Owners of budget and mid-budget smartphones often face annoying notification of space shortages, especially for the popular Xiaomi Redmi 9 model, where internal memory is limited. The MIUI system installed on the device tends to accumulate huge amounts of data in a section that is labeled “Other” in the file manager.
This category can grow to tens of gigabytes, occupying up to 80% of the available space. Users often do not understand what is stored there, as standard cleaning tools do not always see these hidden files.
Ignoring the problem leads to slowdowns, long launches of applications and inability to install updates, so regular cleaning of the cache of applications and temporary files is a must-do procedure to keep your smartphone running.
What is hidden in the “Other” section of MIUI
The Other section is a collection repository for files that the Android operating system or MIUI shell cannot uniquely classify, including application installation packages, system process logs, remnants of remote programs and data from messengers.
Often, the volume of this section is inflated by streaming services and social networks, for example, if you watched a YouTube video or flipped through an Instagram feed, the cache of these actions could be stored here, and the system considers this data important to speed up re-access, but over time it turns into digital garbage.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to delete files from system folders manually through Explorer without understanding their purpose.This can lead to incorrect interface operation or endless reboot of Redmi 9.
This category also often hides offline card data and browser cache, and understanding the nature of these files will help you choose the right cleaning method without removing important photos or contacts.
Cleaning the application cache through settings
The safest and most effective way to reduce the size of the Other partition is to manually clear the cache of heavy applications. Unlike the standard Clear button, this method allows you to free exactly those gigabytes that are hidden in the system storage.
You need to go to the Settings menu and select the App. Then click on Application Management. Here you will see the full list of installed software. Sort the list by place to find the main memory eaters.
Choose the application with the most data (usually messengers or browsers). Go to its properties and find the Clean button. It is important to choose Clear cache, not Clear everything, so as not to lose logins and correspondence.
☑️ Checking before cleaning
Repeat this procedure for the top-5 The most extensive applications. This action often exempts from 2 before 5 GB of space instantaneously. MIUI After this cleaning, the amount of memory occupied will be recalculated, and you will see real changes in the status of the storage.
Use of the built-in cleaning tool
Xiaomi’s shell preloads a powerful Security app that includes a deep-cleaning feature that can find duplicate photos, old APK installation files, and temporary files that form the Other section.
Run the Safety app on the home screen or in the Tools folder. Click on the Cleanup icon. The system will scan and suggest removing the "garbage." Don't stop at the first stage - scroll down and select "Deep Clean."
Here you can find the categories "Big Files", "Unused Applications" and "Installation Packages". APK-Files often make up the lion’s share of the Other section if you’re used to downloading programs from third-party sources.
- 🗑️ Removal of residual files after uninstallation of programs.
- 📸 Find similar or blurry photos taking place.
- 📦 Cleaning the advertising cache in system applications.
Regular use of this tool, at least once a week, will prevent critical proliferation of system debris. Xiaomi's algorithms are constantly being improved and better determine which files can be deleted without harming the smartphone.
Computer-assisted storage analysis (ADB)
If standard methods have failed and the Other section still takes up a suspiciously large amount of space, it is worth resorting to more advanced methods: connecting to a computer will allow you to see the hidden folder structure that does not appear on the phone screen.
To do this, you will need to enable debugging mode via USB. Go to Settings → About the phone and quickly press 7 times on the MIUI version. After that, the “Developers For” option will appear in the “Advanced Settings” menu.
Turn on USB debugging and connect your smartphone to your PC. Using the command line and the ADB utility, you can access the file system.
adb shell du -h /sdcard/Android/data | sort -rh | head -n 20This is a method that requires caution, and you can see which folder is inflating memory, often com.whatsapp or com.tencent.mm, which stores media from chats, and you need to manually delete files through the file manager on your PC, with the utmost care.
What to do if your computer can’t see your phone?
Specificity of messengers: Telegram and WhatsApp
The owners of Redmi 9 often use them as the main means of communication, without thinking that media files are stored in the memory of the device. Telegram, for example, by default caches all the photos and videos viewed.
To solve this problem, go to the settings of the messenger itself. In Telegram, the path looks like this: Settings → Data and memory → Memory Use. Here you will see the cache volume and you can clear it with a single button.
Set the option to “Storage Media” to “3 days” or “1 week” and this will automatically delete old files from the “Other” section, leaving them available in the cloud.
| Annex | The path to cleanup | Security of removal | Recommended frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telegram | Settings / Data and memory | High (files in the cloud) | Once a month |
| Settings / Data and Storage | Medium (needs backup) | Every 2 months | |
| Viber | More / Settings / Memory | Tall. | Once a month |
| Chrome | Settings/Confidentiality | High (logins will fly) | If necessary, |
After cleaning the cache in the apps, be sure to check the total amount of memory in the phone settings. Changes should be displayed almost instantly.
Radical measures: Resetting to factory settings
When software errors cause the Other partition to take up unrealistic volumes (e.g., 20GB on 64GB of memory), only a full reset helps.This procedure will return the Xiaomi Redmi 9 to the out-of-the-box state.
Before starting the procedure, make sure to back up all important data, photos, contacts and messages will be permanently deleted, and sync with your Google or Mi Cloud account.
Go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset. Choose to Erase All Data. The phone will reboot and begin the cleanup process, which can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure the battery is at least 50% charged before starting reset. interruption due to battery discharge may cause damage to the system partition and the need for flashing.
Once turned on, you’ll get a clean system without the accumulated debris from years, the only way to ensure you get rid of the system errors in the filesheet that lead to the appearance of “phantom” files.
Prevention of memory overflow
To prevent the problem from returning too quickly, change your smartphone usage habits. Don't store hundreds of unnecessary screenshots and memes in the gallery. Check the Downloads folder regularly.
Use cloud storage to archive photos and videos. Set up automatic uploads in Google Photos will free up gigabytes of space on Redmi 9’s internal drive. Also try not to install apps from unknown sources (APKs), as they often leave behind tails.
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Use the memory extension function in your settings if it is available in your version of MIUI. This will allow you to use part of the internal memory as virtual RAM, which indirectly affects the speed of working with files.
Following these simple rules will allow your device to work quickly and consistently throughout its life, and remember that free space is the key to a long life of flash memory.
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Regular cleaning of messenger cache and removing old ones APK-Files prevent 90% of overflow problems in the “Other” section».