How to clear “Other” on Xiaomi Redmi: a complete guide with step-by-step guide

Partition “Other” in the memory of smartphones Xiaomi Redmi is one of the most mysterious and annoying problems for users. It can take up from several gigabytes to dozens, but the system does not provide a clear explanation what exactly is stored in this section and how to clear it. Unlike obvious categories like “Photos”, “Video” or “Applications”, “Other” collects residual files, cache, temporary data and even fragments of deleted apps that continue to “hang” in memory.

If your Redmi Note 12, Redmi 10 or another model in the series began to slow down, and memory analysis shows that the lion's share is occupied by “Other” - do not rush to reset the phone to factory settings. In most cases, the problem can be solved using both built-in tools and third-party utilities. In this article we will analyze without losing personal datausing both built-in tools MIUI, and third-party utilities. In this article we will look at unique cleaning methods that work even on the latest versions of MIUI 14/15 and Android 13/14including hidden functions and commands for advanced users.

What is the “Other” section and why Is it growing?

In the operating system Android (and its shell MIUI ot Xiaomi) section "Other" is a “trash can” for files that do not fall into standard categories. This includes:

• 🗑️ Residual application files — fragments of data remaining after uninstalling apps (for example, settings or cache of games like Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile).
• 📁 Temporary system files — error logs, memory dumps, files updates MIUIthat were not deleted after installation.
• 🔄 Dalvik/ART cache —optimized data to speed up applications that “swell” over time.
• 📱 OBB files and game data —often remain even after uninstalling the game due to the storage features of /Android/obb/.
• 🔍 Hidden messenger files — Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber store media in separate folders that are not always displayed correctly in memory analytics.

Main the reason for the growth of “Other” is incorrect operation of the cleaning mechanism in MIUI. For example, when deleting an application via Settings → Applications the system may not wait until all associated files are completely deleted (especially if at this moment background synchronization is running or an update is being downloaded). As a result, some of the data remains in memory as an “orphan”, taking up space and slowing down the smartphone. data-i="69">incorrect operation of the cleaning mechanism

⚠️ Attention: On some models Redmi (for example Redmi 9A or Redmi 8) the “Other” section may be artificially inflated due to an error in firmware. In this case, even after cleaning, it “gains” volume again after a few days. The solution is to update MIUI to the latest version or manual firmware via Fastboot.

Method 1: Cleaning through the built-in MIUI tools

The safest method is use standard utilities MIUI. They do not require rights root and do not risk damaging system files. Let's start with basic cleaning:

1. Open Settings → Memory (or Storage depending on the version MIUI).

2. Tap on the section "Other" —the system will show a detailed analysis.

3. Click "Clean" (or "Delete unnecessary files"). This will delete temporary data and cache.

If standard cleaning did not help, go to deep:

4. In the same section Memory select "Deep cleaning" (or "Optimization").

5. Tick all categories, including "Residual files" and "Large files".

6. Confirm the action. The process may take up to 5–10 minutes.

Close all background applications

Connect the charger (the process consumes a lot of energy)

Make a backup copy of important data (in case of an error)

Check the free space (you need at least 10% of total volume)-->

After cleaning, reboot your smartphone. If the “Other” section has decreased by less than 1–2 GB, proceed to the following methods.

Once a week

Once a month

Only when space runs out

I never clean it-->

Method 2: Manually deleting files through Explorer

Built-in tools MIUI do not always cope with deep cleaning. To delete hidden files manually, use Explorer with access rights to system folders (For example, Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).

Follow the instructions:

1. Open Explorer and turn on display hidden files (in Mi File Manager: ⋮ → Settings → Show hidden files).

2. Go to the root folder of the storage and delete the contents of the following directories (if they exist):

   • 📂 /Android/data/ — residual files of deleted applications.
   • 📂 /Android/obb/ — game cache (for example, Call of Duty Mobile or Free Fire).
   • 📂 /DCIM/.thumbnails/ — photo and video thumbnails.
   • 📂 /Download/ — old downloads that are not displayed in the gallery.

Be sure to check folder /MIUI/ — temporary update files and system log files may be located here.

⚠️ Attention: Do not delete folders /Android/system/, /MIUI/stability/ or files with the extension .odex —this may lead to a failure MIUI!

If Explorer does not allow you to delete some files, try using ADB (see Method 4). It is also useful to check the folder /sdcard/ for duplicate media files - sometimes MIUI creates them when transferring data between data. devices.

What files can be deleted safely?

Safely deleted:

- Files with extensions .tmp, .temp, .log, .bak

- __MACOSX folders (created when copying files from Mac)

- Application cache in /Android/data/*/cache/

- Empty folders or folders named "com.miui.*" (if they are not used by the current firmware)

Do not touch:

- Files with with the “system” attribute (marked with a lock in Explorer)

- Folders /MIUI/debug_log/ - deleting them may disrupt debugging

- Boot.img or recovery.img files (even if they are in the root of the storage)

Method 3: Using third-party utilities (without root)

If the built-in tools MIUI do not cope, third-party applications will come to the rescue. The best of them for cleaning “Other”:

Application	Functions	Cons
Files by Google	Deletes duplicates, cache, temporary files. There is an analysis of “Junk files.”	Does not see system folders MIUI.
CCleaner	Cleans cache, residual files, browser history.	Aggressive advertising in the free version.
SD Maid	Deep analysis of the recycle bin, search for “orphan” files.	Requires manual confirmation for each file.
Storage Analyzer	Shows which folders take up the most space.	No automatic cleaning.

Recommended algorithm:

1. Install SD Maid or Storage Analyzer from Google Play.

2. Run storage analysis (in SD Maid: CorpseFinder → Start).

3. Delete files marked as «Orphaned» (orphan) or «Duplicate» (duplicates).

4. B Storage Analyzer sort folders by size and manually check the largest (for example, /Android/media/).

After cleaning, restart the phone - this will allow the system MIUI to recalculate the used space.

Method 4: Cleaning via ADB (for advanced users)

If the previous methods did not work, it's time to connect Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method requires a computer, but allows you to delete files that are not accessible through Explorer.

Instructions:

1. Download ADB and Fastboot Tools to PC.

2. Enable USB debugging on Redmi: Settings → About phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times to become a developer), then Settings → Advanced → For developers → USB debugging.

3. Connect the phone to the PC and open the command line in the folder with adb.exe.

4. Run the commands one by one:

   adb shell
   su
   cd /sdcard/
   du -sh * | sort -rh | head -n 10

   This command will show 10 largest folders in the storage. Pay attention to those that take up more than 500 MB.

5. Delete unnecessary files (for example, update cache):

   rm -rf /sdcard/MIUI/Download/
   rm -rf /sdcard/Android/data/*/cache/

⚠️ Attention: Commands rm -rf files are permanently deleted. Do not use them for folders /system/ or /vendor/ this will lead to the briku device!

To automate the process, you can use the script:

for dir in /sdcard/Android/data/*; do
if [ -d "$dir/cache" ]; then
echo "Clear cache in $dir"
rm -rf "$dir/cache"
fi
done

This script will recursively clear the cache of all applications. After completing the commands, reboot Redmi via adb reboot.

Method 5: Resetting the cache via Recovery Mode

If “Other” occupies more than 10 GB and is not cleared in other ways, resetting the cache via Recovery Modewill help. This method does not delete personal data, but resets temporary system files.

Step-by-step guide:

1. Turn off Redmi.

2. Press Power button + Volume up until logo MI.

3. In the menu Recovery select «Wipe & Reset» (or «Advanced» → «Wipe Cache Partition» in older versions).

4. Confirm the action and wait for completion (takes 1-3 minutes).

5. Reboot your phone via «Reboot».

After resetting the cache, check the "Other" section in Settings → Memory. If it has decreased slightly, the problem may lie in damaged system files —in this case, only a full reset to factory settings will help (see the next section).

A last resort: Reset to factory settings

If none of the methods worked, and “Other” still takes up a critical amount of space (for example, 15-20 GB on a 64GB smartphone), only full resetremains. This will delete all data, including apps, photos and settings, so be sure to make a backup copy:

• 📱 Save your contacts in Google Account or export them to file .vcf.
• 📷 Transfer photos and videos to PC or to the cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud).
• 🔐 Write down application passwords (use Google Password Manager or KeePass).
• 🎮 Save game data via Google Play Games or manually copy the folder /Android/data/.

To reset:

1. Go to Settings → About phone → Reset settings.

2. Select "Erase all data".

3. Enter the password (if required) and confirm.

After the reset, the phone will reboot into original state. Do not restore data from the backup immediately - first check if the problem with “Other” returns. If the partition remains clean, gradually transfer the files back, observing changes in memory.

How to prevent re-growth. “Other”?

To prevent the “Other” section from filling out again, follow simple rules:

• 🔄 Clear the cache regularly via Settings → Storage → Clear cache (once every 2 weeks is enough).
• 🗑️ Uninstall applications correctly: first clear the data in Settings → Applications → [Application] → Storage → Clear data, then uninstall.
• 📥 Limit background activity messengers: in Telegram disable Autoloading media (Settings → Data and memory).
• 🔍 Use light alternatives "heavy" applications. For example, instead of Facebook install Hermit Lite or Frost.
• 📊 Track memory s using Storage Analyzer or DiskUsage —they show which folders are growing the fastest.

It is also useful to disable automatic optimization of MIUI, which sometimes creates unnecessary temporary files:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and performance → Optimization.

2. Disable the option "Auto-optimization".

If you often install and uninstall games, create a separate folder for OBB files on the memory card and redirect the data there via FolderMount (required root).

⚠️ Attention: On some models Redmi (for example, Redmi K50 or Redmi Note 11 Pro+) the function "Deep cleaning" may conflict with Google Play Services, causing synchronization errors. In this case, clear the memory manually or through ADB.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the "Other" section on Xiaomi Redmi

Why after cleaning “Other” appears again after a few days?

This is due to MIUI background processeswhich create temporary files (logs, update cache, widget data). To reduce the effect:

• Disable automatic check for updates (Settings → About phone → System update → ⋮ → Settings → Auto update).
• Limit the activity of system applications (Settings → Battery → Select applications → System).

Is it possible to clear “Other” without losing data?

Yes, in 90% of cases. Use Methods 1–4 from this article. A full reset (Method 5) is only needed if “Other” takes up more than 15% of the total memory and is not cleared by other methods.

Why on Redmi Note 10 Pro “Other” shows 20 GB, but in fact 50 GB is free?

This is related to the features of the file system display error in MIUIrelated to file system features F2FS, which Xiaomi uses on some models. To fix:

1. Restart the phone.
2. Check the memory via ADB command df -h.
3. If the problem persists, update MIUI to the latest version.

What applications most often clog up “Other”?

Top 5 “junk” applications on Redmi:

1. Facebook i Instagram — cache videos and stories.
2. TikTok — save preloaded videos in /Android/data/com.zhiliaoapp.musically/cache/.
3. Play Market — accumulate a cache of updates in /Android/data/com.android.vending/.
4. Xiaomi Cloud — create duplicate backups.
5. Games with OBB (for example, Asphalt 9, Call of Duty) - they leave files even after deletion.

Does flashing to custom software (for example, LineageOS) help get rid of the “Other”?

Yes, but this extreme. measure. Custom firmwares like LineageOS or Pixel Experience do not have the “Other” section in the usual form, since they use a standard memory manager AndroidHowever:

• You will lose proprietary functions MIUI (for example, Second Space or Game Turbo).
• On some models Redmi (for example, with a processor Mediatek) the camera or NFC module may not work.
• Unlocking the bootloader is required, which resets the phone.

If you decide to flash the firmware, use OrangeFox Recovery for backup.