How to Clean Up Other Files on Xiaomi Redmi 9: 7 Proven Ways

Xiaomi Redmi 9 is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but even its owners are faced with the problem of mysterious “Other files” that take up gigabytes of memory. These gray areas in storage do not lend themselves to standard cleaning, and the system insists that the place is occupied “unknown what.” In this article, we will examine what lies under the category “Other files”, why they accumulate and how to safely remove them without risking the phone.

We'll warn you right away that some of these files are critical data for MIUI and Android, and blindly deleting them can cause malfunctions, but there are also safe debris that can be cleaned manually or with the system's tools. We tested all methods on Redmi 9 (models M2003J15SC and M2004C3LGG) with MIUI 12-14 firmware, the results below.

What are “Other Files” and Why Do They Take So Much Space?

In Xiaomi’s storage menu, the “Other” category is a container for all the data that the system failed to classify.

• 🗑️ App cache and systems – temporary files that should have been deleted automatically but stuck».
• 📁 Remnants of Remote Applications – folders with settings and data of programs that you have long uninstalled.
• 🔄 Error Logs and Dumps – Debugging files created by the system when crashes (especially if you use them). ADB or Fastboot).
• 📱 System Updates – downloaded but not installed packages MIUI (Weights up to 2-3 GB!).
• 🎮 Game data – saves, Google Play Games cache or Mi Game Center that are not in the App category».

On the Redmi 9, with 64GB of memory, “Other Files” often grow to 5-12GB – a record among Xiaomi’s budget smartphones.

• 🛠️ Optimization MIUI for weak iron – the system actively caches data to reduce the load on the Helio processor G80.
• 📉 Cheap eMMC memory – Redmi 9 uses a slow drive that does not do well to clean temporary files.
• 🔄 Frequent updates – Xiaomi regularly releases security patches that accumulate as undeleted packages.

⚠️ Note: If the "Other Files" are more 15 GB is not normal, it could be a virus masquerading as system data, or there was a bug in mounting the partition. /data. Check your phone with an antivirus (Dr.Web or Malwarebytes) before cleaning.

Method 1: Hand-cleaning the cache through settings

The safest method is to remove the cache of applications and systems, which will not affect personal data, but will free up 1-3 GB:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select "Sort by size."
3. Scroll down the list and there will be apps with the largest cache (most often Facebook, YouTube, Mi Video).
4. Click on the app → “Storage” → “Clear the cache”.

For the system cache:

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup.
2. Click on “Deep Clean” (password confirmation may be required).
3. Select “Cash” and “Residual Files”, then tap “Clean”.

Clear the cache of Google Play Services|Delete your Mi Video data (if you do not use it)|Check the cache Telegram/WhatsApp|Clear the “Residual Files” in the Memory Menu-->

After cleaning, restart your phone, which is necessary for the system to recalculate the space occupied. If the volume of Other Files does not decrease after the reboot, proceed to the next method.

Method 2: Remove the remnants of MIUI updates

Xiaomi is known for the fact that after updating the firmware leaves on the phone old packages weighing up to 2-3 GB. They can be removed without risk:

1. Open Files (standard manager from Xiaomi)
2. Go to the folder. Downloaded_rom (It's in the root catalogue).
3. Delete all files with the.zip extension – these are firmware archives.
4. Then open the MIUI → Cache folder and delete all of its contents.

If the folders Downloaded_rom No, check it out:

• 📂 Download folder – sometimes update packs lie there.
• 🔍 folder.OTA (hidden, enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings).

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files from the folder MIUI/stable — It stores critical data on the current firmware, and don't touch files named persist or vendor!

Less than 2 GB|2-5 GB|5-10 GB|More than 10 GB|I don't know how to check-->

Method 3: Using the built-in “Memory Optimizer”

MIUI has a hidden deep cleaning tool that is not always visible in the basic settings.

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the line "Version" MIUI» (A notification will appear saying, “You have become a developer»).
3. Return to the main settings menu and open “Advanced” → “For Developers”.
4. Find the item “Memory Optimization” and turn it on.
5. Restart your phone – after that, a new option “Deep Optimization” will appear in the Settings → Memory menu.

This method removes:

• 🗃️ Unnecessary backups (created by Mi Cloud or Google Drive).
• 📊 Usage statistics (app activity logs).
• 🔄 Temporary update files (including failed installation attempts).

After optimizing, check the Other Files section, which should decrease by 10-40%. If there are no changes, go to manual methods.

Method 4: Manual cleaning through ADB (for advanced)

If standard methods don't work, you can connect to your phone via ADB (Android Debug Bridge) and manually remove the garbage, which requires caution - the wrong command can damage the system.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-Drivers (you can download on the Android website).
• 📱 Included mode “Debugging by” USB» Redmi 9 (in the developer settings).
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command prompt (cmd on Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux).
2. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your Redmi 9.
3. Grant the rights of the superuser: adb shell su (if it requests permission on the phone, confirm).
4. Delete the cache of system applications: pm clear com.miui.system pm clear com.android.providers.media
5. Clear the folder with temporary files: rm -rf /data/local/tmp/* rm -rf /cache/*

After completing the commands, restart the phone.This method can free up to 4 GB, but do not use it more often than 1 time a month - excessive cache cleaning slows down the system.

Method 5: Resetting cache via Recovery Mode

If Other Files take up more than 8GB and don’t shrink, cache resetting via Recovery mode will help.This won’t delete your data, but will clear all temporary system files.

1. Turn off Redmi 9.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up at the same time and hold for 10 seconds until the MI logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select the language (English / Chinese), then tap "Wipe & Reset".
4. Select “Wipe Cache” (not “Wipe All Data”).
5. Confirm the action and wait for the completion (it will take 2-5 minutes).
6. Restart your phone via Reboot.

This method removes:

• 🧹 Cache all applications and systems.
• 📦 Temporary Update and Installer Files.
• 🗑️ Error logs and memory dumps.

⚠️ Warning: If the cache is reset, the phone is slower, that's OK! It takes 1-2 days for the system to recover the necessary temporary files.

Method 6: Remove duplicates and unnecessary files through third-party applications

If you manually search for laziness garbage, you can use specialized utilities.

Recommendations for use:

• 🔍 Start with Files by Google – it will show you which files can be deleted without risk.
• 🚫 Avoid “optimizers” that promise to “speed up your phone by 300%” – these are usually empty or viruses.
• 📊 Before deleting, make sure that the selected files are not system files (for example, do not touch the system or vendor folders).

💡

Before using SD Maid or similar utilities, back up your important data. Even secure applications sometimes make mistakes and delete the files they need.

Method 7: Complete resetting of settings (last resort)

If nothing works, and the Other Files take up more than 10GB, then there's only hard reset, which will remove everything from the phone, including personal data, so:

Backup your contacts (via Mi Cloud or Google)|Save photos/videos on PC or cloud|Record passwords from Wi-Fi and accounts|Make sure the phone has enough charge (minimum 50%)-->

Resetting instructions:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select “Delete all data”.
3. Enter the password from the Mi Account (if linked).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the completion (it will take 5-10 minutes).

After discharge:

• 📱 The phone will be like new, without garbage, but without your data.
• 🔄 Do not install many applications for the first day after reset - let the system stabilize.
• 📊 Check the “Other Files” section – now it should take up no more than 1-2 GB.

⚠️ Warning: If the "Other Files" grow back after the reset, the problem is the firmware. MIUI Up to the latest version or reflash the phone via Fastboot.

FAQ: Frequent Questions About “Other Files” on Redmi 9

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If the Other Files take up more than 10 GB and do not decrease after all methods, this is a sign of a file system failure, in which case only flashing through Fastboot or contacting the service center will help.