Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphones often face a nasty situation: the internal memory of the device is rapidly running out, and the lion’s share of the space occupied is a mysterious section called “Other”. This section can grow to tens of gigabytes, blocking the ability to install new applications or shoot high-resolution video. Understanding the nature of this storage is the first step to effectively manage the resources of your gadget.
Unlike standard folders with photos or documents, the system partition “Other” accumulates heterogeneous data that the Android operating system cannot classify into standard categories: temporary files, remnants of remote applications, messenger cache, error logs and even system updates. Ignoring overflows of this partition can lead to a significant slowdown of the MIUI interface and errors when working with heavy applications.
Cleaning this section requires caution, as mindlessly deleting system files can disrupt firmware stability. In this article, we will detail safe ways to free up space, use of built-in Redmi 9 tools and third-party utilities for deep cleaning. You will learn to distinguish important system debris from critical data necessary for the correct operation of the device.
The Anatomy of the Other Section: What is Stored There
To effectively combat memory overflow, you need to understand what the Other partition consists of, first of all, the app cache that accumulates as you use your browser, social networks, and streaming services, and over time these temporary files can take up a huge amount, especially if you actively use video content.
The second major user of space is system logs and error reports. Android is constantly recording information about its work, and on Redmi 9, these files are sometimes not deleted automatically, and these include tails from remote programs that have not been completely uninstalled, and backups created by the system without the user's knowledge.
⚠️ Warning: Never attempt to delete files from system folders through root-righted file managers unless you know the exact purpose of each file).
A special place is occupied by data messengers such as WhatsApp and Telegram, which store media files in hidden directories, which the system often refers to as “Other”, analyzing the content of these folders allows you to find gigabytes of old videos and images that have long lost relevance, but continue to occupy space.
Basic cleaning with built-in MIUI facilities
The fight for free space should begin with the use of regular tools that are preinstalled on Xiaomi Redmi 9. the company has provided a built-in optimizer that can safely delete some temporary files. To access it, open the Security app and select Clean. The system will scan and suggest removing junk files.
But standard cleaning often only affects the surface of the data layer. For more in-depth work, go to Settings → Memory. Here you will see a detailed breakdown of the occupied space. Click on the "Other" category to see which apps are the ones that contribute the most to filling this section. Browsers and social media are often the leaders.
☑️ Checking before cleaning
It is important to check the Apps section regularly in the settings. Select a heavy app, click Memory and then Clear Cache. Don't confuse this feature with the Erase Data button, which will completely reset the app to factory status by removing your logins and settings. Regularly cleaning the cache is a safe procedure that won't affect your account.
Deep cleaning through engineering menu and debugging
For advanced users who lack standard methods, there are deeper cleaning methods. One involves using USB debugging mode. Activating it in Settings → About Phone → Tapping on MIUI 7 times, you get access to hidden features. Using the computer command adb shell pm trim-caches, you can force the cache of all applications to be deleted at once.
Another effective method is to clean the folder. MIUI/debug_log. This directory stores debugging logs that can grow to several gigabytes, requires a file manager with permission to access system folders, and deleting the contents of this folder is safe and often frees up a significant amount of space.
| Cleaning method | Level of risk | Efficiency | Necessary rights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard cleaning | Low. | Medium | No. |
| Cleaning up the app cache | Low. | Tall. | No. |
| Deletion of dens debug_log | Medium. | Tall. | Access to files |
| Reset to factory settings | High-pitched | Maximum | No. |
Use of the command line ADB An error in the syntax of the command can lead to the deletion of the wrong data. Always double-check the commands you enter before pressing the Enter key. This method is recommended only for those users who understand the workings of the file system. Linux/Android.
What if the “Other” section doesn’t decrease?
Working with garbage messengers and browsers
Messengers are the main memory eaters on modern smartphones. WhatsApp, for example, backs up chats locally that can weigh several gigabytes. To clear up this garbage, go to the chat settings inside the app itself and select Memory Use, where you can delete all media files over a certain period.
Browsers also accumulate a huge amount of data. Site cache, saved pages for offline access and cookies all fall into the “Other” section. Regularly cleaning the history and data of sites in the browser settings (for example, Chrome or the built-in MIUI browser) helps keep this indicator in check.
- 📱 Open WhatsApp settings → Data and storage → Storage management.
- 🗑️ In the browser, go to history and select “Clear browsing data».
- 📂 In the file manager, find a folder. Android/media And check the messenger attachments.
There is a caveat: some files in messenger folders can be system (for example, stickers or themes). Delete only media files (photos, videos, documents), leaving the folder structure intact. This will prevent errors in the work of communication applications.
Using third-party utilities to analyze the disk
When built-in tools are scarce, specialized analytics applications come to the rescue, like DiskUsage or Files by Google, which allows you to visualize the file system as a map, where each block size corresponds to the file size, and gives you an instant sense of what exactly occupies space.
When using third-party software, it is important to download applications only from a trusted Google Play store. Avoid questionable "accelerators" and "cleaners" that promise miraculous memory release, but often are themselves a source of advertising debris. Reliable utilities show the exact path to the file, allowing you to make an informed decision about its deletion.
⚠️ Be very careful with the files in the folder. /data/. Deleting files from here without root rights is often impossible, and with superuser rights it is deadly to the system.
Analyzers also help find duplicate files. Often users save the same documents or photos several times without noticing it. Searching and removing duplicates is the safest way to quickly free up several gigabytes without risking damage to system files.
Radical measures: resetting and reflashing
If none of the soft methods worked, and the Other section continues to grow, occupying a critical volume, the radical but effective method remains - a complete factory reset. Before that, be sure to back up all the important data to the cloud or to the computer, since Hard Reset will delete absolutely everything.
To perform the reset, go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Clean Everything. The device will reboot and return to the “out of the box” state. This is guaranteed to remove all accumulated logs, file system errors and hidden debris. After the reset, the “Other” section usually takes up the minimum possible volume.
In rare cases, the problem may lie in the bug of the very version of the MIUI firmware. If the partition inflates again quickly after a reset, it is recommended to check for system updates or, for advanced users, perform a clean flashing of the current stable version through the computer using the Mi Flash utility.
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Once you reset, don't install all the apps at once, do it gradually by observing memory behavior, which will help identify the culprit application that is generating excess debris.
Preventing memory overflow in the future
To keep the problem from returning in a month, you need to develop a digital hygiene habit: regularly, at least once a week, check the storage and remove the unnecessary, set up automatic cache cleaning in applications where possible, or use smart cleaning features in antivirus.
Use cloud storage for photos and videos. Services like Google Photos or Mi Cloud allow you to store media in original quality in the cloud, leaving only thumbnails on your device, not only saving space, but also insures against data loss in the event of a smartphone breakdown.
- ⚙️ Turn off auto-save statuses in WhatsApp and Telegram.
- 📸 Set up sync with the cloud with removal of local copies.
- 🔄 Regularly update applications and system to fix memory leakage bugs.
Remember that a full memory (over 90%) negatively affects the speed of flash memory. Free space is necessary for the correct operation of the recording algorithms and durability of the drive. Maintaining 15-20% of free memory is the key to long and fast operation of your Redmi 9.
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Regular prevention and monitoring of app permissions is more effective than periodic sweeps, and it is better to prevent the accumulation of garbage than to deal with its consequences.