Owners of the low-end but robust Redmi line of smartphones often face a shortage of internal storage.Other, which can take up gigabytes of space without being cleaned, is particularly worrisome.On the Xiaomi Redmi 6A, with its modest internal storage capacity, the problem becomes critical, slowing down the device.
Android and MIUI categorize files that don’t fall into the standard categories (photos, videos, music, documents) as “others,” which can be remnants of remote applications, messenger cache, temporary system files, or even system error data, and understanding the nature of this data is the first step to successfully optimizing your gadget.
In this detailed guide, we'll explore safe and effective ways to free up space, not using third-party dubious software, but using built-in MIUI tools and proven manual cleaning techniques, learn how to distinguish system debris from important data, and return your smartphone to speed.
Analysis of the Other folder contents on Redmi 6A
Before we start taking drastic measures, we need to understand what exactly takes up space. The Others section is a collection of data that the system has failed to automatically categorize. On Redmi 6A, it's often the remnants of app updates from Google Play or data from messengers like Telegram and WhatsApp.
Often users are unaware that videos viewed on social networks or music listened to in streaming services are stored in cache, which the system refers to as “other files”, and storage analytics show that up to 60% of this volume is temporary data that can be deleted without losing personal information.
It's important to note that some system processes create error logs that also fall into this category. If your phone freezes frequently or apps crash, the volume of the "other" could skyrocket, but you shouldn't delete everything right away, because these files may include important configurations of installed programs.
- 📱 Social network cache and instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber).
- 💾 Residual files after deleting or updating applications.
- 📄 Temporary files of browsers and streaming services.
- ⚙️ System Logs and Error Reports of Interface Operation MIUI.
Use of the built-in MIUI cleaner
The first and most secure way to combat memory overflow is to use the regular Security app. Xiaomi Redmi 6A owners do not need to download anything, since this tool is already integrated into the firmware and has access to system partitions.
Once you run the standard speed check, click on the Cleanup button, and the system will analyze the device and suggest removing debris. However, the standard mode often misses deep deposits in the Other folder. For more careful work, you need to go to the Cleanup section inside the application and wait for the deep scan to finish.
Be careful when viewing the results: the system may mark some files as safe to delete, but it is better to double-check their contents.The built-in algorithm works efficiently, but sometimes leaves large cache files that the user must manually delete through the application settings.
⚠️ Warning: Don't use the Memory Acceleration feature too often.Aggressive RAM cleanup on MediaTek Helio processors A22 can lead to more frequent reboot of background applications, which increases battery consumption.
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Run a full cleanup through the Security app at least once a week to prevent a large amount of temporary files from accumulating in the Other section.
Manually cleansing the cache of leading apps
The primary users of space on Redmi 6A are traditionally messengers and social networks, and their cache often inflates the “Other Files” section. To reach them, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the heaviest programs on the list, like Telegram or YouTube.
When you go into the application, select Storage, and you'll see two buttons here: Clear and Delete. We're interested in cleaning, and when you click on it, you'll be asked to choose whether to delete cache or all data, and Clear cache is safe and won't delete your emails or accounts.
If you choose Clear All (or Reset), the app will return to a state immediately after installation, a radical method that helps if the cache is not cleaned as standard, but requires re-authorization, and it is often enough to clear the cache regularly to free up space in the Other section.
☑️ Checklist of manual cleaning of messengers
Special attention should be paid to the Telegram app, which is famous for its voracious cache. Inside the application itself, under Settings → Data and memory → Memory use, you can set up automatic cache cleaning, for example, once a week, this will prevent future growth of the Other folder.
Removing hidden folders through the Explorer
For more advanced users, manually reviewing through a file manager is a good way to do this. The standard MIUI guide allows you to see the folder structure where the other files are hiding. Open the Explorer app and go to the root of internal memory.
Here, you should look at folders with the names of previously deleted games or applications. Often developers leave behind empty or trash-filled directories. Also check the Android/data and Android/obb folder. They store data from games and applications that can weigh gigabytes.
Be very careful when removing files from system folders, only those directories that you know the name and that are already remote programs, and it is better not to touch system files, so as not to disrupt the shell.
| folder | Description of the contents | Can I remove it? |
|---|---|---|
| DCIM | Photo and video from the camera | Only selected files |
| Download | Downloads from the browser | Yeah, unless you need files. |
| MIUI | Shell system data | No, just inside the files. |
| Android/obb | Cash hard games. | Yes, if the game is deleted. |
What to do if the folder is not deleted?
Cleaning the “Downloads” section and browser debris
Another source of garbage that falls into the “Others” category are files downloaded through the browser and the cache of the browsers themselves. Chrome, the standard Mi browser and other programs save copies of pages, pictures and temporary files to speed up loading.
To clear your browser, go to its settings and look for History or Privacy, and there will be the option to Clear History or Delete Browsing Data. Select the All-Time period and make sure that the items Images and other files stored in cache and Cookies are included.
Also check the Download folder in the file manager, often with APK installation files that have already been used or documents that you no longer need, which will instantly reduce the amount of space you take up.
- 🗑️ Clear the browser cache through privacy settings.
- 📂 Check the Download folder for old ones. APK-file.
- 🌐 Remove saved pages for offline access in the browser.
- 📸 Check the screenshot folder if it didn’t make it to the gallery.
⚠️ Note: When you clear your browser data, you will log out of all accounts on sites that did not tick “Remember me.” Make sure you remember passwords from important services in advance.
Radical methods: Reset to factory settings
If none of the above methods helped significantly reduce the size of the Other partition, it is possible that errors or corrupted index files have accumulated in the file system. In this case, a full reset to factory settings can help on Xiaomi Redmi 6A.
This method will remove absolutely all the data from the phone, returning it to the "out of the box" state. The Other partition will disappear completely as the file system will be formatted. It's a guaranteed way to free up space, but it requires prior backup.
To perform the reset, go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Erase all data. The system will request an unlock password and confirmation. Once you reboot, you will get a clean system where the Other partition will be the minimum size.
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Hard Reset is the only way to ensure that system debris is removed that is not visible to the user and is not removed by standard cleaning tools.
Before the procedure, make sure to back up your contacts, photos and important documents in the Mi Cloud or Google Drive cloud, and make sure that your battery is at least 50% so that your phone doesn’t turn off during the formatting process.
Prevention of memory overflow
To keep the problem from returning in a month, you need to implement simple smartphone rules: Regular digital hygiene on Redmi 6A is more important than periodic cleanings. Try not to store large amounts of data locally.
Use cloud storage for photos and videos. Set up automatic sync with Google Photos or Yandex.Disk with Free Space, which will remove the originals from your phone, leaving them available in the cloud, and prevent the proliferation of garbage.
Also watch for system updates. Xiaomi engineers are constantly improving the algorithms for working with memory in new versions of MIUI. The current firmware often contains bug fixes that could lead to memory leakage and creation of unnecessary files.