What to delete on Xiaomi Redmi: secure cleaning of memory and system files

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are known for their price-performance ratio, but even the most capacious models face a memory shortage over time. Users often wonder: what can you remove on Xiaomi Redmi to make room without disrupting the system?

In this article, we will look at which system files, cache, applications and debris can be safely removed and avoided, and focus on MIUI, Xiaomi’s proprietary shell, which often becomes a source of redundant data, how to clean up memory without the risk of “bricking” the device and what tools are provided in the smartphone.

It's important to understand that not all files are equally useful, for example, app cache can be deleted with little or no consequence, but system APKs can only be deleted if you know exactly what they're responsible for, and we'll also look at hidden folders that take up gigabytes of memory but are rarely mentioned in standard instructions.

1. System garbage and cache: what can be removed without risk

Starting with the safest one, app cache and system debris, which accumulates as you use your smartphone and can take anywhere from 500MB to 5-7GB depending on the intensity of your use, and removing it will not affect your device, but it may temporarily slow down some applications (they will reload the cache the next time you open).

How to clear the cache on Xiaomi Redmi:

• 📱 Through Settings: Go to Settings → Warehouse → Cleaning (or Settings) → Annexes → Select the application → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
• 🧹 With the help of a built-in cleaner: in MIUI There is a security tool → Cleaning that analyzes unnecessary files.
• 🔄 Auto Cleanup: Enable Auto Cleanup in the same section so that the system removes garbage once a week.

Pay special attention to the cache of Google Play Services and Google Play Market — these apps can take up to 1-2 GB each. Their cache can be safely cleaned, but do not delete the apps themselves!

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse cache and application data. Cache is temporary files, and the data contains settings, game saves, and other important information, and deleting them will result in the application being reset before factory settings.

2. Embedded annexes MIUI: What can be removed and what can not be removed

Xiaomi preinstalles dozens of apps on its smartphones, many of which duplicate features or are not used at all. Some of which can be removed, but some are critical to the MIUI.

Here is a list of apps that you can uninstall without consequences (if you don’t use them):

• 🎵 Mi Music is a standard player that can be replaced with Spotify or YouTube Music.
• 📺 Mi Video - video player, similarly replaced by VLC or MX Player.
• 📖 Mi Browser is a browser with pre-installed bookmarks. Better use Chrome or Firefox.
• 🛒 Mi Pay – Payment app that is only relevant to China and India.
• 📱 Duplicate applications (e.g., two calendars: Google Calendar and Mi Calendar).

Here is what you can not remove (the risk of system failure):

• 🚫 Security – Responsible for protection and cleaning.
• 🚫 MIUI System UI — shell-interface.
• 🚫 Google Services Framework is critical to Google services.
• 🚫 Anything related to "Provider" (e.g. Telephony Provider) - system data providers.

Removing preinstalled applications will require root rights or ADB use. Without them, you can only disable unnecessary programs through Settings → Applications → Select the application → Disable.

Check if the application is used by other services

Create a backup copy of important data

Make sure you have an alternative (e.g., another browser)

Use it. ADB Only if you are confident in the teams.-->

3. Hidden folders and files: where to look for gigabytes of garbage

Even after cleaning the cache and removing unnecessary applications, memory can remain busy, because of the hidden folders that MIUI and Android create for temporary files, logs and backups, which are not visible in the standard file manager, but they can take up to 10-15 GB!

Where to look:

• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI — It stores themes, wallpapers and temporary shell files, and you can clean the theme folder if you don't use custom themes.
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data — Cache and application data. You don't have to manually clean it, but you can see which apps take up the most space.
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails — Photo and video thumbnails. You can delete them, they'll automatically recover.
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Download — Browser downloads. Often unnecessary files are accumulated here.

To access hidden folders, use a root-enabled file manager (such as Root Explorer) or connect your smartphone to your PC. In Windows, enable the display of hidden files in Explorer → View → Hidden Items.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete Android folders, MIUI They contain critical files, only delete specific subfolders (e.g..thumbnails or temp).

4 Logs and dumps: why they take up space and how to remove them

Android and MIUI are constantly creating error logs and memory dumps for diagnostics, which are rarely more than 100-200 MB, but if the system is unstable, their volume can grow to 1-2 GB.

• 📄 /storage/emulated/0/bugreports — error-report.
• 📄 /storage/emulated/0/log — system-log.
• 📄 /data/anr — App dumps that are “hang” (require root to access).

You can remove them manually through the file manager or by using the ADB-team:

adb shell rm -rf /storage/emulated/0/bugreports/*


adb shell rm -rf /storage/emulated/0/log/*

If you don’t know ADB, use apps like SD Maid (requires root) or Files by Google that can find and clear logs.

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If the smartphone began to slow down after the update MIUI, check the folder /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/debug_log — There's gigabytes of debugging files that can accumulate.

5. Backups and Updates: How to Make Space

Xiaomi automatically backs up data and downloads updates in the background, which can take anywhere from 500MB to 3-4GB, but are easy to delete.

Where to look:

• 🔄 Updates MIUI: folder /storage/emulated/0/Downloaded_rom. This is where the downloaded firmware is stored. Once the update is installed, the files can be deleted.
• 💾 Backup copies: /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/backup. If you don’t plan to restore data, the folder can be cleaned.
• ☁️ Cloud Copies: C Settings → Xiaomi account → Check if there are any unnecessary backups.

To disable automatic update downloads:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Update Settings.
3. Turn off the option of Automatic Download via mobile network or Wi-Fi.

⚠️ Note: If you delete update files during installation, your smartphone may hang on the logo MI. Wait for the process to complete or cancel the update via Settings → Updating the system.

Cleaning up multimedia: photos, videos and duplicates

Photos and video are the main memory eaters. Xiaomi Redmi has built-in tools to optimize them, but they are not always effective. Here's how to make room:

1. Removal of duplicates and blurred photos

• 📸 Use Google Photos (memory cleanup function finds duplicates).
• 🔍 Built-in gallery MIUI Also knows how to search for similar pictures: open the album, press the Control → Similar photos.

2. Video compression

• 🎥 Video Compress app (from Google Play) reduces video file size without critical quality loss.
• 📹 V MIUI There is a built-in tool: open the video in the gallery, click Edit → Squeeze.

3. Transfer to SD-map

• 💾 If your model supports microSD, transfer photos and videos through Settings. → Warehouse → Data portability.
• ☁️ Set up automatic downloads in Google Photos or Mi Cloud (but remember that only 5GB is free on the Mi Cloud).

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Check DCIM/Screenshots regularly – screenshots often accumulate unnoticed and take up hundreds of megabytes.

7.Cache Clearance Dalvik and ART: for advanced users

If you're ready to dive into the technical details, you should pay attention to the Dalvik/ART cache. These are temporary files that Android creates to speed up the launch of applications. Over time, they can take up to 1-3 GB, but cleaning them requires caution.

How to clean:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers (if the partition is hidden, activate it by clicking 7 times on the MIUI version in About Phone).
2. Find the option to Clear the Dalvik/ART cache (some versions of MIUI don’t have it, so root is required).
3. After cleaning, the smartphone will restart, and the first launches of applications will be slower (the cache will be rebuilt again).

Alternative method (requires root):

su


rm -r /data/dalvik-cache/*




reboot

⚠️ Warning: Cleaning Dalvik cache without root can cause failures if the system is actively using it.

8.Reset to factory settings: a last resort

If all previous methods failed, and the smartphone is still slowing down or memory is not enough, then the reset to factory settings remains, which will delete all data, including apps, photos and settings, so first:

• 📱 Make a backup copy through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.
• ☁️ Save photos and videos to the cloud or on PC.
• 📝 Write down logins and passwords from important accounts (they will disappear!).

How to perform the reset:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset.
2. Select Settings Reset.
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

Once reset, the smartphone will be like new, but with a clean memory. Remember, this is an extreme measure - only resort to it if other methods have not worked.

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Reset to factory settings deletes all data without the possibility of recovery (unless a backup was made).

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up Xiaomi Redmi