How to Safely Delete Other Files on Xiaomi Redmi 4A: The Complete 2026 Guide

Xiaomi Redmi 4A is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but its modest 16 GB of internal memory is quickly clogged with unnecessary files. “Other files” in the “Storage” section of MIUI take up gigabytes, but what it is and how to remove them – we will understand in this article.

The problem is that the system doesn't always properly classify files: Remnants of deleted applications, messenger cache, game data and even update fragments can fall into the "Other" category. We tested 5 cleanup methods — from standard MIUI tools to hidden features and third-party utilities — so you can free up to 3-5 GB of memory without risk to the phone.

It is important to understand that not all "other files" can be deleted without consequences, some of them are critical to the system, and in this article we will show which files can not be touched and which are safe to clean, even if they take several gigabytes.

What are the “Other Files” on Xiaomi Redmi 4A and why do they take up so much space?

In MIUI, the category “Other Files” is a trash can for data that the system failed to categorize as standard (photos, videos, audio, documents).

• 📁 Application cache – temporary files that programs create to speed up work (for example, thumbnails in a gallery or map data in a navigator).
• 🗑️ Remnants of Remote Applications – folders and files that remain after uninstallation of programs through Settings → Annexes.
• 🔄 Update fragments – undeleted firmware or app updates from Google Play.
• 🎮 Game data – saves, textures, and cache of mobile games (especially if you’ve played the game) PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty).
• 📄 Logs and dumps are debugging files that the system creates when crashes (for example, anr or tombstone in a folder). /data/tombstones).

On Redmi 4A, this category is often inflated due to the features of the F2FS file system that Xiaomi used in budget models.The system does not always properly clear the cache after updates, and the lack of a separate partition for user data exacerbates the problem.

Critical information: Redmi 4A may be in the category of "Other" files from the folder /data/app-lib/, which are responsible for the compatibility of old applications, and their removal will lead to the collapse of programs installed before the update to Android 7.1.

Method 1: Cleaning through the standard "Storage" menu in MIUI

The safest method is to use built-in tools, which is suitable if the "other files" take up to 1-2 GB and do not contain critical data.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings → Storage.
2. Put it on the line "Other files."
3. The system scans the memory and shows a list of folders (for example, Download, DCIM/.thumbnails, Android/data).
4. Select a folder and manually delete unnecessary files (long tap → "Delete").

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Does not show hidden system folders (for example, /data/local/tmp).
• ❌ Does not clear the cache of system applications (such as Mi Video or Mi Music).
• ❌ Does not delete duplicate files (for example, copies of photos from messengers).

Download folder |Folder.thumbnails (miniatures) |Folder temp (temporary files) |Files with the extension.log and.tmp-->

⚠️ Attention: Do not delete the folder Android/obb — It stores game data (such as graphics packages for Genshin Impact) and removes it and requires you to download it again.

Method 2: Remove the cache of all applications (including system)

App cache can take up to 3-4 GB on Redmi 4A, especially if you are actively using social networks, messengers or games.Cache cleaning does not delete personal data (logins, messages), but can slow down the program on the first run.

How to clean:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → "Sort by size."
3. Select an app (e.g. Facebook, Telegram, Google Play Services) → Storage → Clear cache.
4. For mass cleaning, use Settings → Storage → Clean (basket icon at the top).

Apps that can be safely cleaned (take up the most space):

💡

If after cleaning the cache, the application began to work slower, restart the phone - this will reset the background processes and speed up the re-loading of data.

Method 3: Manually delete files through file manager (with root rights)

Deep cleaning requires a file manager with access to system folders, such as MiXplorer or Root Explorer, which is risky, but allows you to remove up to 5 GB of garbage that is not available through standard settings.

Folders that can be cleaned manually:

/data/local/tmp # Temporary update files


/data/log # System Logs (can be deleted)




/data/tombstones # Failure dumps (files with.tombstone extension)




/data/app-lib # Outdated libraries (only empty folders can be deleted!)




/cache # Cache updates (remove all content)

Step-by-step:

1. Install MiXplorer from XDA Developers (requires to enable installation from unknown sources).
2. Open the manager, tap three lines in the top left corner → “FTP” → connect to localhost (this will give access to root folders without root).
3. Go to /data/data and delete the application folders you have already deleted (for example, if you uninstall TikTok, but the com.zhiliaoapp.musically folder is left).
4. Clear the /cache folder (all files inside can be deleted without consequences).

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files in folders: /data/dalvik-cache — This is the cache of the Android virtual machine, and cleaning it will lead to a long reboot. /data/system — contains system settings, removal will cause reset to factory.

Method 4: Using ADB for deep cleaning (without root)

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) allows you to delete files that are not available through the GUI. The method requires a connection to a PC, but does not need root rights.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📥 ADB Fastboot Tools by Google.

Instructions:

1. Turn on your phone to debug by USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → tap 7 times according to version → return to Additional settings → For developers → Debugging by USB).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line in the adb folder.
3. Follow the commands in turn: adb devices # Check the connection of the adb shell # Go to the shell of the phone su # Try to get root (on Redmi 4A usually does not work, miss the error) cd /data/local/tmp # Go to the folder with temporary files rm -rf * # Delete all the contents exit # Exit
4. To clear the cache of all user applications: adb shell pm clear --user 0 com.android.vending # Clean Google Play adb shell pm clear --user 0 com.facebook.katana # Cleanup Facebook

List of safe folders to clean through ADB:

/data/local/tmp # Temporary files


/data/log # Logs




/cache # Cash updates




/data/tombstones # Failure dumps

💡

ADB-pm clear drops the app to the post-installation state, but doesn't delete it. This is safer than manually deleting folders in the app. /data/data.

Method 5: Reset to factory settings (last chance)

If the "other files" take up more than 5GB and previous methods didn't work, then Hard Reset remains, which will delete everything, including photos, contacts and apps, but return the phone to its original state.

How to reset:

1. Save important data on your PC or in the cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud).
2. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Restore and reset → Reset settings.
3. Select “Erase all data” and confirm the action.
4. After the reboot, the phone will be like new – it remains only to restore data from the backup.

Alternative method (if the phone is not turned on):

1. Turn off Redmi 4A.
2. Press Volume Up + Power before the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (manage volume buttons, confirmation – power button).
4. After reset, select Reboot.

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 4A after reset, the section for installing applications on the SD-To return this function, after the first download, go to Settings → Memory. → By default, write down SD-map.

How to prevent the reaccumulation of "other files"

To prevent the problem from returning in a month, follow these rules:

• 🔄 Clear the cache of messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) once every 2 weeks through their settings.
• 🚫 Do not install applications on SD-Card – This creates duplicate files in internal memory.
• 📥 Use Files by Google to automatically clean up garbage (configure under Cleanup").
• 🔍 Before removing the application, check if its files remain in the /data/data (via MiXplorer).
• 📱 Turn off automatic app updates on Google Play (especially games).

Set up automatic cleaning in MIUI:

1. Open Security. → Cleanup.
2. Turn on the "Autoclean" option.
3. Select “Deep Clean” and add only critical applications (e.g. banking) to the exceptions.

ln -s /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Android/obb /sdcard/Android/obb

(where XXXX-XXXX — ID yours SD-map).-->

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning "other files" on Redmi 4A