Owners of Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI 12 often encounter a mysterious “Other” partition in memory settings, which takes up gigabytes of space, but does not lend itself to standard cleaning. This partition can include cache system applications, remnants of deleted files, log files and even hidden updates – all that is not visible to the user, but actively consumes memory. Unlike the newer versions of MIUI (13/14), where the cleaning algorithms are optimized, MIUI 12 requires manual intervention.
Complicating the problem is that standard methods like cleaning the cache through Settings → Memory or using the built-in Optimizer often don’t work. In this article, we’ll discuss 5 working methods – from safe (through hidden menus) to radical (using ADB), and explain why the Other partition can return even after cleaning and how to avoid it. All instructions are tested on Redmi Note 9 Pro, Mi 10T and POCO X3 NFC models with original and custom firmware.
What is the Other in MIUI 12 and why does it take up so much space?
The Other section of MIUI 12 is a container for files that the system cannot categorize as standard (Applications, Media, Documents).
- 📁 Cache of system applications (e.g. com.miui.system or com.android.providers.media) that is not cleared through the regular menu.
- 🗑️ Log files and dumps (created when crashed or debugged, can weigh up to 1-2 GB).
- 🔄 Update Remains (Unremoved Packages) OTA Temporary Mi Push Service files).
- 👤 Deleted Account Data (for example, if you logged out of Mi Account but your files are still there).
- 🛠️ Hidden custom firmware files (if you installed unofficial software).
MIUI 12 features aggressive caching to speed up the interface, such as MIUI Control Center animations or weather widgets that can take up to 500MB in the Other section, and it often duplicates media files in the hidden.thumbnails folder, even if you have already deleted them from the gallery.
To understand the scale of the problem, compare the occupied space on different versions of MIUI:
| MIUI version | Average size of "Other" (GB) | The main "culprits" |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI 12.0–12.5 | 3-7 GB | MediaProvider Cash, logd logs, OTA residues |
| MIUI 12.6+ | 1-3 GB | Optimized cache, but core dumps remain |
| Custom firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu) | 2–5 GB | Magisk additional modules, TWRP backups |
⚠️ Note: If the Other partition takes more than 10 GB, this may indicate file system damage (for example, due to improper power outage during data recording.
Method 1: Cleaning through the hidden “Storage” menu (without root)
The safest method is to use the hidden Storage menu, which is available on all Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12, which allows you to remove the cache of system applications that are not displayed in the standard interface.
Instructions:
- Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##4636###.
- In the menu that appears, select “Storage” (or Storage if the interface is in English).
- Click Clear Cache (bottom button). The system will delete temporary files, including the hidden MediaProvider cache.
- Reset the device.
This method frees up 500MB to 2GB of storage, but does not affect log files and update residues. For a deeper cleaning, move on to the next method.
Backup important data | Charge your phone at least 50% | Connect to Wi-Fi (to download tools) | Disable two-factor authentication Mi Account (if you plan to reset)
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Method 2: Delete log files via ADB (for advanced)
If the hidden menu didn’t work, the reason for the filled “Other” section could be kernel and system process logs, which can be deleted via ADB (Android Debug Bridge) without root permissions, a method that requires a computer and basic command-line knowledge.
Steps:
- Install. ADB-pc-tool.
- Activate "Debugging by" USB» on the phone: go to Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times to enable Developer Mode, then in Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB.
- Connect the phone to your PC and execute the commands in the terminal: adb shell su (if root) rm -rf /data/log/* rm -rf /data/tombstones/* rm -rf /data/anr/* rm -rf /data/system/dropbox/*
- Reset the device.
These commands are deleted:
- 📜 Logs of system failures (/data/tombstones).
- 📊 Usage statistics (/data/system/dropbox).
- 🚨 Application dumps (/data/anr).
⚠️ Note: Removing files from /data/log This can cause you to lose the error data you need to diagnose problems.If you plan to contact Xiaomi Service Center, back up the folder. /data/log before cleaning.
What if the ADB can’t see the device?
Method 3: Cleaning through TWRP (unlocked bootloader required)
If the first two methods failed and the Other section still takes up more than 3 GB, the cause could be hidden custom firmware files or corrupted data in the /data partition, in which case cleaning through the TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) will help.
Procedure:
- Install TWRP for your model (instructions are available on the official website).
- Boot into recovery: Turn off the phone, then press Power + Volume up.
- From the TWRP menu, select “Advanced” → “File Manager”.
- Go to the folders: /data/system/package_cache — cache of installed applications. /data/media/0/DCIM/.thumbnails — thumbnails of deleted photos. /data/data/com.miui.gallery — gallery-cash.
Delete their contents (click on the folder → “Delete”).
«Wipe» → «Advanced Wipe»
Dalvik / ART Cache
Cache
Reset the device.
This method removes up to 90% of the content in the Other section, but requires an unlocked bootloader. If you're not ready for this, move on to the next method.
💡
Before cleaning through TWRP, create a backup partition /data in the recovery button itself, which will allow you to recover data if something goes wrong.
Method 4: Reset to factory settings (last chance)
If all previous methods failed and the Other section takes a critical 5+GB, then it will only reset completely, which will delete all data, including apps, photos and settings, but is guaranteed to clear the Other.
How to do the reset correctly:
- Create a backup of important data (photos, contacts, SMS) through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset or Mi Cloud.
- Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
- Select “Erase all data” and confirm the action.
- After rebooting, don't restore data from the backup immediately - first check if the "Other" partition is back. If so, the problem is in the corrupted file system (repair needed).
⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi Note 8 Pro, Mi) 9T) After the reset, you may see a "Mi Account locked" error. To avoid blocking, unplug your Mi Account before resetting to Settings. → Accounts. → Mi Account → Delete the account.
Method 5: Manually remove update residues (for experienced ones)
One of the main “eaters” of memory in “The Other” is undeleted files. OTA-They're stored in a folder. /cache and can weigh up 1–2 GB: You can remove them without root, but using them ADB.
Instructions:
- Connect your phone to your PC and activate ADB (as in Method 2).
- Follow the commands: adb shell su (if root is available) rm -rf /cache/ota/* rm -rf /cache/recovery/* rm -rf /data/ota_package/*
- Reset the device.
To slow the growth of the Other:
- Turn off auto-update apps in Google Play and Mi App Store.
- Freeze unnecessary system applications via ADB: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.analytics
- Clean the cache regularly via ##4636## (once every 2 weeks).