How to Clean the “Other” in Xiaomi Redmi Storage: The Complete Guide

The Other section of Xiaomi Redmi’s smartphone storage is a real black hole for free space, which can take anywhere from 5 to 30 GB, but users rarely understand what is stored there. Unlike photos or apps, files from the Other category do not appear in the gallery or file manager, which makes it difficult to delete them, most often this includes the system cache, remnants of deleted applications, temporary update files and even duplicate media files created automatically.

Compounding the problem, Xiaomi’s MIUI actively caches data to speed up work, but doesn’t always clean it properly. For example, after a firmware update, old files can stay in memory for years, taking up precious gigabytes. In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to clean the Other section, from standard MIUI tools to hidden features and third-party utilities. Important: some methods require root rights, but most work without them.

What is the Other in Xiaomi’s Storage and Why Does It Take So Much Space?

The Other section is a collection category for files that the system cannot classify as standard types (photos, videos, audio, documents).

• 🗑️ Application cache and systems are temporary files that should be deleted automatically but often remain due to crashes.
• 🔄 Residual data from remote programs (for example, settings or databases that have not been completely cleaned).
• 📦 Update files – firmware packages that have downloaded but not installed (especially relevant after major updates) MIUI).
• 📑 Logs and dumps – error reports that the system creates for diagnosis (can weigh hundreds of megabytes).
• 🔗 Symbolic links and duplicate media files created automatically (e.g. thumbnails for a gallery).

On Xiaomi Redmi devices (especially Note 10/11/12 and Redmi 9/10), the problem is exacerbated by the way MIUI works with memory. For example, after upgrading to MIUI 14, many users noticed that the Other section suddenly grew by 10-15 GB. This is because the system saves the old version of the firmware in case of a rollback, but does not always delete it.

⚠️ Note: If the Other section is more than 20GB, this may indicate file system damage or viral activity, in which case it is recommended to check the device with an antivirus (for example, Dr.Web or Malwarebytes) before cleaning.

Method 1: Cleaning through built-in MIUI tools

The safest method is to use standard MIUI utilities, which require no root rights and rarely cause failures.

1. Open the Settings → Memory.
2. Click on “Clean” in the “Junk Files” section.
3. Select “Cash” and “Unnecessary Files” and then confirm the deletion.

For deeper cleaning:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Sort programs by size and manually clear the cache for the “heavy” (for example, YouTube, Facebook, Telegram).

Note the Update Files section of the memory menu, which may store outdated MIUI packages that can be safely removed, but don’t touch the.zip file in the /cache folder unless you’re sure of its purpose, which may cause a crash on the next update.

Backup important data | Check battery power (minimum 50%) | Close all background applications | Disable automatic application updates-->

Method 2: Removing Residual Files from Remote Applications

When you delete a program through Settings or Google Play, it often leaves behind up to 50 to 100 MB of junk files, which are not displayed in the standard manager, but can be found manually.

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with access to system folders (e.g. FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /data/data/ (root required) or /Android/data/ (available without superuser rights).
3. Find folders with names of remote applications (for example, com.whatsapp for WhatsApp) and delete them.

If root rights are not available, use an alternative method:

• 🔍 Go to Settings. → Memory. → Files.
• 📁 Select the category “Apps” and sort by size.
• 🗑️ Click on any remote application (if it is displayed) and select Clear Data».

⚠️ Note: Delete files in /data/data/ If you have a problem with root, you can get a problem with the system. If you have a problem after cleaning (for example, the settings stopped opening), reboot.

Method 3: Cleaning through Recovery Mode (for power users)

Recovery mode allows you to remove the system cache and dalvik cache, which often take up 1-3 GB in the “Other” section. This method does not require root, but if you do not correct it can lead to a reset.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select “Wipe & Reset” (use volume buttons for navigation).
4. Select “Wipe Cache” and confirm the action.
5. After cleaning, restart the device ("Reboot").

This method is especially effective after updating MIUI, when the old firmware remains in memory, but do not use the option "Wipe Data", unless you want to lose all user data (photos, contacts, messages).

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If after cleaning through Recovery, the smartphone began to work slower, do not panic. The system restores the cache in the background, and after 10-15 minutes the speed will return to normal.

Method 4: Using ADB for deep cleaning (without root)

The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool allows you to delete system files without root rights, a method that is suitable for users who are not afraid of the command line.

What will be required:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 📱 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).

Cleanup commands:

adb shell pm clear com.miui.cleanmaster # Cache cleaning standard MIUI cleaner


adb shell pm clear com.android.providers.media # Media storage reset (remove thumbnails)




adb shell rm -rf /data/local/tmp/* # Delete temporary files

To remove the cache of all applications at once:

adb shell "su -c 'find /data/data/ -name 'cache' -exec rm -rf {} +'"

⚠️ Attention: Command rm -rf without filters can delete critical system files. Always check the path before execution. If you are not sure, use the safer option: adb shell "su" -c 'find /data/data/ -name 'cache' -ls'" This command will only show the files without deleting them.

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ADB allows you to clean files that are not available through standard menus, but requires caution. Always back up before mass deletion.

Method 5: Third-Party Apps to Clean the “Other”

If previous methods did not help, you can use specialized utilities.The best options for Xiaomi Redmi:

Recommendations for use:

• 🔍 Before cleaning in SD Maid enable the Recycle Bin option (in settings) so you can recover files if you make an error.
• 📊 In Files by Google, pay attention to the “Dublicates” section – copies of photos that occupy the place are often hidden here.
• ⚙️ In CCleaner, turn off automatic cleanup – it can delete the data you need (for example, saving games).

Third-party applications are convenient, but they have limitations: they can’t delete the MIUI system cache or update files, and you still need ADB or Recovery.

What to do if the “Other” is filled again

If the “Other” section grows back quickly after cleaning, the problem may be:

• 🔄 Automatic backup (e.g. Mi Cloud or Google Photos creates temporary files).
• 📱 Background activity of applications (especially messengers like Telegram or Viber, which cache media).
• 🔧 File system errors (for example, after incorrect extraction) SD-map).

Decisions:

1. Turn off automatic media download in messengers (Settings → Data and memory).
2. Check memory health through AIDA64 (Steamroom section). If there are errors, format (but this will delete all data!).
3. Set a cache limit for applications: go to Settings → Apps → Special Access → Background Limitation.

If the problem persists, consider resetting to factory settings (but only after backing up!). On Xiaomi Redmi, this is done via Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset.

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Regular cleaning of the cache (once every 1-2 weeks) and disabling automatic downloading of media in messengers will reduce the growth of the Other section by 40-60%.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up the "Other" on Xiaomi