Xiaomi’s “Other” in Memory: What Are These Files and How to Clean Them Without Harming Your Phone

You have opened memory settings on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO, And suddenly we found out that the lion's share is in the mysterious "Other" section -- 10, 20, maybe 30 GB -- and neither photos, nor apps, nor cache displays that volume. Where does this “garbage” come from, why does the system not show it explicitly, and most importantly, can it be removed without the risk of “breaking” the phone?

In this article, we will not only explain what the Other is in Xiaomi’s memory, but also show 4 proven cleanup methods – from safe (via built-in tools) to radical (using the use of the software). ADB). You'll learn which files you can delete safely and which you can't touch, even if they take gigabytes. And yes, we'll break down the myth that The Other is always system garbage: in fact, there may be some personal data that you're hiding. MIUI It is not classified as “media” or “documents».

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

Section “Other” in MIUI — This is a dump for files that the system cannot categorize as standard (photo, video, audio, apps, etc.) and everything that doesn't fit into Android templates gets there:

• 📁 Cache of system applications (e.g. com.miui.gallery or com.android.providers.media) that is not cleaned by standard means.
• 🔄 Remains of updates MIUI — Temporary firmware files that have not been deleted after installation.
• 📄 Logs and error dumps (files with the extension.log,.dmp) that are created when crashes.
• 🎮 Games that are not stored in /Android/data, a in the root folder (e.g. Genshin Impact or Honor of Kings).
• 📱 Backup files from Mi Cloud or third-party applications (e.g. Titanium Backup).
• 🔍 Hidden application folders that don’t appear in the file manager (e.g.,.thumbnails for sketches).

Why does this section grow to an incredible size? MIUI:

1. No automatic cleanup: Unlike “pure” Android, Xiaomi doesn’t delete temporary files after using them.
2. Aggressive caching: The system stores copies of almost everything from thumbnails of photos to geolocation data.
3. Update errors: If the firmware was installed intermittently, there are stumps of files that take up space but are not used.

Interesting fact: on some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or POCO F4) The "Other" section can take up up to 40% of the total memory if the phone has been used for more than a year without resetting. → You'll see that the System takes 10GB of memory, and the Other takes 15GB of memory. Is that OK? No. But you don't have to panic, because most of it can be cleaned.

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

Before you delete something, you need to understand which files are hidden under the Other, and there are two ways to do this: through built-in memory analysis and through third-party utilities.

Method 1: Integrated analysis in MIUI

This method works on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12 and newer:

1. Open the Settings → Memory.
2. Put it on the memory usage schedule.
3. Select the category “Other” (may be called “Other” on some firmware).
4. The system will show a list of folders and files sorted by size.

Notice the folders:

• /data/log — Logs of the system (can be deleted).
• /data/local/tmp — temporary files (delete).
• /Android/obb — Game data (delete if games are deleted).
• /MIUI/backup — Backups (check before deleting).

💡

If there's a folder on the list /data/app-lib, Don't touch it, these are system application libraries. Deleting it will crash. MIUI.

Method 2: Third-party applications (Files by Google, SD Maid)

The built-in analysis doesn't always show the full picture.

• 📱 Files by Google (free, scans garbage and duplicates).
• 🧹 SD Maid (paid, but finds hidden files that are not available to other utilities).
• 🔍 Storage Analyzer (shows folder structure in diagram form).

Example of Files by Google:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open the "Cleanup" tab.
3. Select "Vacate the seat» → «Other files».
4. The app will show the unused APK, old downloads and cache.

Warning: if the application offers to delete files from the folder /data/data, Don’t agree – this is application data, and deleting it is equivalent to deleting the application itself.

Safe Ways to Clean Up the Other in Xiaomi Memory

Now, the key thing is how to make room without disrupting the phone, and let's start with the safest methods.

Method 1: Cleaning through built-in MIUI tools

The easiest way is to use standard functions:

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup.
2. Press "Deep Cleanup."
3. Select “Unnecessary Files” and “App Cache”.
4. Confirm removal.

This method removes:

• 🗑️ Application cache (including system cache).
• 📥 Temporary download files.
• 📋 Error logs (if not protected).

Restriction: Built-in cleaning does not affect:

• ❌ Game folders (/Android/obb).
• ❌ Backup copies (/MIUI/backup).
• ❌ Hidden application files.

Check the folder. /Download file-to-file|Remove the contents /DCIM/.thumbnails (sketches)|Clean it up. /Android/data remote|Delete files with the.apk extension if you haven’t installed them-->

Method 2: Manual cleaning through file manager

If the built-in cleaning doesn't work, then we'll start manual cleaning. Use the standard Files or Total Commander:

1. Open the file manager and enable the display of hidden files (in Total Commander: Settings) → Display → Show hidden files).
2. Go to the root folder (/) and check the following directories:

Important: Before deleting the folder /Android/obb Check if there are any games that use it, like com.tencent.ig (PUBG Mobile) stores maps and textures there.

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Never delete folders. /data/data or /system manually – this will lead to the collapse of the system and require reflashing.

Method 3: Cleaning through Safe Mode (Safe Mode)

If the phone is slowing down because of the Other, try booting into Safe Mode, where all third-party apps are disabled:

1. Press the power button before the off menu appears.
2. Press and hold the “Switch off” option (a suggestion to go to Safe Mode will appear).
3. Confirm the transition.
4. In Safe Mode, remove unnecessary apps and clear the cache through Settings. → Annexes.
5. Reboot the phone.

This method helps if the "Other" is inflated because of:

• 🤖 Viruses or malicious applications.
• 🔄 Failures in work MIUI.
• 📦 Incorrectly installed APK.

Method 4: Radical Cleanup (for advanced users)

If nothing works, there is a radical clean-up. ADB (Android Debug Bridge – This method removes all unnecessary files, including hidden ones, but requires caution.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB and Xiaomi drivers.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times) → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).

Cleaning commands (enter Command Prompt or Terminal):

adb shell pm clear com.miui.gallery #Cache cleaning Gallery


adb shell rm -rf /data/local/tmp/* # Delete temporary files




adb shell rm -rf /data/log/* # Deletion of logs




adb shell pm trim-caches 1000000000 # Cache cleanup of all applications

Warning: Rm command -rf It deletes files irrevocably. If you go wrong (e.g., type in rm). -rf /data instead /data/log), phone will stop loading!

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Before use ADB Make a backup copy through adb backup -apk -shared -all -f backup.ab. This will save all data in case of an error.

What to do if the Other returns after cleaning

Did you clear the memory, but a week later, "The Other" took 10GB again? MIUI. Here are 3 reasons and ways to eliminate them:

1. Automatic caching of the Gallery. MIUI Creates sketches (.thumbnails) for every photo and video. To turn this off: Open the gallery → Settings → Extra. Turn off "Show sketches».
2. Background activity of applications. Some applications (like Facebook or TikTok) are constantly cache-cache-cache-cache-cache-censor: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management. Select the application. → «Limit background activity».
3. Update errors MIUI. If the phone is updated "over the air» (OTA) with interruptions, there are stumps left behind. To remove them: Go to Settings → The phone. → Update the system. Press three dots. → «Remove the downloaded package».

If the problem doesn't go away, the last thing you can do is reset to the factory settings.

• 🔄 Backup with Mi Cloud or Google Drive.
• 📋 Save the list of installed apps (can be accessed via App Backup & Restore).
• 🔐 Write down logins/passwords from accounts (they will disappear!).

💡

Factory reset removes everything, including the files in Other, and use this method only if other methods have not worked.

Myths about the “Other” in the memory of Xiaomi: what can be ignored

There are a lot of tips on the Internet to clean up The Other, but most of them are not just useless, they're dangerous.

Myth 1: «We need to delete the folder. /data/data»

🚫 Reality: This folder contains all the applications, including the system ones, and deleting it is equivalent to deleting all the programs and settings!

What to do instead: Use the settings → Annexes → Clear data for specific applications.

Myth 2: “Forming internal memory will solve the problem”

🚫 Reality: Formatting (Settings) → Memory. → Format) erases all user memory but does not touch system files. The other will return in a few days and you will lose all data.

What to do instead: Use the factory reset (but only after backing up).

Myth 3: “Apps like Clean Master will clean everything up”

🚫 Reality: Most memory optimizers (Clean Master, CCleaner) don't have access to the system folders where "Other" is hidden, and they only clear the cache of user applications, which can already be manually deleted.

What to do instead: use Files by Google or SD Maids show real files, not virtual trash».

Myth 4: «If you delete the folder /Android, phone will be faster»

🚫 Reality: B /Android/obb and /Android/data Games and applications are stored, and deleting them will lead to:

• 🎮 I'll reset the progress in games.
• 📱 Losing application settings.
• 🔄 Re-loading data (which will re-fill the memory).

What to do instead: Only delete remote application folders.

How to Prevent the Spread of the Other in the Future

To avoid facing the problem of a swollen Other every few months, follow these rules:

• 📅 Regular cleaning: Check folders once a month /Download, /DCIM/.thumbnails and /Android/obb.
• 🚫 Background activity restriction: disable autoload media in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram).
• 🔄 Update with Mi Flash: If you update your firmware manually, use the Mi Flash Tool with the clean all option – this deletes old firmware files.
• 📱 Using the cloud: Move photos and documents to Google Photos or Mi Cloud so they don’t take up space on your phone.
• 🛡️ Disabling Logs: If you are not a developer, turn off log recording in Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Recording of logs (off.).

Tip for gamers: if you play heavy games (Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile), transfer their data to a memory card (if the phone supports adoptable storage).

1. Put it in. SD-map.
2. Go to Settings → Memory → Memory Map.
3. Select “Format as an internal memory”.
4. Move the games through Settings → Annexes → Move it to SD-map.

⚠️ Attention: After formatting SD-The card as internal memory cannot be used in other devices without being completely erased.

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