Smartphone owners Xiaomi, Redmi i POCO often face a mysterious situation: the storage is full, but upon detailed analysis it turns out that the lion's share The space is occupied by the “Other” section. This category can grow to 10, 20 and even 30 gigabytes, while remaining completely incomprehensible to the average user. The system does not give a direct answer as to which files are hidden behind this name, which causes natural irritation and the desire to delete everything.
In fact, this term hides a collection of various data that the operating system MIUI or HyperOS cannot clearly classify as photos, music, videos or installed applications. This includes cached messenger data, temporary update files, remnants of deleted apps and system logs. Understanding the nature of this data is the first step to restoring performance to your smartphone and freeing up valuable space without the risk of losing important information.
In this article, we will take a detailed look at the structure of the “Other” section, identify the main culprits behind filling up the memory, and offer proven methods for safe cleaning. You'll learn how to use built-in cleaning tools, work with a file manager, and apply advanced techniques to deep clean your system. The main thing is to act carefully so as not to delete critical data necessary for the stable operation of your device.
The nature of the “Other” partition: what is actually stored there
The “Other” partition (sometimes referred to as “System Data” or “Miscellaneous”) is a kind of “black box” of the Android file system. Files for which the memory manager does not have a clear category automatically go here. Most often, the main source of filling is application cache. Messengers like Telegram and WhatsApp save thousands of viewed images and videos into temporary memory so that when you reopen the chat, they are loaded instantly.
In addition, data remaining after deleting applications falls into this category. If you uninstalled the app, but it managed to create folders with settings or downloaded files in the shared memory, they will remain dead weight. Also here can be stored dump files (error reports) that the system creates during failures, and temporary files created during the installation of firmware updates.
⚠️ Attention: Not all files in the “Other” section are garbage. Application databases, offline navigator maps and game saves can be stored there. Blindly deleting the contents of system folders can lead to resetting app settings or losing progress.
Another hidden consumer of space is streaming services. Spotify, YouTube and Netflix cache some content for smoother playback. Over time, these buffers can reach impressive sizes. The system perceives them as unknown data, since they are not full-fledged media files in the gallery, but only temporary blocks of information.
Standard cleaning methods through the “Security” application
The easiest and safest way to start fighting for free space is to use the built-in application Security. It is preinstalled on all smartphones Xiaomi and is optimized specifically for the MIUI shell. Launch the application and select Cleaning. The system will conduct a quick scan and offer to remove obvious garbage: advertising caches, empty folders and temporary installation files.
However, standard cleaning often affects only the surface layer. For deeper work, you need to go to the Deep cleaning section inside the same application. Here, algorithms scan your memory in more detail, finding duplicate photos, large files you haven't opened in a while, and rarely used apps. This step requires your participation, as the system will ask for confirmation before deleting each type of data.
- 🗑️ Removing application cache: securely frees up space without affecting logins and passwords.
- 📸 Search for duplicate photos: finds identical pictures taken during serial shooting.
- 📦 Analysis of large files: shows videos and archives that occupy more than 100 MB.
- 📲 Autorun control: turns off the background activity of apps, indirectly affecting the amount of data.
It is important to carry out this procedure regularly, for example, once a week. This will prevent the “Other” section from growing uncontrollably. If you notice that after cleaning, the amount of free space has hardly changed, it means that the main memory “eaters” are hidden deeper and require manual intervention through the file manager.
Before starting deep cleaning, close all running applications. This will allow the system to correctly determine the cache size and avoid errors when calculating the occupied space.
Manual cleaning through the file manager: searching for hidden folders
For advanced users, the best solution is to manually audit the file system using the application Explorer. Go to the root folder of the internal memory and sort the files by size. You can often find forgotten archives or video files that were downloaded from the browser and automatically fell into the “Other” category because they were not recognized as media.
Particular attention should be paid to the folder Android. Inside it there are subfolders data and obb. It stores user application data, and it stores the cache of heavy games. If you deleted a game, but the folder with its name (for example, data application user data is stored, and obb — cache of heavy games. If you deleted a game, but the folder with its name (for example, com.pubg.imobile) remained in obb, these gigabytes will be listed as “Other”. Feel free to delete folders of deleted applications.
Internal memory → Android → obb → [Deleted games folders]Another “sore spot” is messenger folders. In older versions of Android, Telegram and WhatsApp data were stored in open folders in the root memory (Telegram, WhatsApp). In new versions they moved to Android/data, but old empty or half-filled directories could remain. Check for folders .thumbnails in the directory DCIM —gallery thumbnails are stored there, which sometimes grow to incredible sizes.
☑️ Manual memory check checklist
Specifics of messengers: Telegram and WhatsApp as the main culprits
The statistics are inexorable: in 80% of cases, the “Other” section is inflated precisely thanks to instant messengers. Telegram, for example, is configured by default to automatically download all media files. Every photo, video or voice message is saved in the application cache. Even if you watched the channel once, the file remained in the phone’s memory, waiting in the wings.
To solve this problem, it is not necessary to delete chats. Just go to the settings of the application itself. In Telegram the path looks like this: Settings → Data and memory → Memory usage. Here you will see the amount of cache used. Click the button Clear cache. This action is safe: the files will be deleted from the device, but will remain on the server and will be downloaded again if necessary.
In WhatsApp the situation is similar, but there is a nuance with backups. Local chat databases that are created every morning can take up space if a lot of them have accumulated over the past weeks. They are stored in the folder Databases. It is recommended to leave only the latest copy, and delete old ones manually through Explorer.
⚠️ Attention: Clearing the cache in instant messengers does not delete your correspondence. However, if you decide to clear "App Data" in Android settings, you will lose all message history and media files not synchronized with the cloud.
The Auto Delete feature in Telegram settings is also worth mentioning. You can set the app to automatically delete your media cache if it hasn't been opened for more than 3 days or a week. This is an ideal option for maintaining cleanliness without manual intervention.
Why is the Telegram cache so large?
The application saves all viewed media in high quality for quick access. If you are a member of dozens of channels with active posting, the cache can reach 5-10 GB per month of use without cleaning.
System files and update data: when deletion is dangerous
Part of the “Other” section is occupied by the operating system itself. These are swap files, event logs (logs) and data from Google services. In normal condition, the system should occupy between 5 and 10 GB. If this indicator is significantly higher, the system may have accumulated “garbage” after unsuccessful updates or crashes.
Sometimes after updating the firmware, an installer file of several gigabytes in size remains in memory. Usually the system deletes it itself after a reboot, but there are failures. Check the root directory for files with the extension .zip or folders with the name MIUI or updatethat are not system hidden folders.
| Data type | Where is | Can I delete | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application cache | Settings → Applications | Yes | Low (slowdown of the first launch) |
| OBB folders | Android/obb | Only from remote games | Medium (games will stop working) |
| .thumbnails files | DCIM/.thumbnails | Yes | Low (the gallery will build the preview again) |
| System logs | System root | No (without root) | High (system instability) |
Be extremely careful with files whose names you do not understand. Removing system libraries may cause the phone to enter a bootloop. If you are not sure of the purpose of the file, it is better to leave it alone or copy it to your computer first.
System files occupy a fixed amount of space. A sharp increase in the “Other” section is almost always caused by user content (cache, downloads), and not by the firmware itself.
Radical measures: resetting settings and transferring data
If none of the methods helped free up space, and the “Other” section continues to occupy a critical volume, the last argument remains - a full reset to factory settings. This procedure is guaranteed to remove all software junk, file system errors and hidden data accumulations. The phone will be the same as you took it out of the box.
Before performing a reset, you must create a complete backup of your important data. Use cloud services Xiaomi Cloud or Google Drive, and also copy photos and documents to your computer. After the reset, you will have to reconfigure your phone, log into your accounts and install applications, but the system will be perfect.
The procedure is performed through the menu Settings → About phone → Reset settings → Delete all data. Make sure your device is at least 50% charged and connected to Wi-Fi for quick syncing. After turning on, the phone may “think” for some time, optimizing applications - this is a normal process.
⚠️ Attention: Resetting settings irreversibly deletes all data from the internal memory, including contacts, SMS and files. Make sure that the synchronization of contacts with your Google account was successful, otherwise you will lose them.
An alternative to a full reset is to transfer some of the data to a microSD memory card, if your model Xiaomi supports this function. Move photos, videos and music to external storage. This will not reduce the “Other” section directly, but it will free up general space, which will allow the system to work more comfortably with the cache.
How does a reset affect the battery?
After a full reset and setup, the phone may discharge faster in the first 2-3 days. This is due to the fact that the system indexes files in the background and optimizes applications. In a few days, autonomy will return to normal.
Prevention: how to prevent refilling
To prevent the “Other” problem from returning in a month, you need to change your smartphone usage habits. First, disable auto-downloading of media in messengers for mobile data. Secondly, look at your storage settings once a month and delete the cache of heavy applications. Thirdly, do not store files on your phone “just in case” - there are clouds for that.
Use the “Scheduled Cleaning” function if your version of MIUI supports it. Set up automatic garbage removal once a week at night. Also keep an eye on system updates: engineers Xiaomi regularly release patches that optimize the file system and correct memory leaks.
Remember that full memory (more than 90%) negatively affects the data writing speed, which leads to interface slowdowns and application crashes. Keep at least 15-20% of the storage free for comfortable operation of the operating system and the correct functioning of the virtual memory mechanism.
Install the “Cleaning” widget on the home screen. This serves as a visual reminder to check the memory status when you see a full indicator.
Is it possible to delete the Android folder completely?
No, you absolutely cannot delete the entire folder. Android . It stores critical data for the operation of all installed applications. Deleting this folder will cause apps to stop running and lose settings and authorization. You can only delete specific subfolders inside data and obbthat relate to already deleted games or apps.
Why is the space not freed up after cleaning?
This can happen for two reasons. The first is that you only cleared the cache, but the main data (for example, downloaded files in Telegram) remained. The second is a display failure in the system. Try restarting your smartphone so that the system recalculates the amount of used space. Sometimes the memory indicator “sticks” and shows incorrect data before restarting.
Does the “Other” section affect the speed of the phone?
Yes, it does indirectly. When the internal memory is full, the system does not have enough space to create temporary files and swap. This leads to slower opening of applications, interface lags and long processing of photos in the gallery. Freeing up space in the “Other” section often returns the smartphone to its former agility.
Are third-party apps like Clean Master necessary?
In modern versions of Android and MIUI, they are not necessary. Built-in cleaning tools are more efficient and safer because they have system access. Third-party “cleaners” often take up space themselves, display intrusive advertising and, at best, duplicate the functions of the system, and at worst, disrupt its stability by aggressively shutting down processes.