How to Clean Memory on Xiaomi Redmi: From Cache to Hidden Files

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are some of the most popular in Russia due to the ratio of price to performance. But even on top models like Redmi Note 12 Pro+ or Redmi K50 users face a lack of memory. The system slows down, applications fly out, and the “Memory is filled” check appears at the most inopportune moment. The reason is not always a small amount of storage — often to blame system debris, duplicate photos, messenger cache and background MIUI processes.

In this article — 7 working memory cleaners on any Redmi, including models 2020–2026 We'll take you through how to delete unnecessary files without root rights, what settings are there. MIUI They hide tons of garbage, and why the standard cleaner often doesn't work well, and it's a unique method for models with dynamic memory (UFS 2.2/3.1), Which Xiaomi does not advertise in official instructions.

1.Diagnosis: Why memory ends so quickly

Before you clean it, you have to figure out what's taking up space. Redmi with MIUI 12-14 has a built-in analyzer, but it doesn't show everything.

• 📸 Photo and video: even in HEIF/HEVC format 10-minute-long 1–1.5 GB. And duplicates from Google Photos or Xiaomi Gallery take up space twice.
• 💬 Messengers: Telegram and WhatsApp cache media files, stickers and voice messages. /Android/media/com.whatsapp weigh 5+ GB.
• 🎮 Games: Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile after updates take up to 15 GB Even after deleting files remain in /Android/obb.
• 🗑️ System garbage: logs MIUI (/data/log), temporary update files (/cache), Google Play Services cache.
• 🔄 Duplicates and residues: After transferring files to a memory card or cloud, the originals often remain in internal memory.

To see the full picture:

1. Open the settings → About the phone → Memory.
2. Slip on "Details" (or "Memory Analysis" in MIUI 14).
3. Scroll down to the System Data section – there are gigabytes of unnecessary files hidden here.

⚠️ If the “Other” section is more than 10 GB, this is a sign of a malfunction MIUI. Try restarting your phone in Safe Mode (click the power button). → "Restart Safe Mode. If the volume of the Other decreases, one of the installed applications is to blame.

2. Cleaning cache and garbage without third-party programs

The fastest way to free up 1-3 GB is to remove the app cache and system debris, which Redmi does in a few taps:

Method 1: Integrated MIUI cleaner

1. Open the Security app (shield icon).
2. Select "Cleaning up" → "Deep cleaning".
3. Check the boxes: ✅ Cash app. ✅ Files. APK (post-instalment) ✅ Large files if not needed) ❌ Do not delete "Journals" and "Downloads" without checking!
4. Click "Clean" (in MIUI 14 the button is called "Optimize").

Method 2: Manually cleansing cache for individual applications

Some programs (such as Facebook or TikTok) can accumulate cache up to 500 MB to clean:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Choose an app (such as Instagram).
3. Slip the Storage" → "Clear the cache".
4. If you have a space management button (in MIUI 13+), click on it and delete the files that are not needed.

Delete the cache of messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp)|Clean the social media cache (VC, Instagram)|Delete temporary game files (PUBG, Genshin)|Clear system logs (/data/log)-->

After cleaning, restart the phone – this will reset background processes that could take up RAM.

⚠️ Note: Do not clear the cache for Google Play Services, MIUI System and Android System WebView.This can cause malfunctions in the smartphone.

3. Delete unnecessary files and duplicates

Photos, videos and documents often take up the lion's share of memory, and Redmi has hidden tools to optimize them.

How to find and remove duplicate photos

MIUI 12-14 has a built-in duplicate search, but it doesn't work perfectly.

1. System method: Open Gallery → Albums → Duplicates. Select unnecessary copies and click Delete.
2. Third-party applications (if there are many duplicates): 📌 Files by Google (free, no ads on Redmi). 📌 CCleaner (for duplicate search only, do not use "optimization").

Cleaning the Downloads folder (Downloads)

The /storage/emulated/0/Download folder is often clogged with unnecessary files to clean up:

1. Open the Files app (folder icon).
2. Go to the Categories" → "Downloads".
3. Sort by size (slip by three dots → "Sort" → "Size").
4. Delete files older than 3 months (if you don’t need them).

Removing Remnants of Remote Applications

After the program is uninstalled, the data folders remain in memory, so that you can find them:

1. Connect Redmi to your PC via USB (in File Transfer mode).
2. Open the folders: /Android/obb – here are the heavy files of games. /Android/data – the remnants of the application cache.

com.tencent.ig

PUBG Mobile

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If you can’t find /Android/data on your PC, turn on the hidden files in Windows Explorer (view → hidden elements).

4.Memory optimization through MIUI settings

MIUI has hidden memory management features that most users don't see, and here are the most effective ones:

Setting up "Easy mode" (for weak smartphones)

If you have a Redmi 9A, Redmi 8 or other model with 2-3 GB of RAM, turn on this mode:

1. Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Easy Mode.
2. Turn on the switch.
3. Select “Optimize Memory” (some firmwares call this “Reduce Memory Use”).

This will turn off animations, reduce background activity and free up to 500 MB of RAM.

Disabling Mi-Pei and unnecessary services

Xiaomi services (Mi Pay, Mi Video, Mi Browser) run in the background and take up memory.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Mi Pay, Mi Video, Mi Browser and other pre-installed apps.
3. Tap "Disable" (not "Delete", as these are system programs).
4. In the Battery section, select "Background Limitation".

Adaptive Cleaning (MIUI 13+ only)

This feature automatically closes unused applications when there is little memory left to enable:

1. Open Settings → Battery and Performance → Memory Management.
2. Turn on "Adaptive Cleaning."
3. Choose the level of aggression: "Balanced" or "Aggressive" (the second option can close background tasks more often).

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Disabling unnecessary Xiaomi services (such as Mi Pay) can free up up to 300-400 MB of memory and reduce battery consumption by 5-7%.

5. Transfer data to a memory card or cloud

If internal memory is sorely lacking, some of the data can be migrated to a microSD or cloud, but there are nuances, especially on Redmi with MIUI.

How to Use a Memory Card Properly

Not all files can be migrated to a microSD, and some applications (such as WhatsApp) do not support external storage.

1. Insert a memory card (UHS-I Class 10 or higher is recommended).
2. When you first connect, select "Internal Memory" (if you want to expand your main storage) or "Portificate Device" (if the card is file-only).
3. To port applications: Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management. Select an app (like Spotify). Tap Storage → Change → Select a memory card.

⚠️ Attention: Redmi with MIUI 12 and below, transferring applications to a map can cause crashes!

Automatic uploading of photos to the cloud

Google Photos and Mi Cloud allow you to free up space by automatically uploading media files to the cloud.

• 📸 Google Photos: Install the app from Play Market. Open the settings → "Backup and synchronization" → Turn on the feature. Select High Quality (free) or Original Quality (with Google One) and delete local copies after download: Free up space".

Mi Cloud

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on "Gallery Synchronization."
3. Select "Outload when connecting to Wi-Fi".

6 Advanced Methods: ADB and Hidden Commands

If the standard methods didn’t work, you can use the hidden MIUI features via ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

Cleaning the cache of all applications with one team

This method removes the cache of all programs, including system ones, and only do this if the phone is slowing down.

adb shell pm trim-caches -d 100G

How to do this:

1. Install ADB on your PC (download Google’s Platform Tools).
2. Turn on USB Debugging on Redmi: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (shoot 7 times until you say “You’re a developer”). Then go back to Settings → Additional → Developer and enable debugging.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and type the command above in Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac/Linux).

Removing system logs (root or ADB required)

The /data/log folder can weigh up to 1 GB to clear:

adb shell rm -rf /data/log/*


adb shell rm -rf /data/tombstones/*

These commands will remove error logs and memory dumps, and don't use them often, which can make it harder to diagnose problems when you access the service.

Dalvik-cache reset (for power users)

If your phone is slowing down after the MIUI update, reset the Dalvik-cache:

adb shell su -c 'rm -r /data/dalvik-cache/*'

This command requires root rights, and once it is executed, the phone will restart longer than usual (up to 5 minutes), which is normal.

⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB They can cause failures if entered incorrectly. Before using them, back up your data through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

7.Extreme measures: reset to factory settings

If none of the methods worked, and the memory is still full of unknown files, it's a complete reset, and it'll delete all the data, so first:

• 📱 Make a backup copy through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset → Local backup.
• ☁️ Sync your contacts and photos with your Google Account or Mi Cloud.
• 🔐 Write down or take pictures of Wi-Fi passwords (they will be saved in backup, but it is better to be safe).

Resetting instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
2. Select "Settings Reset."
3. Mark “Clear internal memory” (if you want to erase everything, including photos and videos).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

After discharge:

• 🛠️ Restore data from backup.
• ⚙️ Don’t install all apps at once – add them gradually to track which one is clogging memory again.
• 🔄 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version (Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system).

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Factory resets are the only way to remove viruses and malicious files that can covertly take up memory. If the phone slows down after installing the application from an unknown source, a reset is mandatory.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory cleanup on Xiaomi Redmi