What is the “Other” in memory Xiaomi Redmi 9 and how to clean it without risk

You opened up storage on your Xiaomi Redmi 9, and there's a mysterious 5-15GB in the "Other" section, and it doesn't show you what those files are, but they take up the lion's share of memory, and the phone already says, "Not enough space." What's the catch?

In fact, the Other is not garbage, but hidden system data, app cache, temporary update files, log files, and even remnants of deleted programs. MIUI (Xiaomi firmware) specifically groups them under this label so that the user does not accidentally erase critical files, but often this data is inflated into inadequate sizes — especially if you have not cleaned your phone in a long time or actively use instant messengers, social networks and games.

In this article, we will analyze what exactly hides under the “Other”, how to safely reduce its volume without root rights and reset to factory settings, as well as which files should not be touched in any case (otherwise you risk getting a “brick”). Spoiler: on Redmi 9 with 64 GB of memory after cleaning, you can free from 3 to 12 GB – tested in practice.

Why The Other Takes So Much Space on Redmi 9

On Xiaomi Redmi 9 (and other MIUI smartphones), the “Other” section is a container for files that the system cannot categorize as standard (photos, videos, apps).

• 📁 Cache of system applications – data residues from Google Play Services, MIUI System and other services that are not automatically cleaned.
• 🔄 Update residues – firmware packages (.zip) that have been downloaded but not installed (for example, if the update is interrupted).
• 📜 Log files – error logs, memory dumps, and crash reports (especially if the phone is bugged).
• 🗑️ Remote Apps: Some programs leave files in folders /data/data/ or /sdcard/Android/obb/.
• 🎮 Game data – saves, textures and cache from Android/obb/ (Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile).

On Redmi 9, the problem is compounded by the cheap memory of eMMC 5.1, which over time “degrades”: the more data is rewritten, the slower the phone works. If the “Other” takes more than 10 GB, it not only eats up space, but also slows down the system.

🔍 How to check the exact size? Go to Settings → The phone. → Memory and tap on a graph, and the system will show you the categorization -- if the Other is more than 20 percent of the total memory, it's time to clean it up.

Method 1: Clearing the cache of system applications (without root rights)

The safest method is to remove the cache of system applications that accumulate gigabytes of garbage. On Redmi 9, this often helps free up 2-5 GB.

📌 Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select "Show Systems."
3. Find the apps from the list below and clear their cache (Clear Cache button):

• 🔹 Google Play Services – up to 1-2 GB.
• 🔹 MIUI System - up to 500 MB.
• 🔹 Download Manager – Remains of downloads.
• 🔹 Media Storage – Miniatures and Metadata of Media Files.
• 🔹 Android System WebView – cache of web views.

⚠️ Note: Do not click Clear Data for system applications – this may reset settings or cause errors (e.g. Google Pay will stop working).

💡 If the cache returns quickly after cleaning, then the application is not working correctly. Try updating it via Google Play or rolling back to the factory version (in the application settings).

Method 2: Remove the remnants of MIUI updates

Xiaomi regularly releases updates for Redmi 9, but installers often leave behind packages weighing 1-3 GB in the folder /sdcard/MIUI/ or /cache/.

📌 How to find and remove:

1. Connect your phone to your PC or use any file manager (such as Mi File Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /sdcard/MIUI/ (or /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/).
3. Delete all files with the.zip extension or names like update.zip, miui_block_ota.zip.
4. Then check the /cache/ folder – there may be temporary update files (root rights or access via ADB are required).

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files from the folder /MIUI/stable/ — It stores the actual firmware. Also, don't touch files with the.odex extension or.vdex -- these are system components.

adb shell su -c "ls -la /cache/"

But for this you need an unlocked bootloader and root rights.-->

Method 3: Cleaning Android/obb and Android/data folders

/Android/obb/ and /Android/data/ are the main memory eaters on Redmi 9.

• 🎮 Additional game files (textures, levels) – for example, PUBG Mobile or Free Fire can take up to 4GB.
• 📱 Social media cache – TikTok, Instagram and Facebook add videos and images here.
• 🗑️ Remnants of Remote Applications – Some programs don’t clean their folders after uninstallation.

📌 How to clean:

1. Open the file manager and go to /sdcard/Android/obb/.
2. Delete folders with game names you haven’t used in a long time (e.g. com.tencent.ig is PUBG).
3. In the /Android/data/ folder, find apps that are no longer on your phone and delete their folders.

🔍 How do I know which folder belongs to which application? = ID Like a packet:

• com.whatsapp — WhatsApp.
• com.facebook.katana — Facebook.
• com.tencent.mm — WeChat.

⚠️ Warning: Do not delete active application folders, this will cause crashes, for example, if you delete com.android.vending, Google Play Market will stop working.

Method 4: Using Hidden MIUI Functions

MIUI has built-in deep cleaning tools that are not visible in the standard interface, and can be activated through code commands or hidden menus.

📌 Method 1: Secret code for cleaning up garbage

1. Open the phone app.
2. Enter the code: ##4636###.
3. Select "Storage» → «Clear the data».

📌 Method 2: Developer mode

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (shap 7 times).
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the Do Not Save Action option and turn it on, which will limit the background activity of the applications.

📌 Method 3: Built-in Security Utility

1. Open the Security app (Security).
2. Go to the Cleanup» → «Deep cleaning».
3. Click “Clean Unnecessary Files” – the utility will find up to 1-2 GB of garbage.

💡 These methods do not require root rights, but do not work on all versions. MIUI. If the ##4636### code doesn't work, try the alternative: ##284### (memory test).

💡

Built-in MIUI utilities are safer than third-party cleaners, as they do not delete critical system files.

Method 5: Radical measures (if nothing worked)

If the Other is still over 10GB and the phone is slowing down, you're going to have to go for radical methods. They're more risky, but they're more efficient.

🔥 Option 1: Resetting cache via Recovery

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up to enter Recovery.
3. Select “Wipe Cache Partition” (use volume buttons for navigation).
4. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

🔥 Option 2: Remove dalvik-cache (requires root)

The /data/dalvik-cache/ folder contains optimized application files. Cleaning it will speed up the phone, but you'll need to reboot it. Use Root Explorer or the command:

su


rm -r /data/dalvik-cache/*




reboot

⚠️ Warning: Recovery cache reset does not delete personal data, but if you choose "Wipe Data", the phone will return to factory settings! /data/dalvik-cache/ without root – this can lead to a reboot cycle.

💣 Last Chance: Full reset

If the Other is over 15GB and the phone is unstable, it may be the fault of the file system, in which case only hard reset will help.

How to Prevent the Spread of the Other in the Future

To prevent the Other from taking up gigabytes again, follow the simple rules:

• 🔄 Clean the cache regularly (once every 1-2 months) through Settings → Warehouse → Clean up.
• 🚫 Do not install apps from unknown sources – they often leave debris behind.
• 📥 Limit background activity of social networks and messengers in Settings → Battery → Energy saving regime.
• 🔍 Check the folder. /Download/ — remove unnecessary APK archives.
• 🛠️ Update. MIUI — In new versions optimized work with memory.

💡 Useful Lifehack: Use Google Files (Google Files app) to find and delete duplicate files, big media, and unnecessary cache — often finds what the standard utility skips. MIUI.

⚠️ Warning: Don’t use cleaners like Clean Master or CCleaner – they often delete useful files and show false warnings about “critical errors».

FAQ: Frequent Questions About “The Other” on Xiaomi Redmi 9