Effectively clearing the "Other" section on Redmi smartphones

Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often face an unpleasant situation: the internal memory of the device is full, but upon detailed analysis it turns out that the lion's share of the space is occupied by a mysterious section called “Other”. Users are at a loss as to what exactly is hidden behind this category and why standard cleaning tools cannot cope with it. In fact, in this section the system stores the application cache, remnants of uninstalled apps, temporary update files and messenger data that are not recognized as media files.

The problem is aggravated by the fact that the MIUI or HyperOS shell does not always classify files correctly, especially if you actively use Telegram, WhatsApp or watch a lot of videos in the browser. The accumulation of such “digital garbage” leads to a slowdown in the interface, lags in games and the inability to install new applications. In this article, we will analyze in detail the mechanisms for creating the “Other” section and provide step-by-step guide for safely freeing up space on your device.

The nature of the “Other” section in the Android system

To effectively deal with the problem, you need to understand it. Section “Other” (sometimes referred to as System or Miscellaneous) is not a system error, but a special mechanism for categorizing files. The Android operating system analyzes the contents of the storage and classifies known file types (photos, videos, music, documents) into the appropriate categories. Everything that does not fall under these strict criteria is automatically sent to “Other.”

Most often, the volume of this section is inflated due to application cache. When you use social networks or streaming services, they save temporary data so that the content can be loaded quickly next time. Over time, these files can take up tens of gigabytes. Also included here are database files, system logs and backups created by the applications themselves.

Another reason is “orphaned” files. If you uninstalled an app but didn't manually clear its data, the settings and temporary files folders may remain in memory. The system sees them, but does not know which active application they belong to, so it marks them as unknown. Understanding this structure helps you choose the right cleaning strategy without deleting important system files.

⚠️ Attention: Do not try to manually delete files from system folders through rooted file managers without understanding their purpose. This may lead to interface malfunction or data loss.

Basic cleaning using standard tools MIUI and HyperOS

The first step in the fight for free space should be to use the built-in Xiaomi utilities. The company has provided a special “Security” (or “Cleaning”) application that automatically scans the device for debris. Although it doesn't always see all files in the Other category, it is effective at removing obvious cache and remnants of installation files.

To launch a deep clean, open the application Security and click on the icon “Cleaning”. The system will analyze and offer to delete unnecessary files. However, to work with the “Other” section, you need to go deeper. Go to the Manage applications section within settings or through the security application. Here you will see a list of all installed apps, sorted by the amount of memory they occupy.

Pay special attention to applications with a large amount of data. By clicking on a specific application, you will be taken to the menu Storage. Here it is critical to distinguish between the “Clear cache” and “Clear all” (or “Reset”) buttons. The first deletes temporary files without losing your settings and correspondence, while the second deletes all application data, returning it to the “as after installation” state. Use reset only for those apps whose data is not important to you or is stored in the cloud.

• 📱 Use the built-in garbage scanner regularly, at least once a week, to prevent the accumulation of temporary files.
• 🗑️ Clear the cache of heavy applications (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram) manually through the settings, since automatic cleaning often ignores them.
• 📂 Check the “Download” folder, where installation APK files and forgotten documents often accumulate.

Deep cleaning of messengers: Telegram and WhatsApp

Messengers are the main culprits in the growth of the “Other” section on modern smartphones. In particular, Telegram by default it is configured to automatically download all media files and save them to the device memory. These files are often not displayed in the gallery as regular photos, but take up space in the system storage, falling into the “Other” category.

To solve the problem in Telegram, you need to go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory usage. Here you will see the amount of cache used. Click the button "Clear Telegram cache". Don't be afraid of this operation: your photos, videos and files are not deleted from the messenger servers. If necessary, you can re-upload them into the chat by simply clicking on the preview. It is also recommended to set up automatic cache clearing, for example, “If not used for 3 days.”

With WhatsApp the situation is a little different. This app saves media files to shared folders that the system can recognize correctly, but chat databases and backups often end up in "Other." Go to Settings → Data and storage → Storage management. Here you can delete sent files that take up space in several chats at the same time. It is also worth disabling autosaving of media to the gallery if you do not need this function.

Path for manual checking (via the file manager):
Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Media
Android/data/org.telegram.messenger/files

Regular cleaning of attachments in chats can free up gigabytes of space. Many users keep old stickers, GIFs and videos for months that will never be watched again. Deleting chat history with heavy media files is the fastest way to reduce the size of the “Other” section.

Why is the space not freed up immediately after clearing the cache?

The Android system uses the TRIM mechanism and redistribution of memory blocks. After deleting large amounts of data, it may take a few minutes to an hour for the system to update storage statistics correctly. Just reboot your device.

Working with the Android folder and hidden files

Starting with Android 11 and higher, access to the system folder Android has been limited for security purposes. Standard file managers may not show the contents of folders data and obb, where the remains of deleted games and applications are often hidden. It is these “invisible” files that often form the basis of the “Other” section.

To access this data, you will need a third-party file manager with advanced rights, for example Files by Google, Solid Explorer or X-plore. When first launched, such an application will ask for special permission to access system files. After granting rights, you will be able to see the actual size of application folders.

Carefully examine the contents of the folder Android/obb. Game cache files (textures, maps, sounds) are stored here. If you deleted a game, but the folder with its name remains, feel free to delete it. The same goes for the folder Android/data, but here you need to be careful: delete only folders with the names of applications that are no longer on your device.

Folder type	Location	What to store	Can delete
Cache	Android/data/[app]/cache	Temporary files	Yes, safe
OBB	Android/obb/[game]	Game cache (resources)	Only if the game is deleted
Files	Android/data/[app]/files	Application data	No (will reset settings)
Media	Android/media/[app]	Media messengers	Through application settings

⚠️ Attention: The interface and access to folders may differ depending on the version MIUI or HyperOS. If the file manager does not allow you to open the folder, try connecting your phone to the PC and cleaning it through the computer.

Using PC and ADB for advanced cleaning

If software methods do not help, you can use a more powerful tool - USB debugging and ADB (Android Debug Bridge) console commands. This method allows you to see and delete files that are hidden even from file managers on the phone itself. To do this, you will need a computer and installed ADB drivers.

Connect your smartphone to the PC, enable debugging mode in the menu For developers and enter the command to view the location. However, the most effective method is to use a command to clear the cache of a specific package or force a reset. Be extremely careful when entering commands, as an error can lead to the deletion of important data.

To clear the cache of all applications with one command (root access or specific ADB rights are required), you can use the following script. But for the average user, it is safer to use the command to view statistics to identify the leader in consumption:

adb shell dumpsys package | grep -A 5"codePath=/data/app"

This method is suitable for experienced users who understand the structure of the Linux file system on which Android is based. For most Redmi owners, the methods described in the previous sections are sufficient. Using ADB is justified only in cases where the system displays incorrect statistics or files cannot be deleted using standard means.

Preventing and setting up automatic cleaning

To the problem with the “Other” section did not return, it is important to configure the smartphone for automatic maintenance. MIUI has a Boost feature that works in the background, but it can be configured more flexibly. Go to the Security application settings and activate auto-cleanup.

It is also recommended to change your device usage habits. Don't store files on your phone that are already in the cloud. Set up photo synchronization with Google Photos or Xiaomi cloud, and then use the “Free up space” function, which will delete local copies of downloaded photos. This will significantly reduce the load on the storage.

Regularly rebooting the smartphone (every 2-3 days) also helps the system to correctly reset temporary files and logs that can get stuck in RAM and permanent memory. Don’t ignore system updates: Xiaomi developers often release patches that correct errors in the file system and cleaning algorithms.

• ☁️ Set up automatic synchronization of photos and videos with the cloud so as not to store duplicates on the device.
• 🔄 Enable the “Auto-delete” function in instant messengers for older media files 1 month.
• 📵 Disable auto-downloading of files in work chats unless absolutely necessary.

⚠️ Attention: Functions and menu names may change with the release of new firmware versions. Always check the current interface of your device, as the operating logic of the system may be updated by the manufacturer.

The myth of “magic” cleaning applications

Most third-party applications like “Clean Master” on modern Android work worse than the built-in tools. They themselves create background processes that consume battery and space, and aggressive cleaning of them can remove necessary caches, slowing down the launch of applications.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Is it possible to completely delete the "Other" section?

It is impossible to completely delete this section, since it is system category for files not included in other groups. However, you can minimize its size to several hundred megabytes by clearing the cache and deleting remnants of applications.

Why, after deleting the files, did the volume of “Other” not decrease?

The system takes time to recalculate statistics. A simple reboot of the smartphone often helps. It is also possible that the files have been deleted, but the recycle bin in the file manager or gallery has not yet been emptied.

Is it safe to delete the Android/data folder?

You cannot delete the entire folder - this will disrupt the operation of all applications. You can delete only those subfolders inside datathat correspond to already deleted apps, or clear the contents of folders cache inside them.

Does a factory reset affect the "Other" section?

Yes, a full reset (Factory Reset) is guaranteed to clear the “Other” section, as it deletes all user data and cache. This is a radical method that should be resorted to if other methods do not help and the phone is critically slow.

Why does Telegram take up so much space in “Other”?

Telegram caches all viewed media files for quick access. Without configuring auto-reset cache, this list can grow indefinitely. Regular manual clearing of the cache inside the application settings solves this problem.