How to remove the “Other” in Xiaomi memory: a complete guide with proven methods

The Other section in Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO is one of the most mysterious categories for users, which can take from a few gigabytes to tens, but it does not give clarity about which files are hidden under this label. MIUI includes app cache, temporary files, update data, remnants of deleted programs and even hidden system logs, as a result of which users are faced with a situation where the phone’s memory is filled with “unknown what”, and it cannot be released by standard methods.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to reduce or completely remove the Other section on Xiaomi without resorting to radical measures like factory resets. You’ll learn what tools are built into MIUI, what third-party utilities will help analyze memory, and how to avoid re-filling the storage with garbage. Importantly, some methods require superuser rights (root), but we’ll also offer solutions for devices without root access.

Before we start cleaning, we need to understand that not everything in the Other is garbage. Some files are critical to the system's stability, because deleting them can cause malfunctions. So our approach will be selective: we will only delete what is safe and optimize the rest.

1.What is hidden under MIUI's "Other" section?

In MIUI, the Other category** is a dump for files that don’t fall into the standard sections (Applications, Images, Videos, etc.).

• 📁 App cache – temporary data that programs save to speed up work (for example, thumbnails in a gallery, YouTube cache or TikTok).
• 🔄 Remnants of remote applications – files that remain after uninstallation of programs (settings, databases, logs).
• 📥 Update files – firmware packages that are downloaded in the background but are not deleted after installation.
• 📜 System Logs and Dumps – Error Reports, kernel and Android Services Logs.
• 🔗 Symbolic links and temporary files – created by the system to synchronize processes.
• 🎮 Game data – saves, texture packages and cache (e.g. from Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile).

Xiaomi user analysis shows that on average 60-70% of the Other’s storage is cache and app residues, and the remaining 30% is system files, while MIUI does not provide tools for detailed analysis of this partition, making it difficult to clean up. For example, on the Redmi Note 10 Pro with 128 GB of storage, the Other can take up to 15-20 GB, even if the user regularly cleans the cache manually.

⚠️ Note: Some files in the Other section are related to the operation of Google Services and MIUI. Deleting them can lead to account sync errors, notifications, or even launcher "departures."Always back up before a mass cleanup.

2. Standard cleaning methods without root rights

If your Xiaomi doesn’t have superuser rights, start with the built-in MIUI tools, which won’t remove the entire Other, but will help reduce its volume by 30-50%.

Clearing the application cache

The safest way is to remove the cache for all installed programs.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Sort by size.
3. Alternately open applications with a large cache (for example, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram) and click Clear cache.

To speed up the process, you can use the Cleanup function in MIUI:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Storage.
2. Click Clean (or Free in new versions).
3. Check the application cache and garbage files, then confirm the action.

2.2 Deletion of update files

MIUI Stores update packages in the folder /data/ota_package, But it doesn't always remove them after installation, to make room:

1. Open the files. → Internal storage → ota_package.
2. Delete all files with the.zip extension (e.g, miui_*.zip).

If the folders ota_package No, check it out. /sdcard/MIUI/ota or /data/media/0/MIUI/ota (path depends on the version MIUI).

2.3. Use of the built-in Optimizer

MIUI 12/13/14 has a tool called Security → Optimizer that analyzes junk files.

1. Launch Security (Shield icon).
2. Select an Optimizer. → Deep cleaning.
3. Wait for analysis and delete the proposed files (especially pay attention to App Residues and Large Files).

This method is less efficient than manual cleaning, but it is safe for beginners, and on average, it frees up 1-3 GB of memory.

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Regularly cleaning the cache through built-in MIUI tools reduces the volume of the Other by 20-40%, but does not solve the problem completely.

3. Advanced methods: memory analysis with third-party utilities

The built-in MIUI tools don't show the detailed structure of the Other section. For in-depth analysis, you'll need third-party apps like Files by Google, SD Maid or Storage Analyzer. Let's look at the two most effective options.

Files by Google (without root)

Google’s app can scan the storage and offer to delete unnecessary files:

1. Install Files by Google from the Play Market.
2. Open the Cleanup tab.
3. Choose to vacate the place and wait for analysis.
4. Delete the proposed files, especially in the categories of Cash applications, Duplicates and Large files.

The advantage of this method is simplicity and security. The disadvantage is that Files by Google does not see system files, so the amount of freed up memory rarely exceeds 2-5 GB.

3.2. SD Maid (with or without root)

SD Maid is a more powerful tool that can analyze hidden folders, and you need root rights to work properly, but without them, the utility is useful:

1. Install SD Maid from the Play Market (or APKMirror if the app is not available in your area).
2. Start Storage Analyzer (Storage Analyzer).
3. Look at the folders that take up the most space (e.g. /data/data, /cache).
4. Delete unnecessary files manually (be careful with system folders!).

With root access, SD Maid can clean up:

• 🗑️ Dalvik Cash (accelerates the system).
• 📂 Remains of Remote Applications in /data/data.
• 🔄 Empty folders and broken symbolic links.

⚠️ Note: Delete files in /data/data root-free can cause app failures. SD Maid is careful and only if you know what you are deleting, such as cleaning the com.android.vending folder (Google Play services) will disrupt the app updates.

4 Manual garbage disposal via ADB (no root)

If standard methods don't work and root rights don't, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a debugging tool that allows you to manage files through a computer, which requires accuracy, but does not violate the warranty.

4.1 Preparation for work with ADB

First, turn on USB debugging on your phone:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version to activate Developer Mode.
3. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.

Then download ADB Tools to your computer and connect your phone over USB (select File Transfer Mode).

Commands for cleaning cache and debris

Open the command prompt (or Terminal on Mac/Linux) in the adb folder and do:

adb shell


pm clear com.miui.cleanmaster #Cache cleaning standard optimizer




pm clear com.android.vending # Clearing Google Play cache (safe)




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




rm -rf /cache/* # Cleaning the system cache (requires a reboot)

To remove the remnants of remote applications, use:

adb shell


cd /data/data




ls | grep -v "com.android" | grep -v "com.xiaomi" | xargs -I {} rm -rf {}

⚠️ Note: The last command deletes all folders in the /data/data, It's going to reset the application settings, and only use it if you're ready to reconfigure the software.

Once you have completed the commands, be sure to restart the phone, a method that can free up to 5-10GB of storage, but requires caution.

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Before working with ADB, back up important data through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. This will help restore information when critical files are accidentally deleted.

Radical methods: resetting and flashing

If the Other takes up more than 15-20 GB and does not decrease after all the manipulations, there are two extreme options: hard reset or flashing through Fastboot. Both methods will delete all data from the phone, so use them only as a last resort.

5.1 Hard Reset (Hard Reset)

This is a return of the phone to factory settings.

1. Create a backup copy of data (photos, contacts, messages).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Reset settings.
3. Choose to erase everything and confirm the action.

Once reset, the Other will be reduced to 1-3 GB (minimum MIUI capacity), a drawback: you will have to reconfigure the phone and install apps.

5.2 Flashing through Fastboot

If the reset didn’t help (for example, due to corrupted system files), you can reinstall MIUI via Fastboot:

1. Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware website.
2. Unpack the archive and connect the phone to your PC in Fastboot mode (clip Power + Volume down when the phone is off).
3. Run the script. flash_all.bat (for Windows) or execute manual commands:

fastboot flash boot boot.img


fastboot flash system system.img




fastboot flash vendor vendor.img




fastboot erase userdata




fastboot reboot

Fastboot flashing removes all data, including the Other partition, and restores a clean system, a method guaranteed to solve the problem, but requires technical skills.

6. How to prevent the “Other” from being refilled?

Even after a successful cleanup, the Other section may grow back, and to avoid this, follow simple rules:

• 🔄 Clean the cache regularly (once every 1-2 weeks) through Settings → Warehouse → Clean up.
• 🚫 Remove unused applications – many programs leave garbage behind even after uninstallation.
• 📥 Turn off automatic app updates on Google Play (or limit it to Wi-Fi only).
• 📁 Use cloud storage (Google Photos, Mi Cloud) to back up photos and videos.
• 🛡️ Install antivirus (such as Malwarebytes) – some malware masquerades as system files.

It is also useful to disable unnecessary system services:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find and disable apps like Mi Video, Mi Music, Browser if you don’t use them.
3. In Settings → Accounts and sync, disable synchronization of unnecessary data (for example, Mi Cloud for notes or calendar).

If you install and delete games frequently, use the Cleanup after uninstall feature in SD Maid or Files by Google.This will help avoid the accumulation of residual files.

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Prevention is the best way to fight the Other, and regular cache cleaning and monitoring of installed applications reduces garbage by 40 to 60 percent.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi’s “Other” section