How to remove the “Other” on Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro

Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro smartphone often face a situation where the device’s memory is filled in an incomprehensible way. In the storage settings section, the category “Other” appears, which can take up tens of gigabytes of precious space, a phenomenon especially relevant for a model with a basic version of internal memory, where every gigabyte is in the account.

This category is a collection of temporary files, system logs, residual data from remote applications and messenger cache. Android does not always correctly classify this data as system data, which makes it hidden from standard cleaning through Explorer. Understanding the nature of these files is the first step to successfully optimize your gadget.

In this article, we will discuss in detail the safe and advanced cleaning methods, and it is important to understand that deleting some system files may require re-authorization in applications, so the process should be approached consciously, and we will look at both the standard MIUI shell tools and deeper methods of working with the file system.

⚠️ Note: Before any manipulation of system files, we strongly advise you to back up important photos and contacts. Errors when removing system libraries can lead to unstable interface operation.

The Nature of the Other in Android

The Other section (sometimes labeled System or Miss) is not a virus or bug, but a feature of the file system architecture. In a Redmi 8 Pro smartphone running a MIUI shell, files that the system cannot uniquely attribute to photos, videos, audio or documents are included. Often it is a “heavy” social media cache that is formally app data but visually displayed separately.

The bulk of the garbage is made up of error logs, statistics and temporary update files, and the system cache is accumulated as the browser, YouTube and other multimedia services work, and over time, this data is fragmented and takes up more space, although its usefulness to the user is zero.

Telegram and WhatsApp store all the media they receive in their internal folders, which Android often classifies as “Other,” without regular cleaning, these apps can eat up to 10-15 GB of memory, masquerading as system debris.

• 📂 Temporary application update files from Google Play and GetApps.
• 📸 Miniatures and previews of photos created by the gallery for quick viewing.
• 📝 Debugging logs and system failure reports hidden from the average user.
• 🎵 Cache of streaming services (Spotify, Yandex.Music), saved for offline listening.

Basic cleaning through the standard “Safety” application

The easiest and safest way to start fighting overcrowded memory is to use Xiaomi’s built-in tools.Security has deep system access rights and can delete secure temporary files. Launch the app and select Clean up.

After scanning, the system will suggest removing the garbage, but this is just a surface cleaning. For a deeper analysis, click on the garbage cleanup icon inside the app or go to the storage settings, and you'll see a more detailed breakdown by category.

Notice the "Big Files" section, which is often where forgotten downloads or video files that are not formally defined by the system are hidden. APK-Installer files also help free up space, as after installing the application, these files are no longer needed.

Don't just rely on automatic cleaning. Manually go through the list of applications that take up the most space. If you see an application weighing a few gigabytes, most likely the entire volume is the "Other" section that can be safely cleared through the application management menu.

Deep cleaning of the cache of messengers and social networks

The main culprits of memory filling on Redmi 8 Pro are traditionally Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber and VK, which store the history of correspondence and media files in shared folders that inflate the “Other” section. Standard cache cleaning through Android settings often does not delete downloaded pictures and videos.

For Telegram, you need to go to the settings of the app itself: Settings → Data and memory → Memory usage. Here, the Clear Cache button works most effectively. It is recommended that you also set the cache autodelete in, for example, 3 days or a week, this will prevent the accumulation of garbage in the future.

On WhatsApp, the situation is similar. Go to Settings → Data and Storage → Storage Management. The system will show files larger than 5 MB and chat rooms taking up the most space. Deleting unnecessary videos from family chats can instantly free up 1-2 GB.

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In Telegram settings, enable the “Save Media Files in Gallery” function only for selected chats so that media does not duplicate in system memory.

Social networks like VK or Odnoklassniki cache the videos and music you've watched, and in the settings of these apps, look for the "Cash" or "Storage" section and clean it up, and then the apps can load a little longer on their first run, because they'll have to re-download the data from the network.

• 🗑️ Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Use of memory → Clean up.
• 💬 WhatsApp: Settings → Warehouse → Storage management → Delete large files.
• 🎵 VK/Yandex: Application settings → Mainstream → Clear the cache.
• 🌐 Browser (Chrome, Mi Browser): Settings → Confidentiality → Clear history (select cache).

Using Developer Mode and Debugging over USB

If standard methods didn’t work, you can resort to more technical methods: Enabling the developer mode on the Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro allows you to access hidden system functions, and you need to quickly click on the build number 7 times in the About Phone section.

In the Developer Menu (in the additional settings), you can find "Run ADB Verification" or "Debug over USB." While this does not delete files directly, it allows you to connect to your computer and use ADB commands to force clearing of dalvik cache and system temporary files.

adb shell pm trim-caches 999999999

This command, entered through a computer with ADB installed, forcibly trims the cache of all applications to a minimum. It is a powerful tool that often helps when the Other partition has swelled to inadequate size, but it should be used with caution.

Also in developer mode, it is useful to check the item “Limit background processes”. Setting a limit on the number of applications running in the background (for example, up to 2-3 processes) can reduce the rate of filling the cache in real time, although this will not clean up the already accumulated garbage.

Analysis of storage by third-party utilities

When MIUI's built-in tools don't show the full picture, specialized analyzers come to the rescue, applications like DiskUsage or Total Commander allow you to visualize the file system as a diagram, which gives you an idea of which folder is bloated.

Once you install an app like this, you can see that the Other section often hides.thumbnails folders in the gallery or logs in the Android/data folder. Visualization helps you find hidden files that are not visible in a standard Explorer. For example, you may find that the recorder has been writing sound for months, taking up gigabytes.

When using third-party file managers, be careful. Deleting files from system folders that you don't know the purpose of can cause crashes. App-name folders can usually be cleaned, but system directories are best left unscathed.

Radical measures: Resetting to factory settings

If nothing helps and the Other section continues to grow, taking up half the memory of the Redmi 8 Pro, the last proven method is a full reset, which is guaranteed to remove all the software debris accumulated over the years of use.

Before you do this, make sure to back up your data to the Mi Cloud or your computer. Once reset, the phone will be like a new one, with a clean file system, a process that takes 10-15 minutes and is done via the recovery menu or system setup.

Path to reset: Settings → Phone → Settings Reset → Erase all data. The device will reboot and begin the clean-up process. Once turned on, it is recommended not to restore the backup of applications “wholesale”, but to install them again so as not to return old garbage.

⚠️ Warning: Full reset deletes ALL data, including photos, contacts and messages. Make sure you have an up-to-date copy of important information on an external medium.

Often, after a reset, users find that the Other only takes 1-2 GB, which is the norm for the system to work, confirming that the problem was the software debris, not the physical memory malfunction.

Prevention and recommendations for use

To prevent the memory overflow problem on the Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro from returning, it is worth changing your smartphone usage habits: Regular, even weekly, cleaning the cache takes less time than fighting 20 GB of garbage every six months.

Use cloud storage for photos and videos. Set up automatic synchronization with Google Photos or Mi Cloud with Free Space allows you to store originals in the cloud, leaving only compressed copies on your phone or deleting them altogether.

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Regular cleaning of messenger cache is the most effective way to prevent the growth of the “Other” section on Xiaomi smartphones.

Also, limit the background activity of heavy applications, so in the battery settings, you can prevent applications from running in the background unless they require constant connection (such as games or editors), which will reduce the amount of temporary files created.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)