Xiaomi Redmi 9 is one of the most popular budget smartphones of 2020, but even its 64 or 128 GB of memory is eventually clogged with a mysterious “Other” section.This item in the storage menu can take from 5 to 30 GB, and the system does not show what exactly is stored there. Unlike photos, videos or apps, “Other” has no obvious source, which causes confusion among users.
What's really under "Other" is the cache of system applications, temporary update files, log files, remnants of deleted programs, and even duplicate media files. In this article, we'll learn how to safely clean this partition on Redmi 9 without risking damage to the system, what tools you'll need to do this, and what to do if standard methods don't work, and why the Other reappears and how to minimize its growth in the future.
What is the “Other” in Xiaomi Redmi 9 memory and why it takes up so much space
The Other section is a collective name for files that MIUI cannot categorize as standard (applications, photos, videos, etc.) and includes:
- 📁 Cache of system applications (e.g. com.android.systemui, com.miui.home).
- 🔄 Temporary update files (remain after new versions are installed) MIUI).
- 📜 Log files and memory dumps (created when crashes or for debugging).
- 🗑️ Remnants of remote applications (incorrectly uninstalled programs leave “tails»).
- 🖼️ Duplicates and miniatures of media files (for example, sketches for a gallery).
- 🔒 Encrypted data (such as Mi Account files or Google Play Services).
On the Redmi. 9 This section often grows due to the features MIUI 12/13: The system actively caches data to speed up work, but does not always clean it correctly. For example, after updating the firmware, temporary files may remain in the folder. /data/ota_package And hanging there for years, and also to blame pre-installed apps (Mi Browser, Mi Video, GetApps) that aggressively cache content.
Interestingly, on the Redmi 9 with 64 GB of memory, the Other can take up to 20-25% of the total, whereas on models with 128 GB, its share usually does not exceed 10%, due to the fact that the system is more actively optimizing free space on devices with large storage.
How to check what exactly ranks in the “Other” section
Before you clean the Other, you need to know what files are stored there, and the standard storage menu in MIUI doesn't give you any details, so you'll have to use third-party tools.
The most reliable way is to install a file manager with memory analysis, such as Files by Google or SD Maid, which scans internal memory and shows which folders take up the most space. On Redmi 9, pay special attention to the following directories:
- 📂 /data/data/ — cache of user and system applications.
- 📂 /data/ota_package/ — update-file.
- 📂 /data/log/ — Logs of system and applications.
- 📂 /data/media/0/MIUI/ — shell-file.
- 📂 /data/media/0/Android/data/ — game-cache.
It is suitable for advanced users. ADB-memory-analysis:
adb shell du -h -d 1 /data | sort -hThis command will display a folder list in /data, sorted by size. Be careful: deleting files through ADB without understanding their purpose can lead to crashes!
⚠️ Attention: Do not delete folders /data/dalvik-cache and /data/system — This is critical system data, and cleaning it up will make the phone inoperable and require a complete reset.
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If you're not sure what the file is, transfer it to your computer before you delete it, so you can recover it if something goes wrong.
How to clean the “Other” on Xiaomi Redmi 9 without root rights
If you don't have a superuser (root), you can clean "Other" with standard MIUI tools and third-party utilities. Here are 5 working methods, sorted by efficiency:
- Cleaning the cache of system applications Go to Settings → Annexes → App management, click on the three dots in the top right corner and select "Show all processes." Sort the list by cache size and clear the data for: 🌐 Mi Browser (Cash can weigh up to a maximum of two) 1-2 GB). 📺 Mi Video (stores thumbnails and video buffer). 🛒 GetApps (cache of updates and installers). 📱 Lawnchair or MIUI Launcher (desktop data).
Delete temporary update files
Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update, click on three dots and select “Delete Downloaded Package.” This will free up to 1-3 GB if you haven’t updated your firmware in a long time.
Use of the built-in MIUI cleaner
On the Security menu» → «Clean up" select "Deep Cleanup" and wait for the scan to be completed. The utility will find unnecessary files, including the remnants of deleted applications.
Cleaning through Files by Google
Install the app from Google Play, open the Cleanup section and select Unnecessary Files, and the utility will find duplicates, temporary files, and prompt them to be deleted.
Resetting the cache partition (wipe cache partition)
Turn off the phone, press Power + Volume up to log into Recovery. Select "Wipe & Reset" → "Wipe Cache" and confirm. This won't delete your data, but will clear the system cache.
Backup important data | Check battery power (minimum 50%) | Close all background applications | Connect to Wi-Fi (for utilities download) | Disable Mi Cloud sync during cleaning-->
| Method | Difficulty | Efficiency | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning up the app cache | ⭐ | ⚡⚡ (3GB) | Low (may reset authorization in applications) |
| Removal of update packages | ⭐ | ⚡⚡⚡ (3GB) | No. |
| MIUI Deep Cleanup | ⭐⭐ | ⚡⚡ (2GB) | Low (can delete useful temporary files) |
| Files by Google | ⭐⭐ | ⚡⚡⚡ (5GB) | Medium (risk of removing files when manually cleaning) |
| Wipe cache partition | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⚡⚡ (up to 1GB) | Low (not affecting user data) |
Radical Methods: Cleaning the “Other” with root rights
If the standard methods didn't work, and the Other still takes tens of gigabytes, you'll have to use root access. On Redmi 9, you can get it through unlocking the bootloader and installing Magisk (instructions are available on the XDA Developers forum). Once you get the rights, you can:
- 🔍 Uninstall unnecessary system applications (e.g. Mi Browser, Mi Music, Mi Video) via Titanium Backup or System App Remover.
- 🧹 Clear the folders. /data/log and /data/tombstones, logs.
- 🗃️ Remove duplicates in /data/media/0/DCIM/.thumbnails (photo miniatures).
- 🔄 Disable unnecessary services MIUI, which generates extra files (e.g. com.xiaomi.mipicks).
To automate the process, use the Termux script:
pkg install root-repo
apt install ncdu
su -c "ncdu /data"This command will run ncdu, a disk space analysis utility with a user-friendly interface, so you can see which folders take up the most space and delete them directly from the terminal.
⚠️ Attention: Deleting root-righted system files can lead to bootloop (locked phone turn on).Always back up through TWRP before manipulation /data or /system!
What if the “Other” reappears after cleaning?
How to Prevent the Other from Reappearing on Redmi 9
You can't get rid of the Others completely, because it's part of Android and MIUI, but you can shrink it down a lot and slow it down. Here are the proven ways to do this.
- 🚫 Turn off automatic update downloads in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → Settings (⚙) → Downloading.
- 📵 Limit the caching of media files in applications (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram). To do this, in the settings of each application, find the option “Limit data use” or “Cache».
- 🔄 Set up regular cleaning via Google Files or CCleaner. Run scan once a week.
- 🗑️ Use a “cloud cache” for photos (e.g. Google Photos in Free Place mode»**).
- 🛡️ Disable unnecessary system services through ADB (If you don't want to root):
To disable pre-installed applications without root, use the command:
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.mibrowser.globalReplace com.xiaomi.mibrowser.global with the desired application package (e.g. com.miui.videoplayer for Mi Video).
adb shell pm list packages | grep 'miui'Another effective method is to transfer applications to SD-card (if your Redmi 9 supports memory extension:
- Insert microSD (A1 or A2 class recommended).
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Select the application and click “Move to” SD-map (not available for all programs).
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Regularly cleaning the cache and disabling unnecessary MIUI services reduces the growth of the Other by 40-60%, but you can’t get rid of it completely – this is part of the operation of the operating system.
Frequent Mistakes in Cleaning the Other and How to Avoid Them
Many Redmi 9 users make critical mistakes when trying to make room, and here are the most dangerous ones and how to prevent them:
- 🔄 Break the wipe cache partition process – if you turn off the phone during cleaning, the partition may be damaged /cache, What will cause errors in the loading.
- 📱 Using “cleaners” with aggressive algorithms (such as Clean Master), such programs often delete important files, masking this as “optimization».
If you have already made one of these mistakes, try the following steps:
- Restart your phone in Safe Mode (clip Power → Click Power Off → OK).
- If the phone doesn’t turn on, try resetting the cache via Recovery (Wipe Cache Partition).
- In extreme cases, reset to factory settings (but it will delete all data!).
⚠️ Warning: If the phone started to brake or overheat after cleaning the Other, critical files were probably deleted, in which case only a full reset or flashing through Fastboot will help.