Xiaomi’s “Storage Place is Different”: What’s Behind This Signage and How to Free Your Memory

Why does Xiaomi have a mysterious “other” storage space?

You go to Xiaomi's settings to check the free space on your device, and you see a strange picture: a significant part of the memory is occupied by the Other (Other or Other in some versions of MIUI), and neither photos, nor apps, nor cache take up so many gigabytes. Where does this invisible garbage come from and can it be safely removed?

This problem is familiar to many owners of Redmi, POCO and Mi smartphones, especially after prolonged use or upgrades. Unlike the obvious categories like Apps or Media, the Other section combines data that MIUI cannot uniquely classify.

• 🗃️ Residual files from remote applications (such as settings or temporary data that did not clear after uninstallation).
• 🔄 The system cache, which MIUI not classified as “cache” (e.g. data for fast interface loading).
• 📁 Hidden folders from service applications (like com.xiaomi.midrop or com.miui.analytics).
• 🔗 Symbolic links and file system metadata that take up space but are not displayed in the explorer.

The biggest challenge is that MIUI doesn't provide tools to clean this partition directly, and in some cases, trying to remove the other by hand can cause system failures, but there are proven ways to reduce the volume of the partition, more on that.

What exactly is included in the “Other” section of Xiaomi?

To effectively combat invisible garbage, you need to understand its nature. Unlike Android/data (where app data is stored) or DCIM (photos and videos), folders labeled "Other" are scattered throughout the system and often hidden from the user.

A lot of “other” garbage is accumulated after:

• 🔄 Major updates MIUI (For example, 12-to-13 versions – old libraries and configuration files remain.
• 📱 Reset to factory settings without formatting internal storage (leaves “tails” from previous data).
• 🤖 Use of root rights or custom firmware - the folder structure changes, and MIUI It is not enough to take into account the occupied space.

⚠️ Note: If the Other is larger than 5-7 GB on a device with 64-128 GB of memory, it may indicate file system damage.

How do you check what is in the “Other”?

Before you start cleaning, you need to identify the main culprits. Standard analysis of storage in MIUI (Settings → Storage) does not show detailed information about the Other section.

Method 1: Use the built-in “Storage Analysis” (hidden function)

MIUI has a hidden tool for deep memory scanning, to activate it:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Click 5-7 times on the MIUI version (you will be notified that you are a developer).
3. Go back to the basic settings, open “Advanced Settings” → “Developers” → “Storage Analysis”.
4. Start the scan - in 2-3 minutes you will see a detailed report with folders that take place under the label "Other".

Method 2: Utilities from third-party developers

If the hidden analysis did not give results, use specialized applications:

• 🔍 Files by Google – Shows junk files, including residual app data.
• 📊 Storage Analyzer (requires root) – visualizes occupied space on folders.
• 🛠️ SD Maid – clears the cache of system processes and broken links.

Critical information: On devices with MIUI 14+, the built-in Storage Analysis may not show /data/app-lib and /data/dalvik-cache folders, although they often take up 1-2 GB in the Other section.

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Before using third-party utilities, disable MIUI optimization in the battery settings for these applications - otherwise they may be forcibly closed by the system.

Safe Ways to Clean the Other on Xiaomi

Now, let's get to the practice. The important thing is that not all methods are equally safe, so let's start with the most gentle and end with the most radical ones (for power users).

Method 1: Cleaning the cache of system applications

Many MIUI services (e.g. com.miui.securitycenter or com.xiaomi.market) accumulate cache that is not visible in the standard cleaning menu to remove it:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select "Show all processes."
3. Find apps called com.miui. or com.xiaomi.
4. For each, click on “Storage” → “Clear Cache”.

This method allows you to release from 300 MB to 1 GB without risk to the system.

Method 2: Delete residual application files

After uninstallation, programs often remain folders in /data/data or /sdcard/Android/obb.

• Use Files by Google (Clean up → Unnecessary Application Files).
• Or manually check folders: /sdcard/Android/obb/ /sdcard/Android/data/ /data/data/ (requires root)

Method 3: Reset partition cache (without data loss)

If the previous methods didn’t help, try resetting the cache partition through the recovery mode:

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 temporary system files, but will not affect user data.

⚠️ Warning: Do not confuse Wipe Cache with Wipe Data! The second option will erase all data on the device.

Backup of important data

Charge your phone at least 50%

Disable battery optimization for used utilities

Check the vacant space (at least 10% of the total volume is required)-->

Radical methods: for experienced users

If the Other is more than 5GB and not cleaned in standard ways, you'll have to use advanced techniques, which require root rights or ADB.

Method 1: Cleaning through ADB (without root)

With Android Debug Bridge, you can manually delete unnecessary files:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and activate debugging over USB (Settings → Developers).
2. In the command line, run: adb shell pm clear com.miui.analytics pm clear com.xiaomi.midrop rm -rf /data/local/tmp/*

This will delete the analytics data and temporary MIUI files.

Method 2: Format /data partition (full reset)

If nothing works, the internal memory is formatted:

1. Back up all data (including DCIM, Downloads, and application data).
2. Log in to Recovery and select Wipe Data → Format Data.
3. After the reboot, restore the data from the backup.

Important: This method deletes everything, including accounts and settings, and only use it as a last resort.

How can we prevent the accumulation of the “Other” in the future?

To prevent the problem from returning, follow these recommendations:

• 🔄 Clean the cache regularly manually or with the help of MIUI Optimizer (built-in application).
• 🚫 Avoid junk apps that leave a lot of temporary files behind (such as some launchers or games).
• 📦 Use cloud backups instead of local backups (MIUI Backup often duplicates data).
• 🔄 Update. MIUI — In new versions, the work with storage is optimized.

It is also useful to disable unnecessary system services:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find and disable: com.miui.analytics (Analytics) com.xiaomi.midrop (Mi Drop) com.miui.cloudservice (Xiaomi Cloud, if not used)

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Regular cleaning of the cache of system applications (every 1-2 months) reduces the volume of the "Other" by 30-50% without using root or ADB.

Frequent mistakes when cleaning up “Other” on Xiaomi

Many users compound the problem by following questionable advice.

• 🚫 Delete files manually without understanding their purpose – it can break down MIUI.
• 🚫 Use cleaners like Clean Master – they often delete the desired system files.
• 🚫 Format a section /system — This will lead to a "brick" of the device.
• 🚫 Disable system applications through ADB, If you do not know their functions (for example, com.android.phone is responsible for communication).

Also a common mistake is to ignore backups. MIUI automatically creates backups before updates, and they can take up to 1-2 GB in the "Other" section.

/MIUI/backup/AllBackup

FAQ: Answers to popular questions