Xiaomi’s ‘Other’: What It Is, How to Check and Clean

Have you ever looked into your Xiaomi memory settings and found that the Other is 10GB, 20GB, or even 30GB, and neither photos, apps, nor cache explain where those gigabytes went? This mysterious category is one of the most common reasons for memory shortages on Redmi smartphones, POCO Mi, but few people know what exactly is hidden under this name and whether it can be safely removed.

In this article, we will not only tell you what the Other is in Xiaomi’s memory, but also show you how to put it on shelves using hidden system tools, which files can be deleted without risk, and which ones should not be touched. You'll learn why even after cleaning the cache and removing unnecessary apps, the volume of The Other doesn't decrease, and what to do about it. MIUI, We'll give you a checklist for regular cleaning.

What’s Under the “Other” Category in Xiaomi

In fact, "Other" is not a single file type, but a collection of everything that the system failed to categorize as "Applications," "Images," "Video," or "Audio," and this section includes:

• 📁 System log files (.log,.dmp) – reports on the work of Android and MIUI, which are created when crashes, updates or diagnostics.
• 🗑️ Residual files – “tails” from remote applications, temporary data that was not cleared after uninstallation.
• 🔄 Cache of system processes, such as Google Play Services data or MIUI Optimizations that do not fall into the “Cash” section».
• 📱 Update files – downloaded but not installed firmware packages (.zip in folder) /cache).
• 🔒 Encrypted data – for example, Mi Account backups or Secure Folder files (if you use them).
• 🎮 Game data – saves, additional resources (e.g. com.tencent.ig for PUBG Mobile can weigh a few GB).

Feature MIUI It's actively caches data to make it faster, but it doesn't always delete it correctly. For example, after a firmware update, old files can stay in the folder. /data/ota_package, till 1–2 GB. Or apps like Xiaomi Cloud or Mi Video create hidden folders with thumbnails and metadata that are not visible in a standard file manager.

⚠️ Warning: If you see that the Other takes up more than 30% of the device’s total memory, it’s a signal of possible problems, from overflowing cache to viruses or malfunctions. MIUI. Normally, this section should not exceed 10-15 GB on smartphones with 128 GB of memory.

How to know exactly what takes place in the “Other”

The standard Storage section in Xiaomi's settings only shows the total volume of the Other, not the composition of the Other. To get a handle on it, you'll need hidden tools and third-party utilities. Here's a step-by-step instruction:

Method 1: Built-in memory analyzer (MIUI 12–14)

Starting with MIUI 12, there's a hidden tool in the firmware to analyze the memory in detail:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Press 5-7 times on the item "Version" MIUI» (A message will appear saying, “You’ve become a developer»).
3. Return to the main settings menu and open Additional → for developers.
4. Activate the option “Storage Analysis” (or “Storage Analysis” in the English version).
5. Now in the Settings section → The storage will appear on the “Details” button (or “Details”), which will show the distribution of files by type.

This method does not work on all models, but on the Redmi Note. 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4 mi 11/12 If there's no "Details" button, move on to the next way.

Method 2: File Manager with root rights (without root)

Even without superuser rights, you can scan memory using the Files by Google app or CX File Explorer. They can show hidden folders and sort files by size. Download one of them and they can do it:

• 🔍 Open the tab “Analysis” or “Storage Analysis».
• 📊 Sort files by size (by decrease).
• 📂 Look for folders with names: com.xiaomi.*, miui, logs, cache, thumbnails.

Notice the folders:

• /data/log — System log files (can be cleared).
• /data/system/package_cache — cache of installed packages.
• /storage/emulated/0/Android/data — Application data (here are often hidden heavy game files).

Method 3: ADB-Teams for Advanced Users

If you are ready to connect your phone to your computer, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) Install Google's Platform Tools and execute commands:

adb shell


df -h # Shows the distribution of memory by partition




du -sh /data/* | sort -rh | head -n 20 # Top-20 large folders in /data




ls -la /data/log # List of log files

These commands will show you which folders are taking up the most space, for example, if you see a line in the output like 1.2G /data/log, This means that log files weigh. 1.2 GBs and they can be cleaned.

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Before use ADB Enable the option “Debugging by” in the developer settings USB» Confirm your trust in the computer on your phone screen.

What files from the “Other” can be safely deleted

Not all files in the Other section are equally useful. Here is a list of things that can be deleted without risk to the system (but it’s better to back up before cleaning!):

Pay special attention to the folder /data/log — Gigabytes of logs can accumulate here, especially if you test beta versions often. MIUI Or you use debugging tools. /sdcard/Download — occasionally loaded APK-Files or archives are "forgotten" for years.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files in folders under any circumstances. /system, /vendor or /data/dalvik-cache — If you're in doubt, it's better to transfer files to your computer than delete them directly.

Log files in /data/log|Cache updates in /data/ota_package|Miniatures in /DCIM/.thumbnails|Residual files of remote applications (via ADB)|Temporary files in /cache-->

Why does the “Other” grow again after cleaning?

Many users find that a week or two after cleaning, the volume of the Other increases again, and this is due to the way it works. MIUI:

• 🔄 Automatic caching: The system is constantly creating new log files for diagnostics (especially if the option “Send crash reports” is enabled»).
• 📦 Updates in the background: MIUI Uploads update packs in advance, even if you haven’t clicked “Install».
• 🎮 Game data: Apps like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile download resources in the background.
• 🔒 Encrypted backups: If you use Mi Cloud, the system can create local copies before uploading to the cloud.

To slow down the growth of the Other, disable unnecessary features:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone. → Reviews and Analytics and disable “Send crash reports».
2. B Settings → Annexes → App management find Download Manager and clear its data.
3. Turn off automatic update downloads in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → Settings (⚙️) → Downloading.

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Regular log cleaning and turning off automatic diagnostics will reduce the growth of the “Other” by 30-50% per month.

Hidden functions MIUI, who create "garbage»

Xiaomi adds to the MIUI There are lots of "chips" that make life easier, but they also clog up memory:

• 📸 Duplication of photos: Gallery app creates copies of edited photos in folder /Pictures/.edit.
• 🎵 Cash music: Mi Music saves album covers and metadata in the /Android/data/com.miui.player.
• 📺 Offline content: Mi Video and TV Download trailers and previews /Movies/.data.
• 🔍 Search index: The “Search by Device” function creates a database in /data/data/com.miui.search.
• 🤖 AI optimization: MIUI Optimization generates files to speed up animations (/data/system/miui_optimization).

To reduce their impact:

• Turn off “Auto-Save Edited Photos” in the Gallery settings.
• Clean up the Mi Music and Mi Video cache once a month.
• Turn off “Content Preload” in the settings TV (if you don't look offline).

What to do if the other takes up too much space

If, after all the manipulations, the Other section still takes up more than 20 GB, it's time for radical action.

Step 1: Resetting cache via Recovery

This method clears the system cache without data loss:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up to enter Recovery.
3. Choose Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
4. Confirm the action and restart the device.

This will delete the temporary files of the system, but will not affect your data. After the reboot, check the volume of the Other - it should decrease by 1-3 GB.

Step 2: Remove Unnecessary System Applications (without root)

Some Xiaomi apps (e.g. Mi Browser, Mi Pay, GetApps) pre-installed create unnecessary cache.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find an unnecessary app (like a cleaner).
3. Click “Disable” (this will remove its updates and cache).

List of safe applications to disable:

• 🌐 Mi Browser (com.android.browser)
• 💳 Mi Pay (com.miui.mipay)
• 📦 GetApps (com.xiaomi.mipicks)
• 🧹 Cleaner (com.miui.cleanmaster)
• 🎬 Mi Video (com.miui.videoplayer)

Step 3: Complete reset (if nothing helps)

If the Other is more than 30GB and doesn't shrink, it may have crashed, and then only a full factory reset will help. → The phone. → Reset settings. Before that:

• Backup your phone via Mi Cloud or Google Drive.
• Save photos and videos to your computer (including folder) DCIM).
• Export contacts and SMS (For example, through Google Contacts).

⚠️ Warning: After reset, the “Other” will decrease to 1-3 GB, but after 1-2 months it can grow again if the reasons are not turned off (log files, update cache, etc.).

How to Prevent the Growth of the Other in the Future

To avoid the problem again, follow these rules:

• 📅 Monthly Cleanup: Use Files by Google to Delete Unnecessary Files.
• 🚫 Turn off auto updates: In Settings → The phone. → Update the system to disable "Auto-downloading».
• 🔍 Control the games: In the game settings (for example, PUBG or Genshin Impact, disable “Resource Autoloading».
• ☁️ Use the Cloud: Move backups and rarely used files to Mi Cloud or Google Drive.
• 📱 Update. MIUI: In newer versions, firmware often optimizes memory management.

It’s also useful to keep track of “suspicious” apps — some (like TikTok or Facebook) create gigabytes of cache. → Annexes → Storage and clean data every 1-2 months.

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Regular prevention (cleaning of logs) + Auto-update control reduces the Other by 50-70% in the long run.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the “Other” in the memory of Xiaomi