How to Clean Up Internal Memory on Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Phone

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5, which came to market a few years ago, is still a popular device due to its excellent price-performance ratio. However, owners of this model often face the same problem: a critical lack of internal memory. The standard 32 or 64 gigabytes are quickly filled with modern applications, heavy photos and messenger cache. When the storage is overflowing, the system begins to work slowly, and new programs stop installing.

Solving this problem requires a comprehensive approach, because simply removing apps does not always produce the desired result. Android, which runs the MIUI shell, accumulates many hidden files that occupy precious space.

In this article, we will discuss all effective ways to free up space, from standard system tools to advanced file system methods. You will learn which folders can be deleted without fear and which can not be touched categorically. We will also look at the specific settings of the Redmi Note 5, which will help automate the maintenance process of the gadget.

Analysis of vault occupancy

Before you start taking drastic action, you need to understand what exactly takes up space in your device. Owners of Redmi Note 5 are often surprised to find that after buying a phone with 64 GB of memory, only 10-15 GB is free.

To start your diagnosis, open the standard Security app or go to the storage settings, and here you'll see a color diagram showing the different colors of the file categories: images, videos, documents, etc. Analytics is the first step to optimization, and it often turns out that half of the memory is occupied by old videos or chat backups.

⚠️ Warning: Do not delete system folders with Chinese names or those whose purpose you do not know, even if they take up a lot of space. MIUI.

Special attention should be paid to the “Other” or “Other” folder, which often hides residual files of deleted games, streaming services cache and temporary update files. On Redmi Note 5, this section can grow to incredible sizes if it is not manually cleaned periodically through the file manager.

Use the built-in analysis tool to get an accurate picture. Click on the category with the most data to see the detail, which will help you make an informed decision about what to delete in the first place without losing important personal data.

Use of the built-in MIUI cleaner

The MIUI shell on the Redmi Note 5 has a powerful built-in garbage cleaner that is in the Security app and is available right out of the box, scanning the system for cache, residual files and junk that often accumulates after using browsers and free apps.

Run the scan by pressing the "Clean Up" button. The system will quickly analyze the files and suggest removing safe objects. However, do not blindly trust the automation. Before confirming the action, carefully review the list of files, especially in the "App Cache" section. Sometimes there are important data, such as saved maps in the navigator or offline transfers.

• 🗑️ Click "Clean" to delete temporary system and application files.
• 📁 Go to the Deep Cleanup section to analyze large files and duplicates.
• ⚙️ Set up automatic cleaning in the parameters of the application "Security".

Deep Clean is especially useful for finding duplicate photos and large video files you may have forgotten to delete. Redmi Note 5 comes with a good camera, and high-resolution minute video can take up to 150 MB. Finding such files, you can instantly free up a significant amount of memory.

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Set up automatic cache cleanup in the Security app once every 3 days so that memory does not clog up unnoticed by you.

Also in this section, you can find some rarely used applications, and the system will tell you what programs you haven't used in more than a month, and removing such software is a great way not only to free up space, but also to speed up the processor by unloading RAM.

Cleaning the cache of messengers and social networks

The biggest memory eater on today's smartphones, including the Redmi Note 5, are instant messengers. WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber store every photo and video you receive in your device's memory by default. Over time, these folders can take up 10, 20, or even 30 gigabytes, turning into an archive of other people's lives that you no longer need.

In Telegram, for example, you can set up automatic cache deletion. Go to the app settings, select Data and Memory, and find Memory Use. Here you can set a cache limit, such as 500 MB or 1 GB. Once the cache exceeds this volume, the old files will be automatically deleted. This is the only way to ensure that the messenger does not take up all of your phone’s memory in the future.

For WhatsApp, the procedure is a little different. Inside the app, go to Settings → Data and Storage → Storage Management. Here you will see a list of chats sorted by location, you can select a specific dialog and delete all media within it, leaving text messages intact.

⚠️ Note: When you clear your messenger cache through your Android settings (not inside the app), you may lose your correspondence history.Use built-in cleaning tools inside the WhatsApp and Telegram apps themselves.

Don't forget social media. VK, Instagram and Facebook cache your feeds and videos for faster downloads. These apps often have a "Clear Cache" setting, and if you don't, the safest option is to reinstall the app after making sure you remember your account password.

Regularly checking these sections should become a habit: just give it 5 minutes once a week, so that your Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 runs quickly and does not signal a shortage of space at the most inopportune time.

Work with gallery and cloud storage

Media is the second largest category after messaging. The Redmi Note 5 takes quality images that take up decent space. In addition, users often download images from the Internet or save statuses, forgetting them. The first step should be sorting: delete blurry photos, screenshots and unnecessary videos.

The ideal solution for Xiaomi owners is to use the Mi Cloud cloud service or analogues like Google Photos. By enabling the gallery sync function, you can activate the Free Space mode. The application will upload the original photos to the cloud and remove them from the phone’s internal memory, leaving only thumbnails.

It's also worth checking the Recycle Bin folder in the gallery. Deleted photos don't disappear forever, they're stored there. 30 Cleaning the basket is an instant way to get a few gigabytes back, and remember to check the Recordings folder as well"Screen_rec" (Screen recordings if you have used these features.

If you don’t want to use the cloud, consider transferring your photo to your computer or external hard drive. For the Redmi Note 5 with its Micro-USB port, it can be inconvenient, so using it can be a bit more difficult. OTG-Cable and flash drives will be a great way out of the situation.

Removal of applications and residual debris

Many users install dozens of apps just in case, forgetting about them. On Redmi Note 5, with its limited storage capacity, every megabyte in your account. Do a review of installed programs. If you haven't opened the application for more than a month, feel free to delete it.

However, simply deleting files through the desktop doesn't always clean all files. Residual folders with settings and logs can stay in the system. You can use a file manager like Total Commander or built-in Explorer to find them. Look for folders with the names of remote games or programs at the root of internal memory.

• 📲 Go to Settings. → Annexes → All applications.
• 🔍 Sort the list by size (memory occupied).
• 🗑️ Remove heavy games that you no longer play.

Pay special attention to games. Modern projects can take 2-3 GB each (data + cache). If you have played the game and do not plan to return, removing it will give you the most tangible increase in free space. Also check whether you have two browsers or two photo editing apps with the same functionality.

⚠️ Warning: When removing system applications (marked with an Android robot icon), be extremely careful. MIUI This can cause a cyclical reboot of the phone.

For advanced users, there is an option to remove system debris through ADB, but for most Redmi Note 5 owners, standard methods are enough.

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Regularly removing heavy games and watched TV shows from Netflix or YouTube offline storage gives the largest one-time gain in free memory.

Use of a memory card and USB-accumulator

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 is equipped with a slot for microSD cards, which is a salvation for owners of versions with 32 GB of memory. Installing a card with a volume of 64 or 128 GB will allow you to transfer all media files to it, freeing up internal storage exclusively for the system and applications.

After installing the memory card, go to the settings and select the use option. SD-It's like a "Portificate Drive." Then, in the camera and voice recorder settings, specify that the data is saved to the external medium. DCIM, Download and Music to the memory card.

If the memory card is not available, the alternative is USB-flash drive OTG. And if you plug a flash drive in through an adapter, you can upload archival photos and videos onto it, which requires manual work, but it ensures that the data is safe and that internal memory is free without deleting files forever.

Remember that applications installed on a memory card may be slower than those installed in internal memory, so it is better to keep programs on your phone and use the card as an archive for documents and media.

Radical measures: Resetting to factory settings

If none of the above methods worked, and the memory fills up on its own for no apparent reason, it is possible that the system has accumulated critical errors or virus software.

This procedure will completely clear the internal memory of Redmi Note 5, returning the phone to the state of “store-like”. All your contacts, photos and applications will be deleted, so make sure to make a full backup of data to your computer or to the cloud before starting.

Settings → About the phone → Reset settings → Erase all data

After resetting, don't restore the entire app backup, because you can also return the memory problem. You'd better set the phone up as new by installing only the necessary apps. This often works wonders with the performance of older devices.