Why is the Other taking up so much space on the Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro?
Owners of the Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro often encounter a mysterious “Other” section in memory settings that can take up from 10 to 30 GB for no apparent reason.This section includes app cache, system log files, remnants of deleted programs, temporary MIUI data, and even fragments of updates that were not correctly deleted. Unlike the obvious categories (Photo, Video, Applications), the content of the “Other” does not appear in the Explorer, which makes it difficult to clean it.
The main problem is the MIUI architecture: the system actively uses caching to speed up work, but does not always effectively manage memory release. For example, after updating the firmware through OtaUpdater, old files can remain in the /cache folder, and applications like Google Play Services or Mi Video accumulate gigabytes of temporary data. Moreover, on the Mi 9 Pro with its 128/256 GB of memory, this partition can grow imperceptibly until it begins to issue warnings about space shortages.
In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods for cleaning the Other, from standard MIUI tools to manual methods using ADB and third-party utilities. Importantly, some methods require superuser rights (root), but we will specify alternatives for users without root access.
Method 1: Standard cleaning through “Safety” and “Storage”
To start with, the basics are built-in MIUI tools, and even without additional software, you can free up 1 to 5 GB of memory by removing unnecessary cache and debris.
Steps for cleaning:
- 📱 Open the Settings. → Warehouse.
- 🔍 Click on the "Other" section (may be called "Other" depending on the version). MIUI).
- 🧹 Select “Clean” or “Data Management” (on some firmwares, the option is hidden behind the button «⋮» top-right).
- ✅ Confirm the deletion of temporary files.
Note that this method only removes the surface cache, system logs, error dumps and update residues will remain intact. For a deeper cleaning, move on to the next method.
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If the Clean button is inactive, restart the phone. Sometimes MIUI blocks the cleanup due to active processes in the background.
Method 2: Manually clean folders through file manager
For users who are ready to dive into the file system, manual cleaning gives more control.
- 🗑️ /storage/emulated/0/Android/data — application cache (you can delete the contents of folders of remote programs).
- 📁 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/backup — backups of the system (if you do not use backups, safely clean up).
- 🔄 /storage/emulated/0/Download/.thumbnails — Image and video miniatures (can be removed without consequences).
- 📦 /storage/emulated/0/Android/obb — Game files (if games are deleted, folders can be cleared).
⚠️ Note: Do not delete the folders of current applications in /Android/data — This will cause them to malfunction, and avoid folders called com.xiaomi. and com.android. unless you're sure they're there.
Use Mi File Explorer (turn on hidden files in settings) or third-party managers like Solid Explorer to access hidden folders. If the folder doesn't get deleted, check if it's busy with the process - use ADB (method 4).
☑️ What can be safely removed manually
Method 3: Using cleaning applications (without root)
If manual cleaning seems complicated, third-party utilities will help automate the process.The best options for Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro:
| Annex | Features | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Files by Google | It removes duplicates, cache, temporary files, and there's a memory cleanup feature. | Can't see deep system files. |
| SD Maid | Finds the remnants of remote applications, empty folders, Dalvik cache. | The free version is limited. |
| CCleaner | Clears the cache, history, temporary files, simple interface. | Aggressive advertising in the free version. |
| Xiaomi Cleaner (built-in) | Optimized for MIUI, removes garbage without risk. | It doesn’t always cleanse the “other” completely. |
🔹 Recommendation: Before using third-party cleaners, back up important data. Some utilities (for example, SD Maids can delete files that seem like garbage but are needed to run apps.
Example of working with SD Maid:
- Install the app from Google Play.
- Run the scan (CorpseFinder for application residues, SystemCleaner for system debris).
- Check the list of files found and delete the unnecessary ones.
How to distinguish garbage from important files?
Method 4: Deep Cleaning through ADB (for power users)
If previous methods didn’t work, it’s time for ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to remove system files that aren’t available through standard means. On the Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro with MIUI 12+, the pm clear-globals command can free up to 2–4 GB by removing the global app cache.
Instructions:
- Install ADB Tools on your PC.
- Turn on "Debugging by" USB» on the phone: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB.
- Connect the Mi 9 Pro to your PC and execute on the command line: Adb devices (you should display your device).
- Follow the commands to clean: adb shell pm clear-globals adb shell rm -rf /data/local/tmp/* adb shell rm -rf /cache/*
⚠️ Attention: Rm teams -rf If you don't specify the right paths, you can delete critical data. /data/data — This will cause a phone reset.
After cleaning through ADB, it is recommended to restart the device. If after the reboot there are errors in the operation of applications, restore their data from the backup.
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ADB is the most powerful method, but it requires caution. Always check the paths before deleting and have a backup.
Method 5: Reset to factory settings (extreme case)
If the Other takes up more than 20GB and no methods are working, it's a radical solution, but it's guaranteed to clean up all unnecessary data. On the Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro, you can do the reset in two ways:
- 🔄 Through Settings: Settings → The phone. → Resetting settings → Delete all data.
- 🛠️ Using Recovery: Turn off the phone, pinch the power + Volume up, select Wipe Data.
⚠️ Warning: Once reset, the phone will return to the "out of the box" state, and all data (photos, messages, apps) will be deleted:
- Create a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
- Copy important files to your PC or cloud.
- Write down your account details (logins, passwords for Mi Account, Google).
After reset, the Other will decrease to 100-500 MB (minimum MIUI capacity). To avoid refilling, clean the cache regularly and keep an eye out for updates.
How to prevent the “Other” from being refilled?
To prevent the “Other” section from growing again, follow these tips:
- 🔄 Clean the app cache once a month (via Settings) → Annexes → Application management).
- 📵 Turn off automatic app updates on Google Play (or limit it to Wi-Fi only).
- 🗃️ Check the Download folder regularly – delete unnecessary ones APK, archives, images.
- 🚫 Avoid cleaners with aggressive algorithms (such as Clean Master) that can delete files.
- 📱 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version – in the new firmware optimized work with memory.
It's also useful to track which applications are most active in memory.
- Go to Settings → Storage → Applications.
- Sort it by size.
- Check out apps with more than 500MB of storage capacity, and they may be accumulating unnecessary cache.