Memory Cleanup on Redmi Note 7: from cache to system files

Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 7 is still one of the most popular budget smartphones, but its 32/64GB of memory often runs out unexpectedly quickly. It’s not just because of the accumulation of photos and videos — the MIUI system actively caches data, and background processes create temporary files that are not always deleted automatically. If your phone starts to “brake”, give notifications about space shortages or refuse to install updates — it’s time to clean up the memory.

In this article, we will discuss 10 proven ways to free up space on the Redmi Note 7, from basic (hand-held garbage removal) to advanced (clean system partitions via ADB). All methods are tested on current versions of MIUI 12-14 and do not require root rights, unless otherwise noted. Particular attention will be paid to the hidden features of MIUI, which are not even the official guides about – for example, how to remove duplicate files through embedded tools or disable unnecessary system applications without harming stability.

1. Analysis of occupied space: what eats up memory?

Before you clean, you need to understand what exactly takes up space. Redmi Note 7 has built-in tools for this:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Memory.
2. Click on the graph at the top – the system will show the distribution by categories: Applications, Media, Files, System.
3. Tap on any category (such as “Apps”) to see the top of the most “gluttonous” programs.

Typical memory eaters on the Redmi Note 7:

• 📸 Google Photos and Gallery: duplicate photos, videos in high resolution (especially if auto-save from instant messengers is enabled).
• 🎮 Games: cash PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact or Call of Duty can weigh 5-15 GB.
• 📱 Social networks: TikTok, Instagram and VKontakte store cache stories, thumbnails and temporary files.
• 🔄 System updates: MIUI Downloads update packs (.zip files) to the folder /cache, But they don’t always remove them after installation.

If the System section is more than 10-12 GB, this is a cause for concern, perhaps Dalwick cache (remainders from updates) or log files (for example, from Mi Fit or Mi Home) have accumulated, and we will consider cleaning them in the Advanced Methods section.

⚠️ Warning: If the Other category is more than 5GB occupied, it is a sign of memory fragmentation or malware activity. Check the phone with antivirus (Malwarebytes or built-in Security) MIUI) before further action.

2. Cleaning the application cache: a quick way

Cache speeds up software, but eventually it turns into garbage. On the Redmi Note 7, it can be cleaned in two ways:

Method 1. One application (recommended for games and social networks):

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select a program (e.g. YouTube) → Storage → Clear the cache.
3. To clean up completely, click Clear Data, but note: this will reset the application settings (exit accounts).

Method 2. Mass cleaning (for all applications at once):

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup.
2. Click Select elements and tick unnecessary files (cache, temporary data, thumbnails).
3. Slip Clean (bottom of the screen).

After mass clearing the cache, the Redmi Note 7 can run slower for the first 10-15 minutes, which is normal as the system recovers the necessary data.

3. manually delete unnecessary files

The built-in MIUI tools don't always find all the trash.

Check folders (use any file manager, such as Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer):

• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails — Photo and video miniatures (can be removed without consequences).
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data — cache of games and applications (delete folders of programs that have already been deleted).
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Download — downloads from browsers and instant messengers (often here are outdated.apk files).
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Backup — backup MIUI (If you do not make a backup manually, you can clean).

How to securely delete files:

1. Open Mi File Manager (or other manager with permissions).
2. Go to the folder (for example, DCIM/.thumbnails).
3. Select all files (long press). → "Choose all") → Delete.
4. For folders in /Android/data, first check if the corresponding application is installed.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files in folders /system, /vendor or /data It can cause a phone to crash, and don't touch files with.odex,.vdex or.oat extensions, because they're critical to work. MIUI.

Backup important files | Check the vacant space (should be ≥1 GB) | Close all applications | Turn off autosynchronization (Google Photos, clouds) | Check with antivirus-->

4. Optimization of media files: photos, videos, music

Media takes up 60-70% of the memory on the Redmi Note 7.

Method 1. Compression of photo and video

• 📱 Use the built-in tool MIUI: gallery → Albums. → Select files → More (⋮) → Squeeze.
• 🖼️ For batch processing, install Photo & Picture Resizer (Play Market) – compresses to a selected size (for example, up to 2 MB per photo).
• 🎥 Video Compress or CapCut (allows you to reduce resolution to video) 720p lacking in quality).

Method 2: Transfer to the cloud with automatic cleaning

• 🌥️ Google Photos: Enable Backup and select High Quality (unlimited storage). After download, delete local copies.
• 📦 Mi Cloud: In Settings → Xiaomi accounts → Mi Cloud Enable Photo and Video Sync (GB 5 Free).

Method 3: Removal of duplicates

MIUI has a hidden function of searching for duplicates:

1. Open Gallery → Albums → Duplicates (if there is no item, upgrade MIUI to 13+).
2. The system will show repeated photos - select unnecessary and delete.

💡

If you shoot video often, turn on the camera option “Compress Video” (Camera Settings → Video → Quality → High (compressed)) to reduce file size by 30-40% with no apparent loss of quality.

5 System garbage disposal: Hidden MIUI features

MIUI hides a few deep cleaning tools that aren't visible in the basic settings. Here's how to activate them:

Method 1. Cleaning Dalwick Cache (after updates)

Dalwick cache is optimized files for fast application loading, and once the MIUI is updated, they can remain in memory like garbage:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version to activate Developer Mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Find Dalwick Cache Cleanup and click (the phone will reboot).

Method 2: Remove old updates

MIUI stores service packs in /cache, even after installing:

1. Open Mi File Manager with root permissions (if any) or use ADB.
2. Go to /cache and delete files with the.zip extension (e.g. update.zip).
3. Also check the folder. /data/ota_package — There may be installation files weighing in. 1–2 GB.

Method 3: Disabling unnecessary system applications

Redmi Note 7 preinstalled apps that can’t be removed, but you can disable:

• 🎵 Mi Music (if you use Spotify or YouTube Music).
• 📺 Mi Video (replace by Mi Video) VLC or MX Player).
• 📡 Mi Remote (if you do not use the remote for equipment).
• 📰 Mi Browser (replace with Chrome or Firefox).

To disable:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the unnecessary application → Disable (do not “Delete”!).
3. Confirm the action – the application will disappear from the menu and stop updating.

⚠️ Note: Do not disable system services called com.android., com.xiaomi. or com.miui.* – this can cause malfunctions in the phone.

6. Advanced methods: ADB and third-party utilities

If the standard methods didn't work, it's time to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or specialized utilities, which require connecting your phone to a PC.

Method 1. Cleaning through ADB

ADB allows you to delete files that are not available through the file manager:

1. Download Platform Tools (from Google) and unpack it on PC.
2. On your phone, activate USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 taps → For developers → USB Debugging).
3. Connect Redmi Note 7 to your PC and execute:

adb devices


adb shell




su




rm -rf /data/local/tmp/*




rm -rf /cache/*




exit

These commands will clear temporary files in the system folders. To completely clean the Dalvik cache, do:

adb shell cmd package bg-dexopt-job

Method 2: Deep cleaning applications

If you don’t want to work with ADB, install one of these apps (require root rights for full functionality):

• 🧹 SD Maid: Finds residual files after uninstalling apps.
• 🔍 Files by Google: Remove unnecessary files and duplicates.
• 🛠️ CCleaner: Clears cache, history, and temporary files (careful with settings!).

Method 3: Resetting to factory settings

Last resort, if nothing worked.

1. Make a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
2. Move your photos/video to your PC or cloud.
3. Remember the logins/passwords from the accounts (they will disappear!).
4. Perform reset: Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Reset settings.

💡

Resetting to factory settings removes everything, including files in internal memory. If the phone is encrypted (PIN/password enabled), after reset, you may need to enter your Xiaomi account data to unlock!

7.Prevention: How to avoid filling up memory

To avoid cleaning your memory every week, set up the Redmi Note 7 correctly:

MIUI settings for automatic cleaning:

• 🗑️ Enable Auto Cleanup: Settings → Memory. → Cleanup → Autocleaning (set a schedule, for example, once every 3 days).
• 📥 Limit the cache for apps: Settings → Annexes → Cache Limitation (set a 500–1000MB limit).
• 🔄 Turn off autoload media in instant messengers: in WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber, turn off automatic photo / video saving to the gallery.

User habits:

• 📲 Check the Download folder regularly (once a month) and delete outdated files.
• 🎮 After removing games, clear their data through Settings → Annexes → [play-name] → Clear the data.
• 📷 Set the camera to save the photo in compressed format (Camera settings) → Format → High (compressed)).

Alternative solutions:

• 💾 Buy a microSD card (up to 256 GB) and transfer applications to it (requires support for Adoptable Storage, but on the Redmi Note 7 it is limited).
• ☁️ Use cloud storage (Google Drive, Yandex Drive) for backups.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory cleanup