What does the “Other” in Xiaomi Redmi 9A Memory mean and how to reduce its volume

Xiaomi Redmi 9A is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but its modest 32 or 64 GB of memory often becomes a headache for users. When you open the storage settings, many notice the mysterious “Other” section, which takes from 5 to 15 GB — and sometimes more. What are these files? Why does the system not show them explicitly? And most importantly, can they be deleted without breaking the phone?

In this article, we will discuss in detail what the Other is made of in Redmi’s memory. 9A, What files are being stored (including app cache, temporary data, and system debris), and we'll provide step-by-step cleaning instructions, which tools will help analyze the storage, which files can be deleted without risk, and which ones can not be touched. We will focus on the specifics separately. MIUI — Xiaomi’s shell, which often “hide” unnecessary data in this section.

What is the “Other” in the memory of a smartphone and why it takes up so much space

The “Other” section in Xiaomi Redmi 9A’s storage settings is a sort of “junk bin” of the operating system, which includes files that don’t fall into explicit categories like “Applications,” “Photos,” “Video,” or “Audio,” most of the time:

• 🗑️ Application cache and systems are temporary files that are created to speed up programs, but often remain after they are deleted.
• 📁 Residual data from remote applications – not all programs completely clear their folders when uninstalled.
• 🔄 Logs and dumps of the system are error report files that MIUI It is used for diagnosis (especially after failures).
• 📱 Update files – Update packs that are downloaded but not installed MIUI or.
• 🔍 Hidden user files – for example, downloads from messengers that did not get into standard folders.

On Redmi 9A, this section is often expanded due to the features of MIUI 12/13 (depending on the firmware version). The shell actively caches data to speed up work, but does not always clean it correctly. For example, after updating the system through Settings → About Phone → Update MIUI old firmware files can remain in memory for months, taking up to 2-3 GB.

Another reason is pre-installed apps (called bloatware) that even if you don’t use them (like Mi Music, Mi Video or GetApps), they keep creating cache and temporary files that go into Other.

How to check what exactly ranks in the “Other” section

Before you clean the Other, you need to know which files are there, and Xiaomi's standard settings don't have much of that information, so you'll have to use third-party tools. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Install a file manager with memory analysis. We recommend Files by Google (free in the Play Market) or SD Maid (requires root rights for deep cleaning).
2. Start storage analysis. Files by Google does this through the Cleanup tab → Memory Analysis.
3. Look at the categories “Other Files” or “Unidentified Data” and you will see the distribution by type (e.g..log,.tmp,.apk).
4. Check folders manually (via file manager): /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/ - residual application data. /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/ - shell system files. /storage/emulated/0/Download/ - downloads that did not get into the media library.

Pay attention to files with extensions:

• 📄.log,.txt - system logs (can be deleted).
• 🗃️.tmp,.temp – Temporary files (safe to delete).
• 📦.apk,.obb – installer residues or game cache (remove if you are no longer using the games).
• ⚠️.db,.dat – application databases (remove carefully only if you know for sure that it is garbage).

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If in a folder /MIUI/ They're files with names like miui_optimization.log or bugreport-*.zip, which can be easily deleted, are error reports that the system creates for diagnosis, but which are never sent automatically.

Which files from the “Other” can be deleted and which can’t.

Not all files in the Other section are equally secure to delete, and below is a table with data types and recommendations:

Critically, never delete files from /system/, /vendor/ or /data/data/ folders without root permissions. This can lead to the phone becoming “bricked” (completely inoperable).

⚠️ Note: If you see files in the Other named com.android. or miui., do not manually delete them, they are system components. MIUI (For example, settings → Memory. → Cleanup).

Step-by-step: how to clean the “Other” in the memory of Redmi 9A without root rights

If you don't have a superuser (root) right, you can clean the Other with standard tools and third-party apps.

1. Clear the cache of all apps: Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Sort by size and for each large app (e.g. Facebook, YouTube, Telegram) click Storage → Clear Cache. This will free up 500MB to 2GB.
2. Delete residual data: Open the file manager (e.g. Files by Google) and go to /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/. Delete the folders of applications you deleted long ago (e.g. if you used TikTok a year ago and the com.zhiliaoapp.musically folder still exists).
3. Clean up downloads and debris: In the same file manager, check folders: /Download/ — Delete unnecessary files (especially.apk,.zip). /MIUI/debug_log/ — Here are the logs of the system (you can delete everything). /Pictures/Screenshots/ — Screenshots You Forgot to Delete.

Use of built-in MIUI cleaning

Go to Settings → Memory → Clean. Click Deep Clean and wait for the process to be completed. This tool removes temporary files and cache that are not visible in the standard interface.

If the Other still takes up a lot of space after this action, try rebooting your phone – sometimes MIUI doesn’t immediately update your storage data.

Radical methods: reset to factory settings and root cleaning

If the Other is more than 10GB and not cleaned by standard methods, you'll have to resort to radical measures.

1. reset to factory settings (Hard Reset)

This is an extreme measure that will remove all data from the phone, including system debris.

• 📱 Backup important files (photos, contacts, messages).
• 🔋 Charge your phone at least 50%.
• 📡 Untie your Xiaomi account (if tied) to avoid being blocked after a reset.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select “Erase all data”.
3. Confirm the action and wait for the completion (it will take 5-10 minutes).

⚠️ Warning: Once reset, the phone will go back out of the box, all apps, settings and files will be deleted, and if you don't back up, you can't recover the data.

2. Cleanup with root rights (for experienced users)

If you have root, you can manually remove system debris.

1. Install Root Explorer or FX File Explorer (with root support).
2. Go to /data/log/ and delete all files – these are the logs of the system.
3. Clear /cache/ (including dalvik-cache)
4. Remove unnecessary.apk from /system/priv-app/ (caution, this can break the pre-installed applications).

Warning: Root rights may cause a bootloop or a phone to break. If you're not sure, you should see a specialist.

How to Prevent the Spread of the Other in the Future

To “Other” does not take up gigabytes of memory, follow these recommendations:

• 🔄 Clean the cache regularly (once every 1-2 weeks) through Settings → Memory. → Cleanup.
• 🚫 Don’t install unnecessary apps – each creates cache and temporary files.
• 📂 Use cloud storage (such as Google Photos or Mi Cloud) to automatically upload photos and videos.
• 🔍 Check the folder. /Download/ — Many files (such as those from Telegram or WhatsApp) are saved there by default.
• 📱 Update. MIUI — In newer versions of the shell often fix bugs with memory cleaning.

You can also set up automatic cleaning:

1. Open Settings → Memory → Auto Clean.
2. Turn on the option “Clean the garbage automatically”.
3. Select frequency (e.g., “Every week”).

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Regularly cleaning the cache and removing unnecessary files from the /Download/ folder can reduce the volume of the Other by 30-50% in a month.

Frequent Questions About the “Other” Section in Xiaomi Redmi 9A