Why WhatsApp is eating away memory on Xiaomi Redmi and how to fix it
Owners of Xiaomi Redmi (especially Note 12, Redmi 10 or Redmi A2) often face a problem: WhatsApp takes up gigabytes of memory, although the user does not store media files consciously. The reason lies in the automatic upload of photos, videos and voice messages - even those you did not open. For example, a chat with 500 messages per year can accumulate up to 3-5 GB of "invisible" files.
WhatsApp cache, which is temporary data to speed up the app, complicates the situation. On Redmi with MIUI 13/14, the cache often does not clear automatically, leading to errors like “Missing memory” or slowing down the phone. In 2026, WhatsApp added the “Storage Management” feature, but on Xiaomi it works incorrectly without first optimizing system settings.
In this article, 5 proven ways to clean storage (from manual garbage removal to hidden MIUI settings), compare their effectiveness and answer frequent questions. All methods are tested on Redmi Note 11 Pro+ and Redmi 9A with the latest versions of WhatsApp and MIUI.
Method 1: Built-in “Storage Management” on WhatsApp
The most obvious, but not always effective, method is to use WhatsApp’s internal tool, which allows you to sort files by size and type, but has limitations on Xiaomi:
- 📁 How to Open: WhatsApp → ⋮ (three-point) → Settings → Warehouse.
- 🔍 Filters: can be sorted by “More than 5MB”, “Resent”, “Media” or “Documents».
- ⚠️ Problem: Redmi with MIUI 14 Sometimes no files older than 6 months are displayed.
Algorithm of action:
- Open the "Storage" section and wait for analysis (can take up to 2 minutes).
- Check boxes for unnecessary files (for example, videos from chat rooms with strangers or duplicate photos).
- Click Remove (Basket icon) Attention: files will be deleted from all chat rooms where they are!
Only unnecessary files are marked|Checked chat rooms with important documents|Backup made (if necessary)|Other applications closed to speed up the process-->
This method removes up to 60-70% of debris, but leaves behind cache and WhatsApp system files.
Method 2: Manually clean the cache through Android settings
WhatsApp cache on Xiaomi Redmi can take anywhere from 200MB to 1.5GB, even if you regularly delete media files.Cache clearing doesn't delete messages or photos, but makes room for new data.
Instructions:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find WhatsApp in the list (use search if there are many apps).
- Select "Storage» → «Clear the cache».
What happens if you clean up the data instead of the cache?
| Action. | Place vacated | Effects of consequences |
|---|---|---|
| Clearing the cache | 200 MB - 1.5 GB | No data loss, but WhatsApp will be loading longer when it launches next |
| Clearing the data | Up to 5 GB+ | Removal of all chats and media, recovery from backup required |
| Removal of updates | ~100MB | WhatsApp will roll back to the factory version, may disappear functions |
⚠️ Attention: Redmi with MIUI 13 and below, after cleaning the cache, a notification may appear "WhatsApp is not responding." Just restart the phone - the error will disappear.
Method 3: Delete media files through file manager
WhatsApp stores all downloaded files in /storage/emulated/0/WhatsApp/Media/. On Xiaomi, this folder is often hidden, but it can be opened through a standard File Manager or Total Commander.
Step-by-step:
- Open Files → Internal Storage → WhatsApp → Media.
- The folders inside (WhatsApp Images, WhatsApp Video, etc.) contain all the media. Sort the files by date or size.
- Remove unnecessary files manually.Tip: Use the "Choice" mode (long-click on the file) for mass removal.
The advantage of the method is that you see all the files, including those that are not displayed in WhatsApp's Storage Management.
- 🎵 Audio files from voice messages (folder WhatsApp Voice Notes).
- 📄 Documents PDF/Excel, sent in chats (folder WhatsApp Documents).
- 🖼️ Stickers and animations (Whatsapp Animated Stickers folder).
💡
To avoid deleting important files, back up your WhatsApp/Media folder to your computer or cloud before cleaning. On Redmi, you can do this through Settings → Additional → Backup
⚠️ Attention: Do not delete the folder WhatsApp/Databases — It contains backup chats, and if you delete it, you can't restore the messages.
Method 4: Optimizing Automatic Media Downloading
To prevent WhatsApp from clogging Redmi memory automatically, adjust the boot settings. This will not clear the already occupied space, but will prevent it from filling up further.
How to set up:
- Open WhatsApp. → ⋮ → Settings → Data and storage.
- In the section "Automatic Media Download" select the individual settings for: 📶 Mobile data (it is recommended to disable downloading of videos and documents). 📡 Wi-Fi (you can leave a photo, but turn off the video). 🔄 Roaming (turn off everything to avoid unnecessary traffic waste).
Activate the Save to Gallery option only for important chats (such as family or work).
Once a week.|Once a month|Only when memory ends|Never cleaned.-->
Additional tips for Xiaomi Redmi:
- 🔧 B Settings → Annexes → WhatsApp → Permissions disable access to Files and Media, which will block automatic saving to the gallery, but you can manually download the desired files.
- 📱 Use dual applications (function) MIUI), So you can separate personal and work chats, so media files don't mix.
Method 5: Reset WhatsApp with saving chats (extreme method)
If previous methods didn’t help, and WhatsApp takes up more than 10 GB, use the “nuclear” method: a full reset with recovery from the backup.
Instructions:
- Create a backup of chats: Open WhatsApp → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup. Click on “Create a copy” (make sure Google Drive is selected, not local storage).
Settings → Applications → Remove
Google Play
| Advantages | Deficiencies |
|---|---|
| Deletes all unnecessary files, including hidden cache | It takes time to build a backup and restore |
| Fixes WhatsApp errors (such as hanging up when sending media) | If the backup is old, the last messages will be lost. |
| Resets the autoload settings to the factory | Redmi with a small amount of memory may not have enough space for backup |
⚠️ Note: If WhatsApp is quickly filling up memory again after recovery, check your phone for viruses using Google Play Protect or Dr.Web.
Comparison of methods: what way to choose
The effectiveness of each method depends on the purpose:
- 🧹 Quick Cleanup: “Storage Management” on WhatsApp (Those 1) + Cache cleaning (method 2) Frees up 1-3 GB in 5 minutes.
- 🔍 Deep Cleanup: Manual Deletion through File Manager (Method 3) + Autoboot optimization (mode 4) will release 3-7 GB, but it will take 15-30 minutes.
- 💥 Critical situation: Full reset (mode 5). Frees up 5GB+, but requires a backup.
💡
Xiaomi Redmi with MIUI 14 has the most efficient set: method 3 (manual cleaning) + method 4 (autoboot setup) and this prevents re-filling of memory.
For models with a small amount of memory (Redmi 9A, Redmi 8), it is recommended to combine methods 1, 2 and 4. On flagships (Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Redmi K50) regular cleaning of the cache (method 2) and autoboot control (method 4) is enough.