Free memory on Xiaomi Redmi 7A: from cache to memory card

Xiaomi Redmi 7A with its modest 16 or 32 GB of internal memory is a real champion in saving space, but only until the system begins to issue warnings about the shortage of storage. Even when used carefully, junk files, app cache and MIUI updates eat precious megabytes. In this article, we will discuss 7 proven ways to free memory on the Redmi 7A — from basic to advanced, including hidden MIUI features, which are silent official documentation.

The feature of this model is the eMMC 5.1 architecture with a limited rewrite cycle, so frequent manual cache cleaning can reduce the life of the drive. We will show you how to clean safely, which files can be deleted without risk and which should not be touched. portability SD-card (with reservations!) before resetting to factory settings, if other methods do not help.

1. Analysis of occupied space: what eats up memory?

Before you clean, you need to figure out what exactly takes up space. Redmi 7A has built-in tools and hidden menus.

Settings → About the phone → Storage

Here you'll see a diagram of the memory distribution by category: System, Applications, Multimedia, Cash, and Others. Pay special attention to Others, which is where temporary files, logs, and remnants of deleted applications are hidden. Redmi 7A often inflates this section to 2-5 GB!

• 📊 System system (MIUI + Android: Takes on: 4-6 GB: You can’t reduce it, but you can roll back updates (more on this below).
• 📱 Applications: Even after deleting some programs leave files in the /data/data.
• 🎵 Multimedia: photo in DCIM/Thumbnails, video from messengers, downloads from the browser.
• 🗑️ Cash: the safest candidate to clean up, but not all cache files can be deleted (see the warning below).

⚠️ Note: Do not manually delete the folder /data/dalvik-cache! This is the cache of the Android virtual machine, and cleaning it without root rights will lead to a cyclical reboot of the phone.

2.Cache cleaning: what can be removed and what can not

Cache speeds up applications, but on Redmi 7A, with its small storage capacity, it's often a problem.

• 🧹 Cache of individual applications: go to Settings → Annexes → Select an application → Warehouse → Clear cache. Safe for all programs except launcher (MIUI Launcher) – clean its cache only when interface glitches.
• 🗑️ System cache: through Settings → Warehouse → Clear, deletes temporary files. MIUI, but not touching the application data.
• 🚫 What NOT to clean: Google Play Services cache will cause sync errors. Mi Account cache may be missing Xiaomi account details. folder /data/app-lib — contains application libraries.

For deep cleaning, use a combination of:

Settings → Additional → Cleaning (Security) → Deep cleaning

This tool deletes residual files after uninstalling applications that normally remain in /data/data.

Clear the messenger cache (Telegram, WhatsApp)|Delete the browser cache (Chrome, Mi Browser)|Check the Downloads folder for unnecessary files |Clear the cache of the gallery (folder.thumbnails) |Run Deep Clean in Security-->

3. Removal of unnecessary applications and "bloatware"

Redmi 7A It comes with Xiaomi apps preinstalled, many of which cannot be removed by standard means. ADB.

List of safe to remove system applications (without root):

* Removing Cleaner will free up ~150MB, but will deprive you of the memory optimization function in one click.

For removal via ADB:

1. Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.player

⚠️ Note: Deleting com.xiaomi.midrop (Mi Drop) will make it impossible to use fast file transfer between Xiaomi devices. If you use this feature, it is better to disable the application, but do not delete it.

4. Optimization of multimedia: photos, videos and downloads

DCIM and Downloads are the main memory eaters. Redmi 7A has several life hacks:

• 📸 Thumbnails: folder.thumbnails in DCIM It can weigh up to 1 GB. Remove it manually (it will recover automatically).
• 🎥 Video from messengers: WhatsApp and Telegram save videos to WhatsApp Media and Telegram. Use the built-in file manager to sort by size.
• 🔍 Find duplicates: Install Files by Google – it finds duplicate photos and prompts you to delete them.
• ☁️ Cloud storage: Move your photo to Google Photos (High Quality compression does not take up space in your account).

For automatic cleaning of downloads:

1. Open the file manager (Mi File Manager)
2. Go to Categories → Downloads.
3. Press. ⋮ → Sorting → By size.
4. Select the unnecessary files and delete them.

💡

If you get videos on WhatsApp often, turn off auto-save: Chat settings → Gallery saves up to 500MB per month when you’re actively using it.

5. Transfer of applications to SD-map: myths and reality

Officially Redmi 7A supports the transfer of applications to SD-map, but with serious limitations:

• ✅ What to transfer: Apps with support for adoptable storage (for example, some games); Multimedia files (photos, videos, music).
• ❌ What NOT to transfer: System applications (MIUI, Google Services. Apps with widgets (e.g. weather, clocks) Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) – the transfer will lead to notification errors.

How to set up correctly SD-map:

1. Insert a UHS-I (U1/U3) class card up to 256 GB.
2. When you first connect, select Internal Memory (this will format the card!).
3. After formatting, go to Settings → Apps, select the program and click Transfer to SD-map.

⚠️ Attention: If you pull out SD-card configured as internal memory, phone will not turn on until it returns! Always retrieve the card through Settings → Warehouse → Extract.

6.Reset to factory settings: when justified

If you're less than 1GB free, and the previous methods didn't work, you get a hard reset. On the Redmi 7A, you do it in two ways:

Method 1. Through the settings menu (saves files to the SD-map):

Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset → Resetting settings

Method 2. Through Recovery (full reset including internal memory):

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Power + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (Change Volume Buttons).
4. Confirm the reset and reset.

After discharge:

• 🔄 Restore only the necessary data from the backup (do not copy everything in a row!).
• 🚫 Do not install applications that previously took up a lot of space.
• 📱 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version (new versions optimized memory work).

- All installed applications and their data

Accounts (Google, Mi Account)

- Settings Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, APN

- Photos and videos (if not saved on the SD-map)

But it does not delete files on the external SD-card (unless it is formatted as an internal card).-->

7. Alternative methods: for advanced users

If the standard methods did not help, try:

• 🛠️ Root access + Magisk: Install Magisk module for cleaning /data/data - Residual files. SD Maid for deep cleaning (requires root).
• 🔧 Retraction of updates MIUI: If memory is reduced after the update, roll back to the previous version via Fastboot.Instructions: Xiaomi Firmware Updater → download the correct version → Fly through the Mi Flash Tool.
• 📦 Link2SD (Requires root: Transfer applications to SD-A map with symbolic links, even works with system applications (carefully!).

For users without root:

Install Files by Google and enable Cleanup – it finds unnecessary APKs, duplicates, and large files.

Completely clear the cache of all users (/data/dalvik-cache)

- Remove system applications without restrictions

- Transfer any applications to SD-map including games)

But it deprives of warranties and can lead to a breeze in case of errors!-->

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory release