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

You notice that your Xiaomi Redmi is slowing down, your apps are crashing, and your system says, "Not enough memory"? The problem is familiar to most smartphone owners in this line — especially if you have a model with 32 GB or 64 GB of internal memory. Even after you delete photos and apps, the space is melting away. What's the matter?

The culprits are system cache, residual files of remote programs, duplicates in the gallery and “garbage” from the MIUI, In this article, we will discuss the unique cleaning methods for Xiaomi Redmi that you will not find in standard instructions, from hidden folders to optimization of work. miui_daemon — It's a system process that eats up memory, and we'll also find out why, after the update, MIUI 14/15 The place disappears even faster.

1. Diagnosis: Why does memory end?

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

• 📊 Open the Settings. → The phone. → Memory. Here you'll see the distribution by category: System, Applications, Media, Other Files. Notice the item "Other" if it's occupied. >5GB, that's a debris signal.
• 🔍 Install a third-party analyzer (e.g. Files by Google or Google) SD They're going to show hidden folders like this. /miad/ (Xiaomi advertising modules) or /MIUI/backup/ (backups).
• 📁 Check the folder. DCIM/.thumbnails — It's a place where you can store thumbnails of all the photos and videos, even those you've already deleted. 10 Pro, this folder can weigh up to 1–2 GB!

Pay special attention to the System section. If it takes >15 GB on a 64 GB device, this is abnormal. The reason is that MIUI creates duplicate system files when updating (especially for Redmi 9/10 with MIUI 12-13).

⚠️ Note: If you see a "Reserved" item in the "Memory" section (1-3 GB), don't try to manually clean it. MIUI, And removing them will cause disruption.

2. Cleaning cache and garbage without root

The easiest way to free up 1 to 5 GB is to delete temporary files, and on Xiaomi Redmi, you can do this in a number of ways:

• 🧹 Built-in cleaning: Go to Settings → Annexes → Clean. Click on "Deep Clean" and select all items. MIUI remove cache, residual files and debris from /data/local/tmp.
• 🗑️ Manually clean the app cache: In the same Apps menu, sort the programs by cache size (click on the three dots at the top) → «Sorting → Cache. Remove the cache from Google Play Services, Facebook, MIUI Gallery – They often take 500 MB-1 GB.
• 📂 Remove thumbnails: Use a file manager (such as Mi File Manager) and manually clean folders: /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/.thumbnails They will automatically recover, but will be released immediately. 2 GB.

For the Redmi Note 11/12 models with MIUI 14+, a new type of garbage has been added - the Game Turbo cache.

1. Open Settings → Special features → Game Turbo
2. Press the three dots at the top. → «Clear the cache».
3. Reboot the phone.

Close all applications

Connect your phone to charge (the process can take 5-10 minutes)

Check the vacant space before and after cleaning

Do not interrupt the process, even if the phone is “hang”

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3. Removal of duplicates and unnecessary media files

Photos and videos are the main memory eaters. On Xiaomi Redmi, the problem is compounded by the fact that MIUI Gallery automatically creates duplicates when editing (for example, after applying filters).

• 🔄 Search for duplicates: Use the Files by Google app (Section Cleanup» → «Duplicate files. On Redmi 9A From 32 GB, it helps to free up to 3-5 GB.
• 🎥 Delete screenshots and screen recordings: Folder Pictures/Screenshots and Movies/Screenrecords It often contains hundreds of files that are unnecessary, especially for gamers.
• 📸 Optimize Google Photos: If you use Google Photos, turn on “Free space” in the app settings. It will delete local copies of photos already uploaded to the cloud (but leave a backup on your PC!).

The hidden threat is the MIUI/Camera folder, which stores bad pictures (for example, when you pressed the shutter button, but the photo was not saved to the gallery) to see them:

1. Open Mi File Manager.
2. Enable the display of hidden files (three dots → “Settings” → “Show hidden files”).
3. Go to /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Camera/ and delete all content.

⚠️ Note: If you are using Redmi Note 10 Pro or newer with a camera 108 MP, files RAW (.dng) may weigh in 50–100 MB each. manually delete them in a folder. DCIM/Camera/RAW.

Once a week.

Once a month

Only when the place ends.

Never clean.

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4. Application optimization: what can be removed without consequences

Many MIUI system applications cannot be removed in standard ways, but some can be disabled or replaced with lighter ones. Here is a list of ballasts that can be safely removed:

To remove system applications without root, use the ADB command:

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 name packet

A list of MIUI packages can be found on the 4PDA or XDA Developers forums, such as the Mi Browser removal:

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.browser

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Before you uninstall your system applications, back up your Settings → Additional → Backup. This will help you recover your phone if something goes wrong.

5. Hidden folders and files: what can be safely deleted

MIUI creates many service folders that are not visible in the standard file manager, and here is a list of safe directories to delete (checked on Redmi Note 11/12/13):

• 🗃️ /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/ — This is where you store your application data. You can delete your remote folders (for example, if you uninstall TikTok long ago, but your folder is still there).
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/backup/AllBackup/ — backups MIUI. Delete everything except the last one.
• 🗑️ /storage/emulated/0/Download/ — There are often unnecessary APK, PDF Sort by date and delete everything older. 6 months.
• 🔄 /storage/emulated/0/tencents/ — WeChat and other Tencent apps cache (unless you use them).

Pay special attention to /storage/emulated/0/Android/obb/. This is where game caches are stored (for example, Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile can take 5-10 GB!). Delete files with the.obb extension for games that have not been played in a long time.

⚠️ Attention: Do not delete folders /storage/emulated/0/Android/obb/ for active games – this will cause a failure and require re-uploading data.

6. MIUI Optimization: Disabling Unnecessary Functions

MIUI is known for its "functional ballast" that eats up memory, and here's what you can turn off to save space:

• 🎨 Topics and Wallpaper: Go to Settings → Wallpaper. → My wallpaper and remove downloaded themes. One theme can weigh up to 50 to 100 MB.
• 📡 Auto-update MIUI: B Settings → The phone. → Update system disable "Mobile Autoboot." Updates weigh 1-2 GB and download in the background.
• 🔄 Backup: In Settings → Additionally. → Backup, disable automatic copy creation. /MIUI/backup/ and can borrow up to 3–5 GB.
• 🎮 Game Turbo: If you are not playing, turn off the Settings → Special facilities → Game Turbo. It'll free ~300MB of cash.

Redmi models with MIUI 14/15 have added Smart Cleaning (Settings → Cleanup → Smart Cleaning) and turn it on, it will automatically remove cache and debris once a week, but this method does not clean /data/local/tmp and other hidden folders, so periodic manual cleaning is still needed.

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Disabling automatic MIUI backup saves up to 5GB per month, especially if you install/remove applications frequently.

Radical methods: resetting and flashing

If after all the manipulations of free memory is still less than 10%, it is time to consider cardinal measures:

• 🔄 Reset to factory settings: The most efficient way, but deletes all data. Pre-backup to PC! Way: Settings → The phone. → Resetting settings.
• 📥 Fastboot Fastboot: If MIUI «bloated after the updates, install a clean firmware through the Mi Flash Tool. This will return the “native” 5-7 GB of memory, but requires unlocking the bootloader.
• 🛠️ Install custom firmware: firmware like Pixel Experience or LineageOS are devoid of “garbage» MIUI, Support for certain functions is lost (for example, IR-blaster).

For Redmi with MIUI 13/14, there is an alternative way to roll back the old version, for example, MIUI 12.5 takes 1-2 GB less than MIUI 14. However, this is risky: some applications (for example, banking) may stop working.

⚠️ Note: When flashing through Fastboot, use official firmware from Xiaomi. Unofficial builds may contain viruses or work unstablely.

8. Prevention: How to avoid memory debris

To prevent the problem from returning, follow these rules:

• 📵 Turn off auto-update apps in the Play Market (or allow only over Wi-Fi).
• 📷 Set up the camera: In Camera Settings → Select the compression format HEIF instead JPEG (Save up to 50% of the space).
• 📥 Use Cloud Storage: Set up an automatic photo upload to Google Photos or Mi Cloud (but remember, Mi Cloud only gives 5GB for free).
• 🔍 Periodic check: Once a month, run Files by Google or SD Maid for finding garbage.

For Redmi with 128 GB of storage and up, you can use partitioning (via TWRP), for example, to allocate 32 GB for applications and the rest for media files, which will prevent the situation when “memory is running out”, but there is still room in the gallery.

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The HEIF format saves up to 50% of the space without loss of quality, but not all social networks support it (for example, VKontakte automatically converts to JPEG).

FAQ: Frequent questions