Cleaning the folder Other on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9

Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 smartphone often face a situation where free space on the internal drive is rapidly disappearing, the main culprit of this process is the mysterious category “Other”, which can take up tens of gigabytes. This folder accumulates temporary files, remnants of remote applications, error logs and cache of system services that standard cleaning tools ignore.

To understand the structure of this storage is necessary for any user who wants to extend the life of his device without buying a new model. System debris not only takes up space, but can slow down the MIUI. In this article, we will discuss in detail the safe and advanced cleaning methods available for your model.

Ignoring storage overflows can cause Android to run in an unstable way, so it's important to audit files and delete them periodically, and we'll look at both the standard tools and third-party utilities that can help you get gigabytes of free space back.

Analysis of the contents of the folder Other

Before you start taking drastic measures, you need to understand what exactly is hidden under the “Other” label in the settings of your Redmi Note 9 storage. Often it is not a single file, but a collection of data from messengers, streaming services and browsers. App cache is the first candidate for cleaning, since it allows programs to load faster, but over time it inflates to incredible sizes.

The second component is the remnants of remote programs and system logs. MIUI tends to store error reports and temporary installation packages, and a significant portion of the volume can be taken up by offline maps of navigators or downloaded episodes of TV shows in online cinemas, which the system does not recognize as media files.

⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to delete files from system folders manually through the file manager without understanding their purpose.This can cause an operating system malfunction or loss of application data.

Use of the built-in MIUI cleaner

The safest and first step for a Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 owner is to use the regular Security app, which is a pre-installed utility that has deep permissions to access the system and can remove safe debris. Launch the app and select Cleanup. The system will scan and suggest that temporary files be deleted.

For a deeper cleanup, go to the Security settings or use the Memory section, where you can find the deep cleanup option that analyzes large files and duplicates. MIUI algorithms are able to find forgotten screenshots, blurred photos and old backups that a user may have missed.

It is important to note that the built-in tool does not always see the cache of some third-party apps, such as Instagram or TikTok. Therefore, after the standard procedure, it is recommended to check the storage again.

Cleaning the messenger cache manually

Messengers are the main memory eaters on modern smartphones. Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber have their own media caching system. To clean them without deleting correspondence, you need to go to the settings of each application separately. Telegram, for example, has a built-in tool called Memory Use, which allows you to clear the cache with a single click.

For WhatsApp, the situation is more complicated, as some of the data can be stored in a shared folder. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the right messenger and select Storage. There is a button available here to clear cache. It is important not to confuse this button with the option to clear all, which will delete the account and all messages.

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Set the Telegram settings to automatically remove the cache every 3 days, which will prevent the accumulation of gigabytes of garbage in the future.

Once the messenger cache is cleared, the changes will take effect immediately, and you will notice that the Other folder is much smaller, but if you are actively using social media, this process will have to be repeated regularly, the alternative is to use web versions or Lite versions of applications that consume fewer resources.

Delete residual files through the file manager

If automatic tools don’t work, you’ll need to use a file manager like Xiaomi’s standard Explorer or the more advanced File Manager+. You’ll need to find folders with the names of remote applications, often at the root of internal memory or in the Android/data directory.

Pay special attention to the Download and Bluetooth folder, and it's where installation files often accumulate. APK, You don't need any more, and you get the documents. MIUI → debug_log, where debugging logs can be stored, which take up a lot of space, and they're safe to delete for normal operation.

⚠️ Attention: Folder Android/data in new versions of Android (11 and above) may be hidden or restricted to third-party file managers.

Application of specialized utilities

When regular funds are scarce, specialized analytics applications come to the rescue, and one of the most effective tools for Xiaomi is DiskUsage or Storage Analyzer, which visualizes the file system by showing in a diagram which files occupy the most space.

With these slits, you can see hidden files that don't appear in the standard interface. For example, you may find that the Other folder contains a forgotten system update file or a huge log file from a frozen application. Deleting files larger than 1 GB through DiskUsage often solves 90% of space shortage problems.

Using third-party analyzers requires careful attention. Always check the path to the file before deleting it. crash_dump, It's easy to delete, but you don't need to touch files with the.obb extension unless you want to re-download data for games.

Radical measures: Resetting and reflashing

If neither method worked and the Other folder continues to occupy a critical volume, like 20-30GB on an empty phone, the file system may be corrupted, in which case the most effective solution would be a full factory reset, which would put the Redmi Note 9 back out of the box.

Before you do this, make sure to back up all your important data in the Mi Cloud or on your computer. Reset will delete everything: contacts, photos, apps and settings. Once reset, the system will create a new, clean file structure, and the Other problem will disappear.

Settings → About the phone → Reset settings → Erase all data

In extreme cases, when even a reset doesn’t help (which is extremely rare), you may need to flash the device through your computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility, which is guaranteed to clear all memory partitions, including system ones, and install a fresh version of MIUI.

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Full reset is the only way to ensure that you remove system debris that is not manually cleaned but requires a complete backup of the data.