What is the memory on Xiaomi Redmi: full analysis + ways to free up space

Did you notice that your Xiaomi Redmi suddenly ran out of space, even though you barely took photos and videos? Or did the phone start to slow down, even though it used to work like a clock? The reason most often lies in hidden memory consumption - system files, app cache, duplicates and garbage take up gigabytes, about which the user does not even know.

In this article, we will not just list the standard tips like “delete unnecessary photos”, but will examine in detail what exactly eats up memory on Redmi from different generations (from Redmi Note 4X to Redmi 13C), how to check this and which files can be safely deleted without risk to the system, and you will learn why even after cleaning the memory is refilled – and how to prevent this.

1. Xiaomi Redmi memory structure: what takes place "under the hood"

Any Android smartphone (including Xiaomi’s MIUI) divides memory into several key sections, and the ratio varies by model, but the overall picture is as follows:

📱 System files - kernel MIUI, firmware, pre-installed applications. Take from 8-12 GB on budget models to 15-20 GB on flagships (for example, Redmi). K60 Pro: You can't delete them, but you can reduce them by debloate (removing unnecessary system applications).
🗃️ App cache is a temporary file to speed up programs, can weigh up to 5-10 GB if you haven't cleaned it for a long time, for example, TikTok or Instagram easily accumulate 1-2 GB of cache per month.
📁 User data is your photos, videos, music, documents, and often hides duplicates (such as copies of photos from messengers) and forgotten downloads (files from a browser or Telegram).
🔄 Garbage and residual files - undeleted data after uninstallation of applications, system logs, temporary update files.

Xiaomi's feature is aggressive caching in the background, which saves data even for long-distant applications, "just in case," which speeds up their launch, but eats up memory. For example, after updating MIUI, gigabytes of unnecessary files can remain in the /cache folder.

📊 What is the Xiaomi Redmi model you have?

Redmi Note 10/11/12

Redmi 9/10/13

Redmi K40/K50/K60

Another model

I don't know.

2. How to check what is occupied by memory: step-by-step instructions

Before you delete something, you have to figure out what's taking up space. MIUI has built-in analysis tools, but they don't show the whole picture.

Open Settings → About Phone → Memory. Here you will see a general diagram of occupied space. Click on any section (e.g., Apps) to see details.
Use the built-in file analyzer: Security → Cleanup → Memory. This is where the system will show large files, duplicates and debris. But beware - MIUI sometimes suggests removing the necessary data (for example, backups).
Install a third-party deep-analysis app, like Files by Google or SD Maid, which will show hidden folders like /Android/data or /Android/obb, where heavy game files are stored.

Notice the folders:

📂 /DCIM/.thumbnails — Photo and video miniatures (can weigh up to a maximum of two) 1–2 GB).
📂 /Android/data/com.tencent.mm/MicroMsg/Download — WeChat downloads (often forgotten to clean).
📂 /MIUI/Theme — Themes and Wallpapers Downloaded Through MIUI Themes (can be borrowed up to) 500 MB).

Download folder (downloads from the browser)

Cash of messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp)

DCIM folder (photos and videos)

System updates (residual files in the /cache)-->

Important! Don't manually delete files from /system or /vendor folders, which can cause the system to crash. If you're not sure what to touch, use only built-in cleaning tools.

3. TOP-5 memory eaters on Xiaomi Redmi (and how to tame them)

Some Xiaomi applications and system processes are particularly voracious, and here are the main culprits behind the memory shortage and ways to combat them:

Reason.	How much does it take?	How to clean up
Cash MIUI and Google Play Services	up to 3-5 GB	Go to Settings → Applications → App Management, find Google Play Services and MIUI System, click Clear Cache.
Residual files after updates	Up to 1-2 GB per update	Delete /cache folder via TWRP or command adb shell rm -rf /cache/* (requires root).
Duplicate photos from messengers	up to 500 MB-1 GB	Use Files by Google (Dublicates section) or Gallery Doctor.
Games (PUBG, Genshin Impact, Call of Duty)	up to 5-10 GB per game	Delete game data in Settings → Applications → [game name] → Memory → Clear data (note, progress will be erased!).
Logs and dumps of the system	up to 100-300 MB	Remove via SD Maid (section "CorpseFinder") or the command adb shell rm /data/tombstones/*.

The most insidious “eater” is the MIUI updates. Once a new version is installed, the system often leaves old files in the /cache folder that are not deleted automatically. For example, an upgrade from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14 can leave up to 1.5 GB of garbage.

💡

If you play heavy games frequently (such as Genshin Impact), transfer them to a memory card (if supported). SD-map".

4. MIUI system files: what can be deleted and what can not

Xiaomi is known for downloading smartphones with a bunch of pre-installed apps (called bloatware), many of which can be safely removed by freeing up to 1-3 GB of storage.

✅ Can be removed (without risk to the system): 🎵 Mi Music, Mi Video – if you use other players. 📰 Mi Browser – if you use Chrome or Firefox. 🛒 Mi Pay, Mi Credit – if you do not use Xiaomi payment services. 🎮 Game Turbo, Quick Apps – if you don’t play mobile games.
❌ Cannot be removed (the risk of system collapse): 🔧 MIUI System, MIUI Core - the core of the firmware. 📱 Security – Responsible for Security and Permits. 🔄 Updater – Update module (remove – you can’t update your phone). 📡 Sim Toolkit – Work with the SIM-map.

To remove system applications without root rights, use ADB:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer # Deletes Mi Video


adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.player # Deletes Mi Music

Attention! If after deleting the application, the phone starts to glittle (for example, the sound is lost or the camera is not working), restore it with the command:

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.videoplayer

What happens if you remove MIUI Security?

Security is responsible for permissions, antivirus, and memory cleaning, and deleting it will result in: - Inability to install applications ("Insufficient Rights" error) - No access to privacy settings. - Losing the "Clean Up" function in the memory menu. It can only be restored through a full reset or flashing.

5 Hidden Folders and Files: Where to Look for Gigabytes of Garbage

Even experienced users are often unaware of hidden folders where MIUI and apps store heavy files.

🗂️ /Android/data/com.tencent.mm/MicroMsg/Download — WeChat saves all attachments here (photos, videos, documents). 5–10 GB.
🗂️ /Android/data/org.telegram.messenger/cache — Telegram cache (especially if you have a large number of channels).
🗂️ /MIUI/screenrecorder — screen recordings (sometimes left after deleting through the gallery).
🗂️ /Android/obb — game files, for example, PUBG Call of Duty stores data here by weight. 1–3 GB).
🗂️ /DCIM/.thumbnails — Photo and video miniatures (can be taken up to a maximum of 1 GB).

To see hidden folders, enable the display of hidden files in any file manager (for example, in Files by Google or Solid Explorer).

⚠️ Attention, don't delete the folders. /Android/data/com.xiaomi... — This is the data of the system applications, and if they're damaged, they can crash. MIUI.

If you find a large folder but aren’t sure if it can be removed, check its contents via VirusTotal or Google by name, for example, the /Android/data/com.netease.cloudmusic folder belongs to the Netease Music app, which you can clean if you don’t use the service.

6 Why the memory is filling up again: How to stop the cycle

Many users are faced with a situation: only cleared the memory, and after a week it is again clogged. MIUI:

🔄 Auto-Update Apps – Google Play and MIUI Updater downloads updates in the background. Turn off auto-update in Settings → Annexes → Google Play Market → Auto-update.

The most effective way to stop the cycle is to set the restrictions for applications:

Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
Choose a voracious app (like Facebook or TikTok).
Click Limit Background Activity and Limit Data Use.

💡

Regularly cleaning the cache and turning off auto updates can save up to 30% of memory in the long run.

7.Memory card vs internal memory: which is better for Xiaomi Redmi

Many Xiaomi Redmi users are trying to solve the memory problem with a microSD card, but there are pitfalls:

Parameter	Internal Memory (eMMC/UFS)	Memory Card (microSD)
Read/write speed	up to 500–1000 MB/s (UFS 2.2/3.1)	up to 90–150 MB/s (Class A2)
Reliability	Tall (swept into the phone)	Low (risk of data loss during retrieval)
Support for applications	All applications are working.	Only a part of the application (depends on MIUI)
Cost	Expensive (replacement of the phone in case of shortage)	Cheap (1–2 thousand rubles for 128 GB)

If you have decided to use a memory card:

🛒 Buy a class card A2 (For example, SanDisk Extreme or Samsung EVO Plus - it's faster and more reliable.
🔧 Format it as an internal memory (in Settings) → Memory. → Map. SD), But keep in mind that it can't be retrieved without losing data.
📱 Transfer only media files and lightweight applications (such as instant messengers) to it.

⚠️ Attention! On some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro), transferring applications to the memory card is unstable and can cause lags!

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Redmi memory

❓ Why is the memory cleaned with "Security" not freed up?

The built-in MIUI cleaner often shows "junk" that can't actually be removed without root rights (like the system application cache). Try: Use SD Maid or Files by Google for deep cleaning. Reboot your phone - sometimes the system doesn't immediately update the vacancy data. Check the /cache folder - there may be residual update files.

❓ Can I delete the Android folder? It takes 10GB!

No, you can't delete /Android, it contains all the installed applications. However, you can: Clear the cache of specific applications in Settings → Applications. Delete heavy files from the /Android/obb subfolders (game data) or /Android/data (messaging cache). Move some of the data to the memory card (if supported). If the folder has grown due to games (for example, Genshin Impact), delete the game data through the application settings (be aware that progress will be erased).

❓ Why the Redmi Note 12 Pro runs out of memory faster than the old Redmi 5?

Reasons: Camera resolution: Redmi Note 12 Pro shoots photos in 108 MP, and Redmi 5 – in 12 MP. One photo now weighs 10-15 MB instead of 2-3 MB. 4K-Video: Modern Redmi is recording videos in 4K, What eats 400-600 MB per minute (versus 50-100 MB in Full) HD). MIUI 14 vs MIUI 9: Newer versions of firmware weigh more and cache more aggressively. Background processes: Modern applications (like TikTok or Instagram) consume more resources. Solution: reduce the camera resolution to 12-24 MP in the settings of the Camera application, disable the recording in the camera app 4K, If not, clean the cache more often.

❓ How to transfer applications to a memory card on Redmi without root?

On most Xiaomi Redmi models (except the newest ones), this can be done as follows: Insert the memory card and format it as internal to Settings → Memory → SD card. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management. Select the application, click Storage and then Change → SD card. Restrictions: Not all applications support portability (especially system ones). On MIUI 12+, the function may be disabled for some models. After porting, the application may run slower.

❓ What to do if your memory is full and there is nothing to delete?

If you have checked all folders, deleted cache and debris, but the memory is still full, try: Reset cache settings: go to Settings → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge → Reset your cache settings. It won't delete your data, but it will clear the system cache: MIUI backups up copies of the /MIUI/backup. They can weigh up to 1–2 GB. Check for viruses: some malware creates hidden files. Use Malwarebytes or the built-in scanner in the computer. MIUI Update the firmware: in new versions MIUI Memory management bugs are often fixed. If nothing works, do a complete reset (but save important data first!).