Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a mysterious phenomenon: the device’s memory is running out and the “Other” section mysteriously grows into storage, which can take up tens of gigabytes, turning into a “digital garbage can” where the system dumps app cache, deleted files and temporary data. Understanding what is hidden inside is the first step to optimizing your gadget.
In fact, the Other folder is not a virus or bug, but a system mechanism that unfortunately doesn’t always work perfectly. Over time, files accumulate, creating digital fat that slows the interface and prevents new applications from being installed. In this article, we’ll go into detail about why this happens, which files can be deleted safely, and how to conduct a deep cleanup using built-in tools and proven methods.
What is hidden in the “Other” section really?
Many users mistakenly believe that the Other section contains only garbage, but this is not quite true. It stores cache files of running applications, temporary system update files, error logs and data that applications have saved to speed up their work. For example, streaming services and instant messengers can save gigabytes of videos and images that they have watched in this section so as not to download them from the Internet again. However, when the cleanup mechanism does not work, this data remains dead weight.
In addition, files that the system cannot recognize or classify by standard methods often fall into this category, such as remnants of remote games, archives that were not marked as Documents, or even data about the operation of Google Play Services. It is important to understand that mindlessly removing all content through the file manager can lead to malfunctions in programs, so a systematic approach is necessary.
⚠️ Warning: Never delete files from Android system folders manually unless you are 100% sure of their purpose.This can lead to a smartphone 'bricking' or data loss.
The “Other” section should not exceed the 10-15% The total amount of memory in the normal state, if you see that this is the amount of memory in the normal state. 30, 40 or 50 Gigabyte means it's time for a cleanup, and ignoring the problem will cause the phone to start running slower and new apps to stop being installed.
Automatic cleaning through the standard “Safety” application
The easiest and safest way to start fighting overcrowded memory is to use a built-in tool from MIUI or HyperOS. The Security app has access to system files and can only delete data that will not harm the operating system. Launch the application, find the Cleanup item and wait for the scan to be completed.
After analysis, the system will suggest removing debris, but often leaves some files in the category of Deep Clean. This is where you need to be careful. Click on the Deep Clean button and you will see a detailed list of files that can be safely deleted, which includes large files, duplicate photos and remnants of deleted applications.
☑️ Checklist for safe cleaning
Use the "Accelerate" function after cleaning to reset the processes in RAM. This will help the system correctly calculate the amount of space occupied. Sometimes it happens that the visual files are deleted, but the number in the storage does not change until the reboot. Deep Clean's built-in algorithm is efficient enough for regular maintenance, but for old problems it may require manual intervention.
Manual cleaning of messenger cache and social networks
The main memory eaters in the Other section are messengers. Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber and social networks store a huge number of media files. In Telegram, for example, the cache can inflate to incredible sizes if you do not configure it to auto-clean. Go to the application settings, find the Data and Memory section and select Memory Use.
Here you'll see a cache size slider and a clean button. Click "Clear cache" boldly, and your communications and important files won't be affected, they'll just be re-uploaded from the cloud if needed. WhatsApp will take a slightly different path: Settings → Data and Storage → Storage Management. Here you can selectively delete large videos or files sent in group chats.
- 📱 Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Use of memory → Clear the cache.
- 💬 WhatsApp: Settings → Data and storage → Storage management.
- 📘 VK / Instagram: App settings → Cash. → Clean up.
- 🎵 TikTok: Profile → Menus. → Settings and privacy → Make room.
After cleaning the cache of heavy applications, it is recommended to restart the smartphone, which will allow the Android system to re-index the file system and correctly display the space in the “Other” section.
Using Developer Mode to Reset Cache
If standard methods don't work, you can use a more advanced toolkit called the developer menu, which allows you to force the cache of all applications at once or selectively. First, you need to activate the developer mode: go to Settings → About phone and quickly click on the MIUI version 7 times.
Once activated, a new option will appear in the settings menu, “Additional” or “Extended Settings”, where you can select “Developers For” and scroll down to “Applications” and find “Reset App Settings” or “Clear all application data.” Be careful: this step will return all applications to state immediately after installation by removing their settings and authorization.
What if the “Other” section doesn’t decrease?
A more gentle option is to go to App Management in the developer menu, select a specific application that takes up a lot of space, and click Clear Cache, which is safer than a full reset, and allows you to point to the problem areas, which is especially effective for Google system services, which often accumulate errors in logs.
Analysis of storage by third-party utilities
When embedded tools are powerless, specialized analytics apps come to the rescue, and they visualize the file system by showing which folders take up the most space, and one of the best utilities is DiskUsage or Files by Google, and they build a memory card that matches the size of the files.
Using such programs, you can find forgotten folders with backups, error logs or files from long-deleted games. By finding a suspiciously large file or folder, you can safely delete them directly from the program interface. However, even with such tools, you need to be careful not to touch files with the.apk extension of system applications or files in a folder. Android/data, If you do not know their purpose.
| Annex | Substantive function | Security | I need a Root. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Files by Google | Search for duplicates and debris | Tall. | No. |
| DiskUsage | Visual memory card | Medium (requires attention) | No. |
| SD Maid | Deep cleaning of the system | Tall. | Preferably. |
| Clean Master | Basic cache cleanup | Average (much advertising) | No. |
Files by Google is the most secure and proven option for the average user, and it integrates with the system and offers only those files for removal that the system does not need, which reduces the risk of accidental damage to important data.
Radical measures: Resetting to factory settings
If none of the above methods helped reduce the size of the Other partition and it continues to grow, there may be critical errors in the file system, in which case the solution would be a complete factory reset, which would put the smartphone back in a “out of the box” state, removing all user data and system debris.
Before starting the procedure, be sure to back up important data to your computer or to the Mi Cloud. Go to Settings → About Phone → Reset → Erase all data. The process will take a few minutes, after which the phone will restart with a clean system.
⚠️ Warning: After reset, the "Other" section will be minimal, but it will start to grow again as you use your phone.
After reset, take your time to install all the apps at once. Install only the ones you need and monitor the memory growth in the early days. This will help identify the culprit app if the problem was caused by a particular software. Often this approach helps to extend the life of the smartphone for several more years.
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Expert advice: If you use cloud storage frequently, set up automatic uploads of photos and videos, and then delete them locally, which will free up gigabytes of space in the Gallery and Other section.
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The main conclusion: the "Other" section is not a mystery, but the result of the application. Regular cleaning of the cache and monitoring of messengers will prevent overflow of memory.
Preventing memory overflow in the future
To keep the Other problem from coming back, you need to make a habit of monitoring your memory status. Make a rule: go to your storage settings once a month and check which apps are taking up the most space. Today's Xiaomi smartphones have powerful hardware, but even they don't like having your memory full.
Use cloud technology to store large files. Photos, videos and documents are best kept in the cloud, leaving only what you need right now on your device, and you should also turn off autoloading media files in group chat messengers, where heavy videos are often downloaded.
- 🗑️ Remove unused apps right away, don’t store them “just in case».
- ☁️ Set up sync photos with Google Photos or Mi Cloud.
- 📉 Turn off autoplay videos on social media in traffic saving settings.
- 🔄 Update your system regularly, as newer versions often include file system optimization.
Keeping these simple rules in mind will allow your smartphone to run fast and consistently for years to come. Memory is a resource to be cherished, and now you know how to manage it effectively on Xiaomi devices.