How to Clean the Other section on Xiaomi Redmi 9T: A Complete Guide with Proven Methods

Xiaomi Redmi 9T owners often encounter a mysterious “Other” section in their memory settings that takes up gigabytes of precious space — sometimes up to 10-15 GB on a 64-gigabyte model — without explaining what files they are or offering tools to delete them, which means users receive notifications about memory shortages, even though photos, videos and apps only take up a fraction of the total.

In fact, the Other is a collection section where MIUI drops the cache of system processes, temporary update files, error logs, remnants of deleted applications, and even pieces of data from Google Play Services. Unlike DCIM or Downloads, these files are not visible through a standard file manager, but they can be cleared — and we will show you how to do this without root rights and the risk of damaging the system.

In this article you will find:

• 🔍 What exactly is hidden under the “Other” in the memory of Redmi 9T (file-type).
• 🛠️ 7 Proven Cleaning Ways – From Built-in Tools to Hidden Commands ADB.
• ⚠️ What can not be done not to turn a smartphone into a “brick».
• 📊 Table of the effectiveness of each method (how much space frees up and how safe it is).

1.What is the “Other” in the memory of Xiaomi Redmi 9T and why it grows

The Other section is invisible debris that accumulates in the system due to the way Android and the MIUI shell work. Unlike the application cache (which can be manually cleaned), these files are not clearly structured and scattered across system folders.

• 📁 Remnants of Remote Applications: After uninstallation, programs often leave empty folders in the /data/data or.
• 🔄 Update cache MIUI: When you download a new firmware, the system creates temporary files that are not always deleted automatically.
• 📝 Error Logs and Dumps: If the app crashes, Android saves the report (sometimes several megabytes at a time).
• 🌐 Google Play Services data: Google caches maps, geolocation and other information that grows over time.
• 🗑️ System garbage: empty files, broken symbolic links, remnants of background processes.

On the Redmi 9T, the problem is compounded by the fact that the model came with a storage capacity of 64/128 GB, but is actually available to the user 10-15% less due to service partitions. while MIUI aggressively caches data to speed up, but does not clean it well. For example, after a major update (for example, from MIUI 12 to MIUI 13), 3-5 GB of unnecessary files may appear in the Other section.

Fun fact: Redmi 9T with Snapdragon 662 and eMMC 5.1 processor wears out faster than flagships with UFS. This means that frequent recordings/deletions (including cleaning the Other) reduce the life of the drive, so it is important not to abuse radical methods like a complete reset.

2.How to check how much space is taken up by "Other" on your Redmi 9T

Before you clean, you need to understand the scale of the problem.

1. Open the settings → About the phone → Memory.
2. Put it on the memory usage schedule.
3. The system will show the distribution by categories: Apps, Images, Video and Other.

If the Other partition is more than 5GB, it’s time to act. If less than 2GB, it’s normal for MIUI, and cleaning can do more harm than good (e.g., remove the caches, which will cause the system to slow down).

For more detailed analysis, use third-party tools like Files by Google or SD Maid (the latter requires root but shows hidden files).

• 🗃️ Empty folders in /data and /cache.
• 📂 Duplicate files (e.g., image thumbnails).
• 🔍 Large files with.log,.tmp or.bak extensions.

⚠️ Note: Do not manually delete files from folders /system or /vendor — This will lead to the collapse of the system and require a flashing through the Fastboot.

3. Method 1: Cleaning through built-in MIUI tools

Xiaomi has added a hidden tool to MIUI to clean up system debris, but it's hidden deep in the settings.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on three dots in the top right corner and select Garbage Cleanup.
3. The system will scan the device and show you a list of unnecessary files (including the Other cache).
4. Click Clean and confirm the action.

This method is safe, but it only cleans surface debris, and deep cleaning requires other approaches.

MIUI also has a Light Mode feature that optimizes memory:

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Special facilities → Light mode.
• 🔄 Activate the option and wait until the process is complete (may take up to 5 minutes).

This mode deletes temporary files and compresses the cache, but does not touch critical data. After applying it, check the "Other" section - it should decrease by 1-3 GB.

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If the memory is quickly filled up again after cleaning, check the settings of Google Photos: it is possible that automatic backup in the original quality is enabled, which causes duplicate files.

Method 2: Remove the Google Play Services cache and other system applications

Google Play Services is one of the main memory eaters in the Other section, which is responsible for synchronizing, geolocating and pushing notifications, but over time, its cache grows to hundreds of megabytes.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search, type in Google Play Services and tap on the app.
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
4. Repeat to Google Play Store, Services Framework and MIUI Daemon.

After cleaning, restart the phone.This will free up 500MB to 1.5GB of storage, depending on the time of the last clean.

If the cache is rapidly accumulating again, limit the background activity of Google services:

• 🚫 Go to Settings. → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of the account.
• 🔄 Turn off sync for unnecessary data (e.g. Google Fit or Play Games).

⚠️ Warning: Do not click Clear Data for Google Play Services – this will cause an app authorization failure and require a reset of your Google account settings.

5. Method 3: Cleaning through Recovery Mode (without data loss)

If built-in methods don’t work, try cleaning through Recovery, which removes temporary update files and cache of system applications without affecting user data.

Instructions:

1. Turn off Redmi 9T.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select the language (English / Chinese) and tap on Wipe & Reset.
4. Choose Wipe Cache (not to be confused with Wipe Data, it will erase everything!).
5. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.
6. Restart your phone through Reboot → System.

This method frees up 1 to 3GB of memory by removing:

• 📦 Update cache MIUI (folder /cache).
• 🗑️ Temporary files of the application installer (/data/local/tmp).
• 🔄 System recovery logs.

If you take a long time to optimize your apps after you restart, that's OK, and the system repairs the cache to make it work faster.

Charge your phone at least 50% | Backup important files | Make sure you choose Wipe Cache over Wipe Data | Do not interrupt the process until you complete the process-->

Method 4: Using ADB for deep cleaning (for advanced)

If you’re ready to work with console commands, ADB (Android Debug Bridge) will help you delete files that are not available through standard tools, a method that requires USB debugging and computer enabled.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on PC.
2. On your phone, activate Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times to turn on Developer Mode).
3. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
4. Connect Redmi 9T to your PC and enter:

adb devices


adb shell




pm clear com.google.android.gms # Google Play Services cleanup




pm clear com.android.vending # Google Play Cleanup




rm -rf /data/local/tmp/* # Delete temporary files




rm -rf /cache/* # Clearing the cache system

These commands delete:

• 🧹 Google Cache and Play Market.
• 🗑️ Temporary application installation files.
• 📦 System cache (similar to Wipe Cache in Recovery).

⚠️ Attention: Command rm -rf It permanently deletes files. Don't use it for folders. /system or /data/data without understanding the consequences!

Once you've done the commands, restart your phone. This method frees up to 2-4 GB of storage, but requires caution.

7. Method 5: Reset the partition cache (without data loss)

If previous methods didn’t work, try resetting the /data partition cache through the hidden testing menu, which is less radical than a full reset, but more effective than Wipe Cache.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code: ##4636##.
2. Select Battery Information from the menu (yes, this is strange, but next you will find the right item).
3. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select Cache Cleanup.
4. Confirm the action and wait until it is completed (may take up to 10 minutes).

This method cleanses:

• 📂 Cache of all user applications.
• 🗃️ Temporary files from /data/dalvik-cache (Android virtual machine cache).
• 🔄 Logs of system processes.

Once cleaned, the phone will reboot, and the first turn on may take longer than usual - that's normal. The method frees up 1 to 2.5 GB of memory.

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Resetting the cache does not delete personal data (photos, messages, applications), but resets the settings of some programs (for example, authorization in games).

8 Radical methods: when nothing helps

If the Other partition takes up more than 10 GB and neither method worked, there are two options left:

1. Reset to factory settings (remove everything, including apps and files).
2. Fastboot Flashing (requires PC and command knowledge)

Reset to factory settings:

1. Make a backup of the data through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose Delete Everything and confirm.

This will return the phone to the “out of the box” state, freeing up all memory, but will require re-configuration.

Fastboot Flashing (only for power users!):

• 🔧 Download the official firmware for Redmi 9T (codename lime from Xiaomi website.
• 💻 Install the Mi Flash Tool on PC.
• 🔄 Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clip the power supply) + Volume down) and flash the image.

⚠️ Note: Unprofessional firmware can damage IMEI Or unlock the bootloader, which will cancel the warranty.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up "The Other" on Redmi 9T