Xiaomi Redmi garbage cleanup: a complete guide for all versions of MIUI

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are some of the most popular in the world due to their price-performance ratio, but even they eventually start to slow down. The main reason is that memory is clogged with unnecessary files, app cache and remnants of deleted programs. If your Redmi Note 12, Redmi 10C or other model is slow, it constantly shows a notification “Memory is almost full” and photos and videos are not stored, it’s time to clean up the entire system.

In this article, we will analyze all possible ways of cleaning: from the basic (removal of cache and debris through built-in tools). MIUI) We will focus on hidden folders with duplicate photos, messenger cache and heavy files that are not visible in the standard Explorer. POCO and Redmi A on MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS.

Before you start, check how much space is occupied right now: open Settings → About Phone → Memory. If less than 10% of the total volume is free, this is the critical threshold at which the system starts to lag, and our goal is to free up at least 20-30% of the memory for comfortable operation.

1.Cache and garbage cleanup via "Security"

The fastest way to delete temporary files is to use the built-in Security app (which may be called Security or Optimization on newer versions of MIUI), which analyzes the system and finds unnecessary data that can be safely erased.

How to do this:

• 📱 Open the Security app** (Icon with shield).
• 🧹 Select the Cleanup tab (or Garbage).
• ⚙️ Press Deep Cleanup and wait for the scan to be completed.
• 🗑️ Tag all items (especially App Cache, Residual Files, Advertising Files) and click Clear.

This method removes up to 1-3 GB of garbage at a time, but does not touch personal files (photos, videos, documents). If after cleaning, free space is not added, the problem is deeper: most likely, memory is occupied by duplicate media files or “heavy” applications (for example, Telegram or TikTok).

⚠️ Note: Do not clear the cache for applications that store important data (for example, Google Maps with offline maps or Spotify with downloaded music.

2. Removal of duplicate photos and videos

One of the main memory eaters on Xiaomi Redmi is duplicate photos and screenshots, which accumulate invisibly: when editing in Google Photos, saving from instant messengers or automatically downloading from the cloud, manually searching for them is ineffective, it is easier to use specialized tools.

Ways to find and remove duplicates:

• 🔍 Built-in tool MIUI: Go to the gallery. → Albums. → Duplicates (or Smart Album) → The app automatically groups similar photos — you just have to mark the unnecessary and delete them.
• 🤖 Dubbing applications: If there is no built-in tool (on older versions) MIUI), You can install Files by Google or Duplicate Files Fixer, and they scan memory and even find hidden duplicates.

Usually, duplicates are taken from 500 MB to 5 GB — especially if you're actively using instant messengers or saving memes from social networks. DCIM/.thumbnails — It also contains thumbnails of photos that can be deleted (they will be restored automatically).

3. Clean up memory through "Storage" in the settings

MIUI has a built-in memory analyst that shows you which files are taking up the most space, which is useful if you don't know where to start cleaning up, and it categorizes the data into categories: Apps, Images, Videos, Audio, and Others.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Settings → Storage.
2. Wait for the analysis to be completed (it may take 1-2 minutes).
3. Click on the category with the largest volume (for example, Video – 12 GB).
4. Sort files by size (click on three dots in the upper right corner → by size).
5. Delete unnecessary files (such as TikTok videos you haven’t watched in a long time, or old screen recordings).

Special attention is paid to the Other category – it often hides system logs (.log,.tmp files), update cache and temporary application files. These can be deleted without risk to the system, but manually doing this is inconvenient – it is easier to use File Manager + (preinstalled on most Redmi).

4. Deletion of cache and application data

Many apps (especially social networks and games) over time “inflated” due to accumulated cache. For example, Facebook can take 500 MB-1 GB only with cache, and PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact – up to 5-10 GB of temporary files. Clearing the cache will not delete your accounts or saves, but can reset some settings (for example, offline maps in Google Maps).

How to clear the cache for individual applications:

• 📲 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔎 Select an app (such as Telegram or Instagram).
• 🧹 Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
• 🚨 If you need to reset the application to factory state (for example, to solve errors), click Clear Data – this will remove all saves and settings!

For mass cleaning:

1. Open Settings → Storage → Application Data.
2. Sort the applications by cache size.
3. Select the unnecessary and click Clear Cache.

⚠️ Note: Do not clear the data of system applications (for example, com.android.systemui or com.miui.home). MIUI.

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If the app is slower after cleaning the cache, that's OK, and the cache is used to speed up the loading, and it will recover over time.

5. Transfer files to a memory card or to the cloud

If Redmi's internal memory is full and you don't want to delete files, transfer them to a microSD card or cloud storage, which is true for photos, videos and music, which take up the lion's share of space.

How to transfer files to a memory card:

1. Insert a microSD card (if supported). Newer Redmi models (like the Redmi Note 13 Pro+) may not have a slot — check the specs of your model.
2. Open Files (pre-installed MIUI Explorer)
3. Select files (for example, the DCIM/Camera folder with a photo).
4. Click More → Move → Memory Map.

For cloud storage:

• ☁️ Google Photos: Enable automatic download in settings (photos will be available online, and originals can be deleted from your phone).
• 💾 Yandex Drive or Mail.ru Cloud: upload files through the application, then delete local copies.
• 📁 Xiaomi has its own cloud (5GB free), but it’s less convenient for large files.

Important: Before you delete the originals from your phone, make sure the files are fully uploaded to the cloud. Open the storage app and check the sync status.

6. Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If all previous methods failed and the phone is still slowing down or lacking space, it will leave a full reset that will delete all data, including apps, photos, contacts and settings, so make sure to back up before the procedure.

How to reset Redmi to factory settings:

1. Create a backup: Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and save data to Mi Cloud or memory card.
2. Perform reset: Open Settings → Additional → Restore and Reset → Reset settings.
3. Confirm the action by entering PIN-code.
4. Wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

Once reset, the phone will be like new, without any unnecessary files or debris, but you will have to reset accounts, download apps, and recover data from the backup, a method that is only recommended if:

• 🐢 The phone is slowing down even after cleaning.
• 🦠 Suspected viruses or system errors.
• 📱 You are going to sell or transfer your smartphone to another person.

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models (such as the Redmi Note 8 Pro) may require re-assignment of your Mi Account after a reset. If you forget your password, restore it in advance at account.xiaomi.com.

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Factory reset is the only way to completely remove viruses and system debris, but it erases all data without the possibility of recovery (unless a backup is made).

7. optimize MIUI to prevent memory clogging

To prevent memory from filling up too quickly on Xiaomi Redmi, set up the system to automatically clean and optimize.

Settings to save space:

• 🗑️ Auto-cleaning of garbage: Include in Settings → Battery and productivity → Cleanup option Automatic cleaning (will remove cache once a week).
• 📸 Photo/video quality limitation: In camera (Camera settings) → Permission) select 12 MP instead of MP 48/64/108 MM – the files will weigh in 2–3 less.
• 🎮 Cache Limitation for Games: In Game Turbo (Settings) → Special facilities → Game Turbo) disable Downloading resources in the background.
• ☁️ Automatic upload to the cloud: Configure Google Photos or Mi Cloud to automatically sync photos / videos (originals can be deleted from your phone).

It is also useful to disable the automatic download of media files in messengers:

• On WhatsApp: Settings → Storage → Autoupload Media → Select Never.
• In Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Autoboot media → turn off for mobile data.

These settings will save up to 500 MB-1 GB per month, especially if you are actively using social networks and instant messengers.

8 Hidden folders and files that can be deleted

MIUI has a lot of hidden folders that take up space but are rarely used, and they can be safely cleaned if you know what they're responsible for. Here's a list of the most voracious directories:

To see hidden folders, use File Manager+ (pre-installed on Redmi) or any other Explorer with the option to “Show hidden files.” Be careful not to delete folders with the names system, vendor or MIUI – this can cause a system failure.

If you're not sure if you can delete a folder, you can transfer it to a memory card or to the cloud, and then a week later, check if there's any problems with your phone, and if everything's okay, you can delete the folder.

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To find the largest files, use the DiskUsage app (free on Google Play), which visualizes the occupied space and helps you quickly find memory eaters.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Redmi cleanup