Have you ever looked at the storage settings on your Android smartphone and wondered why the partition "Other" occupies tens of gigabytes? This is not a system error or a virus - these are accumulated service files, application caches, “tails” left after updates and other digital garbage that Android does not classify as standard categories (photos, videos, applications). Unlike obvious memory hogs like games or downloaded movies, the contents of "Other" are rarely useful, but clearing them out isn't as easy as hitting "Delete."

The problem is that Android doesn't provide the user with direct tools to manage this section. At best, the system suggests “free up space” automatically, but this approach often removes only the tip of the iceberg, leaving the main garbage untouched. Even worse: improper cleaning can lead to application failures or even crashes. In this article, we will figure out what exactly is hidden under this mysterious category, which files can be deleted without risk, and which should not be touched - and we will give step-by-step guide for different versions of Android. loss of important data, if we are talking about system files that mistakenly end up in “Other”. In this article, we will figure out what exactly is hidden under this mysterious category, which files can be deleted without risk, and which ones should not be touched, and we will give step-by-step guide for different versions of Android.

What is the “Other” section in Android memory and why is it growing

Section "Other" (or «Other» in the English version) is a “trash” for all files that the system cannot classify into standard categories: Photo/Video, Audio, Applications or Documents. This includes:

  • 📁 Application cache —temporary files that apps create for speed up work (for example, thumbnails for the gallery or data for offline access in instant messengers).
  • 🔄 Remains of deleted applications — not completely erased files after uninstalling apps.
  • 📦 System logs and dumps — error reports, logs operation of the OS (especially a lot of them accumulate after failures or updates).
  • 🔗 Symbolic links and empty folders — “ghost” files that take up space but are not displayed in Explorer.
  • 🖼️ Media files without extension —photos or videos downloaded without the correct format (for example, via Telegram or a browser).

The main reason for the growth of the “Other” is ineffective work of the built-in file manager. Android does not always classify files correctly, especially if they were created by third-party applications or manually via ADB. For example, a cache Google Play Services may occupy several gigabytes, but the system will classify it not as “Applications”, but as “Other”. The same thing happens with messenger data (for example, stickers in WhatsApp) or offline cards in Google Maps.

Another culprit is OS updates. When installing a new version of Android, old system files are not always completely deleted, but remain as backup copies in case of a rollback. Over time, such “spare” data accumulates up to 5–10 GB.

📊 How often do you clear the memory on your smartphone?
Once a week
Once a month
Only when running out of space
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How to check what exactly is taking up space in “Other”

Before deleting something, you need to understand what which files has accumulated in the section. There are several ways to do this - from built-in tools to third-party utilities.

Method 1: Built-in storage analyzer (Android 8.0+)

Most modern smartphones (starting from Android Oreo) have a built-in analysis tool memory:

  1. Open Settings → Storage.
  2. Tap on the section "Other" (can be called "Other" or "System data").
  3. The system will show the distribution of files by category (cache, downloads, multimedia, etc.).

This method has a disadvantage: it does not show specific files, but only general categories. For example, you will see that 3 GB is occupied by “Cache”, but you will not understand which application it belongs to.

Method 2: File manager with root access (for advanced)

If you have there root-access, you can use Root Explorer or FX File Manager to search for large files in system folders. Look for files in:

  • /data/data/ - cache and application data;
  • /data/log/ - system logs;
  • /data/dalvik-cache/ — Dalvik virtual machine cache (outdated for new Androids, but may remain on older devices).
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If you do not have root access, do not try to get them for the sake of clearing “Other” - the risk of “bricking” the smartphone is too high. Instead, use the methods below.

Method 3: Third-party. utilities (without root)

Applications like Files by Google, SD Maid or CCleaner can show more detailed information about files in “Other”. For example, SD Maid finds:

  • 🗑️ Empty folders and symbolic links;
  • 🧹 Residual files after deleting applications;
  • 📊 Duplicates and files with the same content.

Important: even these apps do not provide a 100% guarantee that the files found can be safely deleted. Always check extensions and paths before. cleaning!

What to do if the storage analyzer does not show the “Other” section?

On some smartphones (for example, Xiaomi or Huawei) the “Other” section may be hidden under the name “System data” or “Backup storage” If it is not in the main menu. storage, try:

  1. Open Settings → About phone → Storage (path may vary).
  2. Use search in settings (magnifying glass icon) and enter “storage.”
  3. Install a third-party analyzer (for example, DiskUsage).

Which files in “Other” can be deleted and which cannot

Not all files in the section "Other" are safe to delete. Below is a table with an analysis of typical cases:

File type Can I delete? How to clear Risks
Application cache (.cache, .tmp) ✅ Yes through the app settings or Files by Google The application may run slower when first launched
Logs and dumps (.log, .dmp) ✅ Yes Manually via file manager or SD Maid No consequences if you do not delete current system logs
Remains of deleted applications ✅ Yes Through Settings → Applications → Deleted or CCleaner Settings may remain, but not critical
System backups (.bak, .old) ⚠️ Partially Only if you are sure that this not current backups Recovery may break after a reset
Files without an extension or with an unknown format ❌ No It is better to leave or transfer to a PC for analysis Can be important application data

Particular care should be taken with files in folders:

  • 🚫 /system/ — system files, deletion will lead to OS failure;
  • 🚫 /data/app/ —installed applications are stored here;
  • ⚠️ /data/data/com.android.*/ —system application data (delete only if you know exactly what the folder is responsible for).
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Never delete files with extensions .odex, .apk, .so or without extension in system folders - these are components of the OS or applications.

Step-by-step guide: how to clear “Other” without root

If you have no superuser rights, follow this algorithm. It is suitable for most smartphones on Android 9–14 (including Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme etc.).

Step 1: Clear application cache

This is the safest way to free up 1-5 GB:

  1. Open Settings → Applications.
  2. Select an application that takes up a lot of space (for example, Google Play Services, Facebook, Telegram).
  3. Tap "Storage" → "Clear cache".
  4. Repeat for all large ones applications.
Google Play Services|Google Chrome|Facebook/Instagram|Telegram/WhatsApp|YouTube

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Step 2: Deleting downloads and unnecessary files

Often files from the folder Download or DCIM/.thumbnails (photo thumbnails) end up in “Other”:

  1. Open any file manager (for example, Files by Google).
  2. Go to the folders:
    • Internal Storage → Download
    • Internal Storage → DCIM → .thumbnails
    • Internal Storage → Android → data (there may be remnants of deleted applications here)
  • Delete unnecessary files (especially with extensions .apk, .tmp, .log).

    • Step 3: Using the built-in function “Free up space”

    Android offers automatic cleaning:

    1. Go to Settings → Storage → Free up space.
    2. Select categories to clean (cache, downloads, unused applications).
    3. Confirm the action.

    Disadvantage of the method: it does not clean deep system files, but it is safe.

    Step 4: Cleaning via ADB (for experienced users)

    If the previous methods did not help, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This requires connecting the smartphone to the PC, but allows you to delete files that are not available through the regular interface.

    Instructions:

    1. Install ADB on your computer (download Platform Tools from Google).
    2. Enable USB debugging on your smartphone (Settings → About phone → Build number (tap 7 times) → Developer settings → USB debugging).
    3. Connect the phone to the PC and run the commands: 
      adb shell

      pm clear com.android.providers.media # Clearing media storage
      

      rm -rf /data/local/tmp/* # Deleting temporary files

      4. 💡

      Before using ADB, back up your data! One wrong command can erase important files.

      What to do if “Other” takes up too much space (20+ GB)

      If the partition has grown to a critical size (for example, 20–50 GB), conventional cleaning methods may not work. work. In this case, the reasons are usually the following:

      • 📱 Residues after a major OS update (Android creates backup copies of old files).
      • 🎮 Game data (for example, Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile can leave gigabytes cache in Other). data-i="213">(for example, after incorrectly removing the SD card).
      • 📁 Hidden messenger folders (V Telegram or VK Invisible files often accumulate).
      • 🔧 Failures in the file system (for example, after incorrectly removing the SD card).

      Solutions for each case:

      1. For remaining updates:
        • Try to manually find folders with names like backup, old or update in /data/.
        • Use the ADB command: 
          adb shell rm -rf /data/backup/*
      2. For games:
        • Remove the game via Settings → Applications, then install again.
        • Empty the folder Android/obb/ - additional game data is stored here.
      3. For messengers:
        • B Telegram go in Settings → Data and memory → Clear cache.
        • In VK or WhatsApp delete unnecessary media files through internal settings.
    4. For file failures system:
      • Perform a disk check via SD Maid (function CorpseFinder).
      • As a last resort, do reset to factory settings (but this will delete all data!).
    💡

    If “Other” takes up more than 30% of the total memory, and the usual methods do not help, this is a reason to check your smartphone for viruses or file system errors.

    How to prevent the re-accumulation of garbage in “Other”

    Cleaning memory is good, but even better do not allow its clogging Here are a few. proven methods:

    • 🔄 Clear the cache regularly (once every 1-2 weeks) through Files by Google or built-in settings.
    • 🚫 Avoid "cleaners" like Clean Master - they often delete useful data and show false warnings.
    • 📥 Set up automatic cleaning of downloads:
      • In Google Chrome: Settings → Downloads → Clean after viewing.
      • In Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Auto clean media.
    • 📁 Transfer large files to an SD card or the cloud (for example, movies or backups).
    • 🔍 Periodically check the folder DCIM/.thumbnails —gigabytes of thumbnails can accumulate here.

    It is also worth disabling automatic backup of unnecessary data. For example, in Google Photo you can configure saving only selected albums, and not all photos in a row.

    💡

    If you often install and uninstall applications, use App Cloner or Island (to work in the sandbox). This will prevent the system from being clogged with residual files.

    Frequent errors when cleaning “Other” and how to avoid them

    Many users, in an attempt to free up space, take actions that only worsen the situation. Here are the most common mistakes:

    1. Deleting files blindly:

      Never erase files just because they are large or have an unknown extension. For example, a file com.android.vending-1.apk may seem like garbage, but in reality. in fact, this is a component Google Play Market.

    2. Use of “cleaners” with aggressive algorithms:

      apps like Clean Master or 360 Security often delete useful data (for example, authorization files in banking applications) and show false warnings about the “critical state” of memory.

    3. Clearing the cache of system applications:

      Cache Google Services Framework or Android System WebView It is better not to touch - this can lead to malfunctions of the phone.

    4. Ignoring backups:

      Before mass deleting files, always make a backup via Google Drive or Titanium Backup (for root).

    5. Resetting settings without preparation:

      Hard Reset deletes everything, including “Other”, but also erases contacts, messages and settings. Always synchronize your data before resetting!

    How to recover data if photos or files are missing after clearing “Other”?

    If you accidentally deleted important files, try:

    1. Recovery apps: DiskDigger, Recuva (need root for deep scanning).
    2. Check the trash in Google Photos or Gallery (files are stored there for 30–60 days).
    3. If used Google Drive, check the section Cart in the web version.

    FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions about the “Other” section

    🔹 Why does “Other” take up a lot of space again after cleaning?

    This is normal - Android constantly creates temporary files for applications to run. If the partition grows too quickly (for example, by 1-2 GB per day), check:

    • If some application is updating in the background (for example, Google Maps downloads offline maps).
    • Are there any viruses (use Malwarebytes to check).
    • Is automatic backup enabled (for example, in Mi Cloud on Xiaomi).
    🔹 Is it possible to completely delete the “Other” partition?

    No, this is impossible - it is needed for the system to work. However, you can reduce its size to 1-3 GB (the norm for most smartphones). If, even after cleaning, the partition takes up 10+ GB, this is a reason to check the phone for file system errors or viruses.

    🔹 Why on different smartphones? “Other” behaves differently?

    Manufacturers modify Android to suit their needs. For example:

    • Files Samsung Files often end up in “Other” Knox (security system) often end up in "Other". data-i="314">On
    • On Xiaomi this may include data MIUI Optimization.
    • On Huawei the section may be called “Backup Storage” and include files Huawei Mobile Services.

    Always check the documentation for your model!

    🔹 What to do if after clearing “Other” the phone starts to slow down?

    You probably deleted important system files or the cache of critical applications. Try:

    1. Restart the phone.
    2. Clear the cache only for problematic applications (not all) in a row!).
    3. If the brakes are strong, reset to factory settings.
    🔹 Is there a universal application for cleaning “Other”?

    No, there is no universal solution, but you can combine:

    • Files by Google — for basic cleaning;
    • SD Maid — for deep analysis;
    • ADB — for deletion system files (only for experienced ones!).

    Avoid “magic cleaners” from the Play Market - they are often useless or harmful.

    If after all the manipulations the “Other” section still takes up too much space, this may indicate hardware problem (for example, worn out flash memory) or serious failure in the OS. In such cases, it is better to contact a service center - especially if the phone begins to overheat frequently or reboot spontaneously.

    💡

    Regular cleaning of “Other” (once every 1-2 months) prolongs the life of the smartphone and prevents system slowdown. But remember: it’s better to delete less than to accidentally erase important data!