How to Clean Up the “Other” in Xiaomi Redmi 9 Memory: 7 Ways to Work

You opened up storage on your Xiaomi Redmi 9, and there are tens of gigabytes occupied by the mysterious “Other” section? The system shows that there is almost no space left, even though you have long since deleted all unnecessary photos, videos and applications. This problem is familiar to many owners of Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI — especially after long use of the device. Unlike the obvious categories (“Apps”, “Media”, “Documents”), the “Other” section hides from the user files that the system considers to be serviceable, but which can actually be safely deleted.

In this article, we’ll look at what’s hidden under the Other in Redmi 9’s memory, why it grows to incredible sizes (sometimes taking 20 to 30 GB!), and how to clean it up without root rights or the risk of damaging the system. You’ll learn about MIUI’s built-in tools, hidden folders, app cache, and even how to get around manufacturer restrictions.

What is the “Other” in Xiaomi Redmi 9 memory and why does it take up so much space?

The Other section of MIUI is a dumping ground for files that the system cannot categorize as standard.

• 🗑️ Application and system process cache – temporary files that should be automatically deleted but often left “just in case».
• 📁 Remnants of Remote Applications – folders with settings, logs, and data that are not cleared when uninstallation.
• 🔄 Update files MIUI — The snails are not the ones who have been left behind, but they have not been left behind).
• 📊 Logs and dumps of the system – error reports that Xiaomi collects for diagnosis (sometimes weighing several gigabytes!).
• 🎮 Game data – saves, cache and additional files that games download in the background.

On Redmi 9 (especially with 64 or 128 GB of memory), the Other can grow to 15-30 GB - and that's not the limit!

• 🛠️ MIUI aggressively caches data to speed up work, but forgets to clean it.
• 🔄 Auto-updates of applications and systems download files, but they are not always deleted.
• 🗑️ Apps (especially social networks and instant messengers) store cache for years.

⚠️ Note: If the Other takes up more than 50% of the memory, it may indicate a file system failure or a virus.In this case, first check the smartphone with an antivirus (for example, Malwarebytes), and then try the methods from this article.

Method 1: Cleaning the cache of applications (the safest method)

Start with the most innocuous, cache removal, which won't affect your data, but it can free you from 1 to 5 GB:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Sort by size.
3. Scroll down the list, and the most voracious apps will be on the top, and pick those that are over 100 to 200 MB long.
4. Click on the app → Storage → Clear the cache.

Pay particular attention to:

• 📱 Social networks (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok – their cache can weigh up to 1-2 GB).
• 💬 Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber – store media files in a cache).
• 🎮 Games (PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact, Call of Duty – their cache can reach 5-10 GB).

Facebook|Instagram|Telegram|WhatsApp|TikTok|PUBG Mobile|Google Play Services|MIUI System Ads (Advertising Module)|Gallery (miniatures)|Browser (page cache)-->

If you don’t want to clean each app manually, use the built-in tool:

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup.
2. Press Deep Clean and wait for analysis.
3. Select the app cache and confirm the cleanup.

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse Clear cache and Clear data! The second will delete all settings and application files (such as WhatsApp correspondence or save in games).

Method 2: Delete unnecessary MIUI update files

Xiaomi likes to download updates in advance — and often forgets to delete them. These files can weigh anywhere from 500MB to 3GB and lie in memory for years under the guise of "The Other."

1. Open Files (standard manager from Xiaomi)
2. Go to Categories → System files.
3. Find the file. Downloaded_rom or MIUI.
4. Delete all files with the.zip extension (these are firmware archives).

If the folders Downloaded_rom No, check it out:

• 📁 /sdcard/MIUI/backup/AllBackup — backup.
• 📁 /sdcard/MIUI/Download — downloaded.
• 📁 /sdcard/MIUI/Log — Logs of the system (you can delete everything).

If you are afraid to remove manually, use a built-in cleaner:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Slip on three points → Remove the downloaded package.

💡

If after removing the updates, the system downloads them again - disable the automatic update in Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system → Settings (⚙️) → Auto-update

Method 3: Cleaning Android/data and Android/obb folders

These folders store app and game data, and often after you delete a program, it's there forever.

1. Open Files → Internal Memory → Android
2. Go to the data and obb folders.
3. Delete folders with the names of the apps you deleted (for example, if you deleted Clash of Clans long ago, but the com.supercell.clashofclans folder is still there).

What can be removed safely:

• 🗑️ The folders of the games you have deleted (e.g. com.tencent.ig) are: PUBG Mobile).
• 📂 App folders you don’t use (e.g., com.facebook.orca – Messenger if you don’t use it).

What can't be removed:

• 🚫 Current application folders (this will cause crashes).
• 🚫 Files with the.obb extension for installed games (this is additional data, without them the game will not start).

Method 4: Using Hidden MIUI Functions (for the experienced)

Xiaomi hides some cleaning tools, but they can be activated through the codes of the engineering menu or ADB.

Method 1: Code for cleaning up garbage

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the combination: ##4636###.
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the data.

Method 2: ADB-teams (requires PC)

If you are ready to connect Redmi 9 to your computer, do:

adb shell pm trim-caches 256m


adb shell cmd package bg-dexopt-job

These commands will forcibly clear the cache and optimize memory.

⚠️ Note: Do not use the commands adb shell pm clear – this will delete all application data, including saves and settings!

Method 5: Reset to factory settings (extreme case)

If the Other takes up more than 10 to 15 GB and no methods are working, then there is a hard reset, which will delete all the data, but return the smartphone to its original state.

How to do the reset correctly:

1. Save important data (photos, contacts, messages) to your PC or cloud.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose Delete all data and confirm.
4. After reset, do not restore data from the backup – it can bring back garbage!

If the smartphone is slowing down even after reset, check the memory for broken sectors using the A1 SD Bench app (free on Google Play).

Less than 5GB|5–10GB|10–20GB|More than 20GB|I don’t know how to check-->

Method 6: Alternative methods (root, custom firmware)

If you are prepared for radical measures, you can get root rights or install custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), which will give you full control over memory, but will deprive you of warranties and can lead to locking the device.

What root does:

• 🔍 Ability to remove system applications (MIUI System Ads, GetApps and others.).
• 🗑️ Access to hidden folders (/data/log, /data/tombstones — There's a log of errors).
• 🛠️ Use of the SD Maid or Root Explorer for deep cleaning.

Risks:

• 🚨 Loss of guarantee.
• 🔐 The ability to lock the loader (if you incorrectly flash the).
• 🛡️ Vulnerability to viruses (root opens access to system files).

💡

Root rights are a last resort, and before you get them, make sure to back up your data and study the guides for a particular Redmi 9 model (for example, on the 4PDA forum).

How to prevent the “Other” from being filled in in the future?

To prevent the Other from growing again, follow these rules:

• 🔄 Clean the cache every 1-2 months (via Settings) → Memory).
• 🚫 Turn off auto-update apps on Google Play (or limit to Wi-Fi).
• 📁 Check the Download folder – delete unnecessary files (especially if you don’t have any files). APK and ZIP).
• 🛡️ Use the lighter versions of apps (Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite).
• 🔍 Regularly scan your memory using Files by Google or SD Maid.

You can also limit the background activity of applications:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Management.
2. Select the application → Limit background activity.

💡

If you install and delete games frequently, use the microSD as internal memory. Format it into Settings → Memory → Memory Map → Format it as internal.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the “Other” in Redmi’s memory 9