How to Clean “Storage Place Other” on Xiaomi Smartphones: A Complete Guide

You open your storage settings on your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO, And you see that the lion's share of memory is occupied by the mysterious "Other" section, and this problem is familiar to many users of devices based on the Internet. MIUI. A partition can take anywhere from a few gigabytes to tens, but it doesn't tell you what files are stored there. Unlike the categories Photos, Videos or Apps, Other doesn't have a clear structure, making it difficult to clean it.

In this article, we will understand what is hidden under the “Other” in the Xiaomi storage, why this section grows to incredible sizes, and most importantly – how to clean it safely without the risk of damaging the system. You'll learn about hidden folders, app cache, update remnants, and other "invisible" files that clog up memory, and you'll also get step-by-step instructions based on the features of different versions. MIUI (12 to 14) and smartphone models.

We warn you right away that not all files in the Other section can be deleted without consequences, some of them are critical to the operation of the system or applications, so we will explain in detail what data can be safely deleted and which should not be touched - even if it takes up a lot of space.

What is “Storage Place Different” on Xiaomi and Why Does It Take So Much Space?

The “Other” section in Xiaomi’s storage is a kind of “junk box” of the operating system. MIUI It can't be classified as standard (photo, video, music, etc:

• 📁 Application cache and systems are temporary files that are created to speed up programs, but often are not automatically deleted.
• 🔄 Update residues – firmware files that have been downloaded but not installed (or partially installed).
• 📄 Logs and dumps are error reports that a system creates when it crashes (for example, logcat or tombstones).
• 🗑️ Deleted files – data that you have erased but haven’t been overwritten yet (especially for internal memory).
• 🔐 Hidden application folders – some programs (such as instant messengers or games) store data in non-obvious directories.

On devices with MIUI 12/13/14 The “other” section may be up to 30-50% It's all about storage, especially if you've been using your smartphone for a few years:

• 🔄 Frequent updates MIUI — Each new version leaves behind a tail in the form of old files.
• 📱 Many applications — each of them creates its own cache, which accumulates over time.
• 🚨 Failures and errors – if the programs are not completed correctly, temporary files remain “broken.
• 🔒 Android Restrictions – Some system files cannot be deleted without root rights, but they take up space.

Interesting fact: on smartphones POCO (for example, POCO X3 pro POCO F4) The Other section is often larger than the pure Xiaomi because of the way the firmware is optimized for game scenarios, and the problem is exacerbated on devices with a small amount of memory (32 or 64 GB), where every megabyte counts.

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

Before you start cleaning, you need to understand which files are taking up space. MIUI It doesn't show the detailed structure of the "Other" section, but there are a few ways to get more information:

Method 1: Using an integrated storage analyzer

Starting with MIUI 12, the system has a built-in memory analysis tool:

1. Open the settings → About the phone → Memory.
2. Click on the “Other” section (may be called “Other” or “System Data” depending on the version).
3. Wait for the analysis to be completed (may take a few minutes).

The system will show you the approximate composition of the files, but without detail. For example, you will see that 5 GB is occupied by System Data, but you will not understand what it is.

Method 2: Third-party applications for memory analysis

For a deeper analysis, we recommend using utilities:

• 🔍 Files by Google – Shows hidden files and suggests clearing unnecessary files.
• 📊 Storage Analyzer – Details the occupied space by folders.
• 🛠️ SD Maid – Finds garbage, duplicates and remnants of remote applications.

Example of the Storage Analyzer report for the Redmi Note 10 Pro:

⚠️ Note: Not all folders on this list can be manually cleaned, such as deleting files from the list. /data/dalvik-cache It can lead to malfunctions in applications.

Method 3: Viewing through ADB (for advanced users)

If you know me, ADB (Android Debug Bridge, you can get a full list of files in the "Other" section:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and enable USB debugging in the developer settings.
2. Enter the command: adb shell du -h -d 1 /data | sort -h She'll show you the folder size in /data, volume-sorted.

This method requires technical knowledge, but gives the most complete picture.

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If you are not sure if you can delete a particular folder, back up the data before cleaning. → Additionally. → Backup and resetting to MIUI.

Safe Ways to Clean the “Other” Section on Xiaomi

Now, let's get to the practice. Here are proven methods that will help make room without risking the system, start with the safest ones and move on to the more radical ones if the previous ones failed.

Method 1: Cleaning the application cache

The easiest and safest way to do this is to remove the app cache, which are temporary files that you can safely clean:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application (start with the most “heavy” – instant messengers, social networks, games).
3. Click Clear Cache (not to be confused with Clear Data – this will remove all app settings!).

For mass cleaning:

1. Open Settings → Memory → Cleaning.
2. Click “Clean” (the system will identify the unnecessary files).

This method will free you from 500 MB up to 2-3 GB depending on the number of installed applications.

Method 2: Removal of update residues MIUI

Xiaomi often leaves behind firmware files that can be deleted after updates.

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select “Delete downloaded service pack”.

If this item is missing, check the folder. /sdcard/Downloaded_ROM In any file manager and delete files with the.zip extension from there.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files from the folder /cache manually – this may cause crashes on the next update.

Method 3: Cleaning Logs and Dumps

System logs (logcat, tombstones) take up a lot of space, but they can be deleted without consequences.

1. Install the app SD Maid (root rights required for complete cleaning).
2. Run the scan in the "CorpseFinder" section (to search for dumps).
3. Delete the files you found.

Without root rights, you can manually clean folders:

• /data/log
• /data/tombstones
• /data/anr

To do this, use a file manager with access to system folders (for example, FX File Explorer with root access enabled).

Application cache (via Settings) → Annexes)

Remains of updates MIUI (folder Downloaded_ROM)

Logs and dumps (folders) /data/log, /data/tombstones)

Temporary download files (Download folder if there are no files required)

Remnants of Remote Applications (Folders in the /data/data for applications that are no longer available)-->

Method 4: Removal of unnecessary APK and OBB file

When you install and delete applications, you can still have.apk and.obb files in your memory, and you can find and delete them:

1. Open the file manager and go to /sdcard/Android/data.
2. Find folders with names of remote applications (for example, com.tencent.ig for the PUBG Mobile).
3. Delete these folders along with.obb files (they can weigh a few gigabytes!).

Also check the folder. /sdcard/Android/obb — It stores additional game data.

Method 5: Reset the partition cache (wipe cache partition)

If previous methods didn’t work, try resetting the partition cache through the recavators. This won’t delete your data, but will clear the system cache:

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up to enter Recovery Mode.
3. Select "Wipe Cache Partition" (use volume buttons for navigation, power button for selection).
4. Confirm the action and restart the device.

This method helps to free up 1 to 5 GB if the partition cache is heavily clogged.

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Don’t confuse “Wipe Cache Partition” with “Wipe” Data/Factory The first method only clears the cache, and the second completely resets the smartphone to factory settings.

What NOT to delete in the “Other” section (risky files)

Not all files in the Other section are safe to delete, but below is a list of data that you should not touch if you are not sure about your actions:

⚠️ Note: If you delete files from these folders, your smartphone can:

• 🔄 Getting stuck on the boot (bootloop).
• 📵 Stop connecting to a mobile network or Wi-Fi.
• 🛑 Errors when launching applications.

If you do delete something critical, try restarting the device, and in some cases, the system will restore the necessary files automatically.

How to prevent the “Other” section from being refilled

Cleaning up the memory is good, but it's even better to prevent it from filling up, and here are some tips to help keep the Other section under control:

• 🔄 Clean the cache regularly – do it once in a while 1-2 month through the settings → Memory. → Cleanup.
• 📥 Delete unnecessary download files – Download folder is often clogged with garbage.
• 🔄 Update. MIUI Carefully – after installing updates, check the folder Downloaded_ROM and clean it up.
• 📦 Use cloud storage – transfer photos and videos to Google Photos or Mi Cloud.
• 🛠️ Install a memory optimizer – like Files by Google or CCleaner (but don’t abuse automatic cleanups!).

It is also necessary to turn off automatic garbage storage:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app (such as Gallery or Downloads).
3. Turn off the option “AutoSave” or “Caching in the background”.

On devices with MIUI 14, a smart cleanup feature has been introduced, which automatically deletes unnecessary files, to enable it:

1. Go to Settings. → Memory.
2. Activate the Smart Cleaning Switch.
3. Set up a schedule (e.g., clean up once a week).

Features of cleaning on different models Xiaomi

The process of cleaning the “Other” section may differ depending on the smartphone model and version. MIUI. Let’s look at the nuances for popular devices:

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10/11/12 series

On these models, the “Other” section often grows because of:

• 🎮 Remains of games (especially Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile) that leave large.obb files).
• 📸 Camera cache – Redmi Note actively cache photos and videos for fast processing.

Recommendations:

• Check the folder. /sdcard/DCIM/.thumbnails — There are miniatures of photos that can be removed.
• Use Game Turbo to clean up the game cache (in Settings) → Special facilities → Game Turbo).

POCO F3/F4/F5

Nana POCO The problem is getting worse because:

• 🔥 Aggressive optimization for games – the system creates many temporary files.
• 🔄 Frequent updates POCO Launcher that leaves garbage behind.

Decision:

• Clear the cache. POCO Manual Launcher (Settings) → Annexes → POCO Launcher → Clear the cache).
• Turn off the automatic launcher update in Google Play.

Xiaomi 12/13 Series (Flagships)

On flagships, the "Other" section is often hammered because of:

• 📱 HyperOS (in new models) – new firmware creates additional logs.
• 🎥 Cash video in high resolution (4K/8K).

Advice:

• Use the built-in “Memory Optimizer” in HyperOS (Settings) → Memory. → Optimize).
• Clear the Gallery and Video Player cache after viewing heavy files.

Xiaomi Pad 5/6 (tablets)

On tablets, "Other" often occupy:

• 📚 Cache of drawing apps (e.g., Xiaomi Notes or WPS Office).
• 🎮 Game emulators (e.g, PPSSPP Dolphin, which creates large state files).

Recommendations:

• Clean the folder regularly /sdcard/Emulated/0/PSP (emulator).
• Use it. SD-a card for storing heavy files (if supported).

Frequent Mistakes in Cleaning the Other and How to Avoid Them

Many users make mistakes that lead to data loss or smartphone malfunctions, and the most common are:

• ❌ Deletion of the folder /data/data manually – this will lead to the removal of all user data of applications (logins, settings, game saving).
• ❌ Cleanup /system without root rights is a system section, its change requires special rights and knowledge.
• ❌ Using cleaners with aggressive settings – some applications (like Clean Master) delete critical files.
• ❌ Delete.nomedia files – they are needed to hide unnecessary folders from scanning multimedia.

⚠️ Note: If you notice after cleaning that:

• 📱 The smartphone has become slower to work — you may have deleted the cache of important apps.
• 🔄 Apps are out – check if you have erased their data /data/data.
• 📵 Image or sound missing – media configuration files may have been deleted.

In such cases, it will help:

• Reboot the device.
• Cache reset via Recovery Mode.
• Restore from backup (if any).

If the problem is serious (for example, the smartphone does not turn on), you will have to do a complete reset or refashion the device.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions