How to Delete Other Files on Xiaomi Phone: 7 Ways to Delete

Xiaomi’s MIUI or HyperOS-based smartphones are known for their functionality, but over time, even 256 GB of memory can get clogged with unnecessary data. “Other files” is a mysterious category that takes up gigabytes of space but has no explicit description in the system, most often including remnants of remote applications, messenger cache, temporary game files and even fragments of OS updates.

Many users face a situation where the phone memory is 90% full, but the gallery only has a couple of photos and the list of applications — several messengers. The reason lies precisely in the “other files” that the system does not classify as media, documents or APK. In this article, we will discuss what this data is, how to safely remove it without risking the smartphone, and what tools Xiaomi has provided for this.

It's important to understand that not all files in this category can be deleted without consequences, for example, some of them can be system logs or application data that is recovered after a reboot. So cleaning requires careful attention, we will show you how to distinguish garbage from important data.

What are Xiaomi’s “Other Files” and Why Do They Take So Much Space?

The "Others" category in the MIUI/HyperOS storage menu is a sort of "basket for everything else," which includes files that the system cannot categorize as standard: photos, videos, audio, documents or applications.

🔹 Application cache – temporary data that programs save to speed up work (for example, thumbnails in a gallery or downloaded stickers in Telegram).

🔹 Remnant applications – not all programs are completely deleted, leaving behind configuration files or databases.

🔹 System logs and dumps are debugging files that are created when crashes or for diagnostics (e.g. logcat or tombstones).

🔹 Temporary download files – fragments of downloaded files that were not deleted after installation or opening.

🔹 Game data – saves, textures, or cache of online games (e.g. Genshin Impact or GIGN) PUBG Mobile).

On some Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ or Xiaomi 13T), this category can be anywhere from 5 to 20 GB – especially if you are actively using instant messengers, games or frequently update firmware, and the system does not always offer tools to clean them automatically.

⚠️ Note: Some files in this category may be critical to the operation of individual applications, such as deleting the Google Play Services cache will cause Google services to crash.

Method 1: Cleaning through the built-in "Storage" menu

The easiest and safest method is to use built-in MIUI or HyperOS tools, which allow you to delete some unnecessary data without risk to the system.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings → Storage.
2. Click on the “Other” category (or “Other” in some versions).
3. The system will analyze the files and suggest cleaning options. Select "Clean" or "Delete unnecessary files."
4. Confirm the action.

🔹 What's removed:

• 🗑️ Application cache (except system applications)
• 📁 Temporary download files
• 🔄 Update Logs (if not used by the system)

🔹 What's NOT being removed:

• 🔒 System logs and dumps
• 🎮 Game data (saves, texture cache)
• 📱 Application configuration files

⚠️ Note: If the Others category has taken up a lot of space again after a few days, the problem may be in a particular application (most often messengers or games).

Method 2: Use of the "Cleaning" tool

MIUI and HyperOS have a built-in Cleanup tool that analyzes junk files more deeply and is available in the Security menu (or Security in global firmware).

How to use:

1. Go to Settings → Security → Cleanup.
2. Press "Deep Clean" (or "Deep Clean").
3. Wait for the analysis to be completed (it may take 1-2 minutes).
4. Select the categories to delete (we recommend to note "Cash", "App Remains", "Unnecessary files").
5. Press "Clear" and confirm.

🔹 Advantages of the method:

• 🛡️ More detailed analysis than in the "Storage" menu"
• 🔍 Shows specific applications that take up the most space
• 📊 Visualizes the distribution of memory by category

🔹 Limitations:

• ❌ Does not delete system logs and some types of cache
• ❌ You may not see files that are protected by root rights.

💡

If the space doesn't vacate after cleaning, try restarting the phone. Some files may be locked by the system before the reboot.

Method 3: Manual removal of application cache

Many apps (especially messengers and social networks) accumulate gigabytes of cache, which the system classifies as "Others." Manual cleaning helps to free up space without removing the programs themselves.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Choose an app that takes up a lot of space (e.g. Telegram, WhatsApp, TikTok).
3. Press "Storage" (or "Storage").
4. Tap "Clear Cache" (not to be confused with "Clear Data" - this will delete all settings and accounts!).

🔹 Apps that most often clog up cache:

⚠️ Cache Clearing Google Play Services, Mi Account or System UI It can cause phone malfunctions. Don't touch system applications unless you're sure they're there.

Method 4: Delete through the file manager (including hidden files)

In some cases, "other files" are simply hidden folders or remnants of old updates, which can be found and manually deleted through the file manager.

How to enable the display of hidden files:

1. Open the standard "Files" (Mi File Manager).
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → "Settings".
3. Activate the option "Show hidden files".

🔹 What folders can be deleted:

• 📂 /sdcard/Android/obb/ — game cache (e.g, PUBG Deleting the game won't hurt saving, but the games will have to be downloaded again.
• 📂 /sdcard/Android/data/ — This is where you can only delete folders of remote programs (for example, if you deleted Facebook long ago, but its folder is left).
• 📂 /sdcard/MIUI/ — Temporary theme and wallpaper files, can be cleaned if you don't use custom themes.
• 📂 /sdcard/Download/ — Check for the old ones APK or under-performing files.

🔹 What folders can't be touched:

• 🚫 /sdcard/Android/data/com.xiaomi.* — system-data MIUI.
• 🚫 /sdcard/MIUI/backup/ — backup.
• 🚫 /sdcard/DCIM/.thumbnails — Gallery miniatures (remove automatically when cleaning the cache).

Critical information: /sdcard/Android/obb/ can weigh 10+GB if you play heavy games, and its contents can be safely deleted, but the games will then have to be downloaded from the servers.

Method 5: Using ADB for deep cleaning (for advanced)

If standard methods didn’t work and “other files” still take up a lot of space, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting your phone to your computer and basic command line knowledge.

What you need:

Cleanup commands:

adb shell pm clear com.miui.cleanmaster # Cache cleaner


adb shell rm -rf /sdcard/Android/obb/* # Delete the game cache (CAUTIONS!)




adb shell rm -rf /sdcard/Download/*.apk # Remove all APKs from Download folder

⚠️ Attention: Rm teams -rf They delete files irreversibly. Make sure you don't delete important data before you do it. -rf /sdcard/DCIM/ I would have erased all your pictures!

💡

ADB allows you to delete files that are not available through the standard interface, but it requires caution. Always back up before executing commands.

Method 6: Reset to factory settings (extreme case)

If all previous methods didn’t work, and the “other files” take up more than 10 GB, it could be system debris that isn’t removed by standard methods, in which case a complete phone reset would help.

How to reset:

1. Create a backup copy of important data (photos, contacts, chats).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select "Erase all data" (or "Factory Reset").
4. Confirm the action and wait for the completion (it will take 5-15 minutes).

🔹 What will be removed:

• 📱 All installed applications and their data
• 📷 Photos, videos and music (if not saved) SD-map)
• 🔑 Accounts and settings
• 🗑️ The entire category of "Other Files" (including system debris)

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g, POCO F5 or Redmi K60) After reset, you may need to re-assign your Mi Account to unlock your phone!

Method 7: Preventing future accumulation of garbage

To prevent the “Others” category from growing again, follow these guidelines:

🔹 Settings for automatic cleaning:

• ⚙️ Enable "Autoclean" in Settings → Warehouse → Cleanup.
• 🗑️ Set up automatic cache deletion in Google Play Market (Settings) → Clearing the cache).
• 📥 Limit the cache for messengers (in Telegram: Settings) → Data and memory → Clear the cache).

🔹 Habits that will preserve memory:

• 🎮 Clean the game cache regularly through Settings → Annexes.
• 📥 Delete. APK after installing applications.
• 🔄 Do not keep old backup copies in the /sdcard/MIUI/backup/.
• 📂 Use cloud services (Google Photos, Mi Cloud) to store media.

💡

If you often install APK From third-party sources, create a folder APK on SD-You can save the installation files to the map, so they don't clog up the internal memory.

FAQ: Frequent questions about deleting files on Xiaomi