Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO are all known for their functionality, but users often encounter the mysterious “Other” category in storage.This section can take up tens of gigabytes, causing system slowdowns and blocking the installation of new applications. Understanding what’s behind this name is the first step to optimizing the device.
The Other category is a hoard of system cache, residual files from remote programs, temporary data from messengers and downloads. Standard deletion methods are often powerless here, because the system considers this data important for work. Cleaning this memory requires a comprehensive approach that includes both standard tools and manual intervention.
In this article, we will discuss proven methods to help free up space, learn how to safely remove accumulated debris without damaging personal photos or contacts, and look at the operation of a standard cleaner, messaging settings and radical dumping methods if the situation is critical.
What is hidden in the “Other” section
Before you start deleting, you need to understand the nature of the origin of this partition. In the MIUI or HyperOS operating system, the Other category masks files that the storage analyzer cannot uniquely classify as images, videos or applications. Often these are data archives that applications create to quickly load content.
The bulk of the bulk is usually cached data from social networks and messengers, such as Telegram or Viber, which can store photos and videos viewed in hidden folders so that when you reopen the chat, they load instantly, and over time these databases grow to giant sizes, occupying up to 50% of all available memory.
Also included are:
- 🗑️ Residual files after deleting games and heavy apps.
- 📦 Archives of operating system updates.
- 🎵 Temporary exchange buffers from streaming services.
- 📄 Error logs and system performance reports.
Why doesn’t the system see these files as garbage?
It is important to note that some files in the Other section can be system-based, and blindly deleting all folders through the file manager can lead to unstable interfaces, so the approach should be selective.
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The Other section is not a virus, but a stockpiled digital trash and cache that can be safely cleaned with the right approach.
Use of the standard "Security" application
The easiest and safest way to start dealing with memory overload is to use Xiaomi’s built-in tools. The Security app has a Cleanup module that can find obvious debris, but to clean it up, you need to go deeper into the tool’s settings.
Open the app and select Clean up. After scanning, don't press the clean up button right away. Scroll down to the Guidelines or Deep Cleanup section. This is where large files that the system has classified as Other are often hidden. Analyzing large files allows you to manually select and delete unnecessary APK videos or installation packages.
☑️ Verification by standard means
Some firmware versions have Memory Acceleration, which forces background processes to close and clear RAM, which indirectly affects temporary files, too. If the standard cleanup only yields 100-200 MB, move on to more specialized methods.
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Run a standard cleanup routinely without waiting for the memory to be full, which will prevent heavy fragmentation of data.
Cleaning the cache of messengers and social networks
The main culprits behind the “Other” bloat are messengers. Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber are set to auto-save all received media files by default. To delete this “other” you need to go into the settings of the apps themselves, not just the phone’s storage.
Consider the example of Telegram. Go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory Use. Here you will see a striped cache. By clicking Clear Cache, you can delete temporary files without losing correspondence. For WhatsApp, the path looks like: Settings → Data and Storage → Storage Management.
This menu shows which chats are taking up the most space and selectively removes media files, which is critical because deleting through the file manager can disrupt the structure of the messenger database.
| Annex | The path to cleanup | Safe for correspondence? |
|---|---|---|
| Telegram | Settings → Data and memory | Yes. |
| Settings → Storage | Yes. | |
| Viber | More. → Settings → Memory. | Yes. |
| Phone settings → Applications | Entry required |
Once the cache is cleared in the applications themselves, the changes will immediately be reflected in the general storage, and the category “Other” should be significantly reduced in volume.
Manual Deletion through File Manager
For advanced users, a manual sweep method is available; the built-in MIUI Explorer allows you to see hidden folders if you turn on the appropriate display mode; however, it is better to use third-party tools or built-in analysis to work effectively.
Go to the Explorer app and select Documents or Files category. Look for folders with names of remote games or apps. Often they are left dead weight. Also, check the Android/data folder, but you need to be extremely careful here. Deleting the active application folders will lead to resetting their settings or losing their game progress.
Pay special attention to the Download folder. Browsers often save installation files that become useless after installation. Searching for files by size will help you quickly find heavyweights. Sort files by size and delete anything that is more than 100 MB and is not your personal photo or document.
Can I delete the folder.thumbnails?
Using ADB for deep cleaning
If the GUI doesn’t allow you to delete certain system caches, Android Debug Bridge comes to the rescue (ADB). This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer through USB-It allows you to delete files that are hidden from the average user.
First, activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly press 7 times on MIUI Version (or OS Version). Then, in the advanced settings, turn on USB Debugging.
Connect your phone to your PC and, in the command line, type a command to clear the cache of a particular application or system partition.
adb shell pm trim-caches 999999999999This command forcibly trims the cache of all applications to a specified size (in bytes). By putting a huge number, you actually clear the entire cache available. It's a powerful tool that instantly frees gigabytes in the "Other" section.
⚠️ Attention: Use ADB-Incorrect commands can lead to system files being deleted or settings being reset. Make sure you understand each command before it starts.
Radical measures: Resetting to factory settings
When the Other partition takes up a critical volume (e.g. 40-50GB) and is not cleanable by any methods, the last option is a complete reset, guaranteed to remove all debris, but also erase all your personal data.
Before starting the procedure, be sure to back up your contacts, photos and important documents in the Mi Cloud or on your computer. Go to Settings → About Phone → Reset → Erase all data.
Once reset, the phone will be like new. The Other category will be minimal. When you restore applications from backup, try not to restore their data completely, if possible, so as not to download garbage again.
⚠️ Warning: Before reset, make sure that the battery is at least 50%. interruption of the reset process due to battery discharge may result in the inability to turn on the device (brick).
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A complete reset is the only 100% guarantee of system debris removal, but it requires careful backup preparation.
Prevention of memory overflow
So that the Other problem doesn't come back too often, change your smartphone usage habits. Turn off auto-save media in messengers, and you can decide which images to save to the gallery and which to view once.
Check the Downloads folder regularly, at least once a week, and delete unnecessary files. Use cloud storage for photos and videos, enabling the Free Space feature, which deletes originals from the device after uploading to the cloud.
Xiaomi engineers are constantly working to optimize the file system in new versions of MIUI and HyperOS, improving the mechanisms of automatic cleaning.