How to completely remove the “Other” on Xiaomi Redmi 9C NFC: 5 working ways

Why The Other Takes Gigabytes of Memory on the Redmi 9C NFC and How to Fix It

You open Settings → Memory on your Xiaomi Redmi 9C NFC, and there are tens of gigabytes occupied by the mysterious “Other” section. App cache is cleared, unnecessary files are deleted, and there is less space. What is the matter? The reason lies in the features of the MIUI firmware and the Android architecture: the system automatically reserves space for temporary files, update log files, remnants of remote applications and even hidden backups.

On the Redmi 9C NFC, the problem is exacerbated by limited internal memory (32/64 GB) and the active use of Extension (if microSD is connected). As a result, The Other can take from 5 to 20 GB — and this is not a bug, but the normal operation of the system. However, some of this data can be safely deleted without risking the stability of the smartphone. Next, we will analyze which files can be touched and which are better left, and we will give step-by-step instructions for users with different levels of training.

⚠️ Note: Some methods require superuser rights (root) or use ADB. If you're not sure, limit yourself to the safe ways in the first two sections.

Method 1: Cleaning through standard MIUI settings

To start with, the simplest of them is the built-in MIUI 12/13 tools, which don’t require any additional software, which is a method that can remove temporary files, cache of system applications, and update residues.

Open Settings → Memory → Cleanup. Here, the system automatically scans the device and prompts you to delete:

• 🗑️ Application cache — the temporary data that programs create to speed things up — is safe to delete, but it can take longer to load when it's next run.
• 📁 Downloads - files from a folder /Download, Which you may have forgotten to delete.
• 🔄 Update residues – firmware packages that remain after installation OTA-You can remove them if you don't plan to roll back.
• 📊 Unnecessary APK — Installation files of applications that have been installed or not used for a long time.

Once cleaned, restart your phone. If the Other partition has shrunk slightly (1-3 GB), move on to the next way, and if you can't see the changes at all, the problem lies deeper in your system logs or backups.

Method 2: Delete hidden files through Explorer

Some of the data in the Other section is hidden files and folders that don’t appear in standard Explorer, and you’ll need a third-party file manager to see them, such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer (available on Google Play).

Instructions:

1. Install and open Solid Explorer.
2. Enable the display of hidden files: click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Settings → Show hidden files.
3. Go to the root directory (/) and find the following folders: /data/log – system logs (you can delete files older than 7 days). /data/local/tmp – temporary files (all content can be deleted). /data/system/dropbox – error reports (remove everything except the current day). /cache – system cache (cleared automatically when you reboot, but sometimes there are “tails”).

Delete unnecessary files and restart your phone.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files in folders /data/data or /system — It can crash the system, and don't touch files with the.odex or.apk extension in the system directories.

Method 3: Using ADB for deep cleaning

If previous methods didn’t work, it’s time to connect to your phone via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that allows you to remove system debris that is not available through standard means but requires a connection to a computer.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📦 Installed drivers ADB Fastboot (you can download from the Android Developers website).
• 🔧 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to activate the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).

Cleanup commands:

adb shell pm trim-caches 500G # Cache cleanup of all applications


adb shell rm -rf /data/local/tmp/* # Delete temporary files




adb shell rm -rf /data/log/* # Clearing logs (caution!)




adb shell pm clear com.miui.cleanmaster # Reset the Security app

After you execute the commands, restart your phone. If the Other partition has decreased significantly (5+ GB), the problem is solved. If not, move on to the next method.

Method 4: Resetting cache via Recovery Mode

If the Other takes up more than 10GB and does not decrease after previous actions, cache resetting via recovery mode will help.This method does not affect user data, but resets all temporary system files.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up at the same time and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo and Recovery menu appear.
3. Use volume buttons to navigate and select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.
5. Reboot your phone (Reboot → System)

This method is especially effective if the Other has grown after a failed MIUI update or a system application malfunction. After a cache reset, the phone can boot longer than usual - that's normal.

Method 5: Radical measures - reset to factory settings

If none of the methods worked, and the Other still takes up a critically large amount of space (20+GB), the last option is a complete reset, which will remove all user data, applications and settings, returning the phone to the “out of the box” state.

How to reset:

1. Back up important data (photos, contacts, messages) through Settings → Google → Backup or manually.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select Reset all settings and confirm the action.
4. Wait for the process to be completed (it will take 5-10 minutes).

Once reset, the Other will shrink to a minimum size of 1-2GB, but you'll have to reset your phone and install apps, a method guaranteed to solve the problem, but only use it as a last resort.

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Before resetting, write down your phone’s IMEI (type *#06# in the dialer) to help restore access to your mobile network if something goes wrong.

How to prevent the “Other” from being refilled

To prevent the problem from returning in a month, follow the following simple rules:

• 📵 Turn off automatic backup in Settings → Google accounts → Backup if you don’t use it.
• 🔄 Clean the cache regularly through Settings → Memory. → Cleaning (sufficient 1 time in 2 weeks).
• 🚫 Do not install applications from unknown sources – they often leave garbage in system folders.
• 📱 Use lighter versions of apps (e.g. Facebook Lite instead of the main client).
• 🔧 Update. MIUI — In new versions optimized work with memory.

You should also drop the memory extension feature (if you use microSD), as it often fragments data and increases the size of the Other. If you need a memory card, format it as internal memory (Settings → Memory → Memory Map → Format as internal), but remember that it can not be removed without losing data.

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Regular cleaning of the cache and turning off unnecessary background processes (in Settings → Battery → Power Saving Mode) reduce the growth of the Other by 40-60%.

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