How to Clean the Other section on Xiaomi Redmi 9C NFC: Full Guide 2026

The “Other” section of Xiaomi Redmi 9C NFC memory is a real headache for owners. It takes up gigabytes of space, but it does not tell you what it stores: no photos, no apps, no downloads. According to MIUI Analytics, up to 30% of Redmi 9C users experience an overflow of this partition after 6-8 months of use. Why is it?

Many people try to solve the problem radically by resetting to factory settings. But this is an extreme measure that deletes all data, including contacts and photos. In fact, there are more gentle ways, from manual cleaning through hidden MIUI menus to using specialized utilities. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven methods that will help to free up 1 to 5 GB of memory without losing important files. All instructions are adapted specifically for the Redmi 9C NFC, taking into account its hardware limitations (2/3 GB of RAM and 32/64 GB of ROM).

Important: Before you start cleaning, check the actual state of the memory. Go to Settings → About Phone → Memory and write down the current values, so you can evaluate the effectiveness of each method.

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

The Other section is a collective name for files that MIUI cannot categorize as standard (applications, multimedia, documents).

• 🗑️ App cache – temporary data that programs save for fast work (for example, miniature videos on YouTube or maps in Google Maps).
• 🔄 Update residues – firmware files that have not been deleted after installation (especially relevant for Redmi) 9C NFC, where updates weigh up to 2GB).
• 📜 Log files are logs of system and application errors that accumulate over time.
• 👻 «Zombies: Remnants of deleted programs that have not been cleaned completely (e.g., settings or databases).
• 🔒 Hidden folders MIUI — Service shell data, such as themes, widgets or backups.

On the Redmi 9C NFC, the problem is exacerbated by two factors:

1. Small ROM: Even in the 64 GB version, the user is actually available ~50 GB, of which 10-15 GB can take up the “Other”.
2. eMMC architecture: This type of cheap memory is slower to process cleaning operations, which makes temporary files more active.

According to XDA Developers, on the Redmi 9C with MIUI 12.5, the Other section grows at a rate of ~300 MB per month with active use of social networks and instant messengers. If you do not clean it every 3-4 months, free space can be reduced to a critical 1-2 GB.

2. Method 1: Cleaning the application cache manually

The safest method is to remove the cache for each application separately, which does not affect personal data (logins, messages), but frees up to 1-2 GB.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select "Sort by size."
3. Start with the heaviest apps (usually Facebook, Telegram, Google Chrome, YouTube).
4. In the application card, click "Clear the cache".

To speed up the process, packet cleaning can be used:

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup.
2. Click "Select" and tick all applications.
3. Tap "Clean" (not to be confused with "Delete!").

Close all background applications

Connect your phone to charge (the process can take 5-10 minutes)

Check the free space before and after cleaning.

Do not clear the cache of system applications (for example, "Settings" or "Phone")-->

Warning: After clearing the cache, some apps will take longer to load when they first run (like Instagram or TikTok).

Method 2: Remove the residues of MIUI updates

Xiaomi is known for leaving firmware files weighing up to 1.5-2 GB on the device after updates. They can be safely deleted if the current version of the system is stable.

How to find and delete these files:

1. Connect Redmi 9C NFC to your PC via USB (in File Transfer mode).
2. Open the folder.\MIUI\downloaded_rom (If it's not there, check it out.\downloaded_rom memory-root).
3. Delete all files with the.zip extension – these are firmware archives.

Alternative method (without PC):

1. Install a file manager with access to system folders (e.g. FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings.
3. Cross the path. /data/miui/downloaded_rom and remove the contents.

Attention: ⚠️ Do not delete files from folders.\MIUI\stable or.\MIUI\developer — This may cause the system to crash on the next update.

4. Method 3: Cleaning log files and memory dumps

MIUI actively logs errors, especially if Redmi 9C NFC has beta versions of firmware or modified Recovery. These files can take up to 500 MB-1 GB, but they can not be deleted by standard means.

Instructions via ADB (PC required):

1. Turn on "Debugging by" USB» In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Tap 7 times according to version, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute commands: adb shell su rm -rf /data/tombstones/* rm -rf /data/anr/* rm -rf /data/log/* rm -rf /data/system/dropbox/*

If you do not have root rights, use an alternative method:

1. Install the Logcat Extreme app from Google Play.
2. Open it and press Clear Logs.
3. Reboot the phone.

Effect: After cleaning the logs, it is freed from 300 MB to 1 GB (depends on the time of using the phone without restarting).

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If the phone started to work faster after cleaning the logs, then the problem was memory fragmentation. Try also to disable the background log entry in the developer settings (HCI Log Management option).

5. Method 4: Reset Safe Mode and Delete Virtual Data

On the Redmi 9C NFC, part of the Other can be taken up by the MIUI Optimization virtual machine, which creates temporary containers to isolate applications, which is not visible in the standard file manager, but it can be reset.

Step-by-step:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on three points → “Show all the processes”.
3. Find com.miui.guardprovider (or com.miui.optimization) and click Stop, then Clear Data.
4. Reboot the phone.

If this method doesn’t help, try resetting Safe Mode:

1. Press the power button before the off menu appears.
2. Press and hold the “Switch off power” button – a suggestion will appear to go to “Safe Mode”.
3. Confirm and wait for the reboot.
4. In Safe Mode, go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup and start a full cleanup.
5. Restart the phone back to normal.

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Reset Safe Mode removes temporary files that are locked by the system in normal mode.This is one of the most effective ways for Redmi 9C NFC with MIUI 12.5+.

6. Method 5: Use of specialized utilities

If manual methods didn't help, use third-party tools.The best options for the Redmi 9C NFC are:

Recommendations for use:

• 🛡️ Before cleaning through SD Maid or Xiaomi ADB Tools make a backup of important data.
• 🔍 In Files by Google, pay attention to the section “Cleaning up» → «Other apps" - gigabytes of garbage are often hidden here.
• ⚠️ Don’t use the Optimization features in CCleaner – they can slow down Redmi. 9C NFC due to the limitation of background processes.

Attention: ⚠️ Apps like Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools require PC connectivity and basic command line knowledge.Misuse can lead to device blink (especially fastboot erase commands).

7.Extreme measures: reset to factory settings

If all previous methods failed, and the Other takes more than 5 GB, then all that remains is Hard Reset. On the Redmi 9C NFC, it is done like this.

Method 1 (via menu):

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select “Erase all data”.
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

Method 2 (via Recovery):

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Power + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. Select “Wipe Data” → “Wipe All Data” (manage volume buttons, confirm – power button).

What to do after the discharge:

• 🔄 Do not restore data from backup MIUI — It may contain the same garbage.
• 📱 First install only the most necessary applications (messaging, banking).
• 🔒 Turn off automatic app updates in Google Play for the first time 2-3 day-day.

Resetting to the Redmi 9C NFC with MIUI 12.5 and later removes up to 90% of the garbage from the Other section, but requires reconfiguring the phone from scratch.

FAQ: Frequent questions on cleaning up 'Other' on Redmi 9C NFC