How to Free Up Your Space in the Other section on Xiaomi Redmi 9: The Complete Guide

The “Other” section on Xiaomi Redmi 9 is a real black hole for free space. Even after removing photos, apps and cleaning the cache, it continues to take up gigabytes of memory, showing mysterious 10-20 GB of “unknown data” in the storage settings. MIUI, which distributes system log files, updates and temporary data to this category.

In this article, you will find 5 working methods for cleaning the Other section, from safe (cleaning cache and logs) to radical (resetting to factory settings). We will also discuss why standard methods like MIUI garbage cleanup often don’t work, and what to do if after all the manipulations the memory still melts in front of the eyes. Importantly, some methods require root rights or a PC connection, which we have highlighted separately with the warnings.

What is the “Other” section and why is it filled

In MIUI, the Other section is a container for files that the system cannot categorize as standard (photos, videos, apps, etc.) and includes:

• 📁 Cache of system applications (including com.miui.home, com.android.systemui)
• 📜 Error Logs and Dumps (created when applications or systems fail)
• 🔄 Update residues (firmware files that have not been deleted after installation)
• 🗑️ Temporary files from applications (for example, downloads from instant messengers)
• 🔒 Encrypted data (if device encryption was used)

On Redmi 9, the problem is compounded by the limited amount of internal memory (32/64 GB) and the features of the F2FS file system that Xiaomi uses to optimize performance. As a result, “garbage” accumulates faster than on flagships with UFS. For example, after a year of use, the “Other” partition can take up to 15-25% of the total memory.

⚠️ Note: If you see files larger than 5GB in the Other section, it could be a sign of a virus or file system failure.Before cleaning, check the device with an antivirus (such as Malwarebytes) and back up your device.

Method 1: Clearing cache and temporary files without root

Start with the safest method, which is to remove the cache of system and user applications, which does not require superuser rights and is suitable for beginners.

How to clean:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Sort by size.
3. Select apps with large cache (usually YouTube, Chrome, Facebook, MIUI Launcher).
4. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

For automatic cleaning, use the built-in Security app:

• 🧹 Launch Security → Cleanup → Deep cleaning.
• 🔍 Mark Cash Applications, Residual Files, Logs.
• 🚮 Press Clean (reboot may be required).

Close all applications

Connect the charger.

Make a backup copy of important data

Check the vacant space before and after cleaning-->

This method allows you to free up from 500 MB to 2-3 GB of memory, but does not delete deep system files. If the Other section is filled again after a couple of days, move to the next method.

Method 2: Removing Logs and Dumps through ADB

System logs (/data/log) and dumps (/data/tombstones) take hundreds of megabytes, but don’t show up in a standard file manager, and you’ll need a computer with ADB drivers installed to remove them and USB debugging on your phone enabled.

Instructions:

1. Turn on USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
2. Connect Redmi 9 to your PC and confirm your trust in your computer.
3. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb shell


su




rm -rf /data/log/*




rm -rf /data/tombstones/*




rm -rf /data/system/dropbox/*




exit




exit

If the su command doesn't work, you don't have root rights, and then use an alternative method:

adb shell pm clear com.miui.bugreport

⚠️ Attention: Deleting logs can make it difficult to diagnose problems when contacting Xiaomi service center. If the phone is warranty, try other ways first.

Yeah, often.

I tried 1-2 times.

No, but I want to learn.

No, I don't plan on.-->

Once you've done the commands, restart your phone. This method frees up 1 to 5GB, but logs will accumulate again. For permanent effect, set up automatic cleaning via Tasker or MacroDroid.

Method 3: Remove the remnants of MIUI updates

Xiaomi often leaves files sized after firmware updates 1–3 GB in a folder /cache or /data/ota_package. You can remove them manually or through recovery.

Method 1: Through the file manager (root required):

• 📂 Open the Root Explorer or FX File Manager with Superuser Rights.
• 🔍 Move to the /data/ota_package Delete all files with the.zip extension.
• 🗑️ Clear the folder. /cache (delete all contents).

Method 2: TWRP (if installed):

1. Load to TWRP Recovery (clip Power + Volume up).
2. Select Advanced → File Manager.
3. Delete the folders: /cache /data/ota_package

Reboot the phone.

If you don’t want to install TWRP, use the official recovery: press Power + Volume up, select the language, then Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.

Method 4: Reset to factory settings (last chance)

If previous methods didn't work, and the Other partition takes over 10 GB, then the radical solution is a complete reset, which will delete all data, including system debris, but return the phone to a "clean" state.

How to reset:

1. Make a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose to erase all data and confirm.

Example of working with SD Maid:

1. Install the application and provide root access.
2. Launch CorpseFinder (seeking for remnants of remote applications).
3. Run SystemCleaner to delete logs and temporary files.
4. Reboot the phone.

💡

Before using cleaning utilities, check their Google Play rankings and reviews. Some apps (like Clean Master) may create garbage themselves or display false warnings.

These tools help free up to 5-7 GB, but require caution, such as deleting files in /system can cause a phone to fail.

How to Prevent Filling in the Other Section in the Future

To prevent the “Other” section from filling in again, follow these rules:

• 📱 Turn off automatic update downloads in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → Threefold → Settings → Downloading.
• 🚫 Limit the background activity of applications in Settings → Battery → Choice of applications.
• 🔄 Clean the cache regularly (once every 1-2 weeks) through Security.
• 📁 Transfer files to SD-On Redmi 9, you can do this for photos, videos and some apps.

It is also useful to disable the collection of diagnostic data:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Privacy → Diagnostics.
2. Turn off the options for sending error reports and improving MIUI.

💡

On Redmi 9 with MIUI 13+, the “Other” section can be artificially inflated due to the Dynamic Memory Distribution function. Turn it off in Settings → Storage → Additional → Dynamic Distribution.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the "Other" section on Redmi 9