How to Clean Xiaomi Redmi Phone Memory: From Cache to Deep Cleaning

Your Xiaomi Redmi is slowing down, apps are crashing, and the system is giving a memory warning? These are typical symptoms of clogged storage. Even on models with 128 GB or 256 GB, memory can be filled with garbage: app cache, duplicate photos, remnants of remote programs and system logs. In this article, we will discuss 7 working methods of cleaning, from basic to radical, including hidden MIUI functions that are not written in the official instructions.

Feature of Redmi smartphones (be it Redmi Note) 12, Redmi 10C Or flagship series, aggressive data caching to speed up work, plus apps open faster, minus: 3–6 months of use, the cache takes up 10–15 GB of precious space, and that's what I mean. MIUI tends to create duplicate media files (for example, thumbnails for a gallery or copies of screenshots in a folder) DCIM/.thumbnails).

Before you start cleaning, check what exactly takes up space. Go to Settings → About Phone → Memory. Here you will see a diagram of the allocation of memory by categories: System, Applications, Media, Files and Cash. If the Other partition takes up more than 5 GB, this is a sure sign that it is time to act.

1. Cleaning the application cache and system

Cache is a temporary file that creates applications that run fast, and over time, it accumulates and can take up several gigabytes. MIUI has a built-in tool to delete them, but it doesn't always clean everything. Here's how to do it right:

• 📱 Through Settings: Go to Settings → Annexes → App management, select a program (like YouTube or Facebook) and click Clear Cache. For bulk cleaning, use the Clean All button in the top menu.
• 🧹 Deep Cleanup: Some apps (like Google Play Services) don't show the real size of the cache.To see hidden data, install Files by Google from the Play Market and scan the device for "junk files».
• ⚙️ System cache: to clean system temporary files go to Settings → Memory. → Clean up and select Deep Cleanup, which will remove unnecessary logs, update residues and other service data.

Note: Clearing the cache does not delete personal data (logins, messages, photos), but it can slow down the first application download after the procedure. If the cache quickly accumulates again after cleaning, this is a signal that the application is not working correctly - consider reinstalling it.

2. Removal of duplicates and unnecessary media files

Photos and videos are the main memory eaters, and Redmi often duplicates them because of:

• 📸 Automatic miniatures (folder.thumbnails);
• 🔄 Synchronization with the cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud);
• 📱 Screenshots and screen recordings (folder) Pictures/Screenshots).

To find and remove duplicates:

1. Open the Gallery app and go to the Duplicates album (if not, install Google Files or CCleaner).
2. Manually check the folders: DCIM/Camera — photo; DCIM/Screenshots — screenshot; DCIM/.thumbnails — Miniatures (can be removed completely).

Google Files

Tip: If you use Google Photos, turn on the “Free Space” option in the app settings, it will delete photos already uploaded to the cloud from your phone, leaving only thumbnails, which will free up to 50% of memory if you have a large photo collection.

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Before mass removal, back up your photo to Mi Cloud or PC. MIUI has a bug: sometimes when cleaning the gallery, cloud copies disappear.

3. Clean up memory through Safe Mode (Safe Mode)

If your phone is slowing down and doesn't respond to normal cleaning methods, try Safe Mode, which only downloads system applications, allowing you to:

• 🛡️ remove viruses or malware;
• 🗑️ Clean the memory of “hung” files;
• 🔧 Diagnose which application is overloading the system.

How to run Safe Mode on Redmi:

1. Press the power button until the shutdown menu appears.
2. Press and hold the “Switch Off” option (or “Reboot” on new models).
3. Confirm the transition to Safe Mode. The phone will reboot with the words "Safe mode" at the bottom of the screen.

In this mode:

• Remove suspicious apps through Settings → Apps.
• Clear the cache of system applications (especially Mi Video, Mi Music, Browser – they often accumulate garbage).
• Check the space in the Settings → Memory.

To exit Safe Mode, simply restart your phone.

4.Using the built-in Cleanup tool in MIUI

MIUI has its own memory optimizer, which users often ignore, and it not only removes the cache, but also:

• 🗃️ Find out the big files (>100MB);
• 📁 Clears downloads and temporary files;
• 🔍 Analyzes rarely used applications.

How to use it:

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup.
2. Click on “Scan” and wait for analysis.
3. In the results, select the categories to clean: Application Cache; Unused Files (logs, temporary data); Duplicates (if available).

Clean up

Important: In some versions of MIUI (especially on the Redmi Note 11/12), this tool is hidden. To find it, type in the search for the settings for the "clean up" request.

5. Transfer applications to a memory card (if supported)

Not all Redmi models support microSD installation, but if your phone is equipped with a slot (e.g. Redmi 9A, Redmi Note 10), this will help free up 2-5 GB of internal memory.

1. Insert a memory card (UHS-I or A1/A2 class is recommended for speed).
2. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
3. Select an app (such as Telegram or Spotify) and click Move to SD-map».
4. Confirm action. Some system applications cannot be moved.

How to do the reset correctly:

1. Back up: Photos/video – in Google Photos or on PC; Contacts – export to VCF via Contacts → Settings → Import/Export; Apps – save the list in the Play Market (Menu → My apps → Library).

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

Enter your password (if required) and confirm the reset.

After the reboot, set the phone up as new or restore data from the backup.

⚠️ Note: On Redmi models with MIUI 13/14 After reset, you may need to re-assign your Mi Account. If you forget your password, your phone will be locked.

After a hard reset, you get 70 to 80 percent of the memory, but that's a radical measure. Use it only if other methods don't work.

7.Memory optimization to prevent filling

To prevent memory from getting clogged again, follow these rules:

• 📵 Restrict cache: In some apps (e.g. Chrome) you can set a cache limit. → Confidentiality → Clear the data → Storage settings.
• 🚫 Turn off autoboot: in Telegram, WhatsApp and other instant messengers, turn off automatic downloading of media files (especially video).
• 🔄 Cleaning regularly: Start the built-in optimizer once a month MIUI Or use Google Files to scan trash.
• ☁️ Cloud Backups: Set up an automatic photo upload to Google Photos or Mi Cloud and delete local copies after syncing.

Also, pay attention to background processes. In MIUI, many applications continue to run after closing, consuming memory, to limit them:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Management.
2. Select an app (like Facebook) and set a “Manual Mode” or “Limit background activity” restriction.

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Regularly cleaning the cache and disabling autoloading media files reduce the memory load by 30-40% after a month.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up Redmi memory