Xiaomi’s ‘Other’ Takes a Lot of Space – What It Is and How to Safely Clean Up

You opened the storage settings on Xiaomi's smartphone, and there's a nasty surprise: the Other partition takes 10, 20, maybe 30 GB of precious memory, and neither photos, nor apps, nor cache are to blame. What are these mysterious files? Why is the system not showing them? And most importantly, how do you make room without the risk of breaking your smartphone?

The problem of the “bloated” “Other” section is typical for devices on MIUI (especially versions 12-14) and is related to the peculiarities of the shell. In this article, we will not just list the standard tips like “clear the cache”, but will analyze the hidden mechanisms of MIUI that accumulate debris, from update logs to temporary files of the virtual machine, you will learn what data can be deleted manually and what to touch dangerously, and also receive instructions for Redmi, POCO and flagship Xiaomi models (including Xiaomi 13/14 and Redmi Note 12).

What is hidden under the "Other" section of MIUI

The Other section is a container for system files that do not fall into the standard categories (Applications, Media, Documents).

• 📁 Logs of system and applications (/data/log, /data/anr): They're recorded when they crash, update, or diagnose, and they accumulate for years if they don't clean up.
• 🔄 Temporary virtual machine files (Dalvik-cache): created when installing/updating applications. MIUI Often not automatically optimized.
• 📦 Remnants of Remote Applications: Folders /data/data and /data/app-lib They can save data even after uninstallation.
• 🔗 Symbolic references and metadata: MIUI actively uses them to save space, but sometimes they “hang” and take up extra megabytes.
• 🔄 Update files (/cache, /data/ota_package): Even after installing the firmware, there may be "tails" weighing up to 1–2 GB.

Feature MIUI — aggressive caching of data to speed up work, such as the function "Smart resolution" (in models with a high-speed system). AMOLED-It creates multiple resolution copies of images, and Game Turbo saves performance profiles for games.

Another invisible memory eater is MIUI backups, which automatically backups settings, SMS and call logs in /MIUI/backup, but doesn't always delete them, for example, after resetting to factory settings, these files can stay and take up to 500 MB.

Why the Other is Growing Over Time: 5 Reasons

If you notice that the Other has gone from 2-3GB to 10+ in six months, it's not just system processes that are to blame.

1. Updates MIUI through OTA. Every firmware weighs 1.5–2.5 GB, but once installed, its files are not always deleted completely. 11 post-update MIUI 14 into /cache left with the folder last_install leftover.
2. Aggressive caching applications: Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), social networks (TikTok, Instagram) and games (Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile) store data in system folders that MIUI refers to as “Other”.
3. File system errors: When power is abruptly turned off or files are written out, “broken” clusters are formed that the system marks as busy but cannot use, especially for devices with eMMC memory (e.g. Redmi 9A).
4. MIUI features that you don't use, like "Dual Apps" (cloning messengers) creates separate data folders, and "Children's Mode" stores activity logs, and these data accumulate even when the functions are disabled.
5. Viruses and malware: Some Trojans disguise themselves as system processes and create files in hidden folders (e.g. /data/local/tmp).

Interestingly, on devices with UFS 2.2/3.1 (such as the Xiaomi 12 Pro or POCO F4), the Other problem is less common due to a more efficient memory management system, while budget models on eMMC 5.1 are more likely to suffer from slow processing of temporary files.

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Before cleaning the Other, check the free space in /data section via the engineering menu: dial in the phone number ##4636## → Storage. If less than 10% is free, the system can brake even after cleaning.

How to Safely Clean the Other Without Root Rights

If you don't have superuser rights, don't despair: most of the trash is removed by standard means, and the key is to act in order and not touch critical files.

Step 1: Clearing cache and temporary files

Start with the safest method:

1. Go to Settings → Storage → Cleaning.
2. Click on “Deep Clean” and wait for analysis.
3. Delete all items except the "Journals" (not recommended to touch them unnecessarily).
4. Return to Storage and select Other → Application Files, where you can delete the cache for specific programs (e.g. Google Play Services or Mi Video).

Pay special attention to /Android/data, which stores app data you haven't used in a long time, for example, Facebook's cache can weigh up to 1 GB even if you don't use it.

Step 2: Remove old updates and logs

MIUI saves firmware files and error logs that are rarely needed by the user to delete them:

• 📱 Open Files (Standard Application) MIUI) → Go to the internal memory. → MIUI → Delete all files with the.zip extension.
• 🗑️ Same file. MIUI Find the backup and debug_log. Remove everything except the current backups (if you need them).
• 🔍 Through a Explorer (e.g. Solid Explorer) go to /data/log (You need access permissions. You can delete files older here. 30 days.

Remains of updates in /MIUI/downgrade|Logs in /MIUI/debug_log month-long|Cache of unused applications in /Android/data|Temporary files in /cache (Unless you are planning an update)-->

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files in folders /system, /vendor or /boot — This will cause a device to crash, and don't touch files with the.odex or.vdex extension, because they're critical to the application.

Step 3: Resetting unnecessary MIUI features

Many shell features create hidden files. Disable what you don't use:

• 🎮 Game Turbo: Settings → Special facilities → Game Turbo → Delete game profiles and cache.
• 👶 Mode for children: Settings → System and device → Regime for children → Delete profile.
• 📊 Analytics MIUI: Settings → The phone. → Send an error report → It'll stop logging.
• 🔄 Double Apps: Remove clones through Settings → Annexes → Dual annexes.

After disabling these features, restart the device and check the “Other” section – it should decrease by 500 MB-1.5 GB.

Extended Cleaning: Methods for Experienced Users

If the standard methods didn’t help, and the Other still takes 10+GB, it’s time to use advanced tools.Caution: these methods require caution and can lead to data loss if used incorrectly.

Method 1: Cleaning through ADB (no root)

Android Debug Bridge (ADB) allows you to delete system files without superuser permissions.

1. Install ADB on your PC and connect your phone in debugging mode (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times Press → Allow debugging over USB).
2. Open the command line and type: adb shell pm clear com.miui.cleanmaster # Clean up the standard adb shell rm -rf /data/local/tmp/* # Delete temporary files adb shell rm -rf /cache/* # Cache cleanup (safe if not updated)
3. To remove logs (only if you are sure!): adb shell rm -rf /data/anr/* adb shell rm -rf /data/tombstones/*

These commands will release 1-3 GB, but don’t use them before upgrading MIUI – this can cause crashes.

Method 2: Manual cleaning via TWRP (requires unlocking the bootloader)

If you have custom recovery (TWRP) installed, you can manually delete unnecessary files:

• 🔧 Boot in. TWRP (clamp down on power. + Loudness up).
• 📂 Go to Advanced. → File Manager.
• 🗑️ Delete the contents of the folders: /data/log (logic) /data/local/tmp (time-file) /data/dalvik-cache (virtual machine cache)
• 🔄 Reboot. It can take up to 10 minutes to download the first one, which is normal.

⚠️ Note: If after cleaning through TWRP phone does not load, try resetting via Wipe → Format Data (this will delete all data!).

Method 3: Using scripts for automatic cleaning

For users with root rights, there are ready-made solutions:

• 🤖 SD Maid (app): has a “CorpseFinder” function that finds remnants of remote applications.
• 📜 Script MIUI Debloater: removes pre-installed applications and clears their data. Download here.
• 🔍 Termux + Install Termux and execute: pkg install coreutils su find /data -name "*.log" -delete find /data -name "*.tmp" -delete

These methods will free up to 5GB, but require root access and may disrupt some MIUI features (e.g., Smart Assistant or Security).

Table: What can be removed and what can not

If you're not sure about the folder, don't delete it. You'd better back it up via TWRP or Mi PC Suite before cleaning it.

How to Prevent the Spread of the Other in the Future

To prevent the problem from returning, follow these recommendations:

• 🔄 Turn off automatic update download: Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → ⚙️ → Downloading → Turn it off.
• 📱 Limit the cache for applications: In Settings → Annexes → Application Management Choose the Application → «Warehouse» → «Limit the cache».
• 🗑️ Clean regularly with a “deep cleaning” (every 2 weeks).
• 🔧 Use lightweight alternatives to standard applications MIUI (Files by Google instead of Files).
• 📵 Disable unnecessary functions (see section above).

It is also worth keeping an eye on updates. MIUI. In the latest versions (14)+) Developers have optimized memory management, but on older devices (for example, Redmi Note 8 or Mi). A3) The problem remains relevant.

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The most effective way to prevent the Other from sprawling is to disable automatic log recording and limit cache for system applications (such as Mi Video or Music).

Frequent Mistakes in Cleaning the Other and How to Avoid Them

Many users make critical mistakes in trying to make room, and here are the most common ones:

1. Delete /data/data completely, and this will result in the deletion of all user data and the phone reset.
2. Clean /system without backup. Even if you delete the "unnecessary" file, it can cause a bootloop (cyclic reboot).
3. Using cleaners from the Play Market.Apps like Clean Master or CCleaner often delete important MIUI files, leading to lags.
4. Format /data partition without backup. This will delete all applications, settings and files.
5. Delete.odex or.vdex files, which are needed for applications and systems.

If after cleaning the phone began to brake or overheat, try:

• Reboot in Safe Mode (shut down Power → Squeeze Down Power → Safe Mode).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions