Xiaomi’s “Other Files” in Memory: What They Are and How to Delete Them Without Harming Your System

You open up your memory settings on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO, and there are tens of gigabytes occupied by the mysterious category of "Other Files." The system does not show what is stored in this section, and the free space is melting away. Why does this happen? The fact is that MIUI grouped under this name the cache of applications, temporary files, remnants of deleted programs, system logs and even hidden messenger data. In some cases, there may be "hidden" and fragments of updates that were not deleted after installation.

Complicating the problem is that standard cleaning tools (like the built-in Optimizer) often can’t handle this garbage. And manual removal without understanding the mechanisms can cause MIUI to crash, such as wallpapering, resetting or application errors. In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to safely clean Other Files on Xiaomi, including hidden methods through ADB and third-party utilities.

What are Xiaomi’s “Other Files” and Why Do They Take So Much Space?

The Others category in the MIUI storage menu is a shopping cart for anything the system failed to classify as standard (Applications, Images, Videos, etc.) and includes:

• 🗑️ Application cache – temporary data that programs save to speed up work (for example, thumbnails in a gallery or downloaded maps in a navigator).
• 📄 System Logs – Error Reports, Memory Dumps and Service Operations Files MIUI (They can weigh up to 1-2 GB when used actively).
• 🔄 Remnant applications – not all programs clean folders after uninstallation.
• 📥 Update fragments – Xiaomi sometimes doesn’t delete firmware archives after installing.
• 🔒 Hidden data of messengers – for example, Telegram or WhatsApp can store media files here that are not displayed in the gallery.

On Xiaomi with MIUI 12-14, the problem is exacerbated by the file system: the system reserves up to 10-15% of memory for service needs, but sometimes forgets to release it after use. For example, after a major update (from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14), 3-5 GB of unnecessary files may appear in the Others section.

To understand what exactly is taking up space, you can use a memory analyzer.

1. Open the Settings → Memory.
2. Put it on the memory usage schedule.
3. Select the “Other” category – the system will show a list of folders and files, sorted by size.

⚠️ Note: Do not manually delete folders with the names miui, MIUI, system or android – this can lead to a critical failure and the need for flashing.

Method 1: Cleaning through the built-in MIUI Optimizer

The safest method is to use MIUI tools that do not affect system files, but can remove up to 30-50% of the garbage from the Others section.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Optimizer (on some firmware, the path may differ: Settings → Memory → Cleaning).
2. Click “Deep Clean” – the system will scan the device for unnecessary files.
3. Check the boxes: 🧹 «Application cache” — temporary data. 🗑 «Unnecessary files” — residues APK, logs. 📁 «Large files – manually check to avoid removing important files.

"Clean it up."

Close all active applications

Connect the charger (the process can take 5-10 minutes)

Make sure that the “big files” do not have important documents.

Backup your contacts and media (just in case)-->

Once cleaned, restart your phone to help the system free up memory correctly, and if the volume of Other Files has not decreased, move on to the next method.

Method 2: Manual deletion via file manager (for power users)

If the Optimizer fails, you can manually view the folders that occupy the space, and any file manager with access to the root directories (for example, Mi File Manager, Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer) will do this.

Algorithm of action:

1. Open the file manager and enable the display of hidden files (in Mi File Manager: ⋮ → Settings → Show hidden files).
2. Go to the root catalogue (/storage/emulated/0/) Check the following folders: What can be deleted What can not be deleted Android/dataRemote application folders (e.g., com.tencent.mm for WeChat if the program has been uninstalled long ago) Current application folders (may break their work) APK, archives, unnecessary downloads— DCIM/.thumbnailsCache of thumbnails (deleted automatically when the next gallery opens) MIUI/debug_logError Logs (you can delete everything)— Android/obbGame cache files (if games are deleted) Installed game files
3. Delete unnecessary files, then clear the Recycle Bin (in Mi File Manager: Recycle Bin → Clean).

⚠️ Attention: Do not delete folders Android/obb or Android/data In its entirety, this will result in the loss of application data (for example, saves in games or chats in instant messengers), and avoid folders with names like miui, Xiaomi or system.

💡

Before removing folders from Android/data, check if the app that owns them is being used, for example, the com.whatsapp folder is WhatsApp-related, and deleting it will reset all chats.

Method 3: Cleaning through ADB (for advanced users)

If previous methods didn’t work, and Other Files took 5+GB, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a low-level file system tool that requires a PC and enabled USB debugging.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on your computer.
2. Turn it on on the phone: 🔧 Developer Mode: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times). 🖥️ Debugging by USB: Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB.

Win + R → cmd

adb devices

(The name of your device should appear)

adb shell

su

(If you want root access, let me use your phone)

cd /data

du -h -d 1 | sort -h

This command will show you a list of folders in /data, sorted by size. Look for large directories called log, cache, or temp.

rm -rf /data/folder for delete

For example, to clean the logs:

rm -rf /data/log

Critical: Before deleting folders through ADB, back up your data (e.g., adb backup or manually copying important files to your PC) and the error can result in all data loss or a cyclical reboot of your device.

Method 4: Use of third-party utilities (SD Maid, Files by Google)

If you don't want to mess with ADB, you can use specialized cleaning apps.

• 🧹 SD Maid is a root-rights deep-scanner for garbage, and it finds the remnants of uninstalled programs, empty folders, duplicates.
• 📂 Files by Google – a simple tool with the function “Clean up” and categorize files by type.
• 🔍 CCleaner is a classic optimizer, but on MIUI It is unstable (may not see some system folders).

How to use SD Maid:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Start the scan (Basket → Analysis).
3. In the “Residues” section, select the files of the deleted programs and click “Delete”.
4. In System Logs, clear files with the.log or.tmp extension.

⚠️ Attention: Apps like SD Root-access Maids can delete critical files if they are not configured correctly. Before mass cleaning, manually check each item!

Method 5: Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If the Other Files take up 10+GB and previous methods didn’t work, it’s a hard reset that will delete all the data from the phone, including apps, photos and settings, but return the memory to its original state.

How to reset:

1. Back up important data (e.g., through Settings → Google → Backup or manually on PC).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select “Erase all data”.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (can take up to 10-15 minutes).

💡

Factory reset is the only way to get rid of the Other Files 100%, but it removes ALL from your phone. Use it only if other methods have failed and your memory is critically clogged.

After discharge:

• 📱 Do not restore data from backup MIUI — It may contain the same garbage.
• 🔄 Install applications selectively (one at a time) to track which one is clogging memory again.
• 🛡️ Turn off automatic download of media in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram).

How to prevent the re-accumulation of “Other Files”

To prevent the problem from returning in a month, follow the following simple rules:

• 🗓 Regular Cleaning: Start the Optimizer once a week (Settings) → Memory. → Cleanup).
• 🚫 Control of messengers: In Telegram and WhatsApp, turn off automatic media download (Settings) → Storage and data).
• 📦 Removal APK: After installing apps, delete the downloaded.apk files from the Download folder.
• 🔄 Wi-Fi Updates: Only download firmware through a stable connection to avoid snippets in memory.
• 🛡️ Antivirus: Use Google Play Protect or Dr.Web to search for malicious files masquerading as system files.

It’s also useful to track “problem” apps, such as TikTok, Facebook, and some games (PUBG, Genshin Impact) are known for leaving behind gigabytes of cache. Check them manually through Settings → Apps → Storage.

FAQ: Frequent Questions About Xiaomi's "Other Files"