How to Clean Up System Memory on Xiaomi Redmi 5A: The Complete Guide

Why Redmi 5A is slowing down and how it relates to memory

Your Xiaomi Redmi 5A is slowing down, apps are constantly crashing, and “Not enough memory” is always on the lookout for new software? The problem is clogged system memory. Despite the modest 2/16 GB or 3/32 GB in the top version, even this volume can be optimized — if you know which files are safe to delete and which ones are not worth touching.

System memory on Redmi 5A is clogged for three key reasons: 1) App cache – temporary files that should be cleaned automatically, but often remain “dead cargo”; 2) MIUI garbage – log files, error dumps and remnants of remote programs that the system does not remove itself; 3) Background processes – Xiaomi and Google services that consume memory even when you do not use them.

In this article, we will discuss 7 proven cleaning methods – from basic to advanced, including hidden MIUI 9/10 features (relevant to Redmi 5A).

⚠️ Important: if after cleaning the empty space is less than 500 MB, this is a critical threshold, in which case even system updates may not be installed, and the phone will reboot spontaneously»).

Method 1: Clearing the application cache (without data loss)

Cache is a temporary file that creates applications to speed up work, and over time, it grows to giant sizes. For example, Facebook or Instagram can take 1-2 GB of cache only! On Redmi 5A, you can clean it in two ways:

• 📱 Through Settings: Go to Settings → Annexes → All apps, select the one you want (like YouTube) and click Clear Cache».
• 🧹 Mass cleaning: in Settings → Memory. → Clean up click “Clear Cache” (remove the cache of all applications at once).
• ⚙️ Autoclean: Turn on the “Clean Up When Locked” option in the same menu – the phone will remove the cache when the screen is turned off.

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse "Clear Cache" with "Clean Data"! The second action will delete all application settings (logins, saves in games, etc.). Cache can be cleaned every day - it is safe to use it.

Social networks (Facebook, VK, Instagram)

Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp)

Browser (Chrome, Mi Browser)

Games (especially with 3D-graphic)

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Method 2: Dispose of garbage through built-in MIUI tools

MIUI has a built-in memory optimizer that many Redmi 5A users ignore, not only cleans up trash, but also closes the background processes.

1. Open Security. → Optimization.
2. Click “Verification” – the system will scan the device for unnecessary files.
3. Select categories for cleaning: 🗑️ Garbage files (remains of deleted applications, temporary files). 📁 Large files (video, APK, archive). 🔄 Duplicates (repeated photos or documents).

Clean up

💡 Tip: If the Optimization option is not in the Security menu, update the Security app via Play Market. 5A System shortcuts are sometimes lost after updates.

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After cleaning, restart the phone - this will help the system correctly recalculate the free space and close the "hang" processes.

Method 3: Disabling and removing system applications

Xiaomi Redmi 5A comes with pre-installed apps (bloats), which can not be removed by standard means, but can be disabled or removed through ADB.

🔧 How to remove system applications through ADB:

1. Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.mi.android.globalFileexplorer (replace com.mi.android.globalFileexplorer with the desired application package).

⚠️ Warning: Removing system applications may cause unstable phone performance or update errors MIUI. Before the procedure, create a backup copy through Settings → Additionally. → Backup.

Method 4: Transfer applications to a memory card

If you have a microSD, you can transfer some of the applications to it, freeing up the internal memory, but there are some nuances to the Redmi 5A.

• ✅ It only works for apps that support portability (many games and social networks do not support mobile apps).
• ⚠️ The card must be formatted as internal memory (in which case it will become part of the system, but will not be read on other devices).
• ❌ Some apps (like WhatsApp) may be slower after a port.

Instructions for the perenos:

1. Insert the memory card and format it as internal in Settings → Memory → SD card.
2. Go to Settings. → Apps, select the desired and click "Move to" SD-map».
3. If the option is inactive, the application does not support the transfer.

📌 Important: After formatting the card as internal memory, all data on it will be deleted.

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Transfer to SD-The card is only suitable for "light" applications (messengers, readers), games and social networks are better left in internal memory to avoid lags.

Method 5: Cleanup of photo downloads and duplicates

The Downloads folder and the gallery are the main memory eaters on Redmi 5A. Many users do not even know how many unnecessary files have accumulated there:

• 📄 Documents: PDF, Excel, Word – often downloaded once and forgotten.
• 🎵 Audio: Voice messages from messengers, ringtones.
• 📷 Photo: Duplicates, screenshots, blurred pictures.
• 🎬 Video: Cash from TikTok, Instagram Reels, memes.

How to clean:

1. Open the File Manager and go to the Download folder.
2. Sort files by size (from larger to smaller) and delete unnecessary ones.
3. For photos, use the built-in tool in the Gallery: click on three dots → “Manage” → “Dublicates”.

🔍 Hidden Files: Enable the Display of Hidden Folders in Explorer (three dots) → Settings → Show hidden files. Often there are log files (.log,.tmp) up to 500 MB in size.

Method 6: Hard reset (if nothing works)

If after all the manipulations of free memory there is < 1 GB, and the phone is lagging, it is time to do Hard Reset. This will return the Redmi 5A to the factory settings, removing all data (photos, contacts, messages).

Step-by-step:

1. Back up your important data (contacts can be synced with your Google Account).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset.
3. Select “Reset” → “Delete all data”.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (takes 5-10 minutes).

⚠️ Note: After resetting, the phone will require you to enter your Mi Account data if it was tied.If you forgot your Xiaomi account password, it will be impossible to unlock the device without an official support request (it can take up to 7 days).

🔄 Alternative: If you don’t want to lose data, try resetting only the cache (in the same Recovery and Reset menu, select Clear all cache data.

Method 7: Optimizing MIUI for memory savings

MIUI has hidden settings that reduce memory consumption. Here's what you can do:

• 🎨 Disable animation: In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (7 times, then add more. → For developers → The scale of the animations, put it out. 0.5x Or off. - That'll speed up the work.
• 🔄 Limit background processes: In the same developer settings, find Process Limit and select Process Maximum 2».
• 📵 Disable Auto Update: In Play Market, turn off automatic app updates (Settings) → Auto-update → Never).
• 🌐 Use Lite versions of apps: Replace Facebook with Facebook Lite, Messenger with Messenger Lite – they take up 2-3 times less space.

📊 Optimization Effect: These measures can free up to 300-500 MB of memory and reduce the load on the Snapdragon 425 processor, which is especially critical for Redmi. 5A with 2GB of RAM.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory cleaning on Redmi 5A