How to Clean the Other section on Xiaomi Redmi 9C: The Complete Guide

The “Other” section in Xiaomi Redmi 9C memory is a real headache for owners. It can take up 5 to 20 GB for no apparent reason, even though you have long since deleted unnecessary photos, videos and apps. Unlike the obvious files (music, documents), “Other” hides the cache of system processes, remnants of deleted programs, log files and temporary data that Android does not classify as “junk”, while standard cleaning tools (like Settings → Memory) often fail.

The problem is compounded by the fact that Redmi 9C It comes with 32 or 64 GB of memory, of which the user can actually access 20-50 GB (the rest is occupied by the system and pre-installed applications).+ GB, phone starts to brake, apps fly out, and camera refuses to save photos. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven cleaning methods, from safe (built-in tools) to radical (manual cleaning through the device). ADB). All methods tested on Redmi 9C s MIUI 12-14 and Android 10-11.

1.What is the “Other” in Xiaomi’s memory and why it takes up so much space

The term “Other” (or Other in the English version of MIUI) is an Android junk bin where the system drops files that do not fit into the standard categories (Photos, Videos, Audio, etc.) and includes:

• 🗑️ Application and system process cache – temporary files that must be deleted automatically but often remain due to failures.
• 📁 Remnants of Remote Programs – folders with settings, databases, and logs that remain after uninstallation.
• 📜 Log files and memory dumps – created by the system when applications crash or updates.
• 🔄 Update files - packages OTA-updates MIUI, which are not removed after installation.
• 🎮 Game data – saves, textures and cache that games hide in system folders.

On the Redmi 9C, two factors exacerbate the problem:

1. Cheap eMMC memory – budget smartphones use slow flash memory, which does not do well with cleaning the cache.
2. Aggressive MIUI optimization – The system actively caches data to speed up work, but does not always delete it.

🔍 How to check how much the other person is borrowing»?

Go to Settings → About Phone → Memory (or Settings → Memory in newer versions of MIUI) and here you will see a diagram of the memory distribution. If the Other section is above 3-5 GB, it’s time to act.

Method 2: Cleaning through built-in MIUI tools

Let’s start with the safest methods that don’t require root rights or a PC connection. Xiaomi has built a few tools into MIUI to combat garbage, but they’re hidden deep in the settings.

Clearing the application cache

The easiest way to free up 1-3 GB is to delete the cache of all apps, which won’t delete your data (photos, messages), but can reset some settings (for example, login on social networks).

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select "Sort by size."
3. Select applications with large cache (usually YouTube, Chrome, Facebook, TikTok).
4. Click on “Clear Cache” for each.

Video viewing apps (YouTube, TikTok)

Social networks (Facebook, Instagram, VK)

Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp)

Browser (Chrome, Mi Browser)

Games (PUBG, Free Fire, Genshin Impact)-->

2.2.Using "Memory Cleanup" in MIUI

MIUI has a built-in garbage disposal tool, but it often skips system files to run a deep cleanup:

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Memory Cleanup.
2. Click on “Deep Clean” (confirmation may be required).
3. Wait for the analysis and click "Clean".

⚠️ Note: Do not use the “Speed” button in this menu – it only closes the background processes, but does not free up memory.

2.3 Delete downloads and unnecessary files

Downloads and Documents folders often contain old ones. APK-files, archives and duplicates can be safely deleted:

1. Open the Files app (or Explorer).
2. Go to the Categories section → Downloads and Documents.
3. Sort files by size and delete unnecessary ones.

💡 Tip: Pay special attention to files with.apk extensions (installation packages),.zip/.rar (archives) and.tmp (temporary files).

Method 2: Manual cleaning through file manager (without root)

If the built-in tools didn't work, we'll have to dig deeper. Many of the Other's files are hidden from the user, but they can be accessed through a file manager with permission to access system folders. We'll use the standard Files app from Xiaomi, but we'll include the display of hidden files.

3.1. Enable the display of hidden files

By default, MIUI hides the system folders to see them:

1. Open Files → click on the three dots in the upper right corner.
2. Select Settings → Show hidden files (enable slider).

3.2 Which folders can be manually cleaned

Go to the root memory directory (/storage/emulated/0/) and check the following folders:

⚠️ Attention: Do not delete folders /Android/data/ and /Android/obb/ For installed applications, this will cause failures. Just clean the contents of remote folders.

3.3. Cleaning the folder. /MIUI/debug_log

This folder contains MIUI error logs that can take up to 1-2 GB to clear:

1. Move to the /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/debug_log/.
2. Select all files (long press). → «Choose everything»).
3. Press "Delete."

📌 Note: If the folder debug_log No logs, so there are no logs or they are stored elsewhere (see section about the data). ADB).

💡

Before deleting files manually back up important data, for example, copy the DCIM folder to your computer or cloud.

Method 3: Cleaning through Safe Mode (Safe Mode)

If the phone is slowing down because of the Other, some system processes may block the cleanup, in which case Safe Mode, a mode in which only basic Android services run, will help.

How to Sign in to Safe Mode on Redmi 9C

There are two ways:

• 🔄 Through the power button: Press the power button → Hold on a long time» → You'll be asked to go to Safe Mode.
• 📱 Through the button combination: Turn off the phone → Turn it on by holding the volume down + Food until the logo appears MIUI.

4.2 What to do in Safe Mode

In this mode:

1. Run Files and repeat manual cleaning (Section 3.2).
2. Remove suspicious applications that can create garbage (optimizers, cleaners, pirated programs).
3. Restart the phone to normal mode.

⚠️ Warning: Safe Mode has disabled all third-party apps, so you won’t be able to use Google Photos or Mi Cloud to back up.

5. Method 4: Cleaning through ADB (for advanced users)

If previous methods did not work, you will have to connect to the phone via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which will remove the system cache and unnecessary files that are not available through standard Explorer.

Preparation: Installation of ADB on PC

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
• 📋 Google Platform Tools (download and unpack).
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (preferably original).

Algorithm:

1. Turn on USB Debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times until the message “You’re a developer” appears).
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging by USB (enable).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your trust in the device.

5.2 ADB commands to clean up the Other

Open the command prompt (or Terminal on macOS/Linux) in the platform-tools folder and type:

adb shell


pm clear com.miui.cleanmaster # Cleaning up the standard MIUI cleaner




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




rm -rf /cache/* # Cleaning the system cache (requires root)




rm -rf /data/log/* # Delete logs (requires root)

🔹 Safe Commands (Not Required to Root):

• 🧹 pm clear com.android.providers.downloads – Cleaning up the download manager.
• 🗑️ pm clear com.android.providers.media – resetting media cache.

⚠️ Attention: Rm teams -rf folder /data/ or /system/ They can cause your phone to malfunction. Use them only if you're sure of what you're doing.

6. Method 5: Reset to factory settings (extreme case)

If the Other takes up more than 10GB and no methods are working, then all that remains is Hard Reset, which will completely erase all data, including garbage, but will return the phone to a clean state.

6.1 How to make a reset through settings

The safest way is:

1. Make a backup copy of important data (photos, contacts, messages).
2. Go to Settings → About Phone → Resetting → Erase all data.
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

6.2 Reset via Recovery Mode (if the phone is not turned on)

If the system freezes, use the recovery mode:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Up + Power before the MIUI logo appears.
3. Select “Wipe Data” → “Wipe All Data”
4. Confirm and wait for completion.

⚠️ Note: After resetting, the phone will require you to enter a Mi Account if the binding was previously enabled.If you forget the password, unlocking can take up to 72 hours (according to Xiaomi rules).

💡

Factory reset is the only way to 100% clear "Other," but it deletes all user data. Use it only if other methods have failed.

7 How to Prevent the Re-Accumulation of the Other

To prevent the problem from returning in a month, follow these recommendations:

• 📱 Clean the cache regularly (once every 2 weeks via Settings) → Memory).
• 🚫 Don’t install Clean Masters (CCleaner) – they create garbage.
• 🔄 Update. MIUI — In new versions, bugs with cache cleaning have been fixed.
• 📁 Use cloud storage (Google Photos, Mi Cloud) to automatically upload photos/video.
• 🎮 Limit the cache of games in settings (for example, in the PUBG Mobile can reduce the cache size in the settings menu).

📊 According to Xiaomi, users who clean the cache once a month, “Other” takes an average of 2-4 GB, while those who do not – 8-15 GB.

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