How to remove the Other section of Xiaomi Redmi 8T

Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi 8T often face the unpleasant situation when the phone’s storage is filled for no apparent reason. The main culprit for space shortages is usually the mysterious “Other” category, which can take up tens of gigabytes, a problem especially relevant for devices with internal storage of 64 GB, where every free megabyte is in the account.

The Other section is not just a system bug, but a cumulative buffer for temporary files, app cache, residual data after updates and system logs. The Android-based MIUI operating system sometimes miscalculates this data or simply cannot automatically delete it because of active processes in the background. Understanding the nature of these files is the first step to successfully cleaning it.

In this article, we will discuss in detail how to secure and effective ways to free up space, how to find hidden files, clear the cache of system applications and use special tools for deep cleaning, the main thing is to act consistently so as not to damage important user data.

Analysis of the contents of the section Other

Before we start taking drastic measures, we need to understand what exactly takes up space, and the “Other” section is where the most common cache of messengers like Telegram and WhatsApp, temporary browser files and streaming services, and also where bad downloads of system updates or remnants of remote applications can get into the section.

A standard memory analyzer in your phone settings doesn't always show a detailed breakdown, so for deep analysis, it's better to use specialized utilities that visualize the file system, which will allow you to see the real size of the folders that the system marks as "unknown."

⚠️ Note: Before any manipulation of the file system is initiated, it is strongly recommended to back up important contacts and photos to eliminate the risk of accidental data loss.

System logs and error reports are another frequent resident of this section. If your Redmi 8T device has recently been updated or crashed, these files could grow to several gigabytes in size. Deletion is safe, as they are only needed for debugging by developers.

Use of the built-in Security application

The easiest and safest way to start cleaning is to use the standard MIUI shell tools. Every Xiaomi smartphone has a Security app preinstalled, which includes a powerful memory tool that can find duplicates, large files and system debris.

To start cleaning, open the app and select Clean up. The system will scan and suggest removing the cache files. However, standard cleaning often only affects the surface layer. To access the deep layers of garbage, click on the Garbage icon after the scan is completed or go to Deep Cleanup.

In deep cleaning mode, you can see file categories that are usually hidden, where you can safely remove old application install logs, temporary ad files, and update pack residues, and clean up regularly through this tool to prevent the Other partition from growing.

Don't ignore the Big Files tab inside the same app, and users often forget about downloaded videos or archives that are in the root directory and classified by the system as Other, and deleting them instantly frees up a significant amount of space.

Cleaning the cache of messengers and social networks

Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber store all the photos and videos viewed in cache, which can reach 10-20 GB over time. These data are often displayed in the category “Other”, since the system does not always correctly attribute the cache of individual applications.

You don't have to delete the app to clean up Telegram. Go to the messenger settings, select Data & Memory → Memory Use. You can clear the cache with a single click, and your correspondence history and media files will stay in the cloud and re-download as needed.

On WhatsApp, the situation is similar: go to Data and Storage → Storage Management. The system will show the chats that take up the most space. Deleting media files from specific dialogues will help reduce the amount of space occupied without losing text correspondence.

Social networks like Instagram and VK also aggressively cache the feed.These apps often don't have a "Clear Cache" button in their settings, so the only effective way is to completely reinstall the app or clear the data through Android settings, which will require re-entering your account.

Working with files through a conductor and PC

If the automatic means don't work, you'll have to resort to manually cleaning through the file manager. MIUI Or the Total Commander installed will allow you to look into hidden folders. Android/data, where the application data is stored.

Connecting the phone to the computer through USB-cable, you'll get a more user-friendly interface for sorting files (MTP) You can quickly find and delete folders with the names of remote games or applications that are left hanging dead weight».

The.thumbnails folder in DCIM directory is worth a special attention, and it stores thumbnails of your photos for quick display in the gallery. Over time, this file can grow to the size of the original gallery. It is safe to delete it, the system will create it again, but the initial garbage will not be there.

⚠️ Be very careful when deleting files in the folder Android/data. Removing active application folders will result in resetting their settings or loss of progress in games.

Resetting settings and radical methods

If the Other partition continues to grow and takes up a critical volume, such as more than 20 GB, there may be a backlog of errors in the file system, in which case the most effective solution is to completely reset the settings to factory (Factory Reset), which is guaranteed to remove all debris and return the partition structure to its original state.

Before you reset, make sure all important data is stored in the Mi Cloud or on your computer.The process will completely destroy user data, including contacts, messages and installed apps.

There is also a less radical method, which is to clean through Recovery mode, which means turning off your phone and clamping the "Loud Up + Power" button combination, and you can try Wipe Cache Partitioning on the Recovery menu if you have this option available in your recovery version.

Remember that the constant growth of the Other section may indicate a bug in a particular firmware version. If the problem occurred after the MIUI update, it is worth checking for new security patches or, conversely, considering rolling back to a stable version.

Prevention and useful advice

To prevent the problem from returning, you should change your smartphone usage habits. Check the Downloads folder regularly and delete unnecessary ones. APK-It is also useful to disable auto-save media files from messengers to the gallery, if this is not urgently necessary.

💡

Use the Cleanup function in the Security app once a week to prevent large amounts of temporary files from accumulating.

Try not to fill your internal memory to the fullest. Android and file system should always be free at least 10-15% of the total. If the memory is full, the system starts to work slower, and the process of writing new data causes fragmentation.

For Redmi 8T users, the advice on using SD cards is relevant. Although modern applications require installation in internal memory, photos, videos and documents can be transferred to the map, freeing up the main partition for the system.

💡

Regular file system hygiene and monitoring of messenger cache are the best ways to avoid overflowing the Other section.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)