How to Clean Up the Other on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9: The Complete 2026 Guide

The “Other” section in Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 9 memory is a real black hole for free space, it can take anywhere from 5 to 20 GB, but it doesn’t show the specific files that fill it. Users often face a situation where the phone’s memory is running out, and there’s nothing superfluous in the Photos, Videos or Apps section. What’s the matter?

In fact, the Other is a collection box for system caches, temporary files, application data, updates, and even remnants of deleted programs. MIUI (Xiaomi firmware) doesn’t always properly sort these files, which causes them to accumulate for years. The main problem is that standard cleaning methods (via Optimization or Files) often don’t work. In this article, we will examine 5 proven methods, including hidden settings and manual cleaning, which will help to return precious gigabytes.

⚠️ Important: Some methods require superuser rights (root) or work with system folders. If you are not sure about your actions, skip these steps or back up your data through Settings. → The phone. → Backup.

1.What is the “Other” in Xiaomi’s memory and why it grows

The “Other” section of the Redmi Note 9 is not just garbage, but a combination of several file types that the system cannot categorize as standard.

• 📁 Application cache and systems are temporary files that should be deleted automatically but often remain due to crashes.
• 🔄 Remnants of Remote Apps – folders and settings of programs that you have long uninstalled, but their “tails” are left.
• 📥 Updates uploaded - files OTA-Those who have not yet been appointed, but have not yet been).
• 📊 Logs and dumps of the system – error reports that create MIUI Diagnostics (can weigh gigabytes!).
• 🔒 Hidden user files – for example, messenger cache (Telegram, WhatsApp) or games that store data in non-obvious folders.

On the Redmi Note 9 (and other Xiaomi smartphones on MIUI 12-14), this problem is compounded by the fact that the system does not optimize cache storage as efficiently as Android 13 does on “bare” firmware, for example.

🔍 How to check what exactly takes place?

Go to Settings → Memory → Memory Analysis. If you see that the Other takes more than 3-5 GB, that’s a reason to clean up. On some firmware, MIUI may show this partition as System Data or Other.

2. Method 1: Clearing the cache through standard settings

The first and most secure method is to remove the cache of applications and systems through the built-in MIUI tools. This does not require root rights and is suitable for beginners.

📌 Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select "Sort by size."
3. View the list and select applications with a large cache (usually messengers, browsers, games).
4. Click on the app → “Storage” → “Clear the cache”.

💡 Tip: Pay attention to system applications like “Downloads”, “Gallery», «MIUI Their cache can weigh a few gigabytes, but standard cleaning doesn't touch it:

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup.
2. Click on “Deep Clean” and wait for analysis.
3. Select System Garbage and confirm removal.

⚠️ Note: Do not clear data (Clear data) from system applications (such as Settings or Phone) – this can cause malfunctions in the phone.

Method 2: Delete temporary update files

Xiaomi regularly releases updates for the Redmi Note 9, but the files of these updates are not always deleted after installation.They can take anywhere from 1 to 3 GB in the Other section.

🔧 How to remove:

1. Open Files (standard MIUI application).
2. Go to the folder. MIUI → downloaded_rom.
3. Delete all files with the.zip extension (these are firmware archives).
4. Also check the Download →.miui → OTA folder (hidden, enable the display of hidden files in the Files app settings).

📌 If the file's not there:

In some versions of MIUI, update files are stored along the path:

/data/ota_package/

But to get there, you need root access or ADB-teams (discuss below).

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files from the folder MIUI → stable, it can disrupt the system. Only delete files from the system. downloaded_rom and OTA.

Method 3: Manual cleaning through ADB (without root)

If standard methods do not help, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) – a debugging tool that allows you to remove system debris without superuser rights.

🛠️ What's the matter:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 📱 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 🔌 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times click on version, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).

📌 Step-by-step instruction:

1. Download ADB Tools and unpack the archive.
2. Connect the Redmi Note 9 to your computer and select File Transfer mode.
3. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Linux/macOS) in the folder with ADB.
4. Enter the commands in turn: adb devices (device should appear) adb shell pm clear com.miui.cleanmaster (clearance of the cache of a standard optimizer) rm -rf /data/local/tmp/* (Deletion of temporary files) rm -rf /cache/* (system-cache cleaning)

💡 Additionally:

To remove the cache of all user applications (without deleting data), do:

su -c "pm trim-caches -f 1000"

(It requires root, but sometimes it works without it on MIUI).

💡

If the adb device command doesn’t find the device, try reinstalling Xiaomi drivers or using another one. USB-Often the problem is with the unoriginal wires.

5. Method 4: Cleaning through Recovery Mode (without data loss)

If the Redmi Note 9 is heavily clogged and standard methods don’t work, you can use Recovery mode, which will not reset settings, but will delete temporary files and cache.

🔄 How to get in to Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the power button + volume button before the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons and you will be taken to the MIUI Recovery menu.

🧹 What to do next:

• 🌐 Choose a language (usually English or Chinese).
• 📛 Go to Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
• 🔘 Confirm the cleanup (Yes button).
• 🔄 After completion, select Reboot. → Reboot to System.

⚠️ Warning: Don't choose Wipe All Data - it's a complete phone reset.

📊 What will it do:

6. Method 5: Removing logs and dumps through Root Explorer (for advanced)

If you have root rights, you can manually delete the heaviest files from the Other section, which requires a root-enabled file manager (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).

🗃️ What folders to clean:

• 📂 /data/log/ — Logs of the system (can weigh up to) 1 GB).
• 📂 /data/tombstones/ — Error dumps (files with.tombstone extension).
• 📂 /data/anr/ — hang-up reports.
• 📂 /cache/ — System cache (can be cleaned completely).
• 📂 /data/local/tmp/ — installer-file.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files from folders /data/data/ (applications), /system/ (system /vendor/ — This can put the phone out of action!

🔍 How to find the heaviest files:

1. Open Root Explorer and go to the root directory (/).
2. Press three points. → «Folder size».
3. Wait for analysis and see which folders take up the most space.
4. Delete unnecessary files (see the list above).

💡

Root access gives you complete control of the system, but also increases the risk of "bricking" the phone, if you are not sure, use methods without root (ADB, Recovery).

7 How to prevent the “Other” from being refilled

Cleaning the Other is good, but if you don't keep an eye on the phone, the problem will come back in a month or two, and here are 5 rules to avoid refilling:

• 📵 Turn off automatic download of updates (if not needed): Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → ⚙️ → Downloading → turn off.
• 🧹 Clean the messenger cache once a week (Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber store gigabytes of media in the cache).
• 🚫 Don’t use the Play Market’s “memory optimizers” – they often create more trash than they remove.
• 🔄 Reboot your phone once in a while. 2-3 day – this clears temporary RAM files and cache.
• 📥 Delete unnecessary files from the Download folder (heavy downloads are often there). APK, archives, documents).

📊 Useful habit:

Once a month, check the “Other” section through Settings → Memory. If it has grown to 3+ GB again, repeat the cleanup via ADB or Recovery.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up the "Other" on the Redmi Note 9