How to Clean Memory on Xiaomi Redmi 9A: From Hand Cleaning to Hidden MIUI Features

Xiaomi Redmi 9A is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but its modest 32 GB of internal memory is quickly clogged with photos, app cache and system debris. Even after removing unnecessary files, free space is melting before your eyes? The problem is not only in the small amount of the drive, but also in the peculiarities of MIUI – Xiaomi’s proprietary shell, which aggressively caches data “for the future”.

In this article you will find 7 proven methods of memory cleaning – from basic (hand-held garbage removal) to advanced (hidden settings) MIUI, ADB-We'll also look at why memory fills up on its own, even if you don't download anything, and how to prevent it in the future. 9A with regard to its hardware limitations and version MIUI 12/13.

1. Diagnosis: Why does memory end?

Before you clean, you need to understand what exactly takes up space. On the Redmi 9A with 32 GB of memory, the user actually has only ~24-26 GB of memory (the rest is occupied by the system and preinstalled applications).

• 📸 Photos and videos – even in low resolution, 100 images weigh ~500MB, and the video in 720p — up to 100 MB/min.
• 🗑️ App cache – Facebook, Instagram and TikTok can accumulate up to 1-2 GB of cache each.
• 📦 Residual files – after deleting applications, often there are folders with data in the /Android/data.
• 🔄 Updates MIUI — system downloads update packages (~1-1.5 GB) and do not always remove them after installation.
• 🎮 Games – even lightweight projects like Free Fire or Brawl Stars take 500MB-1GB.

To see the exact picture:

1. Open the settings → About the phone → Memory.
2. Click on Memory Analysis (it may take 1-2 minutes).
3. Study the diagram: blue is the system, green is the applications, orange is the multimedia, gray is the cache.

Redmi 9A has a hidden /MIUI/extra folder that can weigh up to 500MB — it's not visible in the standard file manager, but it takes up space.

Basic cleaning: manual removal of garbage

Start with the simplest thing: delete unnecessary files and cache, which requires no root rights and is safe for the system.

Clearing the application cache

The cache speeds up the software, but it grows to a giant size over time to clean it up.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (like YouTube or Chrome).
3. Click Clear Cache (not to be confused with Clear Data – it will delete accounts!).

Delete the cache of social networks (Facebook, VK, Instagram)

Clear the history and cache of the browser

Remove downloads (Download folder)

Remove duplicate photos in the Gallery

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For mass cleaning:

1. Open Security → Cleaning (Brush Icon).
2. Select "Deep Clean" and tick off unnecessary files.
3. Press "Clean" (can release up to 1-3 GB).

2.2. Deletion of unnecessary files

Check the following folders (use the standard File Manager or Total Commander):

• 📁 /Download — pile up APK, documents and archives.
• 📁 /DCIM/Camera — Old photos and videos (especially in the Screenshot folder).
• 📁 /Android/obb — Game data (can be deleted if games are deleted).
• 📁 /MIUI/sound_recorder — tape-recording.

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Turn on the hidden files in the file manager (in settings) to see folders like.thumbnails – they can weigh hundreds of megabytes.

3. Hidden MIUI features for memory cleanup

MIUI has built-in optimization tools that many users don't notice, which allow you to free up space without third-party software.

Lite Mode (Lite Mode)

This mode reduces memory consumption by simplifying the interface and disabling background processes.

1. Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Lite Mode.
2. Activate the switch.
3. Select the apps you want to use the lightweight version for (for example, Facebook Lite instead of the main Facebook).

Savings: up to 300-500 MB by reducing cache and disabling unnecessary animations.

Cleaning up junk files via MIUI Optimizer

MIUI has a hidden deep cleaning tool to run it:

1. Open the phone and enter the code ##4636##.
2. Select "Battery Information" → "Optimization".
3. Click "Clean up garbage" (can free up to 1 GB).

Disabling the pre-loading of annexes

MIUI preloads frequently used applications by default, which eats up memory.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → "Special Access".
3. Select "Preloading apps" and disable unnecessary ones.

4. Removal of system debris and residual files

Even after the apps are removed, Redmi 9A still has its tails — folders with data, cache, and settings — that can be removed manually or with ADB.

Manual cleaning of folders

Open a file manager with root permissions (such as FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer) and check:

• 🗃️ /Android/data — This is where the data of remote applications is stored (folders with names like com.facebook.katana).
• 🗃️ /Android/obb — Game files (can be deleted if games are deleted).
• 🗃️ /MIUI/extra — hidden folder with backup copies (weighs up to) 500 MB).
• 🗃️ /data/local/tmp — Temporary system files (root rights required).

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The /Android/obb folder can only be cleaned if you delete the game, otherwise you will have to download the game data again.

4.2 Cleaning through ADB (no root)

If you're not afraid of the command line, ADB will help you remove debris that is not available through the interface. Connect your phone to your PC and do:

adb shell pm list packages -f | grep "data/app" | awk -F= '{print $2}' | xargs adb shell pm clear

This command clears the cache of all user applications (does not affect system ones). To clear the cache of a particular application (for example, Facebook):

adb shell pm clear com.facebook.katana

⚠️ Attention: Do not use ADB-commands to clean system applications (e.g. com.android.settings) – this can cause crashes MIUI.

5.Storage optimization: what can be transferred to a memory card?

The Redmi 9A supports microSD cards up to 512GB, but not all data can be transferred to them.

• 📷 Photos and videos - transferred through the Gallery → Select → More. → Move it.
• 🎵 Music and podcasts – in the player settings (for example, Google Play Music) indicate the path to the game. SD-map.
• 📱 Some applications – only if the developer has provided this function (checked in Settings) → Annexes → [name] → Warehouse).

What you can not transfer to SD:

• ❌ System applications (Settings, Phone, Messages).
• ❌ Game data (except individual files in the /Android/obb).
• ❌ Cache and temporary files.

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If you use the memory card as internal storage (Adoptable Storage feature), remember: once the SD is removed, the phone will not boot! This mode is only suitable for continuous use of one card.

Radical methods: resetting and flashing

If the memory is so clogged that the phone slows down and standard methods don’t help, there are two options left:

Reset to factory settings

This will delete all data, including accounts, photos and apps.

1. Make a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
2. Copy your photo to your PC or cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud).
3. Write down logins/passwords from your accounts.

For discharge:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select "Erase all data."
3. Confirm the action (a password will be required).

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 9A If you forget your password, restore it before reset, or you risk losing access to features like Find Device.

6.2 Flashing through Fastboot

If the system is cluttered at the firmware level (for example, after unsuccessful updates), a clean MIUI installation will help.

1. Download the official firmware for Redmi 9A (codename dandelion) from Xiaomi’s website.
2. Unpack. ZIP-archived in a folder with Mi Flash Tool.
3. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clip Power + Volume down when the phone is off).
4. In the Mi Flash Tool, select "Clean All" and click Flash.

This method will return the phone to the “factory” state, but will require tuning from scratch.

7. How to prevent memory filling in the future

To avoid cleaning your memory every week, follow these rules:

• 🔄 Turn off automatic app updates on Google Play (or limit updates to Wi-Fi only).
• 📸 Set up an automatic upload to the cloud (Google Photos or Mi Cloud) and delete the originals from your phone.
• 🗑️ Set a browser cache limit (in Chrome: Settings) → Confidentiality → Clear the data → Storage settings).
• 📵 Use lightweight versions of applications (Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite, Twitter Lite).
• 🔍 Regularly check your memory through Settings → Memory. → Analysis.

Also useful:

• Install Files by Google – it automatically finds and prompts you to delete unnecessary files.
• Turn off background activity for unnecessary applications in Settings → Battery → Application Selection.
• Use SD Maid (requires root) to automatically clean residual files.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory cleaning on Redmi 9A