Xiaomi smartphone owners often encounter a mysterious “Other” partition in storage that can take up tens of gigabytes. This section accumulates data gradually, slowing down the device and causing errors when installing applications. Understanding the nature of these files is the first step to optimizing the system.
MIUI classifies as “Other” all files that do not fall into the standard categories like photos, music or videos, including temporary application files, remnants of deleted programs, messenger cache and system logs, the largest volume in the “Other” section is usually taken by the cache of Telegram, WhatsApp and streaming services.
Ignoring overflows in this section can lead to a critical performance decline. Android needs free space for background processes to work properly. In this article, we will explore safe ways to clean up without losing important data.
Memory analysis and diagnosis
Before you start removing, you need to understand what exactly occupies space. Xiaomi's standard storage analyzer gives only superficial information. For deep diagnostics, it is better to use third-party utilities or built-in developer tools, which will allow you to identify heavyweights among the installed applications.
Often, users are unaware that simply watching social media feeds or uploading videos to instant messengers creates gigabytes of garbage. Cache is temporary data that speeds up applications but inflates over time to obscene size. It is important to distinguish system files from user debris.
In some cases, the Other section may contain system errors or update logs, and if you recently updated HyperOS or MIUI, you may have left install packages, and it is safe to remove them if the system is stable.
Cleaning through standard MIUI facilities
The first and most secure method is to use the built-in Security app, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi devices and optimized for the file system, run the scan and select deep clean.
The cleaner menu should carefully review the files proposed for removal. The system often marks old screenshots that are not used as garbage. APK-However, be careful with WhatsApp or Viber files to avoid losing important documents.
☑️ Standard cleaning algorithm
Once the procedure is complete, it is recommended to restart the device, which will allow the Android system to recalculate the file index and correctly display the space that has been released, sometimes the visual volume does not change immediately due to the caching of the interface.
⚠️ Note: Do not delete files with the.obb or.data extension in the Android folder unless you are sure they belong to remote games.
Manual cleaning of messenger folders
Messengers are the main memory eaters in the Other category. Telegram, for example, stores all media viewed in local memory by default. Without manual configuration, this process can take up the entire available storage capacity.
To clean up, you have to go to the settings of the specific application. In Telegram, the path looks like Settings → Data and memory → Memory Use. Here you can clear the cache with a single button without deleting your correspondence history. This is the most effective way to deal with bloated partitions.
WhatsApp is similar, but files are stored in a different directory structure, and it recommends using a built-in storage management function inside the messenger itself, where you can sort chats by volume and remove media from the heaviest dialogs.
Where to look for hidden messenger folders
Cleaning messenger cache regularly should become a habit, and if you're actively using video channels, clear the cache once a week, preventing a sudden report of a shortage of space at the most inopportune time.
Use of Developer Mode and ADB
For advanced users, there is a USB debugging method, which allows you to connect to your computer and use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) to remove system debris that is not available in the usual way, and requires caution.
Before you start, you need to activate the developer mode, and you need to click seven times on the build number in the About Phone section, and then the Developer menu turns on USB debugging.
adb shell pm trim-caches 999999999Executing this command through a terminal on a computer will remove the cache of all applications at once, a powerful tool that can free up several gigabytes at a time, but it is worth using only with complete confidence in your actions.
| ADB Team Team | Function | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| adb shell pm trim-caches | Clearing the cache of all applications | Low. |
| adb shell rm -rf | Manual deletion of files | High-pitched |
| adb reboot | Rebooting the device | Safe. |
⚠️ Attention: Use of teams ADB root rights or deletion of system directories can lead to a brick in the device. Do not delete files whose purpose you do not know.
Resetting and radical measures
If the software methods don't work and the Other section keeps growing, there may have been some errors in the file system, and then the effective solution is to reset the entire system to factory settings, which will bring the smartphone back to its original state.
Before you do Hard Reset, make sure to back up all your important data, photos, contacts and documents will be permanently lost, and the reset process can be started through the Recovery menu or system settings.
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Before resetting, sync your contacts to your Google account and back up your photo to Google Photos or Mi Cloud, which will save you time to recover.
After reset, the Other section will be minimal, but over time it will start to fill up again, to avoid recurring problems, keep an eye on the settings for auto-save media in apps and regularly do preventive cleaning.
In rare cases, partition bloating may indicate physical degradation of flash memory. If after reset the problem returns within a couple of days without active use of the smartphone, you should consider diagnosis.
Prevention and optimization of storage
To keep the problem from returning, change your smartphone usage habits. Turn off auto-save your files in messengers. Set up automatic cache cleanup in apps where possible.
Use cloud storage for photos and videos. Services like Mi Cloud or Google Drive allow you to store original files online, leaving only thumbnails on your device, which saves space.
Check the list of installed apps regularly. Delete the ones you don't use. Often forgotten games or services continue to accumulate data in the background, increasing the volume of the "Other" section.
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Regularly cleaning the messenger cache and disabling auto-save media are the best ways to prevent overflow of the “Other” partition.
Following these simple rules will keep the Xiaomi smartphone in excellent condition, the system will work faster, and free space will always be at hand for new tasks.