How to Clean Xiaomi Redmi: From Cache to Deep Optimization

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are known for their price-quality ratio, but even the most productive models eventually begin to “slow down”, the reason most often lies not in the “iron”, but in clogged memory, background debris and unoptimized system, 87% Redmi users notice a decrease in speed of work already through 6-8 months of active use - and this despite the fact that the hardware capabilities of the devices are designed for 3-4 year-end.

In this article, we will discuss all cleaning methods – from basic (deletion of cache and unnecessary files) to advanced (deep optimization). MIUI, work ADB Importantly, the methods are suitable for all modern Redmi models (starting with the 2019 Redmi Note 7 and later), but some items require an unlocked bootloader or root rights – we will specify these cases separately. You will also learn what “cleansing” actually harms the phone and reduces the life of flash memory (this applies to the popular “optimizers” from Google Play).

1.Diagnostics: How to tell if your phone really needs cleaning

Before you start, check the real-world metrics — often the brakes are not related to memory clogs, but to background processes or overheating. Here are the key symptoms that indicate a need to clean up:

• 📉 Disk space drops below 10% (critical threshold for the MIUI).
• 🐢 Delays in opening applications longer 2-3 Seconds (with normal operation - until 1 seconds).
• 🔄 Spontaneous reboots or drop-offs from apps (especially in Chrome, Instagram, TikTok).
• 📱 Heating the case without load (related to constant recording / reading memory).

To check the current state, go to Settings. → The phone. → Memory. Notice two parameters:

• «Occupied by the system" - if the value exceeds 12-15 GB, it's a sign of a bloated cache. MIUI.
• “Other files” – here the remnants of remote applications, logs and temporary data accumulate.

⚠️ Warning: If you see "Damaged Files" in the Memory section (usually red), don't manually delete them, which can cause a system crash. Instead, reboot your phone and wait for the file system to automatically check.

For more detailed diagnosis, use the built-in Security app:

1. Open Security. → Click on the “Optimization” icon (lightning icon).
2. Slip on “Deep Clean” – the system will scan the phone for unnecessary files.
3. Please note the “Big Files” section – forgotten videos or backups may be hidden here.

Basic cleaning: removing cache and debris without data loss

Start with the safest methods that don’t affect user data, and you can do these things weekly without risk to the system.

Clearing the application cache

Cash speeds up programs, but over time it grows to gigabytes. MIUI There are two ways to remove it:

• 🧹 Selective cleaning: Settings → Annexes → Select an application → Warehouse → Clear cache.We recommend starting with Google Play Services, Facebook and MIUI Systems – They occupy the most space.
• 🗑️ Mass cleaning: Settings → Warehouse → Cache data. → Clean. This method removes the cache of all applications at once.

After clearing the cache, some apps (like YouTube or Google Maps) can load longer on the first run - that's normal.

2.2. Deletion of unnecessary files through the "Files"

V MIUI There is a built-in file manager with garbage analysis function:

1. Open the Files app (folder icon).
2. Go to the "Cleaning" tab» → «Waste analysis».
3. Check the boxes: 🗃️ Downloads - old ones APK, images, documents. 📁 Duplicate files – especially relevant for photos. 🎵 Audio files - cache of music from social networks.

"Clean it up."

⚠️ Attention: Do not delete the folder MIUI In the root directory, it contains theme and wallpaper system data. Also, avoid deleting files with the.db or.dat extension in the Android folder, which are application databases.

2.3. Clearing the history and data of the browser

Browsers (especially Chrome and MI Browser accumulates gigabytes of cache, cookies and history to clear:

1. Chrome: ⋮ → History → Clear the data → Select “Cached Images” and “Cookies».
2. V MI Browser: ⋮ → Settings → Confidentiality → Clear the data.

To speed up the browser, also turn off autoloading video in the site settings.

Clear the app cache|Remove garbage through Files"|Check the download folder"|Clear the history of the browser|Reboot the phone-->

3. Advanced Cleanup: Working with System Files and Hidden Data

If the basic methods don't work, it's time to dig deeper, and you'll need to be careful, because doing the wrong thing can cause you to malfunction. MIUI.

Clearing Dalvik cache (for power users only)

Dalvik cache is an optimized version of an application that the system creates to make it work faster, and when it updates or crashes, it can clog up to clear it.

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up to enter Recovery Mode.
3. Select "Wipe & Reset» → «Wipe Cache».
4. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

This procedure does not delete user data, but it can reset some application settings.

Removal of Remnant Remnants of Remote Applications

When you uninstall programs, you often have folders of data in your system to find them.

1. Open the files. → cross over /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/.
2. Delete folders with app names you have deleted long ago (e.g., com.tencent.mm for WeChat if you uninstall it).

⚠️ Note: Do not delete active application folders, which will make them inoperable, and avoid folders with names com.miui, com.android, and com.google.

Cleaning of system logs (logcat)

MIUI It keeps detailed logs of the system, which can take up to 500 MB:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and enable debugging. USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times) → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
2. On PC, open the command line and type: adb shell su rm -rf /data/log/* rm -rf /cache/logs/* rm -rf /data/tombstones/* rm -rf /data/anr/*
3. Reboot the phone.

This procedure requires root or unlocked bootloader rights, and without them, commands won't work.

4. Optimization MIUI: slack-ups

MIUI It has a lot of hidden features that help keep the phone clean, and most users don't know about them, but they can speed up the system a lot.

Disabling application background activity

Many programs continue to run in the background, consuming memory and battery power, to limit them:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application → «Prohibit Autostart and Limit Background Activity».

For mass shutdown, use the Battery and Performance:

1. Settings → Battery and performance → Battery management.
2. Select “Limit background activity” for unnecessary applications.

Set up the “Light Mode”

If your Redmi is older than 2 years, turn on Easy Mode – it turns off animations and simplifies the interface:

1. Settings → Special facilities → Easy regime.
2. Activate the switch and select “Simplified display”.

This will reduce the load on the processor and increase the battery life on the 10-15%.

Resetting the graphic settings

MIUI It automatically adjusts the graphics to the games, but sometimes those settings get knocked out to get everything back to the factory:

1. Settings → Special facilities → Developer settings (if no item, tap 7 times on the Version) MIUI in the section About the telephone).
2. Find “Resetting the settings of the graphics driver” and confirm the action.

This will help if games or videos start to "lay" for no apparent reason.

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Regular cleaning of cache and restriction of background processes increase the speed of the phone on the phone. 30-40% data-free.

5.Memory Management: How to Free Up Space Without Deleting Important Files

If you have less than 5GB of free space in your phone, the system starts to slow down due to a lack of space for temporary files.

5.1. Transfer of applications to a memory card

Not all applications support the transfer to SD-map, but the ones that support it can be moved:

1. Settings → Annexes → Select an application → Warehouse → Change. → Memory map.
2. Note: Some apps (such as WhatsApp) allow you to transfer only a portion of your data.

5.2 Optimization of photos and videos

gallery MIUI It has a built-in tool for compressing media files:

1. Open the gallery. → ⋮ → Press the photo.
2. Select the quality "High" (it almost does not differ from the original visually, but reduces the size of the product by the size of the product). 40-60%).

We also recommend that you enable automatic uploading of photos to Google Photos, followed by deleting local copies (if you have backup).

Removal of old updates MIUI

After updating the system, old firmware files remain in memory and can take up to 2-3 GB to remove them:

1. Open the files. → cross over /storage/emulated/0/Download/rom/.
2. Delete all files with the.zip extension (these are firmware archives).

To perform the discharge:

1. Settings → About phone → Reset settings → Delete all data.
2. Select “Clear Everything” (not “Reset” – it only removes settings, not data).
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

Once reset, the phone will be like new. Don't restore the data from the backup right away -- first check if the brakes are back up again. If the problem is gone, it's been software junk, not hardware.

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After reset, don't install all the apps at once. Add them one at a time for a week, watching the performance, so you can identify a "gluttonous" application that eats up resources.

7.What NOT to do when cleaning up Xiaomi Redmi

There are a lot of "advice" on the Internet that not only doesn't help, but it hurts the phone.

• 🚫 Use Google Play cleaners (e.g. Clean Master, CCleaner) that often delete files, display false warnings, and consume resources themselves. MIUI It has built-in cleaning tools – they are enough.
• 🚫 Formatting internal memory manually through a PC, which will cause partition loss. /data and the "bricking" of the phone.
• 🚫 Uninstall system applications without root, even if you disable Mi Video or Mi Music through the ADB, It could disrupt the job. MIUI.
• 🚫 Clearing the cache too often (e.g. daily) causes applications to reassemble the cache every time, which increases the workload on the processor.

Also avoid:

• 🔋 Unloading the phone to zero in the hope that it will reset the system.
• 🔄 Turn off your phone overnight to “clean up RAM». MIUI It controls memory itself, and frequent reboots only wear out flash memory.

8.Prevention: How to keep your phone clean

To avoid bringing your phone to a state where it is “barely breathing”, follow simple rules:

• 📅 Weekly: Clear the app cache and check the Download folder.
• 📱 Once a month: Perform a deep cleaning through Security and remove duplicate photos.
• 🔄 Once in 3 months: Reboot your phone (this clears RAM and resets temporary files).
• 🚫 Constant: Stop installing unnecessary applications. Each program adds background processes.

Also, set up automatic optimization:

1. Open Security. → «Optimization» → turn on "Autocleaning».
2. Select a time (for example, every Saturday at 3:00).

If you are actively using instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), regularly clean their cache:

• In Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Clear Telegram cache.
• WhatsApp: ⋮ → Settings → Memory. → Clean up.

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Regular prevention (once in a year) 1-2 weekly) will save you from the need for radical measures such as resetting to factory settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up Xiaomi Redmi