Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO are all known for their excellent value for money, but even powerful devices are slowing down over time. The main reason for the performance decline is often crowded internal memory. When free space runs out, the Android operating system and the MIUI or HyperOS shell stop cacheing data correctly, leading to “brakes” and sudden drops of applications.
Users often face a situation where the system notifies critically low storage volume, blocking the ability to install updates or take new photos. Memory cleaning is not just deleting unnecessary files, but a complex process of maintenance of the device that requires careful attention. In this article, we will discuss safe and effective methods of freeing up space that will help return your gadget to its previous speed.
Modern tools Xiaomi allows you to quickly identify and remove gigabytes of unnecessary digital debris. It is important to understand which files can be deleted without consequences, and which are strictly not recommended to touch, so as not to disrupt the stability of the operating system.
Occupied space analysis and system storage
Before you start taking action, you need to understand what exactly is taking up space on your device. The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS have a great analyzer built in that visualizes data. Go to Settings → Memory to see a detailed breakdown by category: applications, images, video, audio and system files.
Users are often surprised to find that a significant portion is occupied by the “Other” or “System Files” section, which can be cache streaming services, downloaded offline maps or temporary update files. The system analyzer helps to identify the most “heavy” folders that are hidden from the surface.
Notice how the space is distributed between the internal drive and the memory card, if it's in use, and sometimes the problem is solved by simply transferring media files to an external medium. SD-The map in modern versions of Android is often limited or impossible to keep data secure.
⚠️ Note: Do not delete files from system folders with names like Android/data or MIUI manually through the file manager, if you are not sure 100% This can cause malfunctions in the installed programs.
You can use third-party utilities for deeper analysis, but the built-in tools are usually enough, and the main thing is to check the statistics regularly to keep memory from filling up to 95-98%, since this is a critical threshold for flash memory.
Use of the built-in "Security" application
The easiest and safest way to start cleaning is to use the standard Security app, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones.This tool is designed specifically for working with the shell file system and will not remove anything unnecessary without your knowledge. Launch the application and select Cleanup.
The system will automatically scan the device for temporary files, deleted app residues and advertising debris. Once scanned, you will see a list of categories such as Cache, Install Packages and Unknown Files. By pressing the cleanup button, you will instantly free up from a few hundred megabytes to a couple of gigabytes of space.
The big one is the Big Files section inside the app, where the security algorithm finds videos and archives that take up a lot of space, but you may not need them, and you can sort them by size and date to quickly find forgotten downloads.
☑️ Planned cleaning through Security
The Acceleration feature in the same application also helps to free up RAM by closing the background processes. Although this does not directly affect internal storage, integrated maintenance improves the overall interface response.
Clearing the cache and data messengers
The leaders in memory consumption on any smartphone are messengers: Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber. These applications store every photo, video and voice message viewed in cache. Over time, this folder can grow to 10-20 gigabytes, occupying the lion's share of internal storage.
Unlike simple cleaning through phone settings, messengers allow you to manage storage more flexibly. For example, in Telegram you need to go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory Use. Here you can click the Clear cache button, and this action will not delete your correspondence or important files, they will be rebooted if necessary.
On WhatsApp, the situation is similar: Settings → Data and Storage → Storage Management. The system will show the chats that take up the most space. You can selectively delete heavy videos or forwarded messages from specific dialogues without touching the text history.
| Annex | The path to cleanup | Safe for correspondence? | Influence on the spot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telegram | Settings → Data and memory | Yes. | High (up to 10+GB) |
| Settings → Storage | Yes (selective removal) | Medium/High | |
| Viber | More. → Settings → Memory. | Yes. | Average. |
| Phone settings → Applications | Yeah (cache only) | Low/Mediocre |
It is important to distinguish between Clear Cache and Clear Data in the Android app settings. If you choose Clear Data for the messenger, you will log out of your account and lose your local history if it was not saved to the cloud.
Why does the cache take up so much space?
Removal of duplicates and gallery sorting
Photos and video are the second most important memory-filled factor: Xiaomi’s cameras are high-resolution, and a single minute 4K video can weigh several hundred megabytes. The gallery is often full of similar shots, screenshots of the interface and unsuccessful take-ups.
The MIUI built-in gallery has a similar photo search feature. Go to Albums → Recent or search Similar. The system will offer a series of shots from which you can leave one best and delete the rest.
It's also worth checking the Screenshots and Favorites folder. Often we save images from the internet or checks from stores that lose relevance after a week. Deleting old screenshots of the interface and stored memes can instantly free up 1-2 gigabytes.
For video files, it is recommended to use cloud services such as Google Photos or Yandex.Disk by configuring the function “Autoboot and Sync”. Once you upload originals to the cloud, you can use the “Free Space” function, which will delete local copies, leaving them in the cloud available for viewing.
⚠️ Attention: Before mass deleting photos, be sure to check the shopping cart in the gallery. Deleted files are there for 30 days, taking up space until they are finally deleted. Cleaning the cart is the final step in freeing up space.
Working with the Downloads folder and unnecessary applications
Download is a black hole that gets into APK installation files, PDF documents, restaurant menus and other disposable content, and users often download the file, open it, and forget that it is left in their memory forever.
Open Explorer and go to Downloads. Sort files by date. Anything older than a month and not an important document is likely to be deleted. Pay special attention to.apk files, which are app installers that are no longer needed after installation.
In parallel, do an app review. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Sort the list by size. You'll be surprised to find games that haven't been used in six months or food delivery apps that have bloated with cache.
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Use the “Lite” feature of popular applications if you have little memory, which takes up 3-4 times less space and consumes less CPU resources.
Removing unused software is the fastest way to not only free up space, but also reduce battery load. Some Xiaomi system applications can be disabled if they are not in use, which also reduces the amount of space they take up slightly.
Expanding memory with cloud technology and SD-map
If the software cleanup doesn’t work, consider expanding physical or virtual space, and many Redmi and Xiaomi models support microSD cards, which is the perfect place to store photo archives, music and movies.
After installing the memory card, set the camera so that new photos and videos are saved immediately on the camera. SD-Map. Path of adjustment: Camera → Settings (three stripes) → Retention on SD-This will prevent the internal memory from filling up quickly in the future.
Virtual extension is possible through cloud services. Google One provides 15GB for free, which is enough for documents and important photos. Cloud integration allows you to store original files online, leaving only optimized copies on the phone.
There is also a technology for expanding RAM due to internal (Virtual RAM), but in the context of a lack of space for files, it does not help, but on the contrary, it can reserve part of the storage for system needs. If the memory is critically small, this function in Settings → Expansion of memory is better to turn off to return these gigabytes to the user.
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The combination of using the cloud for photo and SD-Media cards are the only reliable solution for smartphone owners with 64 GB or less of memory.