 Do not restore data from backup MIUI — It can contain garbage.
• 🔄 Install applications selectively (one by one) by checking the occupied space.
• 📁 Turn off automatic sync Mi Cloud and Google Photos.

⚠️ Note: On some Redmi Note models (such as the Note 8 Pro with MediaTek), a reset may result in a bootloader lock.Pre-progress whether the bootloader (fastboot oem device-info) is unlocked before the procedure).

💡

Resetting to factory settings is the only way to completely clear the Other partition if it is filled due to a file system failure or viruses.

7.How to prevent the “Other” from being refilled?

To prevent the problem from returning, follow simple rules:

📵 What to turn off:

• 🔄 Auto-update MIUI through settings → The phone. → Updating the system → ⚙️ → Downloading.
• 📥 Automatic download of media in instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram).
• 🔄 Synchronize Mi Cloud for unnecessary data (notes, records).

🛠️ What to set up:

• 📂 Transfer the application cache to the memory card (Settings) → Memory. → Default location).
• 🗑️ Install Greenify for background hibernation processes.
• 🔄 Regularly (once a month) clean the cache through ADB or SD Maid.

📅 Timetable for prevention:

💡

If you install/remove applications frequently, use App Cloner to test programs in an isolated environment to prevent the main memory from clogging.

FAQ: Frequent questions on cleaning up 'Other' on Redmi Note