Cleaning Xiaomi Redmi 7A: from cache to full reset – all ways

Xiaomi Redmi 7A

Redmi 7A

In this article, you will find all the ways to clean the phone, from manually cleaning the cache to completely resetting it to factory settings, how to make room without losing important data, which apps are safe to remove, and tips on how to optimize the phone after cleaning, and focus on the hidden MIUI features that help automate the process.

If you’ve never cleaned your smartphone yourself, don’t worry: instructions are good for beginners, and experienced users will find rare tricks here, such as how to remove system debris through ADB or disable unnecessary Xiaomi services that eat up memory.

1.Diagnostics: What takes up memory on the Redmi 7A

Before you start cleaning, you need to understand what exactly is clogging your Redmi 7A. MIUI has a built-in storage analysis tool that will show the distribution of files by category.

Open Settings → About Phone → Storage. Here you will see a diagram with the division into:

• 📁 Applications – installed programs and their data;
• 📷 Images and videos - photos, screenshots, downloads from social networks;
• 🎵 Audio – Music, voice messages;
• 📄 Documents — PDF, Word, Excel and other files;
• 🗑️ Others – cache, temporary files, remnants of remote applications.

Note the Others section, which is where the bulk of the trash is often hidden, and if it takes up more than 3 to 5 GB, it's a call for an urgent cleanup, and check the App category: some apps (like Facebook or TikTok) can weigh 1-2 GB just by cache.

Tip: Click on any category in the storage analytics to see a detailed list of files sorted by size, so you quickly find "gluttonous" folders or unnecessary downloads.

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If the "Other" section is more than 5 GB, it's critical! Most often there are remnants of MIUI updates that can be safely removed through Settings → Applications → Application Management → Software Update (click "Clean Data").

2. Clearing cache and temporary files

App caches are temporary files that help programs load faster, accumulate over time and take up gigabytes of memory. On Redmi 7A, the cache can be cleared in three ways:

Method 1: Clearing the cache for individual applications

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (like YouTube or Chrome).
3. Press "Storage» → «Clear the cache».

⚠️ Warning: Don’t confuse “Clear Cache” with “Clean Data” – the second action will delete all application settings (logins, saved files).

Method 2: Mass cleaning of the cache

• 🧹 Open the built-in Security app (shield icon).
• 🔍 Select "Cleaning up» → «Deep cleaning».
• ✅ Check boxes for unnecessary files (cache, residues, temporary data).
• 🗑️ Click on “Clean” (reboot may be required).

Method 3: Cleaning through Recovery (for power users)

If the phone is slowing down, you can clear the /cache partition cache through the recovery mode:

1. Turn off Redmi 7A.
2. Press Volume Up + Power before the Mi logo appears.
3. Select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache (control – volume buttons, confirmation – power button).
4. Reboot the phone.

Close all applications | Connect phone to charge | Make backup of important data | Check free space after cleaning-->

3. Removal of unnecessary applications and duplicates

Redmi 7A has many Xiaomi and Google system apps that cannot be removed by standard means, but some of them can be disabled or removed via ADB.

How to remove unnecessary applications:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Sort the list by size (click on the three dots in the upper right corner).
• 🗑️ Remove or disable apps you don’t use (e.g. Mi Pay, Mi Video, Google Play Music).

List of safe to remove system applications (via ADB):

⚠️ Note: Removing system applications through ADB This can cause your phone to run in an unstable way. Before the procedure, back up your data and make sure you know how to recover a remote packet.

How to find and delete duplicate files:

Use apps like Files by Google or CCleaner that scan memory for repetitive photos, videos, and documents.

• 📂 DCIM/Camera — photo and video;
• 📂 Download – downloads from the browser;
• 📂 Pictures/Screenshots — screenshot;
• 📂 WhatsApp/Media — messenger media.

4.Storage optimization: file transfer and cloud services

If Redmi 7A is running out of space, consider migrating files to external media or the cloud.

How to transfer files to a memory card:

1. Insert microSD (up to 256 GB) into the phone slot.
2. Open the File Manager app.
3. Select files (photos, videos, music) → click “More” → “Move”.
4. Select a memory card (SD-card) as your destination.

⚠️ Note: Not all applications support memory card on Redmi 7A. WhatsApp does not allow you to transfer media files to SD — They can only be copied and the originals manually removed.

Cloud services for freeing up memory:

• ☁️ Google Photos – automatically uploads photos and videos to the cloud, allowing you to delete them from your phone;
• ☁️ Mi Cloud – built-in cloud from Xiaomi (5 GB for free);
• ☁️ Yandex Disk or Mail.ru Cloud – alternatives with bonus space for new users.

How to set up automatic uploading of photos in Google Photos:

1. Install the Google Photos app from the Play Market.
2. Open the settings. → «Backup and synchronization».
3. Enable the feature and select quality (“High” – unlimited space, “Original” – counts from Google quota).
4. After downloading, delete local copies through “Free space”.

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Transferring files to a memory card or cloud is the safest way to free up space, as data is not permanently deleted, but simply moved.

5. Reset to factory settings: when and how to do

If all previous methods failed and the Redmi 7A is still slowing down, the last resort is a factory reset, which will delete all data, including apps, photos, contacts and settings, so be sure to back up in advance.

How to make a backup copy before resetting:

• 📱 Use the built-in Settings function → Additionally. → Backup and reset → Local backup;
• ☁️ Upload important files to Google Drive or Mi Cloud;
• 📎 Copy the folders. DCIM, Download and WhatsApp to your computer via USB-cable.

Step-by-step discharge instructions:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select “Erase all data”.
3. Enter the password (if installed) and confirm the action.
4. Wait until the process is completed (the phone will restart).

⚠️ Attention: After the Redmi reset 7A You'll need to reset your Google account, connect to Wi-Fi, and restore your backup data, and if you forget your Mi Account password, your phone may be locked!

Alternative method: Recovery resetting

If the phone is not turned on or freezes, use the recovery mode:

1. Turn off Redmi 7A.
2. Press Volume Up + Power before the Recovery menu appears.
3. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (Change Volume Buttons).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.

6.Optimization after cleaning: how to prevent memory clogging

To prevent the Redmi 7A from getting clogged with rubbish again, follow these tips:

MIUI settings for automatic cleaning:

• 🤖 Enable “Auto Cleaning” in the “Security” app (Settings) → Cleanup → Autocleaning);
• 📉 Limit the background activity of applications: Settings → Battery and productivity → Managing application launches;
• 🚫 Turn off automatic app updates in the Play Market (or allow only over Wi-Fi).

Memory monitoring applications:

• 📊 Files by Google – Shows “junk” files and suggests you delete them;
• 🛡️ SD Maid – deep cleaning of the system cache (requires root rights);
• 🔍 CCleaner – deletes cache and temporary files in one click.

What to do with the Redmi 7A:

• ❌ Install cleaners like Clean Master – they become a source of garbage;
• ❌ Store all photos and videos in your phone’s memory (use a cloud or card);
• ❌ Ignore updates MIUI — New versions often optimize memory.

How to disable unnecessary system services (without root):

Some Xiaomi features can be deactivated to save memory and battery power:

1. Open Settings → Notifications and Status bar.
2. Turn off MIUI Recommendations and Notifications for New Features.
3. Go to Settings → Privacy → Special Permissions → Autostart and disable Autostart for unnecessary applications.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Many Redmi 7A users make the same cleanup errors that result in data loss or performance impairment.

Error 1: Removing the cache of system applications

Some “optimizers” advise clearing the cache for com.android.systemui or com.miui.home. This can lead to interface failures or the disappearance of icons from the desktop.

Mistake 2: Using Play Market Cleaners

Apps like Clean Master or DU Speed Booster often give false warnings about the "critical state" of memory and offer to buy a "Pro version." They actually slow down the phone by running in the background. Instead, use built-in MIUI tools.

Error 3: Reset without backup

Even if you are sure that all important files are saved, check the backup before resetting.

• 📞 Contacts that are not synced with Google;
• 📅 Notes in the annex “Notes»;
• 🎮 Save in games (unless linked to an account).

Error 4: Storing photos in original quality in Google Photos

If you set up automatic uploads to Google Photos, choose High quality (unlimited space) over Original. The latter option will quickly run out of your 15GB quota, and you will have to pay for the extra space.

Mistake 5: Ignoring MIUI Updates

Many people turn off updates to “don’t clog up memory.” However, newer versions of MIUI often include optimizations to save space and fix bugs that can cause the phone to slow down.

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The most common reason for data loss during a cleanup is the lack of a backup.Always check that important files are copied to the cloud or PC before resetting.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions