How to Delete Other Files on Xiaomi Phone: A Complete Memory Cleanup Guide

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones are known for their functionality, but over time, even 128GB of memory can get clogged with unnecessary files. Users often encounter the mysterious “Other Files” category, which takes up gigabytes of space for no apparent reason. In this article, we’ll look at what’s hidden under the term, how to safely remove garbage without disrupting the system, and what tools MIUI 14 offers to optimize memory.

The problem is not limited to “other files”: app cache, remnants of deleted programs, duplicate photos and downloads from instant messengers — all this gradually eats up precious space. This is especially true for the budget models of Redmi and POCO with 64 GB of memory, where every megabyte counts. We will consider both standard methods of cleaning through Settings → Memory, and hidden functions that are not disclosed in the official instructions.

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

The MIUI’s Other Files category is a collection of data that the system cannot categorize into specific categories (photos, videos, applications).

• 📁 Cache of system applications – temporary files from miui.analytics, com.xiaomi.midrop and other services
• 🔄 Update residues – firmware packages (.zip) that have not been deleted after installation
• 📄 Logs and dumps – debugging files (.log,.dmp) for crash diagnosis
• 🎮 Game data - saves and additional packages (.obb) from Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile and others.
• 🔗 Symbolic links – virtual paths to files created by the system

For example, after the update MIUI 13 → MIUI 14 file /data/ota_package The archive may still be weighty 2-3 GB: And Mi Video makes cache previews for every video, even if you haven't watched it. POCO F5 Redmi Note 12 This category is often inflated due to aggressive caching of Google Play Services. 1 GB per month of active use.

It is important to understand that not all “other files” can be deleted without consequences, for example, deleting the /data/dalvik-cache folder will lead to a system crash the next time you run, but the cache from /data/data/com.android.vending/cache (this is the Google Play Store) can be cleaned safely - it will recover automatically.

Method 1: Cleaning through the built-in MIUI storage

The safest method is to use the regular Cleanup tool, which is available on all Xiaomi smartphones starting with MIUI 10.

1. Open the Settings → Memory.
2. Slip on “Clean” at the bottom of the screen (near the memory usage schedule).
3. Select the category "Junk files" and wait for the scan.
4. Check the boxes: 🗑️ Application cache (safe for all applications) 📥 Downloads (check manually if there are important documents) 📎 APK-Files (remains from manually installed programs)

Clean up

On the Xiaomi 13 Pro and new flagships, the tool is smarter: it analyzes unused files (those that have not been accessed for more than 30 days) and suggests that they be deleted.

Note that MIUI 14 has a Deep Clean feature that even deletes.nomedia files and empty folders, and can be found in the same Memory → Cleanup → Additional. But beware: it can erase saves of some games if they are stored in non-standard folders.

Method 2: Manual deletion through file manager

For experienced users who are willing to dig through system folders, manual cleaning through Mi File Manager (or third-party managers like Solid Explorer) is a good way to do this.

To access the system folders, you need to enable the display of hidden files in the file manager settings. POCO X5 The new model will be the Mi File Manager. → ☰ → Settings → Show hidden files. For folders in /data/ You may need root rights, but most devices will have standard permissions.

Critical information: On file system encryption devices (default on all Xiaomi with MIUI 12+), manually deleting files from /data can result in data loss in the next encryption.

Method 3: Cleaning through ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods didn’t work and manual cleaning is too risky, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which is suitable for decaching all applications at once or resetting unnecessary data without root rights.

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap to unlock Developer Settings)
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original)

The main cleaning commands are:

adb shell pm clear com.android.vending #Cleaning up Google Play Store cache


adb shell pm clear com.miui.gallery #Cleaning up Gallery's cache




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




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

On the Redmi Note 11 and similar models, these commands will free up 1-3 GB of space, but be careful: the pm clear command will reset the application settings (for example, Mi Gallery will lose albums that you created manually).

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Before using ADB, check the packet list with the adb shell pm list packages command to know exactly which application you are cleaning.

For mass cleaning of the cache of all applications, use:

adb shell "su -c 'find /data/data -name 'cache' -exec rm -rf {} +'"

This command recursively removes all folders with the word "cache" in the name. On the Xiaomi 12T with 256 GB of storage, this can free up up to 5 GB, but will require a reboot.

Method 4: Remove duplicates and unnecessary media files

One of the biggest memory eaters is duplicate photos and videos. MIUI has a built-in tool to find them, but it doesn't work perfectly.

• 📸 Files by Google – finds duplicates, large files and offers to clear the cache of messengers

For example, Files by Google on the POCO F4 GT finds:

• 📁 Duplicate photos (compared by hash)
• 🎥 Low-resolution videos (such as Instagram stories)
• 📄 Large files (>100 MB, which have not been addressed for more than a year
• 🗑️ Empty folders (remain after deleting applications)

One important thing is that MIUI creates thumbnails for each photo in the DCIM/.thumbnails folder, which you can delete and they will recover the next time you see it, and the Pictures/Screenshots/.thumbnails folder for screenshots.

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Regular cleaning of duplicates saves up to 20% of memory on devices with active camera use (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra with 200-MP sensor).

Method 5: Optimizing cloud storage Mi Cloud

Many users are unaware that Mi Cloud may be the source of unnecessary files, and by default, it syncs:

• 📱 Contact and SMS
• 📸 Photo and video (if autoload is enabled)
• 🎮 Preserve games (e.g. Mi Game Center)
• 📄 Documents from Mi File Manager

The problem is that synchronized files can be duplicated in local memory, so that you can avoid this:

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Select "Storage Management".
3. Sort files by size and remove unnecessary ones (such as old backups).
4. Turn off the autoload for Gallery and Records if you are not using it.

On Xiaomi 13 Lite with 128 GB of memory, disabling autoload photos in Mi Cloud freed users up to 8 GB due to the fact that the original photos remained only in the cloud, and the device stored optimized versions.

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If you use Google Photos for backup, turn off sync in Mi Cloud to avoid double duplication.

Also check the MiCloud/Backup folder in the file manager, which may contain old backups of applications that have been out of use for a long time.

What to do if nothing helps: radical methods

If, after all the manipulations, the Other Files category is still 10+GB, it's time for radical action.

1. Reset to factory settings (with data storage): 🔄 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Resetting settings. 📱 Select “Save Media Files” (if it is important). ⚠️ Please note that all applications and their data will be deleted (save games, settings messengers).
2. Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot (for experienced ones): 🖥️ Use the Mi Flash Tool and the official firmware from Xiaomi. 🔧 Select the “Clean All” option (complete cleaning). ⚠️ This will delete all user information, including files in internal memory.
3. Install custom firmware (for example, Xiaomi.EU or Pixel Experience): 🛠️ requires an unlocked boot loader and TWRP. 📉 Can improve memory management with optimized core. ⚠️ The risk of losing security and stability POCO X3 Pro known for camera bugs).

On Redmi 10 2022, the factory reset freed the user 12 GB of 18 GB of “other files” occupied. SD-card or PC, as even the option to save media files sometimes works incorrectly.

Important: on dynamic partition devices (DYNAMIC Partitions, used in MIUI 12+), resets do not always clear the /data folder completely, in such cases only flashing through Fastboot with the clean all option will help.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory cleanup on Xiaomi