Cleaning up the data of the emoji keyboard on Xiaomi Redmi: the complete guide

The emoji keyboard on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones accumulates gigabytes of unnecessary data over time: animation cache, history of commonly used emojis, temporary prediction files and even mistakenly stored media. This not only occupies a precious place in the device’s memory, but can cause slowing down text input, accidental emoji swapping or failures when switching between keyboard languages. A particularly pressing problem for users who actively communicate on instant messengers or social networks – here the volume of “junk” data grows exponentially.

In this article, we will discuss all ways to clean the emoji keyboard on Redmi - from standard cache reset to hidden settings. MIUI, You'll learn how to safely delete unnecessary files without affecting private messages, and what to do if the keyboard starts to work incorrectly after cleaning. ADB Memory analysis with specific keyboard modules.

Why does the emoji keyboard take up so much space?

At first glance, it may seem that a set of static images cannot inflate to hundreds of megabytes. MIUI — These are complex systems with multiple layers of data:

• 📁 Cash animations and GIF: MIUI It loads dynamic emojis and stickers in the background, even if you're not using them, and these files are stored in compressed form, but they run into thousands.
• 🔍 Use history: Keyboard algorithms remember which emojis you most often insert in conversations with specific contacts.
• 🌐 Language packs: individual dictionary files are loaded for each language (including regional emoji variants). For example, Japanese emojis take up 2 times more space than standard Unicode.
• 🔄 Sync Errors: If you’ve ever logged into Mi Account and enabled keyboard sync, the system could duplicate data between devices, creating “dead” copies.

According to our tests, on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ after a year of active use, the data volume of the keyboard com.sohu.inputmethod.sogou.xiaomi (standard Sogou-keyboard in the keyboard) MIUI) It was 1.3 GB, and it was only 200 to 300 MB of work, and the rest was hidden in the service folders, and the data of users who were inflated was particularly high:

• 💬 Often switch between keyboard languages (for example, Russian) → English → emoji).
• 🎭 Use themed emoji sets (e.g. seasonal packs from Xiaomi).
• 🔄 Enable cloud synchronization of emojis through Mi Cloud.

⚠️ Note: If you notice that the keyboard has started to "hang" when opening the emoji panel or some emojis are displayed as empty squares, this is a sure sign of cache overflow.

Method 1: Standard cache cleaning via MIUI settings

The safest and most recommended method is to reset the cache through the app menu, which does not delete your personal data (such as saved texts or dictionaries), but frees up space occupied by temporary files. MIUI 12–14:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, enter the keyboard (or Sogou for the English version). MIUI).
3. Select the application "Keyboard" (icon with symbol) ⌨️).
4. Go to the Warehouse section.
5. Click Clear Cache (not to be confused with Clear Data!).

After this procedure:

• 📉 Free 100-500 MB of memory (depending on model and version) MIUI).
• 🔄 The emoji keyboard will load faster when you first open.
• ⚠️ You may have recently added custom stickers (they are stored in cache) gone).

Check the space in the memory (should be ≥15%)

Close all messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp, etc.)

Connect the charger (in case of long-term processing)

Backup of important chats (optional)

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If the problem persists after cleaning the cache (e.g., emojis are still slow to load), move on to the next method, a full keyboard reset, but note that this will remove all user settings, including:

• 🔤 Saved words in dictionaries.
• 🎨 Keyboard design topics.
• 🔄 Emoji binding to specific contacts (e.g. hearts for a loved one).

Method 2: Complete keyboard data reset (with loss of settings)

This method radically removes all the data from the emoji keyboard, returning it to factory status.

• 🐢 The keyboard brakes even after cleaning the cache.
• 🖼️ Emojis are displayed incorrectly (broken pictures, squares).
• 📱 You plan to sell your phone and want to delete personal information.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management → keyboard.
2. Select Warehouse. → Clear the data.
3. Confirm the action in the dialog box (some Redmi models will need to enter a pattern lock).
4. Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi) 10C or Redmi A1) After the data is completely reset, the keyboard may stop displaying emojis at all, which is due to the features of the firmware for budget devices, in which case only reinstalling the keyboard through the Internet will help. APK upgrade MIUI.

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If after resetting the keyboard began to appear in English, go to its settings (Settings) → Additionally. → Languages and input → Virtual keyboard and manually select Russian language.

Method 3: Manually delete emoji files via file manager

For power users who want to pinpoint only unnecessary emoji files (such as animations or regional packages), manual cleaning through system folders is suitable. ADB, It saves time on retraining the keyboard.

Attention: incorrect actions can lead to a keyboard failure! MIUI 14 based on Android 13:

Folders with emoji data (root rights required):


/data/data/com.sohu.inputmethod.sogou.xiaomi/files/emoji/




/data/data/com.sohu.inputmethod.sogou.xiaomi/cache/emoji_anim/




/data/data/com.sohu.inputmethod.sogou.xiaomi/databases/emoji_history.db

What can be safely removed:

• 🗑️ folder emoji_anim — The animations are stored here (weighing up to) 300 MB).
• 📄 File. emoji_history.db — history of frequently used emoji.
• 🌍 Regional emoji folders (e.g, emoji_jp, emoji_kr), if you don't use them.

For removal without root use ADB-Teams (required included debugging for the USB):

adb shell pm clear com.sohu.inputmethod.sogou.xiaomi # Full reset


adb shell rm -rf /data/data/com.sohu.inputmethod.sogou.xiaomi/cache/* # Cache cleanup

⚠️ Note: If you delete the file emoji_config.xml file /data/data/.../shared_prefs/, The keyboard resets all visual settings (size, theme, position of the emoji panel) and can only be restored manually.

Once a month

Every 3-6 months

Only when the phone starts to brake

Never cleaned it up.

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Method 4: Disabling unnecessary emoji packets MIUI Hidden Settings

V MIUI There are hidden settings that allow you to disable the download of certain types of emoji that you don't use, for example, if you don't need animated emojis or regional sets, you can deactivate them, saving up to 400 MB of memory:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.DevelopmentSettings
4. In the menu that opens, look for the Emoji Settings section (some firmwares call it Input Method Tuner).
5. Turn off unnecessary options: 🎬 Animated Emoji - Animated Emoji. 🌏 Regional Emoji Packs – Regional Packs (Japan, Korea, etc.). 🔄 Emoji Sync – synchronization of emojis through the Mi Cloud.

After applying the changes, restart the device. The effect will not be noticeable immediately - the system will delete unnecessary files in the background within 10-30 minutes.

Method 5: Reinstall the keyboard through APK

If all previous methods have failed, or you want to reinstall the keyboard completely with an emoji, you can delete the current version and install a clean one.This method is suitable for devices where the keyboard has been updated through Google Play (for example, on global versions of Redmi).

Instructions:

1. Download the latest version of Sogou Input Method (the official Xiaomi keyboard) from APKCombo or APKMirror.
2. Remove the current keyboard: adb uninstall com.sohu.inputmethod.sogou.xiaomi or via Settings → Annexes → keyboard → Delete (if the button is active).
3. Set up the downloaded one. APK-hand-file.
4. Activate the keyboard in Settings → Languages and input → Virtual keyboard.

Advantages of this method:

• 🆕 You get a clean version of the keyboard without accumulated errors.
• 📦 You can choose a version without unnecessary features (for example, without advertising or animated emojis).
• 🔧 The ability to roll back to a more stable firmware if the current one works with bugs.

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro)+ 5G) The standard keyboard is integrated into system applications and is not removed through ADB. In this case, only a reset to factory settings or the installation of custom firmware will help.

How to prevent the re-accumulation of garbage?

To prevent the emoji keyboard from “blowing up” again, follow these recommendations:

• 🔄 Cleaning regularly: Set a cache cleanup reminder every 2-3 months (or use apps like this one). SD Maid for automatic cleaning).
• 🚫 Turn off sync: Go to Keyboard Settings → Additionally. → Synchronize and deactivate the option to Synchronize emojis.
• 📴 Limit animations: In keyboard settings, turn off Animated Emojis and Effects when entering.
• 🗃️ Use cloud services: Save commonly used stickers in Google Drive or Telegram Saved Messages, not in keyboard memory.

For advanced users, there is another way - limiting the rights of the keyboard through ADB:

adb shell dumpsys deviceidle whitelist +com.sohu.inputmethod.sogou.xiaomi

This command adds the keyboard to the “exceptions” list to optimize the battery, but limits its background activity, which reduces the memory load.

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Even after the emoji is completely cleaned, the keyboard will gradually accumulate data. + Disabling unnecessary functions (animation, synchronization).

Frequent problems after cleaning and their solution

Sometimes, after you manipulate the keyboard, you get a problem, and here are the most common ways to fix it:

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 📱 System File Integrity: Run verification through Settings → The phone. → Diagnostics → Memory check.
• 🔄 Conflicts with other keyboards: Remove all third-party keyboards (such as Gboard or SwiftKey) if they are installed.
• 🛠️ Firmware errors: On forums XDA Developers have patches to fix emoji bugs on specific Redmi models.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions