Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the mysterious problem of having a device’s memory filled up and specific files undetectable. Especially relevant is the question of how to clean another on Xiaomi 9 A, since this model has limited internal storage. Android system over time accumulates a lot of temporary data that a standard analyzer can not classify, combining them into a single mass called “Other”.
This category can grow to critical levels, taking up tens of gigabytes and significantly slowing down the gadget. Clearing the cache and deleting unnecessary files becomes a necessity for the stable functioning of the MIUI operating system. In this article, we will discuss in detail the safe and effective methods of freeing up space that will help return your device to performance.
Before we start taking drastic measures, it is important to understand the nature of this data: System debris is generated by running applications, downloading updates and saving temporary browser files. Understanding the structure of the storage will allow you to correctly manage memory without the risk of deleting important information.
What is hidden in the category "Other"
The Other section is a repository for files that Android couldn't categorize as standard categories like Photos, Videos, or Applications, including archives, documents, installation packages. APK-Also, a significant part of the volume is occupied by data messengers, which are not always correctly displayed in the general statistics.
Special attention should be paid to the cache of system services and user applications. Temporary files can accumulate for months if not deleted regularly. For example, streaming services and social networks save the content viewed for fast download, which over time turns into gigabytes of useless garbage.
⚠️ Note: Before deleting files from the Other section, make sure that they are not important documents or saved passwords.Blindly deleting all data can lead to resetting of application settings.
Analysis of the contents of this folder often shows that error logs and crash reports are the lion’s share, which is useful for developers when debugging, but for the average Xiaomi 9 A user, they only interfere with it, taking up precious space.
Standard MIUI cleaning products
The first step in the fight for space should be the use of built-in tools of the MIUI shell. Xiaomi has provided a powerful application “Security”, which can find and remove most of the garbage. Run scanning through the menu “Security → Cleanup” so that the system independently analyzes the storage.
The built-in analyzer gives you a detailed look at which apps occupy the most space in the Other category. By clicking on the appropriate section, you will see a list of programs whose cache can be safely deleted, which is especially useful for social networks that are prone to excessive memory consumption.
Keep in mind the Deep Clean feature, which is available on the same menu, which allows you to find old installation files, duplicate photos and forgotten downloads, and regularly using this tool helps you maintain order without the need to install third-party software.
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Use the built-in “Accelerate” feature in the Security app every day – this will prevent a large number of temporary files from accumulating.
Manual cleaning through the conductor
If the automatic tools fail, you need to go manually, open standard Explorer and go to the internal storage root folder, and look for folders with remote application names or system directories that contain logs.
Pay special attention to the Android/data folder, which stores game and heavy-duty apps data, and often after deleting a game, its tails stay here, occupying a place in the Other section. Be careful: delete only folders that you know exactly what they are.
For more advanced users, the hidden file display mode is available. In Explorer settings, activate "Show hidden files" to see system folders starting from a dot. This is where old configuration files often hide.
☑️ Pre-deletion check
Use of the Files app by Google
For owners of Xiaomi 9 A, installing the official Files by Google app is a great solution.This tool from Android developers sees files differently than the standard MIUI analyzer, and often finds debris hidden from the user's eyes.
The app can find blurry photos, screenshots that are no longer needed, and large files. The smart algorithm will suggest removing duplicates, which will make room for the app, and it will safely remove the cache of popular apps at a single click.
Files by Google will not offer to delete system-critical files, minimizing the risk of damage to the operating system, making it ideal for inexperienced users who fear harming the device.
⚠️ Warning: When cleaning through third-party apps, carefully read what exactly you are going to delete.
Clearing Telegram and WhatsApp cache
Messengers are the main culprits behind the “Other” proliferation. On Telegram and WhatsApp, media files can be stored for years unless you set up an automatic cleanup. Go to the settings of a particular messenger, find “Data and memory” and select “Memory Use”.
Here you can see detailed chat statistics, and you can selectively clear the cache, for example, you can delete media files from group chats, leaving your personal correspondence intact, and you can free up a few gigabytes in just a few minutes.
It is recommended to set a limit on autoload media, specify in the settings that photos and videos are downloaded only over Wi-Fi or not automatically downloaded at all, this will prevent future memory overflow with unnecessary content.
Why is the messenger cache so big?
Analysis of storage using DiskUsage
For deep analysis, we recommend using specialized tools such as DiskUsage or Storage Analyzer, which visualize the contents of memory in a diagram where the block size corresponds to the file size, which allows you to instantly find the heaviest elements.
With this visualization, it is easy to detect forgotten movies, archives or update files that have been lost in the back of the folders. The app will show the exact path to the object that occupies a place in the Other category. Once detected, the file can be deleted directly from the analyzer interface.
Using such tools gives you a complete understanding of how the space is distributed on your Xiaomi 9 A. You can see the real size of folders that the standard Explorer sometimes displays incorrectly or hides.
| Cleaning method | Efficiency | Security | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Integrated MIUI cleaning | Medium | Tall. | Low. |
| Files by Google | Tall. | Tall. | Low. |
| Manual removal | Maximum | Medium | Tall. |
| Third-party analyzers | Tall. | Medium | Medium |
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Combining the built-in MIUI tools and the Files by Google app gives the best result without the risk of data loss.
Radical measures: Resetting to factory settings
If none of the mild methods helped get rid of the bloated “Other” section, the last measure remains – a complete reset.Be sure to back up all the important data before performing this procedure, as it will be irrevocably deleted.
Go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset. Select “Erase All Data” option, which will bring the Xiaomi 9 A back to its state out of the box, completely clearing the file system of any debris and accumulation errors.
Once reset, the system will run much faster and the Other partition will take up as little space as possible, which is the most efficient way, but it takes time to reconfigure the device and install the applications.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure the battery is at least 50% battery power before starting reset. interruption of the process may cause the phone's software to break.