Xiaomi’s Other Files folder: What it is, how to delete and free memory

The Other Files folder on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones is one of the most mysterious to users, it takes up gigabytes of memory, but it does not appear in the standard file manager, and attempts to clean it often end in errors or no result. If you notice that your MIUI device suddenly ran out of space, and in the Storage section there is a multi-gigabyte block that says “Others” – this article will help you figure out what to do with it.

Unlike the app cache or downloads, the contents of this folder are not cleaned by standard means, but they accumulate residual data from remote programs, temporary system files, error logs, update fragments, and even hidden backups. MIUI A 12-14 folder called Other Files can take up up to 30% of the total memory, with most of that data being garbage that can be safely removed. In this article, we’ll look at 5 working cleanup methods, including hidden settings, ADB-commands and third-party utilities, and also explain which files cannot be touched so as not to break the system.

What is the “Other Files” folder on Xiaomi and why it grows

In MIUI (and other Android shells), the Other Files folder is a container for data that doesn’t fall into the standard categories of photo, video, audio, documents or applications.

• 📁 Remnants of Remote Applications – Cache, Settings, and Databases that have not been cleaned correctly.
• 🔄 Temporary system files – error logs (.log,.tmp), memory dumps, debugging files.
• 📦 Fragments of updates MIUI — Unremoved firmware packages that have downloaded but have not been installed.
• 🔒 Hidden backups – Automatic backups of Mi Cloud, Google Drive or third-party apps.
• 🎮 Game data – saves, cache textures and other files that games do not classify as “documents».

The main problem is that MIUI doesn't provide tools to manage this folder, and unlike DCIM or Downloads, it can't be opened through Files or Explorer, and even after resetting, some of the data can remain if it's stored in protected memory.

Why is the folder growing?

• 🗑️ Incorrect removal of applications – many programs do not clear the cache and settings.
• 🔄 Frequent updates MIUI — Each update leaves behind temporary files.
• 🎮 Games with large cache, such as Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile can leave gigabytes of "garbage».
• 📱 System failures – if the phone suddenly shuts down while recording the file, it may remain in the “Others».

⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to delete the Other Files folder entirely through root access or a superuser file manager, which stores critical system data, such as files. /data/dalvik-cache, without MIUI slack.

Method 1: Cleaning through built-in MIUI tools

Before you resort to radical methods, try standard MIUI tools. They will not remove everything, but will help get rid of some of the garbage.

Step 1. Open Settings → Memory (or Storage depending on the version of MIUI) Here you will see a diagram of occupied space. Click on the "Other Files" section**.

Step 2: The system will prompt you to clear the cache and unnecessary data. Click Clear (or Delete) This will delete temporary files, but will not affect deep system data.

Step 3: Go back to Settings → Apps → App Management. Sort programs by size and manually clear the cache for the heaviest (e.g. Facebook, TikTok, Google Play Services).

Check the free space in memory

Close all applications

Connect the charger (in case of a long operation)

Backup of important data-->

This method will remove up to 1-3 GB of garbage, but if the “Other Files” folder takes up 10+ GB, you will have to use more radical methods.

Once a week.

Once a month

Only when memory ends

Never clean.-->

Method 2: Using Files by Google for Deep Cleaning

Files by Google (formerly Files Go) can find and delete hidden temporary files that MIUI can’t see.

Step 1. Open Files by Google and go to the Cleanup tab.

Step 2. Click Free Space and wait for analysis. The app will show you unnecessary files, including:

• 🗑️ Temporary application files (.tmp,.cache)
• 📁 Duplicate files (e.g. screenshots with the same content)
• 🔄 Old ones. APK-files (application installation packages)

Step 3. Select all unnecessary files and click Delete.Files by Google can find up to 5-7GB of trash that MIUI can't see.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files with.db,.odex or.oat extensions – these are system data without which applications can stop working.

💡

If Files by Google doesn't find any debris, try restarting your phone and running the analysis again. Sometimes the system blocks access to files while you're working.

Method 3: Cleaning through ADB (for power users)

If standard methods didn’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a tool for debugging Android devices, which allows you to delete system files that are not available through the normal interface.

Step 1: Install ADB on your computer (instructions for Windows, Mac and Linux are available on Google’s official website).

Step 2: Enable USB debugging on your phone:

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

Step 3: Connect your phone to your computer and follow the commands:

adb shell


su




cd /data




du -sh * | sort -n

This command will show you a list of folders in /data, sorted by size. Look for large directories like log, local or media.

Step 4: Delete unnecessary files (such as logs):

rm -rf /data/log/*


rm -rf /data/local/tmp/*

⚠️ Attention: Do not delete folders /data/app, /data/data or /data/dalvik-cache — It's going to crash the system. You're only going to work with temporary files (.log,.tmp,.bak).

Method 4: Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If the Other Files folder takes up 15+GB and isn’t cleared by other means, it’s a hard reset that will delete all the data from the phone, including apps, photos and settings, but return the memory to its original state.

Step 1: Back up your important data via Mi Cloud, Google Drive, or your computer.

Step 2. Go to Settings → About Phone → Resetting.

Step 3: Select Erase all data and confirm the action.

After discharge:

• 📱 The “Other Files” folder will be reduced to 100-500 MB (minimum size for the system to work).
• 🔄 Do not restore data from backup immediately – first check if the problem has returned.
• 🚫 Avoid installing apps that have previously caused memory overflows.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) POCO X3 Pro) after reset, up to 1-2 GB of "other files" can remain - this is normal. MIUI.

Method 5: Manual removal via TWRP (for advanced)

If you have custom TWRP recaps installed, you can manually clean the partitions where "other files" are accumulated, a method that is risky but effective.

Step 1. Load the phone to TWRP (usually by clamping Power + Volume up).

Step 2. Go to Advanced → File Manager.

Step 3. Open the folders:

• /data/log - logs of the system
• /data/local/tmp – Temporary files
• /data/media/0/MIUI/backup – old backups

Delete the contents, but do not touch the folders themselves.

Step 4. Reboot the phone.

💡

Use TWRP only if you are confident in your actions. Incorrect deletion of files can lead to a device blink (complete failure).

What NOT to delete from the “Other Files” folder

Not all files in this section are garbage, some are critical to MIUI, and here's a table of data that you can't touch:

If you accidentally delete something from this list, your phone may:

• 🔄 Fixing on the download (endless animation) MIUI).
• 📱 Errors when running applications ("App has stopped").
• 🚨 Stop turning on (black screen or logo getting stuck).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the folder “Other files” on Xiaomi