How to completely clean the Xiaomi Redmi phone: from garbage to system reset

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are known for their price-performance ratio, but even they eventually start to slow down due to accumulated digital garbage. Cache files, remnants of deleted applications, duplicate photos and unnecessary system data take up precious space and slow down the device. In this article, we will discuss all the ways of cleaning, from manually cleaning up unnecessary files to completely resetting to factory settings, and also explain how to avoid re-clogging memory.

It’s important to understand that cleaning Redmi is different from similar procedures on smartphones of other brands. For example, MIUI has built-in tools for deep optimization, which are not in “pure” Android. However, not all methods are safe: an incorrect reset can lead to data loss or even locking the device if it has a bootloader with protection (like on models Redmi Note 10 Pro and later), We will explain in detail what actions should be performed first and what should be left for emergency.

1. Clear cache and temporary files without data loss

Starting with the safest and fastest way to do this is to delete the cache of apps and system temporary files, which doesn’t affect personal data (photos, contacts, messages), but can free up 1 to 5 GB of storage, depending on how much you use your phone.

MIUI has two levels of cache: Applications, temporary files that create programs to speed up work (such as thumbnails of images in a gallery or authorization data in instant messengers); System files, updates, logs and other service data that Android accumulates over time.

To clear the cache of individual applications:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want (such as Facebook or Telegram).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

For mass cleaning, use the built-in Cleanup tool (the broom icon in the Settings → Memory menu). Here, the system will scan the device itself and prompt you to delete unnecessary files, including:

• 🗑️ Residual files after uninstallation of programs;
• 📁 Duplicate photos (e.g. screenshots with the same content);
• 🎵 Unused music files (cache tracks from streaming services);
• 📥 Downloads that have not been opened in a long time.

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If the app is slower after cleaning the cache, it's normal. The cache is recreated the next time you run the program. Do not clean the cache more than 1 time a month unless there is an urgent need.

For advanced users, there is another way to manually clean the /data/local/tmp folder through File Manager (root rights are required if the folder is protected).

2. Removal of unnecessary applications and “junk” services

Many Xiaomi Redmi users are faced with the problem of pre-installed applications that cannot be removed by standard means, these are so-called bloatware – programs from Xiaomi and partners (for example, Mi Browser, Mi Video, GetApps) that take up space and consume resources in the background.

There are three ways to get rid of them:

The safest option is to turn it off. For example, if you're not using Mi Music, find it in the app list and click "Disable." This will remove it from the menu and stop background processes, but it won't free up the memory completely.

For a complete root-free removal, the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) method is suitable.

Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times)

Connect your phone to your PC and confirm access

Open the command line and enter adb devices (your phone should be displayed)

Enter adb shell pm list packages | grep 'miui' to search for system packages

Remove the unnecessary application with the command adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name packet->

⚠️ Note: Do not delete packages with the names com.android, com.miui or com.google - this can cause your phone to fail.Before deleting, check what the package does through a Google search.

3. Deep cleaning: reset to factory settings

If the Xiaomi Redmi phone is severely braking, overheating or unresponsive to touch, a full reset may be required.This procedure removes all data from the device, including:

• 📸 Photos and videos (if not saved to the cloud);
• 📞 Contacts and messages (unless synced with Google);
• 🎮 Installed applications and their data;
• 🔑 Passwords from Wi-Fi and accounts.

There are two ways to perform the reset:

1. Through the settings menu (if the phone is turned on): Settings → About phone → Reset → Delete all data. The system will prompt you to enter a password and confirm the action.
2. Using Recovery Mode (if the phone doesn't boot): Turn off the device. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.

⚠️ Note: On Redmi models with locked bootloader (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro)+ 5G) Resetting via Recovery may result in a requirement to enter a Mi Account, even if it was not previously linked.Be sure to remember your username and password before resetting!

After reset, do not restore data from a backup older than 3 months - this can return old errors and junk files.

Once a week.

Once a month

Only when the place ends.

Never cleaned.

I don't know how to do that.-->

4.Memory optimization: What can be manually removed

Even after cleaning the cache and removing unnecessary applications, Redmi’s memory remains “invisible” files that take up space.

• 📂 folder DCIM/.thumbnails — Photos and videos (you can delete without consequences, they will be restored automatically).
• 🎬 Movies folder or Video – there are often downloaded videos from messengers or cache streaming services.
• 📄 Download folder - old ones APK-files, documents and archives that have not been opened for a long time.
• 🔊 Ringtones or Notifications folder – Unnecessary tunes and notification sounds.

To find large files, use the built-in File Manager (Menu) → Categories → Large files) or third-party applications like Files by Google, which show which files take up the most space and suggest that they be deleted.

Pay special attention to the Android/data folder, which stores application data (such as offline maps or game cache), and you can delete its contents, but only if you are willing to lose progress in games or program settings.

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Before deleting the Android/obb folder (where additional game data is stored), check if the files are being used by current apps, for example, deleting files from that folder could reset progress in Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile.

5. Cleaning system logs and dumps

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones based on MIUI actively write system logs (error logs) and create memory dumps when crashes. These files are necessary for diagnostics, but over time take up gigabytes of space, and can be safely deleted if the phone is stable.

Where to look for garbage logs:

• /data/log – the main logs of the system;
• /data/anr – dumps when applications freeze;
• /data/tombstones – Reports of critical errors
• /sdcard/MIUI/debug_log — logic MIUI (if debugging is on).

To delete, you will need a File Manager with access to the root folder (for example, MiXplorer or Solid Explorer with enabled Show hidden files). Just select the folders and click Delete.

⚠️ Note: If after deleting the logs, the phone starts to restart or give out errors, then you have deleted critical files.

6.How to prevent re-clogging of memory

To avoid cleaning Redmi every week, follow the following simple rules:

• 🔄 Update regularly MIUI — In new versions optimized work with memory.
• ☁️ Use cloud storage (Google Photos, Mi Cloud) to automatically upload photos and videos.
• 🚫 Disable autoload media in instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram).

It's also useful to set up automatic cache cleaning.

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup.
2. Turn on the Auto Clean option.
3. Select frequency (e.g., “Every week”).

If you frequently install and remove applications, use APK-extractor (e.g., extractor, APK Extractor) to save installation files in one place and not to download them again.

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Regularly cleaning the cache and removing unnecessary files prolongs the life of the battery, as it reduces the load on the processor and memory.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Redmi cleanup