How to Clean Up “Other” on Xiaomi Redmi: A Complete Guide with Hidden Tricks

The “Other” section in Xiaomi Redmi’s memory is a real black hole for free space, and even after removing photos, videos and apps, it continues to take up gigabytes, and the system insists that “memory is full.” What’s the catch? The fact is that under this mysterious category hides the MIUI system cache, residual update files, log files and even “junk” from remote applications that is not cleaned by standard means.

In this article, we will look at 5 proven ways to clean Others, from basic (via built-in MIUI tools) to advanced (using ADB and hidden menus), focusing on Redmi Note 12/13, Redmi 10/11 and other current devices where the problem is especially acute due to limited memory (32-64 GB), you will learn which files can be deleted without risk, and which should not be touched, so as not to break the system.

We warn you beforehand that some methods require root or PC permissions, but most tricks work without them, so you have to follow the instructions and not miss the important nuances. Let's start with the simplest one!

1.What is the “Other” in Xiaomi Redmi memory and why it takes up so much space

In MIUI, the Others section is a container for all files that the system cannot categorize as standard (photos, videos, audio, documents, applications).

• 🗑️ Cash. MIUI — Temporary interface files, themes, animations, and widgets, for example, after a system update, old data is not always automatically deleted.
• 📦 Residual application files are tails from remote programs (sets, databases, cache), especially games and social networks.
• 🔄 Log files and dumps are error logs, crash reports, debugging data, and they're created by the system itself and some applications (like Google Play Services).
• 📥 Update files are firmware packages that have been downloaded but not installed (or partially installed).
• 🧹 Garbage from MIUI-services, such as Mi Cloud, Mi Video or Mi Browser cache, which is not cleared through the standard menu.

On the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ And other flagships with 256 GB of memory, it's not critical. But on budget models (Redmi). 10A, Redmi 9C 32GB) Others can take up to 8-10GB, almost a third of the total! → Memory removes only the tip of the iceberg.

Why is Xiaomi not solving this problem? First, some files are needed for the system to work smoothly; second, MIUI actively caches data to speed up the interface; and third, some files are protected from the user, they can only be deleted through ADB or recovery.

Method 2: Cleaning through built-in MIUI tools (without root)

Let's start with the safest method that works on all Xiaomi Redmi models, from the Redmi 7 to the Redmi Note 13 Pro. You won't need superuser rights or a computer.

1. Open Settings → Memory. Here you'll see a diagram of occupied space. Tap it on the "Other" section.
2. The system will prompt you to clear the application cache. Click Clear — this will free up 100-500 MB (depending on the number of programs installed).
3. Go back to the Memory menu and select Cleanup, where MIUI will show you a list of unnecessary files: temporary data, thumbnails, unused APKs. Mark everything and click Clear.
4. Go to Settings → Apps → App Management. Sort the list by size and check the heaviest programs. For example, Facebook or TikTok can have a cache of 1-2 GB. Tap the app → Storage → Clear the cache.

This method only removes surface debris. For deep cleaning, move on to the following methods.

Clear the cache of all applications in Settings → Memory

Delete temporary files through the Cleanup menu

Check the cache of heavy applications (social networks, games, instant messengers)

Remove downloads from the Download folder (often unnecessary APKs are there)

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Redmi with MIUI 14 and later has a hidden feature called deep cleaning to activate it:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 5 times on the MIUI version until the notification “You became a developer” appears.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Activate the option Deep Memory Cleanup (if you have one in your version).

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Once the cache is cleared, some apps (like Instagram or YouTube) can load longer on the first run -- that's OK. Data will be recovered automatically.

3. Method 2: Removing the MIUI cache via Recovery Mode

If a standard cleaning didn't work, try resetting your system cache through recovery mode, which is safer than a full reset (wipe data) because it doesn't affect user data. The method works on all Redmis, including the Redmi Note 11 Pro and Redmi K50.

Instructions:

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up simultaneously and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo and Recovery menu appear.
3. Use volume buttons to navigate and select Wipe & Reset (or Advanced → Wipe Cache Partition in older versions).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the completion (it will take 1-3 minutes).
5. Restart your phone through Reboot → System.

This method removes:

• 🗃️ Cash updates. MIUI (zip files in a folder /cache).
• 📝 Log files of the system (/cache/recovery).
• 🔄 Temporary data from Google Services Framework.

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Clearing the cache through Recovery does not delete user data (photos, contacts, messages), but can reset some settings (for example, application background processes).

On some models (Redmi 9T, Redmi 10 Prime) after this procedure, the error "No Command" with the Android lying down may appear. Don't worry - just press Power + Volume up again, and the phone will restart normally.

Method 3: Manually delete unnecessary files through file manager

Many files in the Others section can be manually deleted if you know where they are stored, and any file manager with access to system folders (e.g. Mi File Manager, Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer) can do that.

Here is a list of safe ones to delete folders and files:

How to delete:

1. Open the file manager and enable the display of hidden files (in Mi File Manager: ⋮ → Settings → Show hidden files).
2. Follow one of the paths from the table.
3. Select unnecessary files (such as old APKs in Download or remote game folders in Android/obb) and delete them.
4. For DCIM/.thumbnails and Android/data folders, you can delete all content and it will be restored automatically.

⚠️ Attention: Don't touch the folders /system, /vendor or files with the.odex,.apk extension in the root directory - this can lead to the crash of the system!

5. Method 4: Cleaning through ADB (for advanced users)

If previous methods didn’t work and the Others section still takes a few gigabytes, it’s time to connect ADB (Android Debug Bridge) – a method that requires a computer but allows you to delete files that aren’t available through the standard menus. Works on all Redmis with the bootloader unlocked (it’s unlocked by default on most models).

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 🛠️ Utility. ADB (You can download from the official Android website).
• 📱 On the smartphone: enabled Developer Mode and Debugging by USB.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Redmi to your computer and select File Transfer mode.
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the device appears in the list, go further.
4. Delete the cache of all applications (equivalent to cleaning through the menu, but deeper): adb shell pm trim-caches 1000000000 This command clears the cache for all user applications (digit is the limit in bytes, here is 1 GB).
5. Remove unnecessary APK-files from the download folder (if any): adb shell rm -rf /sdcard/Download/*.apk
6. Clear the folder with thumbnails: adb shell rm -rf /sdcard/DCIM/.thumbnails/*
7. For advanced: delete the system logs (requires root): adb shell su -c "rm -rf /data/log/*"

After completing the commands, restart the smartphone. This method can free up to 1-2 GB of “Other”, especially if the cache has not been cleaned for a long time.

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The adb shell pm trim-caches command is secure – it only removes the cache without affecting user data or application settings.

⚠️ Note: If you use a command with su (for root), make sure you have the bootloader unlocked and Magisk or another root rights manager installed!

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

If all previous methods failed and the Other still takes 5+GB, the last option is a hard reset, which will delete all data (photos, messages, apps), so use it only as a last resort.

• 🔄 Make a backup copy through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.
• ☁️ Sync contacts and notes with Mi Cloud or Google Account.
• 📁 Copy important files (photos, documents) on a PC or flash drive.

How to reset:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select to erase all data (reset to factory).
3. Confirm the action and wait for the completion (it will take 5-10 minutes).

After discharge:

• 📱 Install only the necessary applications (avoid junk programs).
• 🚫 Turn off automatic app updates on Google Play.
• 🗑️ Clean the cache regularly through Settings → Memory.

On Redmi Note 10 Pro and later, after a reset, you may be prompted to restore data from a backup.Do not restore a copy older than 3 months - it may have the same unnecessary files that will fill in "Other" again.

7 How to prevent the “Other” from being refilled

Cleaning up the memory is good, but it's even better to keep it from clogging, and here are 5 rules to keep the Others in check:

• 📵 Turn off automatic download of media in instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram). Go to chat settings → Mediavisors → Turn off autoloading photos/video.
• 🗃️ Use cloud storage for photos (Google Photos, Mi Cloud) and regularly delete local copies.
• 🔄 Clean the cache once a week through Settings → Memory. → Cleanup.
• 🚫 Do not install applications from unknown sources – they often leave garbage in system folders.
• 📱 Update. MIUI — in new versions optimized work with cache (for example, in the MIUI 14 added the Deep Cleaning tool).

Redmi with MIUI 13/14 has a hidden Smart Cleanup feature that automatically deletes unnecessary files.

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Smart Cleaning.
2. Activate the option and set up a schedule (e.g., clean up every night).

We also recommend installing Files by Google – it is better than the standard Mi File Manager finds and offers to remove duplicate files, large folders and unnecessary downloads.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up the “Other” on Xiaomi Redmi