The Xiaomi Redmi 6, released in 2018, is still a popular budget smartphone due to its reliability and low price, but over time, even 16 or 32 GB of internal memory begin to get clogged with garbage: app cache, duplicate photos, remnants of deleted programs and system files. If your Redmi 6 slows down, issues notifications about memory shortages or can not update applications, it’s time to do a general cleaning.
In this article, we’ll look at 7 working ways to clean up memory, from basic (cache removal and unnecessary files) to radical (factory reset), focusing on hidden MIUI folders that eat gigabytes unnoticed, and tools built into firmware, and learn how to disable automatic backups of MI Cloud, which can take up to 3-5 GB on older Xiaomi models.
1.Diagnosis: Why is memory clogged on Redmi 6
Before cleaning, you need to understand what exactly takes up space. On Redmi 6 with MIUI 9-12 (depending on the firmware version), the memory is divided into:
- 📱 System files (firmware, kernel, preinstalled applications) – usually 4-6 GB.
- 📁 User data (photo, video, music, documents).
- 🗑️ Application cache (temporary files to speed up the work of programs).
- 👻 Hidden files MIUI (Logs, dumps, backups).
- 🎮 Remnants of remote games/applications (often folders remain) Android/obb and Android/data).
To see the memory distribution:
- Open the settings → About the phone → Memory.
- Click on the chart - the system will show the details by category.
- Please note the “Other” section, where unnecessary files are often hidden.
⚠️ Attention: If the "Other" section is more than 2-3 GB, this is an excuse for deep cleaning. MIUI 2. Cache cleaning applications and the Cash system are temporary files that create applications to speed up work. Over time, they grow to several gigabytes. Redmi 6 cache can be cleaned in two ways: Method 1: Through settings MIUI Go to Settings. → Annexes → All apps. Select an app (like YouTube or Facebook). Click Clear cache (not to be confused with Clear data - it will delete account settings!) Method 2: Mass cleanup (for MIUI 10 and later) Open the Security app (shield icon). Select Cleanup → Deep cleaning. Check the boxes for unnecessary files and click Clear. Important: Do not clear the cache of system applications (e.g. com.android.systemui) - this can cause interface failures. Delete the social media cache (VK, Instagram, TikTok) Clear browser cache (Chrome, Mi Browser) Remove temporary messenger files (Telegram, WhatsApp) Do not touch the cache of system applications (Settings, Phone)--> 3. Removing unnecessary files and duplicates Photos, videos and documents are often duplicated or saved in multiple copies. 6 This is especially true because of the automatic backup. MI Cloud and Google Photos. How to find and remove duplicates: Install Files by Google (free in Play Market). → Duplicate files. View the proposed files and delete the unnecessary ones. Clean the Download folder. Storage/Download) smacks up APK-To clean it, open Explorer (standard File app). Go to Internal Memory. → Download. Sort files by date (⋮ → Sorting → By date) and remove old ones. ⚠️ Note: Do not delete files with the.apkm or.xapk extension, these may be parts of installed games (such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile. 4. Cleaning up hidden folders MIUI and residues of applications MIUI It creates a lot of hidden folders that you can't see in a standard conductor. 1–2 GB of memory. Here's where to look for them: Folder Way What can I delete Logs MIUI /sdcard/MIUI/debug_log All files with.log or.txt backups /sdcard/MIUI/backup/AllBackup Old backups (if not needed) Remains of games /sdcard/Android/obb Remote game folders (e.g. com.tencent.ig for PUBG) Cash updates. /sdcard/Download/rom Firmware files after update To see hidden folders: Install Total Commander or FX File Explorer. Turn on the hidden files in the Explorer settings. Delete the unnecessary files from the table above. What happens if you delete the folder? Android/obb? If you delete the obb folder for the installed game (for example, Free Fire or Asphalt) 9), The game will stop running and will require you to re-upload additional data (may weigh) 1–2 Only delete folders of games you have already deleted from your phone. 5. Disabling automatic reservation MI Cloud MI Cloud automatically backs up photos, notes and SMS, Even if you didn't ask for it, on Redmi. 6 s 16 GB of memory can eat up to 3–5 GB. To disable: Go to Settings → Accounts. → MI Cloud. disable Photo Sync and Auto-Reserve. delete old backups in Backup. Also check Google Photos settings: Open Google Photos app. Click on the avatar. → Photo settings → Backup and sync. Disable the feature or choose High Quality over Original (saves space). 💡If you need backups but don't have enough space, transfer them to your computer. 6 down USB, copy the folder /sdcard/MIUI/backup On a PC, and then remove it from your phone. 6. Transfer applications to memory card (if supported) Redmi 6 In some versions, it supports microSD cards to 256 GB. If you have a map installed, you can transfer some of the applications to it: Open Settings → Apps. Select an app (like WhatsApp or Spotify). Click Storage → Change. → Memory map. Limitations: 🚫 Not all applications support portability (especially system applications). 🚫 After the transfer, the application may work slower. 🚫 Some games, for example, PUBG Mobile will not work with memory card. ⚠️ Attention: If you remove the memory card after transferring the applications, these programs will stop working. Before retrieving, transfer them back to internal memory. 7. Factory reset (ultimate method) If nothing worked and the memory is still clogged with no one knows what, it will leave a complete reset.This will delete all data, including photos, contacts and apps, so first make a backup: Step 1: Backup 📸 Copy photos and videos to your computer or cloud. 📞 Export contacts through Contacts → ⋮ → Imports/Exports. 🎮 Save game data (if the game supports sync with your account). Step 2: Reset → Additionally. → Reset and reset. Select Reset. Confirm and wait for the reboot (it takes 5-10 minutes. Install only the necessary applications and monitor your memory to avoid repeated clogs. 💡Factory reset is the last chance if memory is clogged by 90%+ And the other methods didn't work. Once reset, Redmi 6 will run faster, but all the data will be lost. FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up Redmi 6 memory: Can you increase the memory on Redmi 6 from 16 to 32 GB? No, the internal memory can not be increased. The only option is to use a microSD card (if your model supports it). Why does the cache clear up again after a day? That's okay -- the cache is recreated when you use the applications. To slow down the process: Limit the background activity of the applications in Settings. → Battery → Battery Optimization: Turn off automatic app updates in the Play Market. How to Remove Pre-Installed Applications MIUI (Bloatware?? Without root rights, you can’t completely remove system applications (such as Mi Music or Mi Video) but you can disable: Go to Settings → Apps. Select an unnecessary application (e.g. Mi Pay). Click Disable (do not "Delete"). Complete removal will require unlocking the bootloader and superuser rights (root), which is not recommended for beginners. What to do if the memory is clogged, but the settings show that 10 is free+ GB? Is this a mistake? MIUI, When the system is not correctly displaying occupied space, try: Reboot the phone. Clear the cache through Security. → Clean it up. Check the memory through a third-party app (like DiskUsage). If the problem persists, reset to factory settings. Can you clean the memory with a computer? Yes, connect Redmi 6 to your PC via a computer. USB (Select the File Transfer Mode). Then: Remove unnecessary files from DCIM, Download, Pictures folders. Use programs like CCleaner to clean the cache (but be careful with system files!).