Xiaomi Redmi 9A’s ‘Other’ Storage: Secret Files, Cache and Garbage – Full 2026 Guide

You opened the storage settings on your Xiaomi Redmi 9A, and suddenly you found that the lion's share of memory is occupied by the mysterious "Other" section? 10, 15, even 20 GB - and it's not clear what to do with it. The system does not give details, and the standard cache cleaning hardly helps. Sound familiar?

This problem is typical of Xiaomi’s budget smartphones with limited memory (the Redmi 9A only has 32 or 64 GB), where every megabyte counts. The other is not just garbage, but a mixture of system files, app residues, hidden caches, and even file system errors. In this article, we will not only explain what exactly is hiding under this label, but also show how to reduce its size without the risk of breaking the phone.

We warn you right away that some of the files in the Other section are critical to MIUI work. Deleting them at random can cause you to experience freezes, application errors, or even cyclical reboots, so we'll only look at safe cleaning methods, with explanations of what to touch and what to leave behind.

What is the “Other” in the storage Redmi 9A: analysis of the shelves

In MIUI (Xiaomi firmware), the Other section is a garbage box for files that the system cannot categorize as standard: Photos, Videos, Audio or Applications.

📁 Cache of system applications (including Google Play Services, MIUI Launcher et al. These files are needed for fast work, but often inflated to gigabytes.
🔄 Remnants of remote applications. Even after uninstallation, programs leave tails in folders. /data/data and /sdcard/Android/obb.
🗄️ System logs and dumps: files with the extension.log,.dump or.tmp, which are created when crashes or diagnostics are performed.
🔒 Hidden files MIUI. For example, backup copies of settings (miui_backup), Data for Thematic Design or Security.
🧹 Fragmented data: Fragmented files left over after incorrect deletion or interrupted downloads.

In Redmi 9A, up to 30% of the Other section can be used by the MIUI firmware cache, which the system does not clean automatically even after updates, a feature of low-cost models with low memory capacity: Xiaomi saves on optimization to reduce the cost of production.

To see the detailed composition of the Other, you can use the root file manager (such as Root Explorer) or the DiskUsage utility from Google Play. However, without unlocking the bootloader, you will only access a portion of the files.

📊 How often do you clean up your storage on Redmi? 9A?

Once a week.

Once a month

Only when the place ends.

Never cleaned.

Why the “Other” grows like a leap: 5 main reasons

If you notice that the Other section is growing at the speed of light, it's not just you who are to blame.

Automatic MIUI updates: Each firmware update leaves a tail in the form of old versions of files in the /cache folder.
Apps are gluttons. Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), social networks (TikTok, Instagram) and games (PUBG Mobile, Free Fire) create gigabytes of cache, which the system refers to as “Other”.
File system errors: Redmi 9A often uses cheap eMMC memory, which eventually wears out and begins to fragment data.
MIUI Backups: The system automatically creates backups for settings, SMS and call logs in the /MIUI/backup folder, but does not always delete them.
Viruses and Adware: Some applications (especially from third-party sources) deliberately trash memory to offer cleaners.

Fun fact: on the Redmi 9A with MIUI 12.5 firmware and later, the "Other" section can be artificially inflated due to a memory bug. The system miscalculates the occupied space, showing an extra 1-3 GB. This can only be corrected by resetting to factory settings or flashing.

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Before cleaning the Other, check the actual space you have occupied through the Files by Google app (the Cleanup tab). Sometimes the MIUI system just lies about the space available.

How to safely reduce the “Other” on Redmi 9A: Step-by-step instructions

Before you go into system folders, try safe methods. They don't require root rights and don't risk the stability of the phone.

Remove the cache of system applications through Settings → Applications

Clean Download folder from unnecessary files

Remove old MIUI updates in Settings → About Phone → System Update → Threefold → Remove downloaded packages

Disable automatic backup in Settings → Additional → Backup

Virus testing with Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light-->

1. Cleaning the cache of system applications

Many users limit themselves to cleaning the cache of user applications, but the main garbage lies in the system services:

Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
Click on the top three points → Show the system.
Sort by size and clear cache: Google Play Services (can take up to 1-2 GB), MIUI Launcher (caches of themes and wallpaper), Media Storage (miniatures and metadata of media files) Download Manager (download residues)

2. Delete unnecessary files through the file manager

Use standard Files or Files by Google for manual cleaning:

🗑️ Download folder – delete everything except current files.
🎮 folder Android/obb — Game data is stored here (can be deleted if the games are not used).
📱 folder MIUI/backup — backups.
📜 folder DCIM/.thumbnails — Photo and video miniatures (you can delete them, they will be restored automatically).

⚠️ Attention: Do not delete folders Android/data and Android/obb In the end, this will cause the installed applications to fail, only delete the contents of the folders of the specific games/programs you uninstall.

3. reset of the partition cache (wipe cache partition)

This method removes temporary system files without affecting user data:

Turn off the phone.
Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
From the Recovery menu, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
Confirm the action and restart the phone.

This procedure will free up 500MB to 2GB, but it won’t help if the Other is inflated due to file system errors.

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Resetting partition cache is the safest way to clean up, but it doesn't delete user data. Use it every 2-3 months for prevention.

Radical methods: when standard methods do not help

If the other still takes 10+GB after all the manipulations, you'll have to take more serious measures.

1. Manual cleaning through ADB (no root)

With Android Debug Bridge (ADB), you can delete some system files without getting root access:

adb shell pm clear com.miui.home # Clearing the launcher cache


adb shell pm clear com.android.providers.media # Cleaning up media storage




adb shell rm -rf /sdcard/Android/obb/* # Delete OBB- files (beware!)

For this:

Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) → Additional → For Developers.
Connect the phone to your PC, install ADB and execute the commands above.

⚠️ Attention: Command rm -rf It permanently deletes files. Don't use it for folders. /data or /system — It'll lead to a phone blink!

2. Phone flashing

If the Other takes up an inadequate amount (e.g., 20 GB out of 32), the file system may be damaged.

🔄 Clean installation MIUI via Fastboot (data is saved but settings are reset).
🛠️ Firmware custom Recovery (for example, TWRP) and manual cleaning of sections /cache and /data.

You can find firmware instructions for Redmi 9A (codenamed dandelion) on the 4PDA or XDA Developers forums. Remember, the wrong firmware can kill your phone.

What if the place is not freed after cleaning?

If you delete all possible files but the memory is still busy, the problem is the memory error in MIUI. This is a well-known bug that occurs on Redmi 9A with MIUI 12-14 firmware. Solutions: 1. Complete reset (with loss of data). 2. Swipe custom Recovery and manually format the /data partition. 3. Update to MIUI 14 (if available) - in new versions, the bug is partially fixed.

How to Prevent the Spread of the Other in the Future

In order not to deal with the consequences, it is better to set up the phone in advance:

Problem.	Prevention	The effect
Cash app.	Disable background activity for unnecessary applications in Settings → Battery → Application Selection	Reduces cache growth by 30-50%
MIUI Auto-Updates	Turn off automatic download updates in Settings → About Phone → System Update → Threefold → Settings	Prevents the accumulation of old update packages
Backup copies	Disable Automatic Backup in Settings → Additional → Backup	Savings up to 1-2 GB per month
Memory fragmentation	Perform Wipe Cache Partition on Recovery Regularly (once every 2 months)	Improves productivity and reduces “garbage”
Viruses and advertising software	Install Malwarebytes and scan your phone once a week	Prevents hidden memory filling with garbage

Another effective way is to transfer applications to SD-The card (if supported) is used for this purpose:

Insert microSD (UHS-I or A1) class recommended.
Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
Select the application → Warehouse → Change. → SD-map.

Note: Not all apps support portability, and some are slower after that.

Frequent Mistakes in Cleaning the Other and How to Avoid Them

Many users make critical mistakes in trying to make room.

🚫 Delete the entire Android folder, and it will cause the collapse of all installed applications.
🚫 Format a section /system. The phone will stop loading.
🚫 Use cleaners like Clean Master or CCleaner, which often delete important files and show false data about the free space.

If you’ve already made one of these mistakes and your phone has stopped working properly, try:

Perform a hard reset (Wipe Data in Recovery).

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If you're not sure what you're doing, you'd better not take risks. Mistakes in cleaning up The Other can be costly to repair.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About The Other in Redmi 9A

Can I delete the “Other” section completely?

No, it's impossible. Some of the files in "The Other" are MIUI system components, without which the phone won't work, and the best you can do is reduce it to 2 to 4 GB (depending on the model).

Why is the place reopened after cleaning?

This is normal Android behavior. System and apps are constantly creating new cache files. To slow down the process: Limit the background activity of applications. Turn off automatic app updates on Google Play. Install Lite versions of applications (e.g. Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite).

How to Transfer “Other” to the SD-map?

Unfortunately, you can't move the "Other" partition to a memory card, because these are system files that are tied to the internal storage, but you can: Transfer media files (photos, videos, music) to the memory card. SD. Install applications on the card (if formatted as internal memory). SD-backup.

Will the reset to factory settings help?

Yes, but with reservations: ✅ Delete all user data and cache. ✅ Resetting memory errors (if any). ❌ It won't delete system files. MIUI (They'll recover after they're dumped). ❌ It will not fix the file system damage (you need to flash it back).Be sure to back up important data before resetting!

Which apps are best at cleaning up the “Other”?

Standard cleaners are often useless. Instead, use Files by Google to show real occupied space; SD Maid to clean up the remnants of deleted applications; DiskUsage to visualize which files are taking up space; avoid Clean Master, CCleaner and the like, because they aggressively delete files and can cause harm.