Free memory on Xiaomi Redmi Note 7: from cache to hidden files

Why Clean Memory on Redmi Note 7 and What This Procedure Can Do

Even 4-5 years after the release of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 remains a popular budget smartphone — but its 32/64 GB of memory often becomes a bottleneck. When you fill the drive by 80% or higher, the phone begins to “brake”: apps open longer, the camera hangs while shooting, and the system gives a notification “Memory is full.”

It's not just your photos and videos. System debris, app cache, duplicate files and residual data from remote programs can take up to 10-15 GB on a 64-gigabyte model. For example, YouTube or TikTok cache can easily inflate to 1-2 GB, and temporary MIUI update files up to 500 MB. The standard cleaning tools in MIUI remove only the tip of the iceberg.

This article is not just a collection of “delete unnecessary files” tips, but we will break down the hidden sources of memory filling that even experienced users ignore, from the cache of system applications to dead ones» APK-You'll also learn how to safely transfer data to a memory card without losing the functionality of your applications.

1. Analysis of busy memory: what exactly "eats" the place

Before you clean, you need to know which files are taking up memory. Redmi Note 7 has built-in tools and third-party utilities for this.

1. Storage menu: Go to Settings → About Phone → Storage. This displays the memory distribution by category (applications, media, systems, etc.) Click on any category to see details.
2. Application analysis: In the same menu, tap Apps, and it will show how much space each takes up. Look at programs with a capacity of >300 MB.

However, the built-in MIUI tools do not show hidden files (such as system application cache or dalvik-cache data).

• 🔍 Files by Google (free, from Google): Shows junk files, duplicates and large media files.
• 📊 SD Maid (paid version): finds residual files after uninstalling applications and cleans dalvik-cache.
• 🛠️ Storage Analyzer (for advanced): builds diagrams of occupied space by folder.

An important nuance: on the Redmi Note 7 with MIUI 12+, some system folders (/data/app, /data/dalvik-cache) are hidden even for root users. If the analytics show 2-5 GB of Unknown Data, that's them.

2. Cleaning of cache: system and user

Cache is a temporary file that creates applications to make things faster, like Instagram cache stories and Google Maps cache maps, and the problem is that many programs don't automatically clear the cache, and it snowballs.

How to clean:

• 🧹 Cleaning the cache of all applications: Settings → Annexes → Select an application → Warehouse → Clear the cache. Use Settings for mass cleaning. → Warehouse → Clear (button at the bottom of the screen).
• 🗑️ Delete the cache of system applications: even if you don’t use Mi Video or Mi Music, their cache can take hundreds of megabytes.
• ⚠️ Dalvik-cache: This is the cache of the Android virtual machine. Cleared only through Settings → Additionally. → Cleanup (MIUI) or after rebooting in recovery.

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse "Clear Cache" and "Clear Data"! The second action will reset the app's settings (e.g., log out of your WhatsApp account).

To automatically clean the cache, set automatic tasks in the Security App (included in MIUI):

1. Open Security → Cleanup.
2. Turn on the Auto Clean option and set up a schedule (e.g. once every 3 days).
3. Add messengers (e.g. Telegram) to the exceptions so you don’t lose downloaded files.

Clear the cache of user applications

Check system applications (Mi Video, Mi Music, Browser)

Do not touch the application data (cache only!)

Restart the phone after cleaning-->

3. Removal of unnecessary applications and their residues

The Redmi Note 7 has a lot of MIUI apps that can't be removed by standard means, but even those apps take up space -- especially if you're not using them. Here's how to deal with them:

To remove system applications without root rights use ADB-team:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.video


adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.music

Replace com.miui.video with the batch name of the unwanted application (you can find it through the App Inspector in the Play Market).

⚠️ Warning: Removing system applications may disrupt the work MIUI. For example, removing Mi Security will turn off the virus scanner and garbage cleanup!

After uninstallation, check the folders:

• 📁 /sdcard/Android/obb — This is where the game data is stored (may weigh) 1-3 GB).
• 📁 /sdcard/Android/data — Cache and application data. You can clean it manually, but some programs will then require re-authorization.

4. Optimization of media files: photos, videos and music

Media files are the main memory eater, like 10-minute video in a video. 4K weight ~1.5 GB, and RAW-Camera photos, up to 20MB each, and there are a number of ways to reduce the size of the Redmi Note 7:

• 📸 Compress Photos/Video: Use Google Files (Cleanup tab» → «Large files or Photo Compress for batch compression without loss of quality.
• 🎥 Change camera resolution: by default, Redmi Note 7 shoots video in Full HD (1080p). Switch to the switch. HD (720p) chamber → Settings → Video resolution.
• 🎵 Optimize music: Convert tracks from FLAC into MP3 (320 kbps via MediaHuman Audio Converter.
• ☁️ Move to the cloud: upload your photo to Google Photos (up to 15GB free) or Mi Cloud (5GB), then delete local copies.

For automatic optimization, enable the “Adaptive Storage” function** in Google Photos:

1. Open Google Photos → Settings → Free up the space.
2. The application will prompt you to delete files already uploaded to the cloud.

If you shoot video often, look at the bitrate.In the Redmi Note 7, it's default high (17 Mbps for 1080p).

1. Install the Camera2 API Probe and check for bitrate adjustment support.
2. Use Open Camera or Footage to manually set up (optimum: 8-10 Mbps for 1080p).

5. Data transfer to memory card: nuances for Redmi Note 7

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 supports microSD cards up to 256 GB, but there are limitations:

• ✅ Media files (photos, videos, music) are transferred without problems.
• ⚠️ Applications can only be partially migrated (not all support this feature).
• ❌ System data (cache, APK) map-free.

How to transfer applications to SD-map:

1. Insert the card and format it as internal memory (all data on it will be deleted!). To do this: Settings → Storage → SD card → Set up → Internal memory.
2. After formatting, go to Settings → Applications → Select App → Storage → Change → SD Card.

⚠️ Attention: Transfer of applications to SD It can slow them down because the read/write speed of the memory card is lower than that of the built-in drive.

For media files, it is easier to use a file manager:

1. Open Files by Google or Mi File Manager.
2. Select files (for example, the DCIM/Camera folder).
3. Click “Move” and select a memory card.

If the memory card is not determined:

• 🔌 Check if your card supports exFAT (optimum for files) >4GB).
• 🛠️ Format it on PC in FAT32 (volume <64 GB or exFAT.
• 📱 Reboot the phone after inserting the card.

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If it stops working after you move the app to SD, try clearing the cache (Settings → Apps → Clear cache) and sometimes this solves the problem without re-transferring it.

6. Hidden sources of memory filling: what you don't notice

Even after cleaning the cache and deleting unnecessary files, memory can melt in front of your eyes, due to hidden processes that MIUI does not mention:

• 📥 Update files MIUI: Every time you check for updates, the system downloads a weight packet. 1.5-2.5 GB in /sdcard/MIUI/Update. After installation, it must be removed manually.
• 📡 Logs and dumps: when the system crashes, it creates.log and.dmp files in the system. /sdcard/MIUI/debug_log. They can weigh up to 1 GB.
• 🤖 Dalvik-cache and ART: These files are occupied 500 MB–1.5 GB and stored in /data/dalvik-cache. Cleaned only through recovery or after resetting.
• 📦 Residues APK: After updating applications through the Play Market, the old ones APK-files remain /sdcard/Android/data/com.android.vending/cache.

How to deal with it:

1. Turn off automatic update download: Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → ⚙️ → Autoloading updates (turn off).
2. Clear the folder. debug_log: Use a file manager with root access or ADB-Command: Adb shell rm -rf /sdcard/MIUI/debug_log/*
3. Remove old APKs: In Files by Google, select Cleanup → Installer Files.

If you use root rights, clear dalvik-cache with the command:

su


rm -rf /data/dalvik-cache/*




reboot

⚠️ Note: Removing files from /data/dalvik-cache If you're not sure, you can crash without root.

7.Extreme measures: reset to factory settings

If after all the manipulations of free memory remained <5 GB, and the phone is slowing down, and it's time to consider a hard reset, which will delete all the data, including the data:

• 📱 Applications and their settings.
• 📷 Photos, videos, music (unless saved to a map or cloud).
• 📋 Contacts, SMS, Call logs (unless synced with Mi Account or Google).

How to reset:

1. Create a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
2. Go to Settings → About Phone → Resetting → Delete all data.
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

After discharge:

• ✅ Do not restore the backup completely – select only contacts and important data.
• ✅ Install apps selectively, not all at once.
• ✅ Set up automatic cache cleanup in the Security App.

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Factory reset is the last chance to bring the phone back to life, but if the memory is quickly filled up after the reset, the problem may be a malfunction of the drive (wear and tear of flash memory).

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory release