Modern smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi 9 have a huge storage capacity, but even 64 or 128 gigabytes can run out at the wrong time. MIUI is flooded with temporary files, and instant messengers like Telegram and WhatsApp are ruthlessly consuming storage space. When the device starts to run slowly or issues space warnings, the user needs to act quickly and efficiently.
In this article, we will explore not only standard methods of removing applications, but also advanced ways to clean up system debris that is hidden from the eyes of the average user. You will learn how to safely remove files from the DCIM folder, clean the cache of system services and use built-in optimization tools. Proper storage management will prolong the life of your gadget and speed up its operation.
Analysis of the occupied space through settings
The first step to freeing up space is always diagnostics. You need to know exactly what takes up precious gigabytes. The MIUI shell has a handy tool that visualizes the distribution of data. Go to the Settings menu, then select About Phone and click on Warehouse, where the system will show total employment and categorize files into applications, images, videos, documents, and more.
Notice the "Other" section, which is often the category that gets inflated into obscene sizes, taking up tens of gigabytes. It can hide error logs, remnants of deleted programs or temporary update files. Category analysis allows pinpoint-but pinpoint-but the culprit of the space shortage. If you see that photos are the bulk of it, you might want to rethink your cloud sync settings.
⚠️ Note: Do not delete files from system folders that you do not know the purpose of, especially if they are in the root directories. MIUI.
Use the built-in analyzer to make decisions. If you rarely use navigation, but it takes 2 GB, it will be logical to remove it. It is also worth checking the Recycle Bin section in the gallery, since deleted photos often stay there for 30 days, continuing to occupy space.
Use of the built-in Security application
Each Xiaomi smartphone has a Security system app preinstalled, which includes a powerful cleaning module. This is the easiest way to delete temporary files without going deep into the file system. Launch the app and select the Cleanup tool. The system will automatically scan the device for debris, cache and unnecessary APK installation packages.
Once you scan, you'll see a list of files that you can safely delete. But don't press the clean button right away. Click Files to manually select what to delete. For example, there may be important thumbnails or data in the cache that you don't want to re-upload. Selective cleaning allows you to save what you need and get rid of what you need.
- 🗑️ Application cache: Temporary data that can be deleted without fear of losing personal correspondence or saving in games.
- 📦 Unused packages: Remnants of remote programs or installers that the system no longer needs.
- 📰 Advertising files: Images and scripts uploaded by browsers and news aggregators.
The Security app can find large videos or archives you may have forgotten about, and removing one forgotten movie in high resolution can free up more space than cleaning thousands of small text files.
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Run a full cleanup through the Security app at least once a week to prevent the accumulation of system debris and keep the interface running fast.
Working with messengers: Telegram and WhatsApp
Social media and instant messengers are the main memory eaters on modern smartphones. WhatsApp and Telegram by default store all received photos and videos in the gallery, dubbing them in their internal databases. To clear the memory on Redmi 9, you need to configure these applications separately. On WhatsApp go to Settings → Data and Storage → Storage Management. Here you can see which chats occupy the most space, and delete media files selectively.
Telegram is similar, but there's an important feature: this messenger stores the cache very aggressively. Go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory usage. You'll see the amount of cache you're using. Click Clear Telegram cache. Don't worry, your photos and videos won't disappear from the chats, they'll just be deleted from the device and rebooted if necessary.
⚠️ Before mass cleaning of media files in messengers, make sure that important documents or photos are saved in the cloud or on your computer, as recovery after cleaning the cache requires the Internet.
It is also recommended to disable auto-save media in the gallery, which will prevent duplicate files: they will only be stored inside the application, and not take up space in the DCIM system folder, which will significantly slow down the growth of the occupied volume in the future.
☑️ Cleaning up messengers
Removing duplicates and large files manually
Sometimes automatic systems miss files that the user created himself, such as duplicate photos taken by different applications or forgotten downloads, and the standard File Manager Explorer or the more advanced File Manager from Xiaomi is the best way to work with them.
Often in the Download folder accumulate game installation files, PDF-Check also the Bluetooth folder, which may have been accessed by files transmitted from other devices. 1080p or 4K It will instantly free up gigabytes of space.
| File type | Location. | Can I remove it? | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| .apk | Download folder | Yes. | Application installers |
| .log | Different folders. | Yes. | Logs of system errors |
| .tmp | System folders | Yes. | Temporary files |
| thumbnail | DCIM/.thumbnails | Yes. | Photos will be created again. |
Remember to check the "Recently Deleted" folder in the gallery and in the file manager, where files are stored for up to 30 days and continue to take up disk space, and cleaning this basket is the final touch in manually deleting data.
Hidden folders in Android
Clean Other (Other) folder on Xiaomi
Xiaomi’s “Other” or “Other” category is a headache for many users, and it adds up everything it couldn’t classify: streaming cache (YouTube, Netflix), offline maps, game data, and system logs, and direct access to this folder through a regular Explorer is often restricted to newer versions of Android.
To clear this section, use the Deep Clean tool in the Security app. You can also try clearing the data of specific applications that have been suspiciously inflated. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, select a heavy app (like YouTube or Chrome) and click Clear → Clear cache. Don't confuse it with Clear Everything, which will reset the app's settings.
Radical method: If the Other folder takes up a critical amount (more than 10-15 GB) and doesn't clear, sometimes changing the date on the phone helps. Some system cleaning processes work when you change the date, but this method does not work on all versions of MIUI. A more reliable way is to back up important data and perform a reset to factory settings.
- 📺 Streaming cache: YouTube and Netflix cache videos for smooth playback, taking up gigabytes.
- 🗺️ Offline maps: Yandex.Maps and Google Maps store loaded regions in hidden folders.
- 🎮 Game Cash: Game Resource Files often fall into the Other category».
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The Other folder is a collection of unclassified data, and cleaning the cache of heavy applications regularly is the best way to keep it under control.
Expanding memory with a MicroSD card
The Redmi 9 supports microSD card installation, ideal for those who don’t want to permanently delete photos and videos, and can be used as a portable storage device or, in some cases, as part of internal memory (Adoptable Storage), although MIUI often limits the installation of apps on the card.
To set up, move all media files to an external medium. In the Camera app, change the save settings so that new photos and videos are immediately recorded on the camera. SD-To do this, open the camera settings and find the switch Save to SD-This will automatically unload the internal storage.
⚠️ Note: Use a memory card of a class speed not lower than Class 10 or UHS-I. Slow maps can cause delays when shooting high-resolution video and slow down the system.
If you're migrating existing files, use a file manager. Select DCIM, Pictures, Video folders and move them to an external drive. After moving, make sure the gallery displays files correctly from the new path.