The "Other" folder on Android: what it is, why it grows and how to delete unnecessary files

Have you ever looked into the storage of your Android smartphone and noticed that the folder “Other”** occupies gigabytes of memory, but remains a mystery? This is not just garbage - system caches, temporary application files, update remnants, and even fragments of deleted data are hidden here. Unlike folders Downloads or DCIM, the contents of “Other” are not displayed in the standard file manager, which makes cleaning it a non-trivial task.

In this article we will analyze in detail, what exactly is stored in the “Other” folder on different versions of Android (from Android 10 to Android 14), why its size can suddenly increase, and - most importantly - how to safely reduce its volume. You will learn which files can be deleted manually and which ones should not be touched so as not to disrupt the system. We will also look at alternative cleaning methods, including hidden developer settings and third-party utilities.

We warn you right away: not all files in the “Other” folder are garbage. For example, data can be stored here web browsing caches to speed up the loading of sites or recovery data after failures. By deleting them indiscriminately, you risk your phone slowing down or losing important settings. Therefore, our guide is designed so that you can specifically clear only those files that the system really does not need.

What is the “Other” folder on Android and why does it take up so much space

Folder "Other"** (or Other in the English version) is a collective name for files that Android cannot classify into standard categories like “Photos,” “Videos,” or “Applications.” It appears in the Settings → Storage section and often takes up from 500 MB to 10+ GB, especially on devices with large amounts of memory. But why does this happen?

The fact is that Android classifies files according to their extension i metadata. If the system cannot determine the file type (for example, it is a temporary cache with no extension or a database fragment), it sends it to Other. This also includes:

• 📁 Remains of deleted applications - files that were not completely erased during uninstallation (for example, settings or cache).
• 🔄 Temporary update files - packages OTA updates that were not deleted after installation.
• 🖥️ System dumps and logs — error reports (.dmp, .log), which are created during failures.
• 🌐 Cache of browsers and messengers — for example, Chrome or Telegram can store downloaded media files here in compressed form.
• 🔧 Files Dalvik-cache - optimized versions of applications to speed up their launch (relevant for older versions of Android).

Interesting fact: on some firmwares (for example, MIUI from Xiaomi or One UI from Samsung) even hidden backupscan be included in “Other” created by proprietary utilities. For example, Samsung Cloud sometimes leaves temporary files here before uploading to the cloud.

Where is the “Other” folder physically located and is it possible to see it

Unlike folders like DCIM or Music, “Other” is not a real directory, but virtual categorythat Android generates based on storage analysis. However, files related to “Other” are scattered across different system folders. Main locations:

Folder	Path	What it stores	Can I delete
Application cache	/data/data//cache	Temporary application files (for example, cache) data-i="102">System logs Instagram or TikTok)	Yes, but it's better through the app settings
Dalvik-cache	/data/dalvik-cache	Optimized files to speed up applications	No (may disrupt system operation)
System logs	/data/log or /data/anr	Error and freeze reports (.log, .trace)	Yes, but only manually via ADB
Remaining updates	/cache or /data/ota_package	Firmware files that were not deleted after installation	Yes, if the update is already installed

To see these folders, you will need root access or access via ADB (Android Debug Bridge). (for example, Files by Google or Mi File Manager) will show only part of the files related to “Other”.

For example, to view the cache of a specific application, you can use the command:

adb shell ls /data/data/com.example.app/cache

But remember: deleting files from system folders without understanding their purpose can lead to application crash or even cyclic reboot of the device.

How to safely clear the “Other” folder without root access

If you do not have root access, you can clear "Other" in several ways without risking system stability. Let's start with the safest methods:

1. Clearing the application cache

   Go to Settings → Applications, select the application (for example, Facebook or YouTube) and press Storage → Clear cache. This will delete temporary files that often end up in “Other”.

2. Deleting downloaded files from instant messengers

   In Telegram, WhatsApp or Viber go to the storage settings and delete unnecessary media files. They are often stored in hidden folders and are counted as “Other”.

3. Using the built-in one. cleaning utilities

   Most smartphones (for example, Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei) have proprietary tools like Optimization or Wipe. They can find and delete some files from “Other”.

4. Reset partition cache system

   In the recovery menu (Recovery Mode), select Wipe cache partitionThis will delete temporary system files without affecting user data.

If these methods do not help, try third-party utilities like SD Maid or Files by Google. They can find duplicates, empty folders and remnants of deleted applications. However, be careful: some apps (for example, Clean Mastercan aggressively delete files. which will lead to failures.

Make a backup copy of important data|Check free space in the storage|Close all running applications|Use only trusted utilities|Do not delete files with unknown extensions-->

Cleaning “Other” using ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods do not help, and you do not have root access, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This tool allows you to delete files that are not accessible through the normal interface. Here are step-by-step guide:

1. Enable USB debugging

   Go to Settings → About phone and press 7 times on Number assemblyto activate Developer mode. Then in Settings → System → For developers turn on USB debugging.

2. Connect the phone to PC

   Install ADB to your computer (for example, through Platform Tools from Google) and run the command:

   adb devices

   Make sure that the device is detected.

3. Find and delete unnecessary files

   Use commands to view and cleaning:

   adb shell df -h # View occupied space
   adb shell ls -la /data/log # View logs
   adb shell rm -rf /data/log/* # Delete logs (only if you are sure!)

⚠️ Attention: Deleting files via ADB can lead to unstable system operation. Never delete files from folders /system, /vendor or /data/dalvik-cache without a clear understanding of their purpose.

If you are not sure about the command, first check what it does with:

adb shell ls -la /path/to/folder

What happens if you delete all files from /data/log?

These files contain error logs and diagnostic information. Removing them will not break the system, but it may make it more difficult to diagnose problems in the future. For example, if the application starts to close suddenly, there will be no record in the logs about the cause of the failure.

What to do if the “Other” folder fills up again

Even after cleaning, “Other” can quickly grow. This is normal - Android creates temporary files all the time. However, if the folder gets full too quickly (for example, by several gigabytes in a week), the problem may lie in:

• 🔄 Automatic updates - some applications (for example Google Play Services) download updates in the background and do not always clean cache.
• 📱 App failures —if an application crashes frequently, it can fill the logs with errors.
• 🌐 Aggressive browser caching — Chrome or Firefox can store gigabytes cache to speed up loading sites.
• 🤖 Proprietary services manufacturer for example, Xiaomi or Huawei can create backups in the background.

To prevent “Other” from filling up quickly, follow these tips:

• 🔧 Limit the cache for individual applications — in the settings of some applications (for example, Spotify), you can set a cache limit.
• 📵 Disable automatic application updates — update them manually through Google Play.
• 🗑️ Regularly clear your browser history —in Chrome this is done through Settings → History → Clear data.
• 🔄 Reboot your phone once a week —this clears temporary files that are not deleted automatically.

If the problem persists, check which application is clogging “Other”. To do this:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Memory usage.
2. Sort applications by used space.
3. Check applications with a large amount of data - perhaps they create unnecessary files.

When clearing “Other” can harm the phone

Not all files in “Other” are garbage. Some of them are critical to the operation of Android. Deleting the following types of files may cause failures:

File type	Examples	Consequences of deletion
Dalvik-cache files	.odex, .oat	Applications will stop launching or will be permanent crash.
System libraries	.so (for example, libandroid_runtime.so)	System crash or cyclic reboot.
Recovery files	recovery.log, last_kmsg	Problems with the next update or reset settings.
Google Play Services cache	Folders with names like com.google.android.gms	Infringement of Google services (for example, Push notifications).

⚠️ Attention: If you use custom recovery (for example, TWRP) to clear "Other", never select the option Wipe System or Wipe Data without a backup. This will lead to a complete reset of the phone.

Also be careful with utilities. like CCleaner or Clean Master. They often delete files based on patterns without analyzing their importance. For example, they can erase:

• 📂 Wi-Fi settings files —you will have to re-enter passwords.
• 🔑 Encryption keys will make some files inaccessible.
• 📱 Recovery data —after resetting you will lose some information.

If after clearing “Other” the phone started to work slower or some functions stopped working, try:

1. Reboot the device.
2. Restore data from a backup (if there is one).
3. Install missing files via Google Play Services (go to the application settings and click Restore).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the "Other" folder on Android

🔍 Why, after cleaning, does "Other" take up a lot of space again?

Android constantly creates temporary files for applications and the system to run, for example, every time you open Chrome or Instagram a new cache is formed. To slow down the growth of Other, limit cache in app settings and clear your history regularly.

📱 Is it possible to delete “Other” completely?

No, this is impossible and not necessary. “Other” is not a separate folder, but a category into which only specific types of files can be deleted. unnecessary files (cache, logs, remnants of updates), but not everything.

🔧 How to clear “Other” on Xiaomi/Redmi phones?

On devices with MIUI go to Settings → About phone → Memory → Cleaning. There is a built-in tool for removing garbage, including some files. from “Other”. Also check the folder MIUI/Backup —old backups may be located here.

🚨 What to do if after cleaning “Other” the phone does not turn on?

Most likely, critical system files have been deleted. Try:

1. Boot into Recovery Mode (usually Power + Volume Up) and select Wipe cache partition.
2. If that doesn’t help, reset to factory settings (Factory Reset).
3. As a last resort, reflash the phone via Fastboot or ODIN (for Samsung).

In the future, do not delete files from folders /system or /data/dalvik-cache.

📊 Why on different phones “Other” takes up different volumes?

The volume of “Other” depends on:

• Android version (new versions have more service files).
• Firmware (for example, MIUI or One UI added your temporary files).
• Number of installed applications (each creates a cache).
• User activities (frequent updates, surfing the Internet).

On phones with Android Go (for example, Nokia 1 or Samsung Galaxy J2 Core) "Other" is usually smaller, since the system is optimized for low-power devices.