Xiaomi smartphone owners often encounter the mysterious "Other" section in storage that can take up tens of gigabytes. - Redmi Note 8T This problem is especially relevant, given that the basic versions of the device have only 64 or 128 GB of internal memory. MIUI aggregates application cache, temporary files, residues of remote programs and system logs into this category.
Ignoring the proliferation of this partition can lead to a critical slowdown of the gadget. Android requires free space for the correct functioning of the clipboard and background processes. If the memory is filled with garbage, the device begins to hang, and applications can fly out without warning.
In this article, we'll look at proven ways to clean a partition safely, find hidden sources of debris, and use MIUI tools to free up space, and it's important to understand that it's not possible to remove a partition completely, because it's a system category, but it can be minimized to reasonable limits.
Anatomy of the "Other" section in MIUI
The Other section is not a specific folder, but a collection of data that the system cannot classify as photos, videos or documents. In Redmi Note 8T, messenger cache, downloaded files from browsers and temporary installation packages often fall into this section.
System processes also contribute to bloating this partition: Error logs, usage reports, and temporary update files accumulate over time, and the user rarely notices this process until they receive a space shortage notification.
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to delete system files through root file managers without understanding their purpose.
Understanding the data structure helps you choose the right cleaning method, sometimes just cleaning the cache of a particular application, and other times require a deeper approach. The main source of garbage on the Redmi Note 8T is the Telegram and WhatsApp cache, which is not always correctly displayed in the standard analyzer.
Cleaning through the standard “Safety” application
The first and most secure step is to use Xiaomi’s built-in tool: Security has access to system areas closed to ordinary file managers. Run a scan to find obvious sources of debris.
Inside the app, go to Clean up, and the system will suggest that you delete temporary files and cache, but for a deeper cleanup, click on the Garbage or Cleanup icon and then select Deep Cleanup, where MIUI algorithms will analyze large files and duplicates.
- 📱 Click on the “Analyze” button to start scanning all memory partitions.
- 🗑️ In the Recommended Cleanup section, select files that can be safely deleted.
- 📸 Check the Photo tab for blurred images and similar images.
- ⚙️ Use the "Cleaning" function APK», To remove installation files of old versions of programs.
☑️ Checklist of standard cleaning
After cleaning, it is recommended to restart the device, which will allow the Android system to recalculate the file indexes and correctly display the space that has been released. If the volume of the Other has decreased slightly, move to more specific methods.
Working with the cache of messengers and social networks
Messengers are the main culprits behind memory overflows on the Redmi Note 8T. Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber store all the media files viewed in a cache that the system often refers to as the "Other" section.
To clean up effectively, you need to go to the settings of the app itself. On Telegram, this is done through the Settings menu → Data and memory → Memory Use. Here you can clear the cache without losing correspondence. On WhatsApp, the path is slightly different: Settings → Data and storage → Storage Management.
| Annex | The path to cleanup | Safe for correspondence? | Normal garbage volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telegram | Settings → Data and memory | Yes. | up to 10GB |
| Settings → Data and Storage | Yeah (no media) | 5GB | |
| Viber | More. → Settings → Memory. | Yes. | 3GB |
| Phone settings → Applications | No (to enter) | 2GB |
Why is the cache coming back so fast?
Be prepared to enter a confirmation code or password after this procedure.
Finding and Deleting Hidden Folders Through Explorer
Some files are not visible by standard means, but take up space. The built-in MIUI Explorer allows you to display hidden folders. To do this, open the Explorer, click on the menu (three bars) and select Settings, then activate the item "Show hidden files."
Notice folders with names of remote applications. Often game or software developers leave their data even after deleting the main application. Look for folders at the root of internal memory with names like Android/obb or Android/data, but proceed carefully.
- 🔍 Look for folders with names of long-deleted games or apps.
- 📂 Check the Download folder for forgotten installers APK.
- 📁 Pay attention to the folder. MIUI/debug_log, if debugging is on.
- 🗑️ Delete only files whose origin you know for sure.
⚠️ Attention: Folder Android/obb It contains data for games, and if it is cleaned, it will require you to re-download additional files for games (game cache), and only delete the content if the game has already been deleted.
Using third-party file managers, such as Total Commander or FX File Explorer, can provide more flexible analysis tools, allowing you to sort files by size, which helps you quickly find the “heavyweights” hidden in the back of the directories.
💡
Use the file manager's size sorting feature to instantly find the largest files hidden in the Other folder, often forgotten video files or archives.
Specialized applications for disk analysis
When the standard tools are powerless, disk-space visualization tools come to the rescue, and applications like DiskUsage or Storage Analyzer build a memory card to show which file or folder is in place, which is the most efficient way to find the source of the problem.
Once you install this app, give it the necessary permissions to access files. The program scans Redmi Note 8T and presents the data in diagrams. You will immediately see that the Other section can consist of many small files or one huge log.
With these tools, you can safely delete specific files that inflate the system. However, be careful: delete only user content or explicit cache. System files are best avoided without a deep knowledge of the Android structure.
💡
Disk space visualizers are the most effective tool for finding hidden sources of debris, which shows a real picture of memory occupancy.
Radical measures: Resetting and reflashing
If nothing helps and the Other section continues to grow, there may be some errors in the file system, in which case a full Hard Reset can help.
Resets can be done via Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Erase all data. This process will delete all user data and return the phone to the “out of the box” state, which is guaranteed to clear the “Other” section.
In extreme cases, when the problem is software-based and is caused by a MIUI error, it may be necessary to flash the device, a complex procedure that requires unlocking the bootloader and using the computer.
⚠️ Warning: A full reset will destroy all data on your phone, including contacts, photos and messages. Be sure to back up to the Mi Cloud cloud or your computer before starting the procedure.
After reset, take your time to restore all the applications at once, install them one by one and monitor the memory behavior, which will help identify the culprit application if the problem recurs.