How to Clean Up Your Memory on Xiaomi Redmi 5A Without Losing Data

Xiaomi Redmi 5A

8/16 GB

MIUI

In this article, we will discuss 7 proven ways to clean up Redmi 5A memory, from simple (cache removal) to radical (full reset), which methods are safe for data and which require backup, and how to avoid re-clogging memory, with a special focus on hidden folders and system files that take up space but do not appear in the standard file manager.

Important: Redmi 5A (codename riva) runs on Android 7.1 Nougat with a MIUI 9/10 shell. Some cleaning methods from newer versions of MIUI won't work here - we've taken that into account in the instructions.

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

Before you clean, you need to figure out what exactly takes up space. There are two tools on the Redmi 5A for this:

1. Built-in MIUI analyzer

Go to Settings → Device Memory. Here you will see a diagram of the memory distribution by category:

• 📱 System - Android files and MIUI (They're usually 3 to 5 GB. You can't remove them, but you can reduce them.
• 📁 Applications are the installed programs and their data. Often, gigabytes of cache are hidden here.
• 📷 Multimedia - photo, video, music. 5A This is the most “grievous” category.
• 🗑️ Other – temporary files, logs, remnants of remote applications.

2. Third-party analyzers (if built-in does not show details)

Install one of the apps from Google Play:

• 🔍 Files by Google – Shows junk files and duplicates.
• 📊 DiskUsage – visualizes occupied space in the form of an interactive map.
• 🛠️ SD Maid – Finds Remnants of Remote Apps and Empty Folders.

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 5A s 8 GB of memory analyzers can show occupied up to 70% It's normal -- part of the memory is reserved for Android. Don't try to delete files from folders. /system or /vendor manually!

If the “Other” category is more than 1-1.5 GB occupied, this is a signal that deep cleaning is necessary (see section 4).

2. Cleaning the application cache and system

Cache is a temporary file that creates applications to speed up work. Redmi 5A cache can take up to 2-3 GB, especially if you are actively using social networks, instant messengers or games.

Method 1: Clearing the cache for individual applications

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Select an app (such as Facebook or YouTube).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

Method 2: Mass cleaning the cache of all applications

1. Go to Settings → Memory of the device → Clear the cache.
2. Confirm action. This will delete the cache of all applications, but it will not affect personal data.

Method 3: Cleaning the system cache (hidden method)

This method removes the cache of system processes that is not visible in standard settings:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Up + Power at the same time until the MI logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache (control – volume buttons, choice – power button).
4. Reset the device.

⚠️ Warning: Clearing the system cache may reset some settings (e.g. background processes or widget data). After restarting, the phone will run slower for the first 5-10 minutes - this is normal, the cache will recover.

3. Removal of unnecessary applications and their residues

Even after deleting the application on Redmi 5A, there are often:

• 🗃️ Folders with data in /Android/data and /Android/obb.
• 📂 Settings files in /data/data (Available only with root rights).
• 🔄 Cash and temporary files in /cache.

How to remove applications correctly:

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Sort by size (click on the three dots in the upper right corner).
3. Remove unnecessary apps, starting with the heaviest ones.

How to find and remove the remnants of remote applications:

Use a file manager (such as Mi File Explorer or Solid Explorer):

1. Go to the internal memory folder → Android → data.
2. Delete folders with names of remote applications (for example, com.facebook.katana for Facebook).
3. Check the obb folder – it stores additional game files (can take up to 1-2 GB).

List of junk folders that can be safely cleaned:

• 🧹 /Android/data/ — Application data (remove folders of unnecessary programs).
• 🎮 /Android/obb/ — Game files (if games are deleted).
• 📥 /Download/ — downloads from the browser (often unnecessary files accumulate here).
• 📎 /DCIM/.thumbnails — Photo and video miniatures (you can delete them, they will be restored automatically).

4. Optimization of multimedia: photos, videos and music

Photos and videos are the main memory eaters on Redmi 5A. Even if you don’t shoot much, the system backs up, thumbnails and cache gallery.

How to reduce the amount of multimedia:

• 📸 Use applications like Photo Compress or Resize Me! to reduce the resolution of shots from 12 MP to 5-8 MP (this will reduce weight by 2-3 times without noticeable loss of quality).
• 🎥 Convert video: Video Compress programs or MX Player (built-in converter) allows you to reduce the bitrate of video from 10-15 Mbit / s to 3-5 Mbit / s.
• 🎵 Remove duplicate music: Duplicate Files Fixer app finds identical tracks and deletes them.

Hidden multimedia folders that can be cleaned:

How to transfer photos and videos to a memory card:

If you have a microSD installed, transfer the media to:

1. Open the gallery.
2. Select files → click “More” → “Move”.
3. Select a memory card as your destination.

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 5A Memory cards are formatted as portable storage (not as internal memory). SD You can't install it, but you can transfer it. If the Move option is inactive, make sure the card is formatted to the port. FAT32 exFAT.

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Before mass deletion, back up your photos to Google Photos (up to 15 GB free) or your computer. Redmi 5A will have enough slow Wi-Fi for this, as long as you do not interrupt the download.

5. Use of cloud storage and backups

If you're running out of memory and you don't want to delete files, you can move them to the cloud. Redmi 5A has built-in and third-party tools for that.

Option 1: Google Photos (unlimited storage for compressed photos)

• 📲 Install Google Photos from Play Market.
• 🔧 In the settings, select "Quality» → «High” (unlimited seat).
• 📤 Enable automatic download over Wi-Fi.
• 🗑️ After downloading, remove the originals from your phone (the option “Free space»).

Option 2: Mi Cloud (5GB free)

• 📲 Go to Settings. → Mi Account. → Mi Cloud.
• 📁 Enable synchronization for Gallery, Notes, Contacts».
• 🔄 After downloading the data, delete local copies.

Option 3: Yandex Drive or Mail.ru Cloud (10-100 GB free)

• 📲 Install the Yandex Drive or Cloud Mail.ru application.
• 📤 Download important files manually or enable autoload.
• 🔗 Generate a link to access from PC (in case of losing your phone).

Comparison of cloud services for Redmi 5A:

* – From June 1, 2021, new high-quality photos will be placed in Google’s shared storage (15 GB).

6. Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If all previous methods failed and there was less than 500MB of memory left, you'd have to do a complete reset, which would delete all data, including photos, contacts and apps, but put the phone back in its "clean" state.

How to do the reset correctly:

1. 📱 Backup: Contacts: Export to Settings → System system → Imports/exports → Export to storage. Photo/video: copy to PC or cloud. Messages: use SMS Backup & Restore.
2. 🔧 Perform reset: Go to Settings → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge → Reset settings. Select "Delete all data." Confirm the action (password may be required).

After discharge:

• Do not restore data from the backup right away – check how much free memory you have first.
• Install only the necessary applications.
• Turn off autoload multimedia in messengers (Settings → Data and storage).

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 5A After the reset, you may need to re-activate the device through the Mi Account, if you previously had a Xiaomi account!

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Factory resets are the only way to bring back the Redmi 5A’s native performance if the phone is slowing down a lot, but don’t put all the old apps back in after the reset, which will clog up the memory again.

7.How to prevent re-clogging of memory

To avoid cleaning Redmi 5A every month, follow these rules:

MIUI settings to save memory:

• 🚫 Turn off autoload multimedia: On WhatsApp: Settings → Warehouse → Autoboot multimedia → Wi-Fi only. Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Autoboot multimedia → Never.
• 📵 Limit background activity: Go to Settings → Battery and productivity → Power management applications. For unnecessary applications, select "Limit background activity».
• 🔄 Set up automatic cleaning: In Settings → Memory of the device, turn on "Autocleaning».

Applications for automatic memory control:

• 🛠️ Files by Google – Removes garbage and offers cleaning once a week.
• 🧹 CCleaner – Cleans the cache and residues of applications (don’t abuse it!).
• 📊 Storage Analyzer – tracks which folders grow the fastest.

What you can't do on Redmi 5A:

• ❌ Install "memory cleaners" like Clean Master or DU Speed Booster – they take up their own space and brake the system.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning Redmi memory 5A