Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones are often faced with a paradoxical situation: the built-in memory of the device is filled to capacity, but upon detailed analysis it turns out that applications and media files occupy only a small fraction of the total volume. The remaining space is mysteriously consumed by a partition that is listed as “Other” in the system analyzer. This section can grow to tens of gigabytes, turning a modern gadget into a slow device with a constant lack of space for updates or new photos.
The nature of this storage lies in the architecture of the shell MIUI and the file system Android. Here the system automatically stores temporary files, error logs, system service caches, remnants of deleted applications and data that cannot be correctly classified by standard sorting algorithms. Understanding what exactly is hidden behind this shortcut is the first step to regaining free space.
In this article we will look in detail at safe and effective methods of dealing with a bloated partition. You'll learn how to use built-in optimization tools, which hidden folders require manual intervention, and when to resort to drastic measures. The main thing is to act consistently so as not to delete important data along with digital garbage.
Anatomy of the “Other” section: what is actually stored there
Before you start deleting files, you need to clearly understand the structure of this mysterious section. Unlike the “Applications”, “Images” or “Videos” categories, the “Other” section is a hodgepodge of heterogeneous data. Most often, the lion's share of the volume is occupied by cache files messengers and social networks, which save viewed media for quick loading in the future.
The second most important source of pollution is system logs and error reports. The smartphone constantly records information about its work in service directories, and if the automatic cleaning mechanism fails, these text files can grow to gigabyte sizes. Also come here residual files after uninstalling apps that the developers forgot to remove along with the main application.
⚠️ Attention: Do not try to delete files from system folders manually if you are not 100% sure of their purpose. An error can lead to unstable operation of the operating system or loss of personal data.
A special place in this list is occupied by data from offline maps and browser downloads. Many users forget that downloaded navigator maps or viewed web pages with heavy content are also classified by the system as “Other”. This data is useful, but often remains forgotten for months, taking up valuable space.
Basic cleaning through the built-in Security application
The easiest and safest way to start fighting for gigabytes is to use a standard tool from Xiaomi. The application “Security” (Security) is pre-installed on each brand device and contains a powerful module for memory analysis. Despite its simplicity, it is able to find and remove a significant part of the garbage without risk to the system.
To start the process, you need to open the application and select “Cleaning”. The system will scan and offer to remove obvious junk: application caches, ads and remnants of installation files. However, to work deeply with the “Other” section, you need to switch to advanced mode. Click on the “Deep cleaning” button or a similar item in the menu.
In deep cleaning mode, the algorithm will offer to remove large files, duplicate photos and unused applications. It is important to be careful here: the system may mark files that you still need for deletion. Carefully review the list before confirming the operation.
☑️ Quick cleaning algorithm
The effectiveness of this method depends on the regularity of the procedure. If you've never cleaned your phone, your first run might free up a few gigabytes. However, for long-standing problems this may not be enough, and then manual intervention in the file system will be required.
Manual file management: searching for hidden folders
Standard cleaners often bypass specific directories where heavy files like to hide. To access them you will need a built-in file manager "Explorer". Go to the storage settings and carefully study the folder structure, paying attention to their size.
Particular attention should be paid to the directory Android/data. The data of all installed games and applications is stored here. Often, after deleting a game, its cache folder (textures, sounds, levels) remains in place and continues to take up space, classified as “Other”. A similar situation is observed with the folder Android/obb, where extension files for heavy games are located.
Another “secret storage” is the folder MIUI/debug_log. The system stores debugging logs in it. If you are not a developer and do not debug firmware, you absolutely do not need these files. Their size can reach several gigabytes, and deleting them safely will instantly free up space.
Before deleting folders from the Android/data section, take a screenshot of the application list. This will help you remember which messenger or game the deleted folder belonged to if important settings suddenly disappear.
Also check the downloads folder Download and directory DCIM/.thumbnails. The latter contains thumbnails of your photos and videos. Over time, the database of thumbnails can grow to unimaginable sizes, especially if you have thousands of pictures in your gallery. Deleting this folder is safe - the system will create it again, but in a smaller size.
Clearing the cache of instant messengers and social networks
Messengers invariably become the leaders in consuming space in the “Other” section. Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber save every received photos, videos and documents on the internal storage. Even if you have viewed the file once, it remains in the application cache forever, unless automatic cleaning is configured.
In Telegram, the situation is solved most elegantly. Go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory usage. Here you will see the amount of cache used. Click the Clear Cache button. It is important to understand: this will not delete your correspondence or files from the cloud, they will simply be downloaded again when you open the chat again.
In WhatsApp, the mechanism is slightly different. The application does not have a built-in button to completely clear the cache in the same form, so you will have to use the built-in file manager. Find the folder Android/media/com.whatsapp (or WhatsApp/Media on older versions of Android). Inside, delete the folders WhatsApp Video and WhatsApp Imagesif they contain duplicates of files already saved in the gallery.
⚠️ Attention: The messenger interface and folder paths may change after major software updates. Always check the current paths in the application help or on the official website of the developer before deleting system directories.
Do not forget about social networks like VK or Instagram. They cache the news feed so it loads faster when scrolling. Clearing the data of these applications through the phone settings (Settings → Applications → All applications) will return them to the “as after installation” state, which is guaranteed to free up gigabytes, but will require re-authorization.
Using developer mode and USB debugging
If standard methods did not help reduce the size of the “Other” section, you can use more advanced tools. Developer mode Android allows you to access functions hidden from the average user. This is a powerful tool that requires caution, but is extremely effective in dealing with complex garbage.
To activate the mode, go to Settings → About phone and quickly click on the “MIUI Version” item seven times in a row. After the notification “You have become a developer” appears in the settings menu, a new section “Advanced” or “Advanced settings” will appear, where there will be an item “For developers.”
Inside this menu, find the section related to memory or logging. Disabling some logging features may prevent system files from growing further. However, the most effective method here is to force clear the Dalvik/ART cache, although on modern versions of Android this procedure is often integrated into a normal reboot.
What is Dalvik cache?
Dalvik cache is optimized application files that speed up their launch. Clearing this cache will force the system to rebuild it the next time you boot, which may take a few minutes, but often solves phantom memory problems.
You can also limit background activity of applications in developer mode. Often “Other” increases precisely because apps in the background are continuously writing data. Limiting background processes in the “Background process limit” item can stop this uncontrolled growth.
Radical measures: resetting to factory settings
When none of the software methods gives results and the “Other” section continues to take up a critical amount of space, the last argument remains - a complete system reset. This procedure will erase absolutely all data from the device, returning it to the state it was in when purchased in the store.
Before starting the procedure, it is critical to create a backup copy of all important data. Photos, contacts, notes and documents must be saved in cloud storage Mi Cloud, Google Drive or transferred to a computer. Without this step, you risk losing your entire digital life forever.
To perform a reset, go to Settings → About phone → Reset settings. Select "Delete all data". The process will take from 10 to 30 minutes depending on the amount of memory and processor speed. After the reboot, the “Other” section will be minimal, consisting only of the necessary system files.
| Cleaning method | Complexity | Risk of data loss | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security application | Low | Minimal | Medium |
| Manual removal folders | Medium | Medium | High |
| Clearing messenger cache | Low | Low (cache only) | Very high |
| Reset to factory settings | High | Total loss (without backup) | Maximum |
A full reset is a guarantee of 100% clearing of the “Other” section, but the price of this method is the time it takes to restore settings and install applications again. Use it only as a last resort.
After a reset, it is recommended not to restore the backup copy of applications at once (“in a batch”), but to install them one by one. Often it is the restoration of old settings and cache through a backup that brings back the problem of the “bloated” partition after a short time.
Prevention: how to prevent it from growing again
The problem of the “Other” section tends to return if you do not change your smartphone usage habits. The main reason is the automatic saving of media files. Disable auto-uploading of photos and videos to the gallery for all messengers. This will not only save space, but also speed up applications.
Regularity is the key to success. Get into the habit of running a deep clean and checking your Downloads folder once a month. Do not allow the accumulation of installation files .apkthat remain after updating applications manually.
Use cloud technologies to store archives. Photos that are more than six months old are rarely needed on hand every day. Transferring them to the cloud or to an external hard drive will keep the internal memory of your smartphone clean and avoid the appearance of a giant “Other” section in the future.
Why is the space not freed up immediately after cleaning?
The Android system uses a file indexing mechanism. After deleting large amounts of data, media scanner services take time (from 15 minutes to several hours) to recalculate the free space and update the information in the storage settings. Just restart your device and wait.
Is it possible to delete the Android folder completely?
Absolutely not. The folder Android contains critical data for the operation of all installed applications. Removing it will cause apps to stop running and lose settings and user data. You can only delete content inside subfolders of specific deleted applications.
Does the “Other” section affect the speed of the phone?
Yes, indirectly. When the internal memory is more than 90% full, the speed of writing and reading data drops significantly due to the way flash memory works. This leads to interface slowdowns, long application launches and camera freezes.
Will third-party applications like Clean Master help?
In most cases, no. Modern versions of Android strictly limit the access of third-party applications to system files and the cache of other apps. Standard Xiaomi products often work more efficiently and safer than universal “cleaners” from the Play Market, which themselves can take up a lot of space.