How to Free Xiaomi Memory by Deleting Mysterious ‘Other’: The Complete Guide

Have you ever looked into your Xiaomi storage settings and found that the Other is 10, 20, or even 30GB in size, and neither photos nor videos nor apps weigh that much, where does this garbage come from, why does the system not clean it automatically, and most importantly, how to safely remove the Other from Xiaomi memory without breaking the phone? We tested all the ways on devices with MIUI 12-14 (including Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4, Xiaomi 12/13) and identified 5 working methods, from simple to radical.

In this article, you will find not only instructions, but also a discussion of the reasons why The Other is snowballing. For example, did you know that it is not just cache and temporary files that are to blame, but also errors in the operation of MIUI Optimization, as well as hidden logs of system applications? and we will also uncover the myth of the “magic” memory cleaners from the Play Market – why they often harm more than they help.

If your Xiaomi is already signaling a memory shortage and there is more than 5GB in the Other section, don’t rush to drop your phone before the factory settings. In 80% of cases, the problem can be solved without data loss using built-in tools or standard ADB commands. But there are nuances: some methods require root rights, and others can slow down the system if you do something wrong, so we will analyze each method in detail, with warnings and alternatives.

What is the Other in Xiaomi’s memory and why is it growing?

The Other section of MIUI is a dump for files that the system cannot categorize as standard (photos, videos, apps, etc.) and includes:

• 🗃️ Cache of system applications (including com.miui.home, com.android.systemui)
• 📝 Error Logs and Memory Dumps (Created When Failed) MIUI)
• 🔄 Temporary update files (remain after installing firmware)
• 📁 Remnants of Remote Applications (Folders) /data/data/ not always cleaned)
• 🎮 Game data (e.g. Genshin Impact cache or PUBG Mobile that is not included in the Apps section»)

The main reason for the growth of “Other” is the peculiarities of the Xiaomi file system. Unlike “pure” Android, MIUI aggressively caches data to speed up work, but often “forgets” to delete it. For example, after updating the firmware through About Phone → Update MIUI in memory can remain up to 2-3 GB of garbage in the /cache folder. And if you actively use themes (Mi Themes), the the theme cache can “eat” another 1-2 GB.

Another culprit is a bug in the miui.analytics service, which collects data for Xiaomi, on some devices (especially Redmi). 9/10) It creates giant logs in a folder. /data/log/, That the system hasn't cleaned for years, like on a test. POCO X3 Pro, we found the file. analytics_log.db size 4,2 GB – and this is despite the fact that the phone was used less than a year!

⚠️ Note: If the Other takes up more than 15GB, it may indicate file system damage (e.g., after an incorrect power outage during data recording.

Method 1: Cleaning cache and debris through built-in MIUI tools

Start with the safest method, the built-in MIUI tools, which don't require root rights or risk damaging the system.

1. Cleaning up the app cache: 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management. 🔍 Sort the list by size (click on the three dots in the upper right corner) → Sort by size). 🧹 For each major app (e.g. Facebook, Telegram, Mi Video) click Clear cache.

Delete unnecessary files through “Cleanup”:

• 🗑️ Open the Security app (shield icon).
• 🔍 Select Cleanup. → Deep cleaning.
• ✅ Check all categories (especially System junk and Residual Files»).
• 🚮 Click Clean and confirm the action.

On devices with MIUI 13/14, there's another hidden tool called "Intelligent Cleanup."

Settings → Battery and Performance → Memory Cleanup → Enable “Intelligent Cleanup”

This feature automatically removes unnecessary files when the battery is low or memory is scarce.

Backup important data |Close all applications |Connect phone to charge |Contact free space before and after cleaning-->

⚠️ Warning: Do not use the Clear All Data option for system applications (such as Settings or Phone)! MIUI and the need to reset to factory settings.

Method 2: Manually clean folders through file manager

If the built-in tools didn't work, it's time to dig deeper -- manually check folders where garbage usually accumulates, and any file manager with access to root folders (such as Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer) will do.

Pay special attention to the folder /MIUI/. It often accumulates gigabytes of old themes and wallpaper that the system does not remove even after changing the design. 11T We found 3,7 GB of unnecessary themes in the folder /MIUI/theme/ — The phone only used a standard theme!

If you have root access, check the folder. /data/log/. Xiaomi analytics logs can be found here (files) analytics_*.logs that are taken up to 5 GB. They can be safely removed — they are only needed for debugging by developers.

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Before you delete the folders, take a screenshot of their contents, and if something goes wrong after cleaning it, you can only recover critical files.

Method 3: Using ADB for deep cleaning (no root)

If manual cleaning doesn't work and root isn't, ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is the way to help you remove system debris that you can't get through standard settings.

Connect your phone and activate the debugging:

This method is especially effective if the Other has grown after a failed MIUI update.For example, on POCO F3 after upgrading to MIUI 13, 1.8 GB of unnecessary files remained in the cache - and only a reset via Recovery helped to delete them.

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Recovery cache resetting is the only safe way to clear a system cache without root rights.It doesn't affect user data, but requires a reboot.

Method 5: Radical measures - reset to factory settings

If the Other takes up more than 10GB and previous methods have not worked, the last resort is to reset your phone to factory settings.This will delete all data, including apps, photos and settings, so make sure to back up!

How to Reset Xiaomi Right:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Backup and reset → Resetting settings.
• 🔐 Choose to Erase All Data (not to be confused with Settings Reset – these are different options!).
• ✅ Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

Once reset, the phone will be clean, like when you buy it. On the Xiaomi 12 Pro, this method freed up 18 GB of memory that the Other used to take up. But remember, this is not a panacea. If the cause of the problem is a corrupted file system, the garbage can reappear in a few weeks.

⚠️ Note: On some devices (Redmi) 9A/9C) The internal storage section may disappear after the reset. MIUI 12.5. To avoid the problem, format before resetting SD-If you have a map, then take it out.

Myths about cleaning the “Other” in Xiaomi: what not to do

There are a lot of "advice" on the Internet that not only doesn't help, but also hurts the phone.

• 🚫 «Install Clean Master or CCleaner – these apps often delete the right files and slow down. MIUI. They can also become a source of garbage.
• 🚫 «Format internal memory via PC – this will result in complete data loss and can damage partition /data.
• 🚫 «Delete the Android folder via PC, which stores app data, and delete all installed programs.
• 🚫 «Use commands. ADB remove /data/data» — This will erase all applications and settings, effectively leading to a reset.

Another dangerous tip is to disable system applications via ADB or Titanium Backup, for example, some gurus recommend disabling com.miui.analytics or com.xiaomi.mipicks, but this can lead to:

• 🔄 Loss of functionality (for example, topics or updates will stop working).
• 📉 Increased battery consumption (the system will try to restart the services disabled).
• 🚨 Errors in the next update MIUI.

If you really need to disable the system application, use a safe method:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.analytics

But remember: this can disrupt Xiaomi’s cloud services (such as syncing notes or photos).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the “Other” in the memory of Xiaomi