How to Delete “Other Files” on Xiaomi: 7 Proven Ways

The internal memory section called Other Files on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones is one of the most mysterious folders for users, which can take up from 500 MB to 10+ GB, but does not display specific content in the standard file manager. Many people mistakenly believe that this is garbage or residual application data, but in fact it stores system process caches, log files, MIUI temporary data, backups and even fragments of remote applications.

The problem is that MIUI doesn't provide built-in tools to completely clean this partition. Even after using the Cleanup function in the settings, only a partial memory is released. In this article, we'll look at what's hidden under Other Files, why they accumulate, and how to remove them without rooting and resetting to factory settings.

If you notice that Xiaomi’s memory fills up on its own and the Others section grows by leaps and bounds, that’s a signal to deep-clean. But before you start, it’s important to understand that not all files in this section can be deleted. For example, dalvik-cache or lib are critical to Android, and deleting them without root rights can lead to a cyclical reboot of the device.

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

The Others section of MIUI is a container for files that the system cannot classify as media, documents or applications.

• 📁 Cache of system applications (for example, com.miui.home or com.android.systemui)
• 📜 Log files (error logs, crash reports, logcat data)
• 🔄 Temporary update files (firmware residues, packages) OTA)
• 🗑️ Residual data of remote applications (incorrectly uninstalled) APK)
• 🔒 Encrypted files MIUI (For example, Mi Cloud or Mi Account data)

The main reason for this expansion is the MIUI architecture, which actively uses caching to speed up the interface, for example, after updating the firmware system can leave up to 2-3 GB of temporary files that are not deleted automatically, and some applications (especially games) create hidden folders with data that are not cleaned.

Interesting fact: Xiaomi with Snapdragon processor, “Other Files” often take up more space than on devices with MediaTek. This is due to the peculiarities of Qualcomm optimizations in MIUI.

⚠️ Note: If the Others partition is more than 15GB, this may indicate file system damage or viral activity, in which case it is recommended to check the device through Mi Security Scan or perform a factory reset.

How to see what exactly takes place in the “Other Files”

Xiaomi's standard File Manager doesn't show the contents of the Others section. To see the details, you'll need third-party tools.

• 🔍 DiskUsage (from Google Play) – visualizes the occupied space on folders.

Instructions for analysis through DiskUsage:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Start the scan (can take 5-10 minutes).
3. Go to /data or /sdcard.
4. Look for folders with unusual names: com.miui.daemon, log, lost+found.

Typical junk folders in Other Files:

The /data/app-lib folder often contains residual data from uninstalled games (such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile), which can weigh up to 1-2 GB each.

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If you see a folder com.tencent.mm (WeChat) or com.facebook.orca (Messenger) in Other Files, it means that messengers save cache outside of standard storage.

Method 1: Cleaning through built-in MIUI tools

Before you resort to third-party utilities, try the built-in cleaning features. They won’t remove everything, but they will help you free up 1-3 GB without risk.

Steps:

1. Open “Settings” → “About the phone” → “Memory”.
2. Click on “Clean” (or “Free space” in new versions of MIUI).
3. Select “Deep Clean” and confirm the action.
4. Go to the Files tab and manually check the Downloads, Bluetooth, Pictures/Screenshots folders.

What is removed during deep cleaning:

• 🗑️ Temporary application files (such as YouTube or Chrome cache).
• 📥 Unused. APK-Files (remainders after updates).
• 📋 Empty folders and duplicate media files.

Limitations of the method:

It does not affect system logs (/data/log).

Does not remove the MIUI cache (such as animations or fonts).

Does not clean up the data of remote applications completely.

Make a backup copy of important data|Close all background applications|Connect the charger|Check the vacant space (at least 10 required%)-->

Method 2: Removal via ADB (no root rights)

If the built-in tools didn’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), Google’s official tool for managing Android devices, a method that doesn’t require root rights, but allows you to remove some of the system debris.

What you need:

Instructions:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC and allow debugging.
2. Open the command prompt (cmd) and type: adb shell pm clear com.miui.cleanmaster (this will clear the cache of a standard MIUI cleaner).
3. Delete the cache of system applications: adb shell pm clear com.android.providers.media adb shell pm clear com.miui.home
4. To delete log files (requires confirmation): adb shell rm -rf /data/log/*

⚠️ Attention: Command rm -rf /data/log/* It deletes all system logs, which can make it difficult to diagnose problems in the future. Use it only if you are sure that the device is stable.

What else can be cleaned with ADB:

• 📦 Google Play Services cache: adb shell pm clear com.google.android.gms
• 🗃️ Temporary update files: adb shell rm -rf /cache/*

Method 3: Manual cleaning via TWRP (for advanced users)

If your Xiaomi has custom TWRP reclaimers installed, you can manually delete unnecessary files from the /data partition.This method is risky, but allows you to free up to 5-7 GB.

Step-by-step:

«Delete»

Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: Delete dalvik-cache, system or misc folders in TWRP It will cause system failure, and it is also recommended not to touch files with the.odex or.oat extension, they are critical for Android.

After cleaning through TWRP:

The first download can take up to 5-10 minutes.

Some apps (such as Mi Video or Mi Music) may require re-configuration.

The largest amount of memory is released among all methods (except for a complete reset).

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Cleaning through TWRP is the most efficient way, but requires an installed recovery and knowledge of the structure of Android.

Method 4: Using Deep Cleaning Applications

If you don't want to mess with ADB or TWRP, you can use third-party apps.

Recommendations for using SD Maid:

1. Install the application and grant superuser rights (if there is a root).
2. Run CorpseFinder – this tool finds residual data from remote applications.
3. Go to AppCleaner and clear the cache of system applications (e.g. com.miui.gallery).
4. Use SystemCleaner to delete log files (the Log files option).

What can be safely removed through SD Maid:

⚠️ Note: Do not use the Database Cleaner feature in SD Maid without rooting rights – this can lead to loss of data in apps (for example, WhatsApp message history).

Method 5: Reset to factory settings (extreme case)

If none of the methods worked, and the Other Files still takes up more than 10GB, it leaves the device completely reset, a radical way, but it is guaranteed to clear all unnecessary data.

How to do the reset correctly:

1. Create a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Move your important files to your PC or cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud).
3. Go to Settings → About Phone → Resetting Settings.
4. Select “Delete all data” and confirm.
5. After reset, do not restore data from the backup – this can bring back the “garbage”.

What the dumping does:

• 🧹 Complete removal of all user data and applications.
• 🔄 Restore the factory file system.
• 📉 Release of the entire “Other Files” section (except system data) MIUI).

Cons of the method:

Loss of all settings, messages and installed applications.

The first setup after reset can take up to 30-40 minutes (update download, application optimization).

Some junk files (such as MIUI updates) may return after the first update.

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Factory reset is the only way to 100% clear Other Files, but it’s only worth using if other methods don’t work.

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

To prevent the “Others” section from growing again, follow these recommendations:

• 🔄 Clean the cache regularly through “Settings» → «Annexes» → «App management (select Clear cache for large apps like Facebook or Instagram).
• 🚫 Turn off automatic app updates in Google Play – this will reduce the number of temporary files.
• 📱 Use the “Lite” versions of apps (like Facebook Lite or Messenger Lite) that create less cache.
• 🔒 Limit background activity through “Settings» → «Battery and productivity» → «Battery consumption management».
• 📥 Delete. APK-files after installing applications (they remain in place) /sdcard/Download).

It is also useful to disable unnecessary system applications (if there is a root):

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.analytics


adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.midrop

(This will disable analytics and Mi Drop, which are actively writing logs.)

If you install/remove games frequently, use the App Cloner app to test them in an isolated environment (sandbox) without clogging your main memory.

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