How to Remove “Other” on Xiaomi Phone: The Complete Guide

Why does the Other take up so much space on Xiaomi?

If you open your memory settings on your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO and see that the Other partition takes up tens of gigabytes, you are not alone. This problem is typical of MIUI-based smartphones, where the system automatically attributes app cache, temporary files, update residues, and even hidden messenger data to the Other. Unlike the clear categories (Photo, Video, Apps), the Other partition is the operating system’s junk box that is rarely cleaned by itself.

The main difficulty is that MIUI does not provide tools to directly clean this partition through standard settings. Users often try to delete “Other” through the File Manager, but are faced with the fact that the files are either not displayed or protected from changes. Meanwhile, the problem cannot be ignored: overcrowded storage leads to slowing down the phone, spontaneous reboots and errors when installing updates.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to clean the “Other” section, from simple (via built-in tools) to advanced (using ADB and third-party utilities), and you will learn which files can be deleted safely and which should not be touched so as not to disrupt the system.

What is the Other section of Xiaomi?

Before you start cleaning, it is important to understand what data falls into the category of “Other” depending on the phone model and the version of MIUI (for example, MIUI 12/13/14 or HyperOS), the composition may differ, but this usually includes:

• 📁 App cache – temporary files that programs create to speed up work (for example, YouTube cache, TikTok or Google Chrome).
• 🔄 Update residues – firmware files that have downloaded but not installed (especially relevant after failures when updating through the OTA).
• 🗑️ System logs – error logs, memory dumps and crash reports (files with.log,.dmp extensions).
• 📱 Data data Dalvik/ART — Android Virtual Machine Cache That Optimizes App Launch.
• 🔒 Hidden messaging files – Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber store media files here that are not displayed in the gallery.
• 🖼️ Miniatures (thumbnails) – reduced copies of images and videos that the system creates to speed up the display in the gallery.

According to tests on Xiaomi 12 Pro and Redmi Note 11, up to 60-70% of the volume of “Other”** can take up the cache of applications and update residues. The rest is distributed between logs and system data. Importantly, not all files in this section can be deleted! For example, deleting Dalvik data without preparation can lead to a cyclical reboot of the phone.

Method 1: Cleaning through the built-in File Manager

The safest and easiest method is to use Xiaomi's standard File Manager, which won't delete all of the Other, but will help you get rid of some of the unnecessary data.

1. Open the Files app (the folder icon on the desktop).
2. Go to the “Cleaning” section (in the lower menu).
3. Click on “Deep Clean” and wait for the analysis to be completed.
4. Check the boxes "App Cache", "File Remains" and "Large Files".
5. Click "Clean" (in the lower right corner).

This method removes an average of 1-3 GB of garbage, but does not affect system files. If the volume of the Other has not decreased after cleaning, move to the next method.

Make a backup copy of important data|Close all background applications|Connect the phone to charging|Check the vacant space (should be available) ≥10%)-->

Method 2: Removing the application cache manually

Many apps (especially social media and instant messengers) accumulate gigabytes of cache that doesn't clear automatically.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Choose an app that takes up a lot of space (like Facebook, Instagram, or Google Play Services).
3. Press "Storage» → «Clear the cache».
4. For complete cleaning, click "Delete data» (⚠️ This will reset the application settings!).

Pay attention to the following applications – they most often “clog” memory:

⚠️ Note: Do not clear cache and data from system applications (e.g. com.android.systemui or com.miui.home) This may result in a loss of interface functionality.

Method 3: Remove update residues via ADB

If the "Other" takes 10+ GB, there's a good chance that you've accumulated undeleted firmware files that you can delete through Android Debug Bridge (ADB) — And you're going to need a computer to debug Android. USB-cable.

Instructions:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on PC.
2. Turn on the phone "Developer Mode" (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version - press 7 times).
3. Activate "Debugging by" USB» In Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command prompt (cmd) in the ADB folder.
5. Enter the commands in turn: adb shell su rm -rf /data/ota_package/* rm -rf /cache/ota/*

These commands remove update files from folders /data/ota_package and /cache/ota. If you don’t have root rights, the su command won’t work – in this case, use an alternative method (see Method). 4).

Method 4: Use of third-party utilities (without root)

If previous methods have not worked, you can use specialized cleaning applications. It is important to choose proven utilities to avoid installing malware.

• 🛠️ Files by Google is Google’s official app that finds and deletes unnecessary files, including cache and duplicates.
• 🧹 SD Maid (free version) – analyzes system folders and offers to clean the remnants of remote applications.
• 🔍 Storage Analyzer – shows which files are in the “Other” section».

Example of working with SD Maid:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Run analysis ("CorpseFinder" to find application residues).
3. Select files to delete (exclude system files!).
4. Confirm the cleanup.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use root-access applications unless you understand the consequences. Mistakes may result in loss of warranty or phone bricking.

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Before using any utility, check the reviews in Google Play and the rating of the application. Avoid programs with suspiciously high ratings (4.9+) with a small number of reviews - this can be a “cheat”.

Method 5: Reset to factory settings (extreme case)

If none of the methods worked, and the Other still takes up critically much space, there's a complete phone reset that will delete all the data, including system debris, but also erase photos, contacts and installed apps.

Create a backup in Mi Cloud|Copy photo/video on PC|Record logins/passwords from accounts|Remove the memory card (if any)-->

Resetting instructions:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select “Erase all data”.
3. Enter the password from your Mi Account (if linked).
4. Confirm the reset.

Once rebooted, the phone will be like new. This method is guaranteed to clean the Other, but use it only as a last resort - for example, if the phone is slowing down or not updating due to a lack of memory.

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Factory reset is the only way to completely remove system debris, but it also erases all user data. Always back up before reset!

How to prevent the “Other” from being refilled?

To prevent the “Other” section from growing again, follow these tips:

• 🔄 Clean the cache regularly (once in a row) 1-2 weeks) through the File Manager».
• 📱 Remove unused apps – even inactive programs can accumulate cache.
• 🔄 Update. MIUI — In new versions, the work with memory is optimized (for example, in HyperOS, the “Other” takes up less space).
• 📁 Transfer files to a memory card (if supported) or to the cloud (Mi Cloud, Google Drive).
• 🚫 Avoid “cleaners” with aggressive ads – they often delete useful data.

It is also helpful to disable automatic update downloads if you have little space. → The phone. → Updating the system → ⚙️ → Download and select “Off.».

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's "Other" section