The “Other” section in Xiaomi’s smartphone memory is one of the most mysterious and annoying problems for users: You regularly clean the cache, delete unnecessary photos and apps, but the free space is stubbornly “eat” by this mysterious section, which can take up from the user’s memory. 5 before 30 GB: What's the catch? MIUI It groupes under the term "Other" all files that do not fall into the standard categories (music, video, documents, etc.) This includes temporary files of system processes, remnants of remote applications, log files, virtual machine data. ART/Dalvik, and hidden folders of messengers and social networks.
Many users make the critical mistake of trying to delete the Other manually through the file manager without realizing that some of these files are critical to the stable operation of MIUI. The result is application crashes, system errors, or even a device brick. In this article, we will discuss safe cleaning methods that will not disrupt the smartphone, and explain why the Other returns again and how to minimize its growth.
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What is the Other in Xiaomi’s Memory and Why Does It Take So Much Space?
The term "Other" (in the English version of MIUI) is the "junk bin" of the operating system, where files that cannot be clearly classified as standard categories fall, unlike the cache of applications or downloads, this data is not clearly structured and often hidden from the user.
- 📁 Remnants of Remote Applications: Folders with settings, temporary files, and data that were not cleared after uninstallation.
- 🔄 System process cache: Dalvik-cache files (Android virtual machine), system_cache and log files (.log,.tmp).
- 📱 Virtual environments: Android Runtime files (ART), which speed up the application, but grow over time.
- 🔒 Hidden folders of messengers: Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber store media files that do not fall into the gallery.
- 🛠️ Update files: downloaded but not installed packages MIUI or.
The main problem is that MIUI does not provide tools for detailed analysis of the Other, the user sees only the total volume, but can not understand which files occupy space, and some of this data can not be deleted without root rights, because they are protected by the system.
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Method 1: Cleaning through built-in MIUI tools (no root)
Starting with MIUI 12, Xiaomi added hidden features to partially clean the Other section, which do not require superuser rights and are safe for the system.
- Clean the system app cache: Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management. From the top menu, select the All tab and sort the apps by size. Find system services (Google Play Services, MIUI System, Security) and clear their cache. Don't delete data! - this can disrupt the phone.
- Delete temporary files via Optimization: Open the Security app (shield icon), go to Optimization and run a deep check. The system will find unnecessary files, including a part of Other. Note: this method only cleans surface debris.
- Files Data Reset: Sometimes the Xiaomi file manager caches the Other information incorrectly. Go to Settings → Applications → Files → Storage and click Clear Data. After the phone is restarted, the partition can display the real volume.
Make a backup copy of important data|Close all background applications|Connect the phone to charging|Check the vacant space (should be available) ≥1GB)-->
⚠️ Note: Do not use the “Clean Everything” function in the “Storage” section (Settings) → Storage. It only deletes the app cache, but it doesn't affect the system files of the Other, but it can reset the settings of some programs.
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Method 2: Manually remove hidden folders (for power users)
If the built-in tools don't work, you can manually find and delete some of the Other's files, and you'll need a file manager with access to system folders (like Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).
- Enable the display of hidden files in the file manager settings.
- Go to the root directory of the phone and open folders: /data/data/ – here are stored the remnants of remote applications /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/ – cache and application data /cache/ – system cache (root rights are required for complete cleaning) /system/media/ – system media files (you can only delete duplicates)
- Delete the folders of apps you have deleted long ago (for example, com.tencent.mm for WeChat, if you do not use it).
- Clear folders with extensions.log,.tmp,.bak – these are log files and backups.
⚠️ Note: Do not delete files in folders:
- /system/ – This can cause MIUI to fail.
- /data/dalvik-cache/ is critical for Android.
- /mnt/ – contains partition mounting data.
What happens if you delete the Odex file?
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Method 3: Using ADB for deep cleaning (no root)
If manual cleaning failed, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a tool for debugging Android devices, which allows you to delete the system cache and temporary files without obtaining root rights.
- Install. ADB Download Google's Platform Tools and unpack the archive. Turn on Debugging by Phone USB» (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers).
- Connect your phone to your PC and run the command line in the folder from adb.exe. Enter the commands: adb devices (you should display your device) adb shell pm trim-caches 1000G (clears the cache of all applications) adb shell rm -rf /data/local/tmp/* (removes temporary system files)
- Restart the phone – part of the Other should shrink.
⚠️ Attention: Adb shell rm command -rf /cache/* Clears the system cache, but on some Xiaomi devices, this can lead to a long boot on the next turn on (up to the previous one). 5-7 Don't interrupt the process!
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Before using ADB, check if the developer settings include the “Allow USB debugging” option (sometimes it is reset after MIUI updates).
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Method 4: Reset to factory settings (last resort)
If the “other” takes more 15-20 The GB is not cleaned by other means, but the last option is to completely reset the phone, which deletes all user data, but returns the system to a "clean" state:
- 🔄 Make a backup copy through Settings → Google → Backup or Mi Cloud Backup.
- 📱 Remember accounts (Google, Mi Account, banking applications).
- 🔌 Charge your phone at least 50% – reset can take up to 30 minutes.
Instructions:
- Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
- Select “Erase all data”.
- Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.
Once reset, the Other will shrink to 1-3 GB (normal MIUI volume), but it will grow again over time, which is inevitable.
Once a week.|Once a month|Only when the place ends.|Never clean.-->
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Method 5: Preventing the Growth of the Other in the Future
To prevent the Other from growing again, follow these guidelines:
- 📲 Clean the cache regularly through Settings → Warehouse → Cache data (sufficiently once every 2 weeks).
- 🚫 Don’t use cleaners like Clean Master or CCleaner – they often delete useful files and leave debris behind.
- 🔄 Update. MIUI — In new versions, work with temporary files is optimized.
- 📁 Transfer files to a memory card (if supported) or to the cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud).
- 🛡️ Turn off automatic download of media in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram).
It's also useful to track the growth of the Other.
- Write down the current volume (“Other” in Settings → Storage).
- Check again in a week.
- If the difference is >1 GB, look for a “gluttonous” application (most often the fault of messengers or games).
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Table: Comparison of Cleaning Methods for the “Other” in Xiaomi
| Method | Efficiency | Difficulty | Risks. | Root is required. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in MIUI tools | Low (1-3GB) | Just | Absent. | No. |
| Hand-cleaning folders | Medium (3-8 GB) | Middle-Average | Important files can be deleted | No (but you need permissions for some folders) |
| ADB-team | High (5-12 GB) | Hardly. | Can slow down the system at first boot | No. |
| Reset to factory settings | Maximum (15-30 GB) | Simple, but long. | Loss of all data | No. |
| Root + Specialized Applications | Maximum (up to 90% of the “Other”) | Very difficult. | Risk of “bricking”, loss of guarantee | Yes. |
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