Memory Cleanup on Xiaomi Redmi 7: A Complete Guide from Simple to Complex

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 7 sooner or later face the problem of lack of internal memory. Even if initially 32 or 64 GB seemed enough, over time, the smartphone begins to “slow down”, give notifications about overflowing storage, and applications suddenly close, the reasons lie not only in the accumulated files, but also in the peculiarities of the operating system MIUI, which actively caches data and creates backups.

In this article, we will look at all the available ways to clean up memory, from basic (removal of garbage and unnecessary files) to radical (reset to factory settings), focus on hidden MIUI folders, which take up to 3-5 GB, but rarely come to the attention of users, you will learn how to transfer data to the memory card to avoid losing access to applications, and what tools will help automate the cleaning process.

Important: The methods are suitable for all Redmi 7 modifications (including Redmi 7A and Redmi Note 7), but some features may differ depending on the MIUI version (for example, MIUI 12 and MIUI 14 look different).If your smartphone is running Android 9 Pie or later, all instructions will remain current.

1.Diagnostics: What is the memory on Xiaomi Redmi 7?

Before you start cleaning, you need to understand which files are eating away at memory. Redmi 7 has a built-in tool for this, Settings → Phone → Memory, and you can see the categorization of the storage.

• 📱 System - files MIUI Android (usually 8-12 GB, can not be removed).
• 📷 Multimedia – photo, video, music (most often the “culprit” of memory shortage).
• 📦 Applications – installed programs and their data (cache, settings).
• 🗑️ Other files – temporary data, logs, downloads (here often hides garbage).

Please note the category “Other files” – it may hide:

• 🔍 Logs of the system (.log,.txt) that MIUI diagnostics.
• 📂 Folders. MIUI Xiaomi with backups (weighs up to 2-3 GB).
• 🗃️ Remnants of Remote Applications (Folder) Android/obb).

If the Others partition is more than 1-1.5 GB, it is a reason for deep cleaning. Also check the Download folder: often unnecessary ones accumulate there. APK-files, archives and documents.

2 Manual cleaning: what can be removed without risk?

Start with the safest method, which is to manually delete unnecessary files. MIUI (Menus. → Files) or third-party managers (e.g., Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).

What to remove first:

• 📸 Photos and videos in folders DCIM/Camera, Pictures/Screenshots. Move them to a memory card or to the cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud).
• 🎵 Music and podcasts from Music or Podcasts (unless you listen offline).
• 📄 Documents and APK Download (especially files with.apk,.zip,.rar extension).
• 🎮 Cash games Android/obb (folders with names like com.gameloft.*).

What NOT to delete:

• 🚫 Folders. Android/data — This is where the application data is stored (deleting will cause failures).
• 🚫 Files in MIUI/backup, If you are planning to restore the settings.
• 🚫 System folders lost.dir, alarm, notifications.

For convenience, use size sorting (in Explorer, click three dots → Sort → Size) Files from 100MB and up are the first candidates for deletion.

⚠️ Note: If you use a memory card as an internal storage (Adoptable Storage), do not remove it while using your smartphone.

3. Cleaning cache and debris through MIUI settings

MIUI has a built-in tool to clean cache and temporary files, so you can use it:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the Cleanup tab (Broommark).
3. Press Deep Clean and wait for analysis.
4. Tick the unnecessary files (cache, residues, advertising data) and click Clear.

It is also useful to clear the cache of individual applications:

1. In the same App Management section, select the app you want (like Facebook or Instagram).
2. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
3. For a radical cleaning, click Clear Data, but note: this will reset the application settings (you will log out of your account, you will lose saved data).

How much memory can you free up in this way?

After cleaning, restart the smartphone - this will help the system correctly recalculate the free space.

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If the app is slower after cleaning the cache (like YouTube or TikTok), give it time to re-caching the data, and after 1-2 days, the speed will return to normal.

4. Data transfer to memory card: nuances for Redmi 7

Xiaomi Redmi 7 supports microSD cards up to 512 GB, but data portability is limited.

• 📁 Photos, videos, music can be transferred manually through Explorer or automatically (select Storage in the camera settings). → Memory map).
• 📱 Applications are only portable if the card is formatted as internal memory (Adoptable Storage function in Settings) → Warehouse).
• ⚠️ Once formatted as an internal card, it cannot be used on other devices without being completely cleaned.

How to transfer applications to the map:

1. Insert the memory card and format it as internal storage (Settings → Storage → SD Card → Set up → Internal Memory).
2. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
3. Select an app (such as WhatsApp) → Storage → Change → SD card.

Not all apps support portability! for example, Google Play Store, MIUI System and some games (like PUBG Mobile) will remain in internal memory.

⚠️ Note: If you retrieve a memory card formatted as internal storage, Redmi 7 may start to "glut" or not turn on at all. Always use the Safe Retrieve feature in the notification curtain.

5. Factory reset: when is it needed?

If you have less than 1 to 1.5 GB of memory left after all the manipulations, and your smartphone is slowing down, it might help to completely reset.

• ✅ Deletes all user data (photos, apps, settings).
• ✅ Returns. MIUI The original state (as after purchase).
• ✅ Eliminates system errors caused by garbage accumulation.

How to reset:

1. Back up your important data (via Settings → Additional → Backup or manually).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose Delete all data and confirm the action.
4. Wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

After discharge:

• 🔄 Don’t restore data from a backup right away – check how the clean system works first.
• 🚫 Don’t install all apps back – add only the necessary ones.
• 📱 Turn off automatic app updates on Google Play.

⚠️ Note: On Redmi 7 with Bootloader unlocked, a reset may result in a device lock (re-unlocking via Mi Unlock Tool required).If you are not sure if the bootloader has been unlocked, don't reset without a backup!

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Resetting to factory settings is a last resort, and before you do that, try all the other cleaning methods, because after the reset, you have to adjust the smartphone from scratch.

6 Additional tools: from root to cloud services

If standard methods don’t help, consider alternative solutions:

• 🔧 Root Access: Allows you to remove system applications (Bloatware) and clean hidden folders MIUI. For Redmi 7 suitable method of unlocking the bootloader + Magisk installation.Cons: risk of losing warranty and disrupting work OTA-update.
• ☁️ Cloud Storage: Move photos and videos to Google Photos (up to 15GB free) or Mi Cloud (5GB) in your camera settings, enable Autoboot.
• 🛠️ Third-party cleaners: Apps like SD Maid or Files by Google can help you find duplicate files and large, unnecessary data, but avoid cleaners with aggressive ads (such as Clean Master).

How to remove Bloatware without rooting:

Some system applications (Mi Video, Mi Music, Browser) can be disabled:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an unneeded app (such as Mi Browser).
3. Click Disable (Do not Delete!).

This won’t free up much space, but it will reduce background activity and save battery life.

7.Prevention: How to avoid memory filling in the future

To avoid having to clean Redmi 7 regularly, follow the following simple rules:

• 📸 Photo and video: Set up your auto-upload to the cloud and delete local copies over 30 days.
• 🎮 Games: Remove the cache after passing (in Settings) → Annexes → [play] → Warehouse).
• 📥 Downloads: Once a month, clean the Download folder of unnecessary files.
• 🔄 Updates: Turn off automatic app updates on Google Play (or limit it to Wi-Fi only).

Also useful:

• 📊 Use the background process limit: C Settings → Additionally. → For developers → The limit of background processes select the maximum 2 of the process.
• 🔋 Disable autosynchronization for unnecessary accounts (for example, Mi Account if you do not use Xiaomi services).

If you often install APK-Files from third-party sources, use APK Extractor to create backups instead of storing original files.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning Redmi memory 7