Cleaning up system memory on Xiaomi Redmi 6A: a complete guide for users

Why does Redmi 6A slow down and what does it have to do with memory?

Your Xiaomi Redmi 6A is slowing down, apps are constantly crashing, and the system is notifying you of a memory shortage? The problem lies in the architecture of a budget smartphone. The 2018 model comes with just 2 GB of RAM and 16/32 GB of internal storage, of which the MIUI system takes up to 8-10 GB out of the box. Over time, app cache, temporary files and debris from updates clog up the remaining space, leading to lags.

Unlike flagship devices, the Redmi 6A does not support microSD expansion as a full storage (media only).This means that cleaning up internal memory is the only way to get the phone back to speed. Fortunately, MIUI offers several built-in tools, as well as hidden features that few people know about.

In this article, we will look at 7 proven methods, from basic to advanced, including ADB cleaning and hidden menus of engineering mode. Importantly, some methods require superuser rights, but most methods work without them.

1. Built-in memory cleanup in MIUI: what deletes and what is missing

The easiest way is to use Xiaomi’s built-in Cleanup tool. It’s available from the Settings menu → About Phone → Memory → Cleanup. The app analyzes:

• 🗑️ Application cache (temporary files that can be safely deleted)
• 📥 Downloads (files from the browser, messengers, mail)
• 📁 Unnecessary APK (leftovers from installed applications)
• 🔍 Duplicate files (repeated photos, videos, documents)

But this method has a critical drawback: it does not affect the system cache (update files, MIUI log files) and the residual data of deleted applications, for example, after uninstalling Facebook, files weighing up to 500 MB can remain in memory, which the standard cleanup does not see.

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Before using the built-in cleaning, close all applications through the multitasking menu (button "□"). This will allow the system to remove the cache of active processes that is normally blocked.

How to start a deep cleaning:

1. Open the settings → About the phone → Memory.
2. Press Cleaning → Deep Cleaning.
3. Select file categories (we recommend marking all ticks).
4. Confirm the action with the Clean button.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files in the category System Data manually - this can lead to malfunctions MIUI. Trust in automatic analysis.

2. Manual deletion of application cache: what data can be erased without risk

If the built-in cleanup didn’t work, try removing the cache manually for the most voracious apps. For example, Google Play Services can take up to 1-2 GB, and Facebook can take up to 500 MB with cache only.

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Cache can be cleaned without consequences — these are temporary files that the application will restore the next run, but the application data (Storage tab) contains settings, logins and progress — deleting them is equivalent to reinstalling the program.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Sort the list by size (click on the three dots in the top right corner → Sort by size).
3. Select an app (like YouTube or Chrome).
4. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

The apps that most often clog up memory on Redmi 6A are:

⚠️ Note: Do not clear the cache for system applications called com.android. or com.xiaomi. (e.g. com.android.phone) This may disrupt telephony or MIUI.

3. Remove unnecessary system applications (without root)

Xiaomi Redmi 6A by default contains dozens of preinstalled applications that can not be removed by standard means, including Mi Video, Mi Music, Mi Browser, and Google services that duplicate functions (such as Google Duo and Mi Chat), these programs take up to 1-1.5 GB and run in the background, consuming memory.

You can turn them off via ADB (Android Debug Bridge) without getting root permissions.

Enable USB debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times)|Install Xiaomi drivers on PC| Download ADB Tools| Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your trusted device

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List of safe to remove applications (commands for ADB):

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer  # Mi Video


adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.player       # Mi Music




adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.browser    # Mi Browser




adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.apps.tachyon # Google Duo




adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.analytics # Xiaomi Analytics Collection

Once the commands are executed, the applications will disappear from the menu, but remain in the system (they can be returned through a reset). 6A.

4. Clean /data/local/tmp: Hidden folder with garbage

One of the little-known sources of garbage on Xiaomi is the /data/local/tmp folder. It stores temporary application installer files (APKs), update logs and remnants from incorrectly deleted programs. It is not visible manually, but can be cleaned through root-access File Manager or ADB.

Safe Way (via ADB):

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line in the folder with ADB.
2. Enter the command adb shell rm -rf /data/local/tmp/*
3. Reset the device.

This procedure frees up from 100MB to 1GB (depending on the number of installed/removed applications). For example, after updating MIUI via OTA, this folder may still have files up to 500MB in weight.

⚠️ Attention: Don't confuse /data/local/tmp file-folded /cache. The latter is not recommended to be manually cleaned, as it can disrupt the system. To clean it, use only the standard Wipe Cache Partition menu in Recovery Mode.

5.Cache reset in Recovery Mode: When it really needs to

If the phone is getting unbearably slow and previous methods haven’t worked, try resetting the partition cache (Wipe Cache Partition) – this won’t delete your data, but will clear the system cache, which can be damaged after updates or crashes.

How to do this:

1. Turn off Redmi 6A.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up at the same time until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache (use volume buttons for navigation, power button for confirmation).
4. Once you have finished, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

This method helps in cases of:

• 🔄 The phone is constantly restarted after the update. MIUI.
• 🐢 Strong lags when opening a camera or gallery.
• 📱 Apps give out a “Not enough memory” error, even though there is a place to go.

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Recovery cache resets do not delete photos, contacts or messages, but if you choose Wipe Data, all data will be erased without recovery!

6. Transfer of applications to SD-map: circumvention of restrictions MIUI

Redmi 6A does not officially support microSD porting as a full storage (Adoptable Storage is disabled in MIUI), but there is a workaround through ADB that allows the memory card to be used as internal storage.

Important: This method has limitations:

• ⚠️ The memory card must be of class 10 (UHS-I) or higher, otherwise the applications will slow down.
• ⚠️ After the transfer, the card cannot be removed - this will lead to the collapse of applications.
• ⚠️ Not all applications support the work with SD (For example, WhatsApp or banking programs).

Instructions:

1. Insert a microSD into your phone and format it as portable storage (not as internal memory!).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell sm set-force-adoptable true
3. Go to Settings. → Warehouse → SD-Select the card and format as internal memory.
4. After formatting, transfer applications through Settings → Annexes → [Select an application] → Warehouse → Change. → SD-map.

This method allows you to free up to 5-8 GB of internal memory, transferring heavy games or rarely used programs, but remember: the speed of applications with SD will be slower than with internal memory.

7.Extreme measures: reset to factory settings

If all previous methods failed, the last option is a full reset, which will delete all data, including photos, messages and apps, but return the phone to factory performance. On the Redmi 6A, the reset takes ~5 minutes and solves 90% of memory problems.

How to do the reset correctly:

1. Back up important data through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Reset settings.
3. Choose to erase all data and confirm the action.
4. After restarting, set your phone as new.

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 6A Recovery Mode (Wipe Data) resets all data without recovery, including files on internal memory (as opposed to resetting through settings, where sometimes files remain in the folder) DCIM).

After discharge:

• 📱 Do not restore data from backup immediately – check the phone first.
• 🔄 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🚫 Do not install apps that have previously caused lags (such as heavy gaming or social media).

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory cleanup on Redmi 6A