How to Clean the Other folder on Xiaomi Redmi 9 NFC: Free 5-10 GB of Hidden Garbage

The Other folder on Xiaomi Redmi 9 NFC is a real black hole for free space, and even after deleting photos, videos and apps, it continues to take up gigabytes, and the system insists that these are “system files,” which in fact hides the update cache, error logs, remnants of deleted applications and temporary MIUI files that can be safely cleaned.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways, from standard MIUI tools to hidden features that aren’t mentioned in the official instructions, how to free up 5 to 10 GB of rootless memory without disrupting your smartphone, and why the Other folder fills up again in a week and how to avoid it.

What is the Other on Redmi 9 NFC?

In MIUI, the Other category** is a garbage box for files that the system cannot categorize as photos, videos or apps.

• 📁 Update cache MIUI — temporary firmware files that remain after installation (may weigh up to) 3-4 GB).
• 🗑️ Error logs and dumps – reports of crashes that Android creates for diagnosis (especially many after app crashes).
• 🔄 Remnants of Remote Applications – folders with settings and cache that are not cleared when uninstallation.
• 📱 System services cache – data from Google Play Services, Mi Account and other background processes.
• 🖼️ Miniatures and previews – reduced copies of photos / videos that the gallery creates (can take up to a few minutes). 1-2 GB).

On Redmi 9 NFC with 64 or 128 GB of memory, the Other folder often grows to 8-15 GB if not cleaned for years, and the standard Cleaner in MIUI removes only the tip of the iceberg - the main debris remains intact.

⚠️ Note: Do not confuse the “Other” folder with the “Other” folder. /data/app or /system. Deleting files from there without root rights will cause a failure MIUI! We only work with secure sections.

Method 1: Standard MIUI Cleaner – What Does It Really Remove?

Built-in security tool → Cleaner in MIUI 12/13 It can remove some of the trash from the Other folder, but it works selectively:

To start the cleanup:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Security → Cleaner.
2. Press Deep Clean (not fast!)
3. Select all categories except Journals (they are needed for diagnosis).
4. Confirm the cleanup.

After the procedure, restart the smartphone — it is necessary that the system recalculates the free space, usually this way frees up 1-2 GB, but no more.

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If you don't get any more space after cleaning, check the Download folder in the file manager. APK-files or archives that do not fall into the category of "Other».

Method 2: Manually cleansing through file manager (no root)

With standard Xiaomi Files, you can manually remove some of the garbage, and the main thing is not to touch the system folders with the names Android, data or miui.

Here's what can be safely removed:

• 🗃️ Download folder - old ones APK, Exception: Do not delete files with the.obb extension (game data).
• 📸 folder DCIM/.thumbnails — Photo and video miniatures (you can delete all content).
• 📥 Bluetooth folder – temporary files transferred over Bluetooth.
• 🔄 folder Android/data — This is where you store your application data. You can only delete folders from programs you previously deleted (e.g., com.tencent.mm for WeChat if it is uninstalled).

Instructions:

1. Open the Files app.
2. Go to the Inner Memory.
3. Enable the display of hidden files (three dots in the upper right corner → Show hidden files).
4. Remove the contents of the folders from the list above.

⚠️ Attention: Do not delete folders Android/obb — This is game data that you're going to have to download again, and don't touch the.nomedia files, which hide media files from the gallery).

Delete the contents of the Download folder (except important files) |

Clear the DCIM/.thumbnails | folder

Check the Bluetooth folder for old files |

Remove the folders of remote applications in Android/data (Only if the program is uninstalled)-->

Method 3: Cleaning up the MIUI update cache (hidden folder)

One of the main “eaters” of space is the MIUI update cache. The system stores firmware files in the /cache folder, but does not always clean it after installation. On Redmi 9 NFC, up to 4-5 GB of unnecessary data can accumulate here.

To clean up:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC via USB (in File Transfer mode).
2. On your computer, open the internal memory folder → cache.
3. Delete all files with the.zip extension or names like update.zip, miui_*.zip.
4. Also, clean the cache/dalvik-cache folder (if any).

If the cache folder is not visible:

• Enable the display of hidden files in the Windows/macOS Explorer settings.
• Or use the file manager on your phone (like FX File Explorer), where you have the option to show system files in the settings.

Method 4: Removing logs and dumps through ADB (advanced method)

For power users, there is a way to remove error logs and dumps that take up to 1-3 GB in the Other folder, which requires an ADB connection, but no root rights are needed.

What we're gonna clean:

• 📜 /data/tombstones — memory dumps when applications crash.
• 📝 /data/anr — logs (ANR — Application Not Responding).
• 🗃️ /data/log — system-logs.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB Tools on your PC.
2. Turn on USB Debugging on your smartphone (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times click on the version, then go back to Additional → For Developers → Debugging by USB).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute commands in cmd (one by one):

adb shell


su -c "rm -rf /data/tombstones/*"




su -c "rm -rf /data/anr/*"




su -c "rm -rf /data/log/*"

If the SU command is not working (no root), use an alternative:

adb shell rm -rf /sdcard/MIUI/debug_log/*


adb shell rm -rf /sdcard/Download/*.log

⚠️ Attention: Deleting logs can make it difficult to diagnose problems if you go to Xiaomi's service center.

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ADB-Cleaning the logs is the most effective way to free 1–3 GB in the "Other" folder, but it requires caution. /system or /vendor!

Method 5: Reset the partition cache (without data loss)

If previous methods didn’t work, try resetting the cache partition via Recovery Mode.This won’t delete your files or apps, but will clean up system debris, including:

• 🔄 Update cache MIUI.
• 🗑️ Temporary installer files.
• 📦 Remains of failed firmware.

Instructions for Redmi 9 NFC:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the MI logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select the language (volume buttons) and go to Wipe & Reset.
4. Select Wipe Cache (not Wipe Data!)
5. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

After resetting the partition cache, the system will recalculate the free space, and the “Other” folder can decrease by 2-5 GB. This method is especially useful if you have not updated MIUI for a long time or installed firmware manually.

Why is the “Other” folder filling up again and how to prevent it?

Even after the folder is completely cleaned, the Other folder will grow again, and here are the main reasons and ways to eliminate them:

To minimize the growth of the “Other” folder:

• 🔄 Once a month, clean the cache through the cleaner. MIUI.
• 📥 Use cloud services (Google Photos, Mi Cloud) to automatically upload photos/video and delete them from your phone.
• 🚫 Don't install it. APK Unknown sources – they often leave behind garbage.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning the "Other" folder