What is the memory of Xiaomi Redmi: a complete analysis of system and user files

Have you ever opened the Xiaomi Redmi settings and were surprised to find that out of 64 or 128 GB of memory, only 10-15 GB is free — even though you have hardly installed anything? — This is a situation familiar to most smartphone owners of the brand. The fact that the device’s memory is filled not only with your photos and applications, but also with dozens of hidden system files, cache and service data.

In this article, we will discuss in detail what exactly memory is occupied in Redmi smartphones (using the Note 12 Pro+, Redmi 10C, Redmi A2+ and other current lines of 2023-2026), you will learn which files can be safely deleted and which should not be touched so as not to break the system, and we will show how to analyze the occupied space and optimize it without losing important data.

Spoiler: Even a clean phone without your files takes 20 to 35 percent of the memory -- and that's okay. But if there's less than 10 percent of the space, it's time to act!

1. System Files: Why 10-20 GB is “out of the box”

Any Xiaomi Redmi smartphone comes with MIUI preinstalled firmware, which includes:

• 📱 Android operating system (version depends on model – from Android 12 to Android 14 in 2026).
• 🎨 Shell MIUI with branded applications (Thematic Store, Security, Mi Video, etc.).
• 🔧 Camera drivers, modules NFC, sensors and other components.
• 🌍 Language packages and fonts (even if you use only Russian).

For example, on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G with factory firmware MIUI 14 system files take about 12-14 GB, and on the budget Redmi A2+ - up to 8-10 GB. The difference is due to the version of Android and the number of preinstalled services.

⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to delete system files manually through Root rights or file manager.This can result in a device being "bricked" (total inoperability). MIUI.

2. App cache: why it's growing like a snowball

Cache is a temporary file that creates applications to speed up their work, such as Instagram caches stories and photos, YouTube videos thumbnails, and Google Maps maps of the terrain, which normally takes 1-3 GB, but over time can grow to 5-8 GB or more.

The problem is that MIUI doesn't always clean the cache automatically, and this is especially true in applications.

• 📸 Social media (VK, TikTok, Telegram – cache media files).
• 🎮 Games (PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact – Store textures and updates).
• 🗺️ Navigators (Yandex.Maps, Google Maps – download offline maps).
• 🎵 Music services (Spotify, Yandex Music – caching tracks).

🔹 How to check the size of the cache?

Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management, select the one you want and see the Storage section, which will tell you how much the application takes and how much is its cache.

💡

Clean the Google Play Services and Services Framework cache regularly – they often inflate to 500MB-1GB for no apparent reason.

3. User data: photos, videos and "invisible" files

The most obvious reason for filling up memory is your personal files, but even here there are pitfalls:

⚠️ Note: The.thumbnails folder (photo/video miniatures) can weigh 1-2 GB, but it can not be removed directly - it is better to use the built-in cleaning in the Xiaomi Gallery (Settings) → Also, don't touch the Android folders, MIUI or system is system data.

🔹 How to find "invisible" files?

Open the standard File Manager, click on the three dots in the top right corner and select "Show Hidden Files." You'll be surprised at how much garbage there is!

System Updates: Why They "Weigh" Twice

Each MIUI or Android update takes place not only with the service pack itself (usually 1.5-3 GB), but also with backups of the old firmware, because the system saves the previous version in case the new software will work unstable.

📌 Where to find: /data/ota_package — Updates downloaded but not yet installed are stored here. /cache — Temporary update files (can be manually cleaned).

⚠️ Note: If you see a file with a name like miui_*.zip-size >1 GB, it can only be removed after the update is successfully installed. If you interrupt the upgrade process, the phone may stop loading!

5.Apps and their “tails”: what remains after deletion

When you delete an app through Settings → Apps, it often leaves behind:

• 🗑️ Residual files in folders /Android/data and /Android/obb (play-play).
• 📋 Settings and cache in /data/data (available only with root rights).
• 🔗 Links and shortcuts in the launcher (do not take up much space, but clutter the menu).

🔹 How to remove completely?

Use built-in Cleaner (Settings → Cleanup) or third-party utilities like SD Maid (requires caution!). For example, after removing PUBG Mobile, a file size of 1-2 GB may remain in the /Android/obb folder.

6. MIUI Multimedia: Wallpaper, Melodies and Themes

Xiaomi is known for its Theme Store, where users download wallpaper, icons and tunes.

• 🖼️ /MIUI/theme — Themes and Wallpapers (may weigh up to) 500 MB).
• 🔔 /MIUI/sound_recorder — voice-notes.
• 🎶 /MIUI/ringtone — call-up.

🔹 How to clean up?

Go to Topics. → "My downloads" and delete unnecessary items. You can also manually check the folder. /MIUI via file manager.

⚠️ Note: Some wallpapers and themes are protected DRM It is not removed by standard means, and in this case, resetting the theme settings to standard (Settings) will help. → Topics → Restore by default).

7.How to properly analyze occupied memory

To understand what exactly is clogged with memory, use built-in and third-party tools:

1. Built-in MIUI analysis: Go to Settings → About Phone → Memory. This shows a graph of occupied space by category (system files, applications, multimedia, etc.).
2. File Manager: Open Files → Storage Analysis. The program will show large files and folders.
3. Third-party utilities: Applications like DiskUsage or Storage Analyzer visualize occupied space in the form of diagrams.

🔹 What to do if your memory is full of unknowns?

If the analysis shows that the "Other Files" take >5 GB, it is likely that:

• 🗃️ Residual files of remote applications.
• 📁 Temporary download files (/Download).
• 🔄 Logs of the system (/data/log — You can clean it with Engineer Mode).

💡

With less than 10% of the memory available, the phone starts to slow down: Android and MIUI use free space for caching and background processes.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Redmi memory