Memory Cleanup on Xiaomi Redmi 9: A Complete Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions

Your Xiaomi Redmi 9 is slowing down, and notifications of memory shortages appear every day? Don't rush to buy a new phone or expand microSD memory. In 90% of cases, the problem can be solved by software methods - just know how to properly clean memory without risk to the system. This article will help you understand the causes of filled storage and will offer 7 working ways to free up space, including hidden MIUI features that few people know about.

Redmi 9 (codenamed lancelot) features a combination of 32/64/128 GB of internal memory with the ability to expand to 512 GB. But even with a memory card, the system actively uses internal storage for cache, updates and temporary files. The main mistake users make is to delete only visible files through the conductor, while the main “eaters” of memory are hidden in system folders and application settings. We will show how to find and safely delete unnecessary data without resorting to radical measures like factory resets.

Memory Use Analysis: What Takes Place?

Before you start cleaning, it’s important to understand which files and applications eat up the lion’s share of memory. MIUI 12/13/14 (depending on the firmware version of your Redmi 9) has a built-in storage analyzer that visualizes the allocation of memory by category.

To open it up:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Memory (or Settings → Memory in new versions).
2. Wait for the analysis to be completed (may take a while) 10-30 seconds).
3. Click on any category (such as “Apps” or “Media Files”) to see the details.

Typical memory allocation on Redmi 9 after a year of use:

Critical information: On Redmi 9 with 32 GB of memory, the system reserves up to 6 GB for its own needs (firmware, recovery, logs), this data is not available to the user and does not appear in the storage analyzer.

2.Cleaning App Cache: A Quick Way to Free 1-3GB

Application cache is a temporary file that is created to speed up programs, accumulates over time and can take up to several gigabytes. Unlike these applications, the cache can be deleted without risking functionality.

How to clear the cache for all applications at once:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Sort by size.
3. Click Clear the cache (the button will appear after sorting).

For selective cleaning:

• 📱 Go to the settings of a particular application (for example, YouTube or Telegram).
• 🧹 Select Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
• 🚫 Avoid the Clear Data button – this will delete all settings and accounts!

Close all active applications |Plug your phone to charge (process may take time) |Put the free space before and after cleaning |Do not clear the cache of system applications (e.g., Settings or Phone)

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⚠️ Warning: Clearing the cache of Google Play Services or Mi Account may cause temporary authorization errors.

3. Removal of unnecessary applications and their residues

Redmi 9 often comes with pre-installed apps (blots) that can’t be removed by standard means, but can be disabled or removed with ADB (for advanced users), and many programs leave behind “junk” even after uninstallation.

How to find and remove unnecessary applications:

• 🔍 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 📊 Sort by size and pay attention to underutilized programs.
• 🗑️ To remove the tap on the annex → Remove (or Disable for Systems).
• 🧹 Use Files by Google to clean up your residues (available in the Play Market).

List of safe to remove system applications (ADB required):

pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.analytics


pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.midrop




pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer




pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.player

⚠️ Warning: Removing com.android.vending (Play Market) or com.google.android.gms (Google Services) apps will make your phone inoperable! Before experimenting, back up via Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

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

Media files are the main memory eaters. On Redmi 9 with a 13MP camera, one.jpg photo takes 3-5 MB, and a minute of video in Full HD takes up to 100 MB. To this are added screenshots (save in /Pictures/Screenshots), uploaded memes and duplicates.

Effective ways to make room:

• 📸 Use Google Photos with Free up space (compresses photos to “High Quality” with unlimited storage).
• 🎥 Transfer video to your PC or cloud (such as Mega or Yandex Drive).
• 🔄 Remove duplicates with Files by Google or CCleaner.
• 📂 Move media files to microSD (if installed). To do this, select files from the gallery. → More. → Move it.

How to reduce the size of new photos and videos:

1. Open the camera → Settings (cogs) → resolution of the photo.
2. Choose 9 MP instead of 13 MP (the difference in quality is minimal, and memory savings up to 30%).
3. For video, install Full HD (30 fps) instead of 4K.

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If you often take screenshots, turn them off to the gallery. To do this, in MIUI 14, go to Settings → Special Features → Screenshots → Save screenshots and turn off the option.

5. Cleanup of downloads and temporary files

The Download folder and /data/local/tmp system folder often contain gigabytes of unnecessary files: outdated APKs, archives, documents, and temporary installer files. Many users forget to clean this folder because it is hidden from view in a standard Explorer.

How to find and delete unnecessary files:

• 📁 Open Explorer (or Files by Google) and go to /Storage/emulated/0/Download.
• 🗃️ Sort files by size or date of change.
• 🧹 Remove unnecessary APK (installation files), archives.zip/.rar older documents 6 months.
• 🔍 To clean temporary files, use the command in ADB: adb shell rm -rf /data/local/tmp/*

List of safe file extensions to remove:

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The /data/local/tmp folder automatically clears when the phone restarts, but some files can stay there for years if the device rarely shuts down.

6.Use of memory card: correct setting

Redmi 9 supports microSD up to 512GB, but many users have trouble migrating apps or saving files to a card.The fact is that MIUI by default uses internal memory for most operations.

How to set up a memory card as your primary storage:

1. Insert microSD (UHS-I U3 class is recommended for speed).
2. When you first connect, select Internal Memory (Warning: The card will be formatted!).
3. Go to Settings. → Memory. → Default storage and select SD-map.
4. For application transfer: Settings → Annexes → Select an application → Warehouse → Change. → SD-map.

Limitations on the use of microSD:

• ❌ Not all applications support mapping (especially system-based ones).
• ❌ The speed of applications from the card is lower than from internal memory.
• ❌ Some features (like Google Camera) may not work with a card.

⚠️ Note: If you choose Internal Memory for microSD, the card will be encrypted and not readable on other devices!

7.Reset to factory settings: a last resort

If all previous methods failed and there is critically little space (less than 1 GB), a hard reset would be considered, which would delete all data, including accounts, settings and installed apps, but return the phone to a “clean” state.

How to make a reset without losing important data:

1. Create a backup copy: 📱 Contacts: sync with Google Account. 📸 Photo/video: copy to PC or cloud. 🔑 Passwords: Export from Google Smart Lock.

Settings → About the phone → Reset settings → Erase all data

Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

What to do after the discharge:

• 🔄 Restore data from a backup (don’t install everything at once – it will fill up the memory again!).
• 🚫 Do not install applications from unknown sources.
• 📊 Regularly check your memory through Settings → Memory.

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The factory reset on Redmi 9 does not remove system updates, but will return to the last version of MIUI installed, not the one you bought.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory cleanup