Hand-cleaning Xiaomi Redmi from garbage: 7 proven ways without software

Your Xiaomi Redmi is slowing down and your disk space is melting away, and it's caused by the accumulated system debris: app cache, remnants of deleted programs, temporary files and duplicates. Unlike automatic cleaners, which often delete the necessary data, manual cleaning allows you to accurately control the process and free up to 30-40% of memory without risk to the system.

This guide is suitable for all Redmi models (from Redmi 4X to Redmi Note 13 Pro+) based on MIUI or HyperOS. We will break down secure methods - from cleaning the cache to deleting hidden files that are not visible in the standard file manager. Important: before you start, back up important data (photos, contacts, messages) through Settings → About Phone → Backup.

1.Cleaning the app cache is a quick way to free up 1-3GB

Cache is a temporary file that applications create to speed up work, accumulate over time and take up gigabytes of memory. At Xiaomi, the cache can be cleared in two ways: for individual applications or globally.

To remove the cache for a specific application:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Select an app (such as Facebook or TikTok).
• 🧹 Click Clear Cache (not to be confused with Clear Data – this will delete your account settings!).
• 🔄 Repeat for all "heavy" applications (messengers, social networks, games).

For mass cleaning of cache of all applications:

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup.
2. Click Clear cache (the system will show how much space will be freed).
3. Confirm the action.

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If the app is slower after cleaning the cache, it's normal, and the cache will recover automatically the next time you use it, but without any junk files.

⚠️ Note: Do not clear the cache of system applications (e.g. com.android.systemui or com.miui.home) This may cause interface failures. MIUI/HyperOS.

2. Removal of unnecessary APKs and residues of remote programs

When you delete applications through Settings or Play Market, there are often “tails” left: folders with data, cached files and even APK-Packages (installation files) can be found manually.

How to remove residues:

• 📂 Open the File Manager (Standard or Mi File Manager).
• 🔍 Go to the folder. /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/ — herein, the application data is stored.
• 🗑️ Delete folders with the names of remote programs (for example, com.whatsapp, if WhatsApp is already uninstalled).
• 📦 Check the folder. /storage/emulated/0/Download/ For the presence of old.apk files.

To find hidden residues, use the command in ADB (PC connection required):

adb shell pm list packages -u

This command will show all the apps with the -u flag (uninstalled), but the ones that are still in the system.

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name.packet

3. Cleaning up the DCIM/.thumbnails folder - hidden thumbnails

Every time you view a photo or video in a gallery, the system creates thumbnails (previews) in a hidden folder called.thumbnails, which eventually grows to 500 MB-1 GB, although the original photos have long been deleted.

How to clean:

1. Open the File Manager and enable the display of hidden files (in the manager settings).
2. Go to /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails/.
3. Delete all files inside (they have type names) thumb_123456789.jpg).
4. Reboot the phone – the folder will be created again, but already empty.

⚠️ Warning: Do not delete the.thumbnails folder itself, it will be restored automatically!

If the folder is not displayed, try an alternative path:

• 📌 Connect your phone to your PC through USB file transfer.
• 🖥️ Open the folder on the computer This computer → [Your phone name] → Internal storage → DCIM.
• 🔍 Enable the display of hidden files in the Windows Explorer settings.

4. Removal of duplicate photos and videos

Duplicates appear when you back up, send files through messengers or sync errors with the cloud. Xiaomi has a built-in tool to find them:

How to find and remove duplicates:

• 🖼️ Open the gallery. → Click on three dots in the upper right corner → Management.
• 🔍 Select Duplicates – the system will scan the memory and show the duplicate files.
• ✅ Mark unnecessary copies and click Delete.

If the built-in tool doesn't find duplicates, use third-party apps (like Files by Google or Duplicate Files Fixer) that analyze not only photos, but also documents, music.

Check that the originals are not corrupted | Compare the dates of the creation of files | Make sure that duplicates are not used in other applications | Backup important files

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Pay special attention to the folders:

• /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/ – screenshots are often duplicated.
• /storage/emulated/0/WhatsApp/Media/ – This is where media files from chat rooms are stored.
• /storage/emulated/0/Telegram/Telegram Images/ – a photo from Telegram.

5. Cleaning system logs and dumps

MIUI and HyperOS are actively writing logs for debugging, which are between 100MB and 1GB in size and are rarely needed by the average user, and can be safely deleted.

Where to look for logs:

How to clean:

1. Open the file manager with root permissions (for example, MiXplorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Go to the specified folders and delete files with the extensions.log,.dmp,.txt (except readme.txt).
3. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files in folders /system/ or /vendor/ — This can lead to a bootloop (locked load) of the phone!

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System logs are automatically restored after a reboot, but without the outdated data, it is safe and does not affect the operation of the phone.

6.Storage optimization through Settings → Memory

Xiaomi has a built-in memory analysis tool that shows which files take up the most space and offers cleanup options.

How to use:

• 📊 Go to Settings. → Memory.
• 🔍 Wait for the analysis to be completed (may take a while) 1-2 minute).
• 🗑️ Click Clean next to categories: 🎵 Audio – removes unused melodies and voice recordings. 📄 Documents - cleaning old ones PDF, Excel and other files. 🎮 Games – Deletes cache and temporary game files.

Please note the Recommendations section – here the system offers:

• 🔄 Remove unused applications.
• 📤 Transfer files to SD-map.
• 🗃️ Archive old photos and videos.

If you have Deep Clean option, use it. It removes:

• Google Play Services and MIUI System.
• Temporary update files.
• Mi Cloud's unneeded data.

7. reset /cache partition cache (for advanced users)

The /cache partition stores temporary update, kernel, and recovery files, and cleaning it helps if the phone has slowed down after a MIUI/HyperOS update or custom firmware installation.

How to drop the cache:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo (Recovery mode) appears.
3. With volume buttons, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
4. Confirm the action of the power button.
5. Reboot your phone (Reboot → System)

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse Wipe Cache with Wipe Data! The second option will erase all data on the phone, including apps and settings.

After cleaning /cache:

• 🔄 The first download may take longer than usual (up to 5 minutes).
• 📱 Some applications will reassemble cache (short-term lags are possible).
• 🔒 Updates MIUI I'll have to re-download.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up Xiaomi Redmi