Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face a mysterious situation where the device’s internal memory is filling up rapidly, even though the user did not download heavy files. The system shows that the “Other” section occupies most of the space, which in a standard file manager looks like a black box. On the Redmi 9 Pro model, this section can grow to tens of gigabytes, significantly slowing down the MIUI operating system and limiting the ability to install new applications.
The most common cause of this overflow is accumulated messenger data, remnants of remote programs, system logs and update cache. Normal deleting photos or music will not help here, because the problem lies deeper in the structure of the file system. Deep cleaning requires understanding where this data is hiding and taking a careful approach to removing it so as not to disrupt the stability of the smartphone.
In this article, we will detail the proven methods of freeing up space on your device, learn how to use embedded MIUI tools, third-party utilities and manual methods through your computer. It is important to act consistently so that you do not delete random system files necessary for Android to work correctly.
What's Hiding in the Other section on Redmi 9 Pro
The Other section is not a single file, but a collection of heterogeneous data that the system cannot classify as media files, documents or apps, primarily an app cache that grows in size over time. Social networks and messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp store thousands of temporary files that are not formally part of the app itself, but occupy space in this section.
Remnants of remote games and programs also make up a significant share. When uninstalling software in Android, folders with settings and temporary data are often left in hidden directories. In addition, system logs, error reports and geolocation data are recorded here, which accumulate in the background. Xiaomi also stores data for the operation of MIUI functions here, which can unexpectedly weigh a lot.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to delete files from system folders manually through Explorer unless you are sure of their purpose.Deleting critical libraries can lead to unstable system operation or endless device reboot.
Understanding the structure of this partition is key to a successful cleanup, and users often think it's system junk that can't be touched, but in reality, up to 80 percent of the volume is user data that's just incorrectly sorted by the system.
Use of the built-in cleaning tool in MIUI
The safest and first step for a Redmi 9 Pro owner is to use the regular Security app, the built-in MIUI algorithm can find most of the garbage without affecting important system files. Launch the app, select Cleanup and wait until the scan is over.
However, standard cleaning is often superficial. For a deeper analysis, click on the "Rescue Cleanup" option inside the app, then select the "Deep Cleanup" option. Here you will see the file categories that take up the most space. Pay attention to the "Big Files" and "Apps" section, as this is where heavy data classified as "Other" often hides.
Regular use of this tool helps keep the system in good shape, and it is recommended to perform this procedure at least once a week to prevent critical memory filling, and automatic cleaning in the application settings allows you to do this without user intervention.
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Turn on Auto Clean in the Security settings so that your smartphone deletes temporary files when the memory is more than 90% full.
Cleaning the cache of messengers and social networks
The main culprit behind the “Other” bloat is messengers. Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber store all the photos and videos you’ve viewed in cache, even if you’ve already seen them. On Redmi 9 Pro, this data can take up to 10-15 GB. To clear it, go to the specific application settings, select Data and Memory, and click Clear Cache. This is secure and won’t delete your correspondence.
Telegram also has a useful way to set up autodelete the cache. Go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory Use and set the Cached Media timer to 3 days or 1 week, which will allow the app to automatically free up space while still retaining access to media files when you reopen the chat.
Social networks like VK or Instagram also accumulate gigabytes of temporary data. These apps often have a “Clear Cache” option in their settings. If you don’t have one, you can use Android’s system settings: go to Settings → Apps → All apps, select the app you want, and click “Clear Cache.”
☑️ Checklist of cleaning messengers
After clearing the messenger cache, the “Other” section is usually reduced by a few gigabytes, which is the most efficient way to quickly free up space without losing personal data.
Analysis of the storage through system settings
For a more detailed analysis of what exactly takes up space, use the built-in storage analyzer. Go to Settings → Memory and wait for the system to plot. Click on the Applications section to see the list of programs sorted by place, and it often turns out that the Other is actually the data of a particular application.
You can see a breakdown by file type in this menu. If you see that "Other" takes up an abnormally large amount, try sorting applications by size. Deleting and re-installing heavy applications (such as games or banking clients) often helps to reset their bloated cache and reduce the size of the partition taken up.
| Type of data | Wherever | Can I remove it? | Risk of data loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash app. | Application settings | Yes. | Low (Temporary Files Only) |
| Android/obb folders | File manager | Careful. | High (progress in games) |
| Logs of the system | System folders | Yes (through reset) | Low. |
| Remnants of remote games | Internal memory. | Yes. | No. |
Use this table as a reference before deleting any files, and secure deletion is only possible for cache and clearly redundant files, while system folders should not be touched.
Manual cleaning through file manager and PC
If the automatic means don't work, you can resort to manual cleaning. Connect the Redmi 9 Pro to your computer via USB-cable and select file transfer mode (MTP). In the window that opens, look for the Android folder, then the data and obb. This is where you store game and application data. Only delete folders that you know the names of and are already remote.
Also worth checking is the root folders of messengers, such as WhatsApp/Media or Telegram/Telegram Images. Often there are video files that were deleted from the chat, but physically remained in the memory of the device. Using third-party file managers, such as Total Commander or FX File Explorer, gives more flexible control over the file system.
⚠️ Warning: When connecting to a PC, be extremely careful with folders that do not have a clear name or contain system files. Deleting a random configuration file can cause malfunctions in individual smartphone functions.
The manual method takes time and care, but it allows you to find hidden files that standard cleaners let through.
Should I use third-party memory cleaners?
Resetting settings as a radical method
If nothing helps and the Other continues to grow, occupying a critical volume, the last option is a complete reset. Before you do that, be sure to back up all the important data to the Mi Cloud or your computer, which is guaranteed to remove all the debris, returning the phone to factory state.
To perform the reset, go to Settings → About Phone → Settings → Erase all data. The process will take a few minutes, after which the phone will turn on as new. All applications will have to be re-installed, but the system will work as fast as possible and the memory is 100% cleared.
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A complete reset is the only way to ensure that system logs and file system errors that cannot be removed by conventional methods are cleared.
After reset, take your time to install all the applications at once, install them one at a time, and keep your memory busy to identify the culprit behind the rapid growth of the Other section. Often the problem lies in one particular application with poor optimization.
Prevention of memory overflow
To keep the problem from returning, it is important to maintain digital hygiene: regularly check the settings of messengers for automatic storage of media files; turn off autoloading videos on social networks unless urgently needed; this will prevent the accumulation of gigabytes of invisible debris.
Use cloud storage for photos and videos. Set up automatic sync with Google Photos or Yandex.Disk with the function “Free space” allows you to store originals in the cloud, leaving only compressed copies on the device or completely deleting them after downloading.
Keep an eye out for MIUI updates. Xiaomi engineers regularly release patches that fix memory management errors. The current firmware version often works more stable and manages the cache more efficiently.