Owners of budget but reliable smartphones Xiaomi Redmi 8 often face an unpleasant situation when the internal memory of the device suddenly becomes full. Particularly frightening is the “Other” section, which can occupy tens of gigabytes, remaining invisible to the average user. This category of files is a collection of system data, application cache, temporary files and remnants of deleted apps that a standard memory analyzer cannot correctly classify.
The system Android on the shell MIUI sometimes incorrectly indexes files, which is why ordinary photos or documents end up in this hidden section. In this guide, we'll take a closer look at safe methods for freeing up space, ranging from simple settings to advanced cleaning methods via a computer. Ignoring this problem can lead to a critical slowdown of the smartphone and the inability to install important updates.
The nature of the “Other” section and why it grows
The “Other” section is not one specific file, but a complex data structure. This includes application cache, which accumulates in the process of using instant messengers and browsers. It also stores error logs, temporary update files, and data that the system could not recognize as media or documents. Over time, this volume can reach 10–15 GB even on a device with small built-in storage.
One of the main reasons for the bloat of this section is the operation of popular applications such as Telegram or Viber. They save the resulting files in their own folders, which the system often categorizes as “Other” rather than “Images” or “Videos.” In addition, incorrect deletion of applications leaves behind “tails” - folders with settings and data that continue to take up space.
It is important to understandthat completely deleting all data from this section manually is impossible without losing system functionality. Some files are necessary for correct operation the operating system. Our task is to remove only garbage, leaving system files intact. Incorrect actions can lead to interface malfunctions.
⚠️ Attention: Before starting any manipulations with the file system, it is strongly recommended to create a backup copy of important contacts and photos. Cleaning system folders can lead to unpredictable consequences.
Basic cleaning using built-in MIUI tools
The first and safest step is to use the standard “Security” application pre-installed on Redmi 8. This tool is designed specifically to optimize the shell MIUI and can find most junk files. Launch the application, select “Cleanup” and wait until the scan is completed.
The system will offer to delete the cache, advertising files and remnants of uninstall processes. However, a standard scanner often misses the deep cache of messengers. For a more thorough check, go to the "Deep Cleaning" section. Here you will be able to see large files and duplicates that are taking up space in the Other section.
Empty the Trash periodically in the Gallery and Explorer app, as deleted files continue to take up space for 30 days, often appearing in the Other section.
After standard cleaning, reboot your device. This action is necessary for the system to recalculate the file system index. Often, after a reboot, the volume of the “Other” section is visually reduced, as temporary session files are deleted.
- 🧹 Launch the “Security” application and click “Cleanup”.
- 🔍 Use the “Deep Cleaning” function to search for large files.
- 🔄 Required reboot your smartphone after the procedure to update the indexes.
- 📂 Check the “Downloads” folder manually through Explorer.
Clearing the cache of instant messengers and social networks
The main culprits for filling up the memory on Android most often are instant messengers. Applications like Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber save every image and video received to local memory. Over time, this data forms a huge array, which the system classifies as “Other.”
In the settings itself Telegram there is a powerful memory management tool. Go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory usage. Here you can clear cache with one click. Important: this will not delete your correspondence, the files will be downloaded again if necessary, but will free up gigabytes of disk space.
For WhatsApp the procedure is slightly different. Go to Settings → Data and storage → Storage management. Here you can delete files sent more than once, or the most voluminous chats. Regularly cleaning this data prevents the “Other” section from growing in the future.
Don't forget about social networks such as VK or Instagram. Their settings also have sections for clearing the cache. If such a function is not in the application, you will have to clear the data through the Android system menu, which will be discussed in the next section.
Managing applications through system settings
If the built-in cleaners do not help, you need to manually check each heavy application. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Sort the list by space size. You will immediately see the leaders in memory consumption.
Select an application from the list and click “Memory”. Here you will see two buttons: “Clear cache” and “Clear all”. Using the Clear Cache button is safe and removes temporary files. The “Clear all” button will reset the application to its factory state, deleting logins and settings, so use it with caution.
☑️ Algorithm for manually cleaning applications
Pay special attention to applications that you have not used for a long time, but have not deleted. They may contain outdated data that is taking up space. Completely removing such apps will often free up more space in the Other section than simply clearing the cache.
⚠️ Warning: Do not clear data from system apps such as Phone, Contacts, or Messages unless you are sure what you are doing. This may lead to loss of call history or network settings.
Advanced cleaning via computer and ADB
For those who want to achieve maximum results, there is a method of connecting to Redmi 8 via a computer. Connect your smartphone with a USB cable and select the “File Transfer” mode. Through the computer explorer, go to the internal memory of the device.
You need to find folders with the names of deleted applications. Often they remain dead weight. It is also worth checking the folder Android/obb i Android/data. Cache files of games and apps are stored here. Deleting the contents of folders of already deleted games is safe and effective.
adb shell pm list packages -fFor the most experienced users, you can use debugging by ADB. This allows you to remove system junk that is not visible even through Explorer. However, this method requires installing drivers and special utilities on the PC. Errors when entering commands can disrupt the system.
Risks of using ADB
Using the ADB command line gives full access to the file system. Erroneously deleting files from system partitions can lead to a “bricked” device, requiring flashing via Mi Flash.
If you are not confident in your abilities, limit yourself to manually deleting folders with the names of deleted games and services through a regular explorer on your computer. This is a safe way to free up space without the risk of damaging the firmware.
Comparison of cleaning methods and their effectiveness
Different cleaning methods have varying degrees of effectiveness and risk. The table below shows a comparison of the main ways to deal with the “Other” section on Xiaomi Redmi 8. This will help you choose the best option depending on your situation.
| Cleaning method | Efficiency | Risk of data loss | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application “Security” | Low | Absent | Minimal |
| Clearing messenger cache | High | Low (photos in chats) | Medium |
| Reset application settings | Medium | Medium (logins/passwords) | Medium |
| Manual removal via PC | High | High (user error) | High |
As can be seen from the table, the greatest effectiveness is achieved by a combination of methods. Start with safe options and gradually move on to deeper ones if the problem is not resolved. You should not immediately resort to drastic measures, such as completely resetting the device.
A comprehensive approach that combines clearing the messenger cache and manually deleting residual folders gives the best result without the risk of losing the functionality of the smartphone.
Drastic measures: Reset to factory settings
If none of the above methods helped reduce the size of the “Other” partition, it is possible that critical indexing errors have occurred in the file system. In this case, the only solution is a full reset to factory settings. This will return the smartphone to its out-of-the-box state.
Before performing this procedure, be sure to save all important data to external media or cloud storage. The removal process is irreversible. Go to Settings → About phone → Reset settings → Delete all data.
After the reset, the system will create a new, clean file structure. The “Other” section will be minimal. However, if immediately after setup you start actively using the same applications without cache control, the problem may return after a few months.
⚠️ Attention: Make sure that the battery charge is at least 50% before starting the reset. Interrupting the process by turning off the phone can lead to irreversible damage to the software.
Preventing memory from filling up in the future
To prevent the “Other” section from growing again, you need to change your smartphone usage habits. Enable automatic cache clearing in application settings where possible. Check your storage regularly at least once a month.
Use cloud services to store photos and documents by turning on the “Free up space” function in the application Google Photos. This will delete local copies of the files, leaving them available online. Also try not to install applications that you do not plan to use for a long time.
Set the cache size limit in the Telegram settings to 100-200 MB. The application will automatically delete old files when this threshold is exceeded.
Keep an eye on system updates MIUI. Engineers Xiaomi regularly release patches that correct memory errors and improve cleaning algorithms. The current version of the firmware often works more stable in this regard.
Why does the “Other” section increase immediately after deleting files?
This may be due to the peculiarities of the file system. Sometimes deleted files are marked as free space, but do not immediately disappear from indexing. It is also possible that the free space was immediately taken up by new temporary files of the system or applications.
Is it safe to delete the Android/data folder?
Deleting the entire folder is dangerous, since data from running applications is stored there. However, you can safely delete subfolders with the names of games or apps that you have already deleted from your smartphone. This will free up space without harming the system.
Does the “Other” section affect the speed of Redmi 8?
Yes, it does. When the internal memory is more than 90% full, the speed of writing and reading data drops. This leads to interface freezes, long opening times for applications, and slowdowns when shooting videos. Freeing up space speeds up the device.
Is it possible to move the “Other” section to a memory card?
No, the “Other” system partition is formed in the internal memory and cannot be transferred to an SD card. However, you can configure many applications (camera, instant messengers) to save media files directly to the memory card, which will indirectly reduce the load on the internal storage.