How to Clean the “Other” Partition in Xiaomi Redmi Storage

The memory overflow problem on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is familiar to many users, especially the mysterious “Other” category, which can take up tens of gigabytes, slowing down the system. Device owners often find that free space disappears for no apparent reason, and standard cleaners can not cope.

In this article, we will explore what lies behind this section, why the system caches data so aggressively, and how to safely return free space. Cleaning up The Other requires care, as it can store not only temporary files, but also important application data.

We’ll look at both software techniques through MIUI settings and manual cleaning through a computer connection. Understanding the structure of the file system will help you manage your device’s memory efficiently without losing important documents.

What’s Hiding in the “Other” Category on Xiaomi

The Other section of Xiaomi’s storage is a hoard of system and user data, including temporary files, app cache, remnants of deleted programs and system logs, and it’s often messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp that inflate this partition to giant sizes, storing the photos and videos viewed in hidden folders.

System processes also contribute: Update files, error logs and backups can be very large, and it is important to understand that not all content in this category is garbage, and some files are necessary for applications to run quickly, and deleting them will lead to re-downloading of data.

Content analysis shows that the lion’s share is often cached streaming and thumbnails. Android algorithms try to speed up work by keeping copies of commonly used items, but over time this leads to overflows.

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App cache isn't always harmful files. Deleting the cache can slow down the start of programs on the first start after cleaning, but it will free up space.

Basic cleaning through the standard “Safety” application

The easiest and safest way to start the fight for space is to use Xiaomi’s built-in tools. The Security app has a Cleanup module that automatically scans the device for obvious debris. Launch it by clicking on the appropriate icon on your desktop.

After scanning, the system will prompt you to delete temporary files. However, a standard analyzer often skips deep cleaning of the "Other" partition. For more detailed work, click on "Clean" in the main menu of the application, and then select the "Deep Clean" tab.

Here you will see a more detailed list of files, including large files and rarely used applications. Be careful when choosing files to delete, carefully checking their purpose. The system may mark some files as secure, but it is better to double-check manually.

• 🧹 Click the “Clean” button to delete temporary system files.
• 📁 Go to the Big Files section to find heavy media content.
• 🗑️ Use the “Delete Similar Photos” feature to clean the gallery.
• ⚙️ Check the "Applications" section for unnecessary software.

Manual cleaning through the Warehouse menu

To do more point work, you need to go to the settings of the device itself. Open Settings → About Phone → Storage. This displays a detailed memory card. Click on “Other” to see the details (if the MIUI version allows), or go to managing applications.

Often, the volume of "Other" is formed by the cache of specific applications. In the storage menu, find a list of applications and sort them by size. Choose the largest ones (social networks, browsers, messengers) and click "Clear cache." Don't confuse it with the "Erase data" button, as this will remove logins and settings.

Pay special attention to multimedia. Files received on WhatsApp or Telegram are often not displayed in the gallery, but are stored in memory. In the storage settings, you can find the Files section, where sorting by size will help identify forgotten videos or archives.

⚠️ Before clearing the messenger cache, make sure that important photos are saved in the cloud or on your computer, as they may disappear from chat rooms.

Using Developer Mode and Debugging over USB

For advanced users, there is a way to clean system logs that are also related to "Other" and activate the developer mode. Go to Settings. → About the phone and quickly press 7 times on the item "Version" MIUI».

After activation, the option "For Developers" will appear in the "Additional" menu. USB». Disabling excess logs can prevent further proliferation of system debris, but requires caution.

You can also find a command to reset debugging settings on this menu, which sometimes helps you correct the error of calculating the free space. Do not change the settings that you are not sure about, as this can affect the stability of the system.

adb shell pm trim-caches 999999999

This command, executed through a computer with ADB installed, forcibly trims the cache of all applications to a minimum, a powerful tool that can free up several gigabytes in a single operation.

Memory analysis through PC connection

The most effective way to fight The Other is to view the file system with the eyes of your computer. USB-cable and select file transfer mode (MTP). On the computer, open the conductor and find the device.

You need to find the Android/data folder. This is where the app data, which is often the bulk of the Other, is stored. Inside folders with names like com.whatsapp or com.tencent.mm, you can find gigabytes of cache.

Also check root folders for forgotten downloads..apk files, old archives, and voice recorder logs often go idle, and deletion through Windows Explorer or macOS is faster and more reliable.

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Connecting to a PC gives you full access to the file system, allowing you to see and delete files hidden from the standard smartphone cleaners.

Radical methods: Resetting and flashing

If the Other is critical and can't be cleaned, there may be some errors in the file system, in which case a full reset helps, and make sure to back up all the important data to the cloud service or computer before doing so.

Go to Settings → About Phone → Reset. Select “Erase All Data” and this process will bring the phone back to factory status by completely clearing the “Other” section, which is the most efficient, but also the most time-consuming method.

In some cases, flashing the device through Fastboot mode helps, requiring a computer, an original cable, and a firmware file, and completely rewriting the system partition, eliminating any software glitches that cause memory to be displayed incorrectly.

⚠️ Warning: Full reset removes ALL data from your phone, including contacts, photos and apps. Make sure you have an up-to-date copy of important information.

Once reset, the system will run faster and the memory will be freed up completely, but if the problem comes back in a week without active use, it may be a hardware malfunction.

Prevention of memory overflow

To keep the problem from coming back, set up automatic cleaning. You can set a cleaning schedule in the Security app, and it's also helpful to check your messenger settings regularly, turning off auto-save media in the gallery.

Use cloud storage for photos and videos. Sync with Google Photos or Yandex.Disk will allow you to keep a local copy of only the latest images, and archive old ones in the cloud, which will free up gigabytes of space.

Remove unused apps regularly, even if you don't use them, they can update and cache in the background, and keep an eye out for MIUI updates, as newer versions often fix memory management errors.

• 📸 Set up auto-delete in Google Photos after saving to the cloud.
• 💬 Turn off auto-save in Telegram and WhatsApp settings.
• 🔄 Regularly reboot your smartphone to reset temporary processes.
• 📦 Delete old files from the Download folder once a week.

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Install the Cleanup widget on your desktop, which motivates you to clean up the garbage as soon as you notice it accumulating, without reaching critical volume.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)