Xiaomi’s ‘Other’ Storage: What It Is, Why It Grows, and How to Clean Up Without Risk

Have you ever looked into your Xiaomi, Redmi or storage settings? POCO And you see the mysterious "Other" section, which is 10, 20, maybe 30 GB, and even after you delete all the files, cache, and apps, it doesn't decrease, what is the black hole in your smartphone memory, why is it growing, and how to clean it without resetting to factory settings?

Many users mistakenly think that "Other" is just junk files that can be removed by any cleaner, but it's actually more complicated: it's stored system logs, temporary files. MIUI, virtual-machine data ART, Backups of updates and even fragments of remote applications. Incorrect cleaning can cause malfunctions in the smartphone, so you need to act carefully.

In this article, we will discuss in detail what exactly is hidden under the “Other” item, which files can be manually deleted, and which ones only through hidden settings. MIUI. You will also learn why this section grows over time and how to prevent it from swelling in the future.

What is the Other in Xiaomi’s Storage and Why Does It Take So Much Space?

On Xiaomi smartphones, the “Other” section is a collection of files that the system cannot uniquely categorize as “Apps,” “Media,” or “Documents.”

• 📁 Kesh. Dalvik/ART — optimized files of the Android virtual machine, which are created when installing or updating applications. 1–3 GB.
• 🗑️ Temporary files MIUI — Error logs, memory dumps, debugging files, and a lot of them accumulate after updates.
• 🔄 Remnants of remote applications are not completely erased data from programs you have long since uninstalled.
• 📦 Backups of firmware – update files that the system saves “just in case».
• 🔧 System databases –.db and.db-journal files that store settings and activity logs.

The main problem is that MIUI It doesn't provide tools to clean this partition in the standard interface, and even after you reset it to factory settings, some of the files in the Other may still be stored in protected memory areas.

Why does the Other grow with time?

• 📈 Frequent updates MIUI — Each update leaves traces in the form of logs and backups.
• 🤖 Automatic optimization ART — Android reassembles app cache with every major update.
• 🗃️ Incorrect removal of applications – many “cleaners” only remove APK, data-leak /data/data.

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

Before you delete something, you need to figure out which files take up the lion's share of the space.

1. Built-in storage analyzer (limited information).
2. File Manager with root rights (e.g. Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).
3. ADB-Teams (for advanced users).

Method 1: Standard analyzer MIUI

Go to Settings. → The phone. → Storage. Slip it on the "Other" section, and it'll show you the approximate file composition. Alas, there's no detail, but you can see what takes up more: cache, logs or backups.

Method 2: View through the file manager (without root)

Install Files by Google or Mi File Manager and check the following folders:

• 📂 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data — remnants of remote applications.
• 📂 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/debug_log — logistic.
• 📂 /storage/emulated/0/Download/.thumbnails — picture-size.

Method 3: ADB-analysis (for experienced)

Connect your smartphone to your PC, turn on USB Debugging and execute the command:

adb shell du -sh /data/* | sort -rh | head -n 20

It'll show. TOP-20 The folders that occupy the most space in the section /data (where most of the files from the other are stored»).

💡

If you have no experience working with ADB, Use the Storage Analyzer utility from Google Play – it visualizes occupied space without the need to enter commands.

Safe Ways to Clean the Other Without Root Rights

If you do not have superuser rights, you will not be able to completely clean the Other, but you can significantly reduce its volume by the following methods:

1. Clearing the cache Dalvik/ART

This cache is responsible for fast downloading of applications, but after updates, it can inflate to several gigabytes.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Show all processes".
3. Find the "Compile Service" ART» (or com.android.art).
4. Press "Storage» → «Clear the cache».

Removal of logs and dumps MIUI

Xiaomi is actively collecting data about the system, which leads to the accumulation of unnecessary files.

• 📱 Open the Mi File Manager (or any other conductor).
• 🔍 Move to the /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/debug_log.
• 🗑️ Delete all files with extensions.log,.txt,.dump.

3. Cleaning up the residues of remote applications

Many “cleaners” only remove the APK-files, leaving data in /data/data. To get rid of them:

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Enable the display of all applications (including system ones).
3. Find apps marked “Disabled” or “Stopped.”
4. Slip on each and select Delete Data (if the button is active).

4. Delete backup copies of updates

After each update MIUI It saves old firmware in case of rollbacks, and these files can weigh 1-2 GB to delete them:

• 📂 Move to the /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/backup.
• 🗑️ Delete folders with names like update_20231215.

Cleaning the “Other” with root rights: full instruction

If you have root access, you can delete almost all files from Other, but you need to be very careful, and incorrectly deleting system files can lead to a device blink (complete failure).

1. Cache removal Dalvik/ART recovery

The safest way to reset the virtual machine cache is:

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up to enter Recovery Mode.
3. Select "Wipe & Reset» → «Wipe Cache».
4. Confirm the action and restart the device.

2. Hand-cleaning folders /data and /cache

with the help of Root Explorer or FX File Explorer with superuser rights:

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files in /data/data And for working applications, it's going to crash them. /data/system and /data/property — This is critical system data.

3. Using scripts for automatic cleaning

For power users, there are scripts that automatically clean up garbage, like the script for Magisk:

#!/system/bin/sh


rm -rf /data/dalvik-cache/*




rm -rf /data/log/*




rm -rf /cache/*




rm -rf /data/local/tmp/*

Save him like cleanup.sh, give 755 and perform through Terminal Emulator or ADB.

Why the Other Returns After Cleaning and How to Prevent It

Many users complain that after a week or two, the Other is swelling back to its former size.

• 🔄 Automatic creation of logs — MIUI constantly.
• 📦 Application updates – each update reassembles the cache ART.
• 🤖 Background Processes – Some system services create temporary files.

How to reduce the growth rate of the Other:

1. Turn off automatic reporting:
2. Limit background activity:
3. Use light firmware:

💡

Regular cleaning of the cache ART And the logs reduce the growth rate of the Other by 40-60%. It's impossible to completely stop it growing, that's part of the Android job.

Frequent Mistakes in Cleaning the Other and How to Avoid Them

Many users make critical errors in their attempts to make room, leading to crashes.

1. Deletion of files from /system or /vendor

These partitions contain critical system files, and deleting them will lead to:

• 🚨 Cyclical reboot (bootloop).
• 📵 Network loss (if modem files are affected).
• 🔳 To a broken touchscreen.

⚠️ Note: If you accidentally delete files from the /system, Immediately swipe your smartphone through Fastboot or restore it through TWRP.

2. Cleanup /data/data working applications

It'll lead to:

• 🔐 Loss of authorization in banking applications, social networks.
• 🎮 I'll reset the progress in games.
• ⚙️ Failures in system utilities (for example, Mi Share or Game Turbo).

3.Using "cleaners" like Clean Master

Such programmes are often:

• 🗑️ Delete useful files by masking them as garbage.
• 🛡️ Violate access rights, which leads to errors.
• 📊 Slow down the system, working in the background.

Better to use built-in tools MIUI ore-cleaning.

4. Interrupting the cleaning process

If you are cleaning the cache through Recovery or ADB, cannot:

• 🔌 Disconnect the smartphone from charging.
• 🔄 Reboot the device manually.
• 📱 Remove the battery (on models with removable battery).

This can cause the file system to be damaged and a complete reset is necessary.

Alternative ways to free up memory if the Other is not cleared

If the “Other” still takes up a lot of space after all the manipulations, consider alternative methods:

1. Transfer applications to a memory card

Not all apps support this feature, but for some, it is available:

1. Go to Settings → Applications.
2. Select the app and tap "Storage".
3. If you have the option to “Change”, move it to SD-map.

2. Use of cloud storage

Move it to the cloud:

• 📷 Photo and video (Google Photos, Mi Cloud).
• 📄 Documents (Google Drive, Yandex Drive).
• 🎵 Music (Spotify, Yandex Music with offline cache).

3. factory reset (last chance)

If the Other takes more than 10GB and doesn't clear, it's possible the file system is corrupted.

1. Make a backup copy of important data.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select “Delete all data”.

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro), the reset does not clear the Other completely due to the memory markup features.

4. Installation of custom firmware

Firmware like Pixel Experience or Havoc OS:

• 🧹 They don't accumulate unnecessary logs.
• 🚀 They work faster than standard. MIUI.
• 📉 Less space in the “Other” section».

Disadvantage: Loss of some functions MIUI (For example, the Game Turbo or Second Space).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About “The Other” in Xiaomi’s Storage