What to remove on Xiaomi Redmi 9: secure memory cleanup without risk to the system

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 9 sooner or later face a shortage of internal memory — even if there is 64 or 128 GB. MIUI system is known for its “voracious” attitude to storage: preinstalled applications, cache, duplicate media files and hidden system data eat up gigabytes. But not everything can be deleted without consequences. A cleaning error can lead to camera failures, notifications or even complete failure of the smartphone.

This article will help you understand what you can safely delete on Redmi 9 and what you should abandon. We analyzed the structure of MIUI 12/13/14 memory, tested the removal of system APKs, cleaned the cache of popular applications and identified 5 hidden folders that take up to 3-5 GB of useless data, all recommendations based on official documentation Xiaomi and experience of service centers.

Important: Before any manipulation of files, back up through Settings → System & Device → Backup. This will take 10-15 minutes, but will save your data if a failed cleanup is done.

1. Xiaomi apps preinstalled: what can be removed without risk

Redmi 9 comes with a dozen programs that are unnecessary for most users, from Mi Browser to Mi Pay. Some of them can be removed by standard means, and some will require super-user rights (root).

• 🌐 Mi Browser – a browser with ads, replaced with Chrome or Firefox.
• 💳 Mi Pay is a payment system that does not work outside of China.
• 🎵 Mi Music – a player with a limited library.
• 📺 Mi Video - video player with unnecessary recommendations.
• 📱 Mi Community – Xiaomi forum, useful only to brand enthusiasts.
• 🛒 Mi Store - branded accessories store (duplicates AliExpress).

To remove, go to Settings → Applications → Application Management, select the right one and click Delete. If the button is inactive, the application is system-based and you will need ADB to remove it (instructions in the next section).

⚠️ Warning: Do not remove Security (antivirus), Downloads (download manager) or Gallery (gallery) and their uninstallation will disrupt the file manager and device protection.

2. How to remove system applications through ADB (without root)

If standard removal is not available, use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a debugging tool that allows you to uninstall system APKs without obtaining root rights.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (original or quality).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).

Steps to remove:

1. Download ADB Tools and unpack it into a folder.
2. Connect Redmi 9 to your PC and select File Transfer mode.
3. Open the command line in the ADB folder and type in: Adb devices (the name of your device should appear).
4. To remove, for example, Mi Browser, do: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.browser

List of commands for popular applications:

⚠️ Attention: After removal through ADB Applications will disappear from the menu, but their data will remain in memory. → Warehouse → Clean up.

3. Cleaning cache and unnecessary files: hidden folders and garbage

System system MIUI It creates a lot of temporary files that are rarely automatically cleared. MIUI/sss It stores screenshots for functions such as "Long Screenshot" and MIUI/sound_recorder — Records from the recorder can be safely deleted.

Where to look for garbage:

• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/ — Interface files (weight to the 1 GB).
• 🎬 /storage/emulated/0/Movies/ — Automatically saved videos from messengers.
• 📷 /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails — Photo miniatures (up to) 500 MB).
• 📄 /storage/emulated/0/Download/ — old downloads from browsers.
• 🔊 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/ — voice-over.

To access these folders, use a file manager (such as Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer). Enable hidden files in the manager settings. Only delete folders that are empty or contain obvious debris (such as files with the.tmp or.log extension).

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Before mass deletion, sort files by date of change. Folders that have not been accessed for more than 6 months are likely not needed.

4. Removal of duplicate photos and videos: tools and life hacks

Redmi 9 It tends to duplicate media files, especially if you're using Google Photos, Mi Cloud or messengers, for example, when you send a photo to WhatsApp, you create a copy in the WhatsApp Media folder, and the original remains in the WhatsApp Media folder. DCIM/Camera.

How to find and remove duplicates:

1. Use Files by Google (free in Play Market) to automatically find duplicate files and prompt them to be deleted.
2. Manually check folders: /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Camera/ /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/ /storage/emulated/0/WhatsApp/Media/WhatsApp Images/
3. For advanced cleaning, use CCleaner or SD Maid (plugins for finding duplicates).

Example: If you have 100 photos on Camera and 80 of them are duplicated in WhatsApp Images, you will free up to 1-2 GB (at a resolution of 12 MP, each photo weighs ~3-5 MB).

5. Data Cleaning Applications: What Can Be Deleted Without Loss

Many programs accumulate gigabytes of cache and user data, such as Facebook can borrow up to 1 GB from cache alone, and Telegram can borrow up to 5 GB from downloaded media. Below is a table of apps that can be safely cleaned:

⚠️ Important: Clearing the data (not the cache!) will lead to logging out of the account and resetting the application settings. For example, on WhatsApp, this will delete all correspondence. → Warehouse → Data management in WhatsApp).

6. System Process Optimization: What to Turn Off to Save Memory

MIUI runs a variety of background processes that consume not only RAM, but also internal storage (logs, dumps, temporary files), some of which can be turned off without compromising the phone.

List of safe optimizations:

• 🛑 Turn off auto-update MIUI: Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → ⚙️ → Auto-update → Off. (saves) ~200 MB per month on downloading updates).
• 📊 Limit background activity: Settings → Battery and productivity → Battery management → Choice of applications → Set “Limit background activity” for unnecessary programs.
• 🔄 Turn off sync Mi Cloud: Settings → Accounts. → Mi Cloud → Synchronization → uncheck the unneeded data (contacts, notes, gallery).
• 📡 Ban automatic download in messengers: WhatsApp and Telegram disable autoload photo / video in mobile data.

These measures will not only free up space, but also extend battery life, such as turning off Facebook's background activity could save up to 300MB of memory and 10% of charge per day.

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Disabling MIUI auto-renewal is the only way to prevent unexpected memory filling with update files (weighing up to 2-3 GB).

7.Extreme measures: reset to factory settings

If you have a critically low amount of space left after all the manipulations (less than 1 GB), consider a complete reset. This is a radical method, but it will return the phone to a "clean" state by removing:

• 🗑️ All user data (photos, videos, documents).
• 📱 Installed applications and their settings.
• 🔧 System settings (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, accounts).
• 📁 Cache files and temporary data.

How to reset:

1. Create a backup copy (required!).
2. Go to Settings → About Phone → Resetting → Delete all data.
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (takes 5-10 minutes).

⚠️ Note: Redmi 9 will require resetting as a new device.If you forget your Mi Account, your phone may be locked (Mi Account Lock feature).

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up Redmi 9