Owners of Xiaomi’s Poco M3 smartphone often face the unpleasant situation of the device’s internal memory filling up rapidly. Especially annoying is the section called “Other”, which can take up tens of gigabytes and is not amenable to standard cleaning. This section is a collection of cache applications, temporary files, residual data after remote programs and system logs that the system cannot automatically classify.
Cleaning this section requires a comprehensive approach, because simply removing photos or videos won’t help. You need to understand the structure of the Android file system and the MIUI shell to safely get rid of excess weight without risking damage to the operating system. In this article, we will discuss proven methods that will help you regain free space.
The nature of the “Other” section
The Other section on Xiaomi smartphones is automatically generated by a temporary data storage system, which includes files that no app claims to be its own, as well as the cache of messengers, streaming services and browsers, and system debris accumulates especially quickly if you actively use social networks or watch high-resolution videos.
Often, users are unaware that remote applications leave behind tails in the form of configs and libraries, and these files continue to take up space, but the standard conductor does not see them, digging into a common pile of unidentified data, and understanding what exactly takes up space is the first step to successful cleaning.
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Use the built-in memory analyzer to see which apps contribute the most to the Other section before you start manually cleaning.
It is important to note that some of the volume in this section is reserved by the system for the correct operation of the background processes, which is not possible to completely empty it to zero, and it is not necessary, as this can lead to instability of the Poco M3.
Standard cleaning methods through settings
The safest way to start the fight for space is to use the built-in MIUI tools. The system offers basic features to delete temporary files that are often ignored by users. To begin, go to the Settings → Memory menu and click the Cleanup button.
The system analyzer will scan the device and suggest removing obvious debris. However, for the Other section, this is often not enough. You need to go deeper into the storage settings and select Clean Now after a detailed scan. Auto-cleaning is safe but superficial.
- 🧹 Open the Security app and select Cleanup».
- 📂 Click on the Deep Clean icon to find large files.
- 🗑️ Manually select the cache of heavy applications in the list of recommendations.
Remember to repeat this procedure regularly to prevent critical memory filling, and if standard methods do not produce visible results, more radical measures will have to be taken.
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The built-in MIUI tools only remove the surface cache, leaving the Other partition deep files intact.
Manually cleansing the cache of leading apps
The main culprits behind the “Other” bloat are usually messengers and social networks, with apps like Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber storing media files in their internal folders, which the system perceives as “Other,” and to fix this, you need to clear each app’s cache separately.
Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the heaviest messenger on the list, click on it and select Memory. Here you will see the Clear Cache button. It is important not to confuse this button with the Clear Everything button, as it will delete your correspondence and account.
Once the cache is cleared, the app can run a little slower on its first run, as it will have to reload the avatars and previews, a normal behavior that stabilizes quickly.
⚠️ Attention: Clearing the data (not cache) in messengers will lead to a complete loss of correspondence».
Using Developer Mode and Debugging
For more advanced users, Poco M3 is available through the developer menu, which allows you to see hidden processes and files that are usually hidden from the user's eyes. You can activate the developer mode by quickly clicking 7 times on the build number in the About Phone section.
Once activated, a new “Developers” option will appear in the settings menu, where you can find options to reset debugging settings or force system services to stop deleting files. System logs often occupy a significant space and can be reset through this interface.
Be very careful when changing the settings in this section. Inexperienced actions can cause interface failures or loss of network connectivity. If you are not sure about the purpose of a particular option, you should leave it unchanged.
Should I turn off the logger?
Application of Third-Party File Managers
Xiaomi’s standard Explorer has limited functionality. For deep cleaning of the “Other” section, it is recommended to use specialized file managers such as Total Commander or FX File Explorer. These applications show the real folder structure and allow you to find hidden files.
With these managers, you can manually find folders with the names.trash, temp or cache in the root directory or Android folder. Deleting the contents of these folders safely and efficiently frees up space. The file system becomes transparent to the user.
When you're working with root folders, the system can ask for special permissions, grant them to give you full access to the storage, and this will allow you to see even those files that are normally hidden by Android's security system.
- 📁 Install a reliable file manager from Google Play.
- 🔍 Sort files by size to find hidden giants.
- ❌ Delete files with.tmp and.log extensions only from system folders.
⚠️ Warning: Never delete files from system, vendor, or boot folders, even if the file manager gives permission to do so.
Resetting settings as a last resort
If none of the above methods helped reduce the size of the Other partition, the last radical step is a complete reset.This procedure will return the phone to factory state, completely destroying all user data and debris.
Before starting the procedure, be sure to back up important data. Reset will delete contacts, photos, apps and settings. The process will take 10 to 20 minutes, after which the Poco M3 will be like new.
☑️ Preparation for full discharge
To perform the reset, go to Settings → About Phone → Reset. Select “Erase All Data.” Once you reboot, the “Other” section will be the minimum size determined by the system itself.
Comparison of Memory Cleaning Methods
To make it easier for you to choose the right method, we have prepared a comparative table of the effectiveness of various methods for Xiaomi Poco M3.
| Method | Efficiency | Risk of data loss | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard cleaning | Low. | No. | Minimum |
| Cleaning up the app cache | Medium | No. | Low. |
| File manager | Tall. | Medium. | Medium |
| Total reset (Reset) | Maximum | High-pitched | Tall. |
The choice of method depends on how much time you are willing to spend and how critical the data on the device is, and the first two methods are sufficient for regular maintenance.
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After a complete reset, do not restore all applications from backup at once. Install only the necessary ones so as not to return the old garbage back.
Prevention of memory filling
To prevent the problem from returning too quickly, you need to change your smartphone usage habits: Regular prevention takes less time than dealing with the consequences. Memory hygiene should become a habit.
Set up automatic cache cleanup in applications that allow it, such as Telegram, where you can set the cache autodelete after 3 days or a week, and this will prevent the accumulation of gigabytes of temporary files.
It is also recommended to periodically check the Downloads folder, which often includes forgotten application installers and documents, and their removal does not affect the operation of the system, but frees up valuable space.
⚠️ Warning: Do not install accelerator apps from unknown sources, often as a source of advertising and junk files, making the problem worse.