Xiaomi Poco X3 folder: what it is and how to clean it without risk to the system

The Other folder on Xiaomi Poco X3 is one of the most mysterious parts of the smartphone’s internal memory, which can take up 5 to 20 GB, but it doesn’t show up in the standard file manager, and attempts to remove it through Cleanup often fail. Why is this happening? The fact is that under this section hides system caches, error logs, temporary MIUI files, remnants of deleted applications, and even fragments of updates that MIUI can’t delete automatically correctly.

Many users mistakenly think that "Other" is garbage that can be erased. In fact, it stores critical data for Android and MIUI, and careless actions can lead to malfunctions in the smartphone. However, some of the files in this folder are really useless and safely deleted - you just need to know which ones. In this article, we will analyze 5 proven methods of cleaning, from the simplest to the most advanced, and also explain which files should not be touched under any circumstances.

1.What is the “Other” folder and why does it grow

On Xiaomi Poco X3 (as on other MIUI smartphones), the Other folder is a container for files that the system cannot categorize as standard: Photos, Videos, Audio or Apps.

• 📁 Cache of system applications (for example, com.miui.home or com.android.systemui)
• 📜 Error Logs and Memory Dumps (generated when applications or systems crash)
• 🔄 Remains of updates MIUI (Unremoved.zip packages after installation)
• 🗑️ Temporary files from browsers, instant messengers and games (e.g. com.tencent.mm for WeChat)
• 🔧 Configuration files of remote applications (remain in the /data/data/)

The main reason for the growth of “Other” is the peculiarities of MIUI. Unlike “pure” Android, the shell from Xiaomi aggressively caches data to speed up work, but does not always clean it correctly. For example, after updating the system through Settings → About Phone → Update MIUI old firmware files can remain in the /cache folder for months.

Another culprit is apps that are not optimized well, some games like Genshin Impact or some other games. PUBG Mobile creates gigabytes of temporary files in /Android/obb/, The same goes for messengers: Telegram and WhatsApp can store backups of chats or undeleted media files here.

⚠️ Note: If the size of the Other is greater than 10 GB, it may indicate file system damage or viral activity. In this case, cleaning will not help - you need to reset to factory settings or check with antivirus (for example, Malwarebytes).

Method 2: Cleaning through built-in MIUI tools

The safest method is to use standard MIUI features, which will not delete critical system files, but will help to get rid of unnecessary debris.

Step 1. Open Security (shield icon) → Cleanup. Here, the system will scan the device and show how much space it takes up:

• 🗑️ Application cache (can be deleted without risk)
• 📁 Unnecessary APK (leftovers after application installation)
• 🔍 Log files (if there are many of them – more than 500 MB – this is an anomaly)

Step 2. Click on "Clean" and wait until the process is complete. This usually frees up 1-3 GB, but the Other folder will shrink slightly - the main garbage is hidden deeper.

Step 3. Go to Settings → Memory. Here, tap on "Other" and the system will show a detailed report. If you see "Update Cache" or "System Logs", feel free to clear them.

Clear the app cache|Remove unnecessary APK-file|Delete the system logs (if they are >300MB)|Clear the update cache MIUI-->

⚠️ Note: Do not touch the System Data or Secure Files in the Memory section, which may result in loss of Mi Account data or sensors (such as gyroscopes in games).

3. Method 2: Manual cache removal via Recovery

If the internal cleanup didn’t work, try to erase the cache through Recovery Mode, which is more effective because it deletes all temporary files in the system, including those that aren’t visible in the normal interface.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the Poco X3.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the MI logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select the language (if required) then:
4. Go to Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
5. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.
6. Reboot your phone (Reboot → System)

This method cleans the /cache folder, which stores temporary update files, kernel cache and Dalvik data, and after restarting, the system will restore the necessary files automatically, and unnecessary ones will be deleted.

💡

If the phone is slower after cleaning the cache in Recovery, don't panic. The system restores the Dalvik-cache to the background, and after 10-15 minutes, the speed will return to normal.

Method 3: Remove application residues via ADB

Many applications leave their files in folders after deletion /data/data/ or /Android/obb/. This data takes up space in the Other, but it's not visible to the user. To delete it, you'll need a computer and a tool to delete it. ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

Preparation:

1. Download Google’s Platform Tools and unpack the archive.
2. On Poco X3, turn on “Debugging by USB” (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap the version number → return to ** “Additional” → “Developers” → “Debugging by USB”).
3. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.

Cleanup commands:

adb shell


pm list packages -f | grep "application package" # Find the name of the package (e.g. com.tencent.ig for PUBG)




pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.tencent.ig # Remove residues (replace with your package)




rm -rf /data/data/com.tencent.ig/* # Delete all application files




rm -rf /sdcard/Android/obb/com.tencent.ig/* # Clear OBB- files (if any)

Important: Do not delete your system application folders (e.g., com.miui* or com.android*), otherwise MIUI may stop working correctly.Be sure to back up your data via Mi Cloud or TWRP before executing commands.

5. Method 4: Using a file manager with root rights

If you have root rights (for example, through Magisk), you can manually view and delete unnecessary files from the Other. FX File Manager.

Where to look:

• 📂 /data/log/ — system logs (you can delete everything except current files with today date).
• 📂 /cache/ — update cache and temporary files (completely cleared without risk).
• 📂 /data/dalvik-cache/ — Virtual machine cache (remove when restarting).
• 📂 /data/media/0/Android/obb/ — OBB-Game files (can be deleted if the games are not used).

What not to do:

• ❌ Don't touch it. /data/system/ — Account settings and network configurations are stored here.
• ❌ Do not delete files in /vendor/ or /system/ — This will cause a “brick” (inoperability) of the phone.

Yes, I use it regularly.|I tried, but I refused.|No, I'm afraid to break my phone.|I don't know what that is.-->

6. Method 5: Reset to factory settings (extreme case)

If none of the methods worked, and the Other still takes 10+GB, the last option is a complete reset, which will delete all data, including photos, messages and apps, but return the phone to its "clean" state.

How to reset:

1. Back up your important data (via Mi Cloud or Google Drive).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select “Erase all data” and confirm.
4. After restarting, set your phone as new.

Once reset, the Other folder will shrink to 1-3 GB (normal size for MIUI). However, keep in mind that this method won't solve the problem forever. If you install many apps again or don't keep track of the cache, the garbage will accumulate again.

⚠️ Attention: On Poco X3 with an unlocked bootloader, a reset may result in a loss of the ability to upgrade over the air (OTA). In this case, the firmware will have to be installed manually through Fastboot.

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Resetting to factory settings is the only way to completely clear the Other folder, but it should only be used if other methods have not worked.After reset, install a memory monitoring app (like Files by Google) to avoid re-cluttering.

7 How to Prevent the Spread of the Other in the Future

To folder “Other” does not take up gigabytes of memory, follow these recommendations:

• 🔄 Clean the cache regularly through “Security» → «Cleaning” (once every 1-2 weeks).
• 🚫 Do not install applications from unknown sources – they often leave garbage in system folders.
• 📱 Use lighter versions of apps (e.g. Facebook Lite instead of the main client).
• 🔍 Check the Download folder – many files from the Internet automatically enter the “Other” folder».
• 🔄 Update. MIUI — New versions improve the cleaning of temporary files.

It is also worth disabling the automatic download of media in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram), since these files often fall into the “Other” and are not deleted when cleaning chats.

If you are actively playing mobile games (such as Call of Duty Mobile or Free Fire), clean your /Android/obb/ folder regularly.

1. Open any file manager (such as Mi File Manager).
2. Go to the internal memory → Android → obb.
3. Delete folders of games that you haven’t run in a long time.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the Poco X3's "Other" folder