“Other” takes up all memory on Xiaomi Redmi – how to clean up without losing data?

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi smartphones sooner or later face a mysterious problem: the phone’s memory is 90% full, but at the same time in the Storage section a huge block of “Other” is displayed – sometimes up to 10-20 GB. What are these files? Why are they not deleted by standard methods? And most importantly – how to free up space without resorting to a radical reset?

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven methods for cleaning Others on Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10 and other models, including hidden system files, app cache and update remnants. You’ll learn which tools are built into MIUI, when ADB helps, and when to use third-party utilities. We’ll also analyze why Others return in a week – and how to avoid it.

Important: The methods are suitable for MIUI 12-14 devices (including global and Chinese versions).If your Redmi runs HyperOS, some steps may differ, we will warn you about this separately.

What is the Other in Xiaomi’s memory and why does it take up so much space?

The Others section (or Other in English) is the garbage bin of the operating system.

• 📁 App cache (including social networks, instant messengers and games) For example, TikTok or Instagram can accumulate up to 1-2 GB of temporary files.
• 🔄 Remains of updates MIUI. After installing a new firmware, old files are not always deleted automatically.
• 🗑️ System logs and dumps (reports of errors that are created when failures occur). Redmi root rights can have a lot of them.
• 📱 Dalvik-ART files (optimized cache to speed up application launches) take up to 500 MB-1 GB.
• 🔗 Symbolic links and temporary files that are created when running Android.

Why doesn't the system clean this automatically? MIUI has a built-in cleaning mechanism, but it often doesn't work well. For example, after upgrading to MIUI 14, many users complain that Other has grown from 3GB to 15GB - this is due to a change in the cache storage structure.

⚠️ Note: If the Other takes up more than 30% of the total memory, this may indicate file system or virus damage.

Before you start cleaning, check the actual memory distribution.

1. Open the Settings → Storage.
2. Put it on the Others chart.
3. If you see folders like com.xiaomi.market or Android/data, you can manually delete them.

Method 1: Cleaning through built-in MIUI tools (no root)

Let's start with the safest method, which doesn't require any additional software, and MIUI has hidden deep cleaning features that you can't see on the home screen.

Step 1: Use “Memory Optimization”:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the "Cleaning" tab (broom icon).
3. Click on “Deep Cleanup” and confirm the action.

Step 2: Remove the MIUI update cache:

• 📱 Open the application "System Update».
• 🔍 Slip on three points in the upper right corner. → «Remove the downloaded package».
• 🗑️ Confirm the removal. This will free up to 1-3 GB if you recently installed firmware.

Step 3: Clear the Dalvik-ART cache (power users only):

1. Activate Developer Mode (7 times tap Settings → About Phone → MIUI version).
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the item “Clear Dalvik cache” and confirm.

⚠️ Warning: After cleaning the Dalvik cache, the first launch of applications may take longer.

Backup important data | Check battery power (minimum 50%) | Close all applications | Disable automatic application updates-->

Method 2: Manually delete files through Explorer (without root)

If the built-in tools don’t help, you can manually find and delete unnecessary files, such as a standard “Conductor” from Xiaomi or a third-party application (for example, Solid Explorer).

What folders can be deleted without risk to the system:

How to delete:

1. Open Explorer and enable the display of hidden files (three dots → Settings → Show hidden files).
2. Follow one of the paths from the table.
3. Select unnecessary files and click “Delete”.

⚠️ Attention: Do not delete folders Android/obb — It stores game data, and avoid files with the.odex or.vdex extension, which are critical for applications to work.

💡

Before deleting your Android/data folder, close the app. For example, if you clear the Telegram cache, pre-complete it in the multitasking menu.

Method 3: Using ADB for deep cleaning (for advanced)

If the "Other" takes up more than 10GB and does not shrink after manual cleaning, Android Debug Bridge (ADB) will help.This method requires connecting the phone to a PC, but allows you to remove system debris that is not available through the GUI.

What you'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 📥 ADB Tools (download and unpack in a separate folder).
• 🔧 Initiated debugging mode USB phone-on.

Instructions:

1. Connect Redmi to your PC and select File Transfer mode.
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Linux/macOS) in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter in turn the commands: adb devices (should display your device) adb shell su (if there is root rights, otherwise skip this step) pm clear com.miui.cleanmaster (clearing the cache of a standard optimizer) rm -rf /data/local/tmp/* (deletion of temporary files)

To remove the MIUI update cache, do:

rm -rf /cache/ota/*


rm -rf /data/ota_package/*

⚠️ Attention: Rm teams -rf They delete files irreversibly. A mistake along the way can lead to data loss. If you're not sure, skip this step.

Method 4: Third-party cleaning applications (with caution!)

Google Play has hundreds of memory cleanup apps, but most of them are either inefficient or a waste source themselves. We tested 10 popular utilities and selected the 3 most secure for Xiaomi Redmi:

• 🛠️ SD Maid (requires root for full functionality) – removes the remnants of remote applications and cleans databases.
• 🧹 Files by Google – simple interface, shows “garbage” by category (cache, duplicates, large files).
• 🔍 Storage Analyzer – Analyzes which folders take up the most space (useful for finding hidden debris).

How to use SD Maid:

1. Install the application and give access to the storage.
2. Run CorpseFinder – this module finds the remnants of uninstalled programs.
3. Go to SystemCleaner and clear the Dalvik cache, APK-file.

Warning: Avoid applications like Clean Master or DU Speed Booster.

• 🚫 Start background processes, discharging the battery.
• 📊 Collect data about your applications.
• 🔄 Often more trash is left behind than cleaned.

💡

On Xiaomi Redmi with MIUI 14, the built-in optimizer performs better than most third-party utilities. Use them only if standard methods don't help.

Method 5: Reset to factory settings (extreme case)

If none of these methods worked, and the Other still takes 15+GB, then you have a hard reset, which is a radical way to get the phone back out of the box, but delete all the data.

Create a backup copy of the MI Cloud or PC|Record logins/passwords from accounts|Make sure you're on SIM-mapping. No important contacts.|Remove the memory card (if any)-->

Resetting instructions:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select “Erase all data”.
3. Enter your password (if installed) and confirm.
4. After the reboot, the phone will look like new.

What to do after the discharge:

• 🔄 Do not restore data from the backup immediately – first check if the “Other” returned».
• 📥 Install applications gradually, watching for memory changes.
• 🛡️ Turn off automatic app updates on Google Play.

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 8 Pro) may require re-assignment of the Mi Account after reset.

Why does the other come back and how can we avoid it?

Even after a successful cleanup in 1-2 weeks, the "Other" can grow again.

1. Automatic update of apps in Google Play – each update leaves old files.
2. Background work of messengers (WhatsApp, Viber) – they cache media files.
3. Mistakes in MIUI that prevent temporary files from being deleted (especially for MIUI 13)

How to prevent:

• 🔄 Once a week, clean the cache through Settings. → Warehouse → Cleanup.
• 📵 Limit the background activity of applications in Settings → Battery → Energy saving regime.
• 🚫 Turn off automatic media download in messengers.
• 🔄 Update regularly MIUI — In new versions, garbage bugs are corrected.

For Redmi models on HyperOS (2026), the Other problem is less common due to an optimized cache storage mechanism. If you have old firmware, consider upgrading.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up "Other" on Xiaomi Redmi