How to Clean the Other folder on Xiaomi Redmi 9T: A Complete Guide to Safe Techniques

The Other folder on Xiaomi Redmi 9T is a real black hole for free space, it can take anywhere from 5 to 20 GB, but users don’t understand what is stored there and how to delete it. Unlike photos or videos, the contents of Another don’t show up in the gallery, and standard cleaning methods (such as Settings → Storage) often don’t work. In this article, we’ll discuss what’s hidden under the term Other, why this folder grows and how to clean it safely without losing important data.

The Redmi 9T (model M2010J19SG) features limited memory (32/64/128 GB depending on the version) and aggressive caching by the MIUI system. Even after deleting applications, the “Other” folder can remain crowded due to:

• 🗑️ System cache (including cache) MIUI, Google Services and Preloaded Data)
• 📁 Residual files from remote applications (especially games and social networks)
• 🔄 Logs and dumps (debugging files created when crashes)
• 📱 Hidden. APK (Updates to applications that have not been removed after installation)

It's important to understand that on Redmi 9T, the Other folder includes files that MIUI can't automatically classify -- it's not always garbage, it's not always critical data, for example, it can store downloaded fonts, temporary messenger files, or even backups of com.miui.backup. Before cleaning, let's figure out what can be deleted and what can't be deleted.

What is the “Other” folder on Xiaomi and why it takes up so much space

The term "Other" (in the English version of MIUI) is a collective name for files that the system cannot categorize as standard (photos, video, audio, documents). On Redmi 9T, this folder can grow due to:

1. Aggressive caching MIUI. The system saves temporary files to speed up work, but does not always delete them. For example, the cache com.miui.home (launcher) can weigh up to 500 MB.
2. After uninstallation, programs often leave files in /Android/data or /Android/obb folders.
3. Logs and dumps. Applications and systems create debugging files (.log,.dmp) that accumulate over time.
4. Hidden updates. MIUI download APK-Update files in the background, but not always installed.

On the Redmi 9T, the problem is compounded by the fact that the smartphone was released with Android 10 (MIUI 12) and not all users have upgraded to current versions where memory management has improved. For example, MIUI 14 introduced a Deep Clean feature that is not found in old firmware.

🔍 How do you check what exactly takes up space? Go to Settings → The phone. → Memory. → If it's over 3GB, it's time to clean it up, but before you do that, back up your important data!

Method 1: Clean up the MIUI cache and Google Services via settings

The safest method is to delete temporary files through standard MIUI tools, which will not affect personal data, but will free up 1-3 GB of space.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Show System Processes.
3. Find applications: 🔹 com.miui.home (launcher) 🔹 Google Play Services 🔹 Services and feedback, if available)

Warehouse → Clear the cache

⚠️ Warning: Do not click Clear data for system applications – this can lead to malfunctions MIUI (For example, widgets will disappear or search will stop working).

After cleaning, restart your phone. If the Other folder has shrunk slightly, move on to the next way.

Clear the launcher cache (com.miui.home)|Delete the Google Play Services cache |Check Download Manager |Reboot the phone after cleaning-->

Method 2: Removing Residual Files from Remote Applications

When you delete an application through Settings, MIUI often leaves its data in /Android/data and /Android/obb folders. For example, games like PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty can leave 1-2 GB of unnecessary files behind.

To remove them:

1. Connect Redmi 9T to your PC via USB (in File Transfer mode).
2. Open the Internal Memory folder → Android → Data and Android → Obb.
3. Delete folders with app names you deleted long ago (e.g. com.tencent.ig for PUBG).

⚠️ Warning: Do not delete the folders of current applications, this will lead to their collapse. Before deleting, check if the application is installed through Settings. → Annexes.

If you don’t have a PC, use a file manager (such as Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer):

1. Open the manager and enable the display of hidden files.
2. Go to /storage/emulated/0/Android/data.
3. Delete folders with uninstalled program names.

Method 3: Manual cleaning of logs and dumps (for power users)

The system and applications create debugging files that take hundreds of megabytes over time. On Redmi 9T, they are stored in:

• 📄 /data/log (Root rights are required)
• 📄 /sdcard/MIUI/debug_log (rootless)
• 📄 /sdcard/Download (Sometimes there's old stuff. APK)

Without root rights, you can only clean folders on internal memory:

1. Open Mi File Manager.
2. Go to the Inner Memory → MIUI → debug_log.
3. Delete all files with the.log or.txt extension (except the current date).
4. Check the Download folder for old APKs and unnecessary files.

🔧 For root users: Use Root Explorer or FX File Manager to clean up /data/log. Remove everything except bootstat and recovery folders.

💡

If the phone started to work faster after cleaning the logs, then the problem was memory fragmentation. debug_log — It can grow to 1 GB for a few months.

Method 4: Using third-party utilities for deep cleaning

If manual methods didn't work, try specialized applications. Redmi 9T works well:

• 🛠️ SD Maid (clears residual files and cache)
• 🧹 Files by Google (finds duplicates and garbage)
• 🗃️ CCleaner (deletes cache and temporary files)

Instructions for SD Maid:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Run the storage analysis.
3. Select Residual Files and System Cache categories.
4. Click Clean and confirm the action.

⚠️ Note: Do not use functions such as database optimization in the SD Maid on Redmi 9T — This could lead to lags. MIUI. Limit yourself to cleaning up the garbage.

📌 Important: After cleaning with third-party utilities, restart the phone.Some files may be locked by the system and deleted only after rebooting.

💡

SD Maid finds up to 30% of the “invisible” junk that is not displayed in the standard MIUI file manager.

Method 5: Reset the cache via Recovery Mode (last chance)

If the Other folder still takes up a lot of space and other methods haven't helped, try resetting the cache via Recovery Mode.This won't delete personal data, but will clear all temporary system files.

Instructions:

1. Turn off Redmi 9T.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the MIUI logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.
5. Reboot the phone (Reboot) → Reboot to System).

⚠️ Warning: Do not choose Wipe Data - this will lead to a complete reset of the phone! Also do not interrupt the process of cleaning the cache - this can damage the system files.

After rebooting, check the size of the Other folder in Settings → Memory. If it's still big, there may be a problem with corrupted system files, in which case only a complete reset or flashing will help.

What to do if nothing helps: radical measures

If the Other folder is overcrowded after all the manipulations, the reasons may be more serious:

• 🐛 File system error (for example, after incorrect shutdown) USB).
• 📉 Damage to section /data (need to be reflashed).
• 🕵️ Hidden viruses or mining bots (check out Malwarebytes).

In such cases:

1. Make a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup.
2. Perform a reset to factory settings (Settings → About Phone → Resetting).
3. If the problem persists, search the phone through the Mi Flash Tool (instructions are available on the 4PDA forum).

🔴 Warning: On Redmi 9T Resetting deletes all data, including photos in internal memory. SD-card or PC before reset.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the folder “Other” on Xiaomi Redmi 9T