How to clean the smartphone Xiaomi Redmi: 7 ways to speed up work

Your Xiaomi Redmi has slowed down, discharged quickly or made "Not enough memory" errors, and the reason for this is often the accumulated digital garbage: remnants of deleted applications, cache, duplicate photos and unnecessary system files. Even new models like the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ or Redmi 12 require a cleanup after 6-12 months of use.

In this article, 7 proven ways to clean Xiaomi Redmi smartphones (relevant to all models on MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS), you will learn how to free up space without data loss, remove viruses, optimize autoload and even return factory speed, and a unique method of cleaning the hidden cache of system applications that standard MIUI tools do not show.

1. Quick cleaning through built-in MIUI tools

Let's start with the simplest of them all, the standard cleaning features that are already in the firmware, which are suitable for weekly maintenance and don't require third-party software installation.

Open the Security app (the shield icon) and go to Cleanup, where the system automatically scans the device for:

• 🗑️ Garbage files (remains of deleted applications, temporary files)
• 🧹 Application cache (data to speed up programs, but over time, take up gigabytes)
• 📁 Duplicate files (same photos, videos, documents)
• 🔍 Large files (video, archives, games over 100 MB)

After scanning, click Clean - this will free up 1 to 5 GB of space (depending on the degree of contamination). For deeper cleaning, tap on Deep Clean and select file categories to delete.

⚠️ Note: Do not remove the cache of system applications (e.g. com.miui.home or com.android.systemui) through deep cleaning – this can cause shell malfunctions. MIUI.

2. Manually clean the cache for each application

Built-in cleaning doesn't always remove all the cache, for example, messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) or social networks (TikTok, Instagram) can store gigabytes of unnecessary data, to clean them separately:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (like Google Chrome).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
4. For a complete data reset, tap Clear all data (but note that this will delete accounts and settings!).

Pay special attention to these “gluttonous” applications:

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To make the cache accumulate more slowly, in Telegram settings, limit automatic media downloads: Settings → Data and memory → Autoboot Media → Select Never for mobile data.

3. Remove unnecessary system applications (bloatware)

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones often come with pre-installed apps that cannot be removed by standard methods, called bloatware, programs like Mi Video, Mi Music, GetApps or Mi Browser that take up space and run in the background.

There are two ways to get rid of them:

Method 1: Disconnect via ADB (without root)

Connect your smartphone to your PC, enable USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap on version, then go back to Additional Settings → For Developers) and execute the commands:

adb shell


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




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




pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.market     # GetApps

Method 2: Remove via Magisk (requires root)

If you have root rights, use the Universal Debloater module for Magisk, which allows you to remove up to 90% of pre-installed applications without risk to the system.

⚠️ Note: Do not remove system processes called com.android. or com.miui. unless you are sure of their purpose.

4. Optimization of autoloading and background activity

Many apps run automatically when you turn on your smartphone and run in the background, consuming memory and battery power, to turn off unnecessary ones:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Autoboot.
2. Turn off auto-runs for instant messengers, games, and social media (except for those you really need right after you turn on).
3. In Battery and Performance → Battery Management, select Background Limitation mode for applications.

For models on HyperOS (like the Redmi Note 13), the path is a bit different:

• 🔋 Settings → Battery → Battery mode → Choose Balanced or Saving Charge.
• 🔄 Settings → Annexes → Permits → Auto-start → shut off unnecessary.

Turn off autoboot for 10+ unnecessary apps | Set Battery Mode "Saving Charge" |Limit background activity for games and social networks | Check the "Recent Applications" section for hanging processes-->

5. Search and delete duplicate files

Photos, screenshots and uploaded files are often duplicated, taking up extra space, and MIUI has a built-in tool to find them:

1. Open Files (File Manager application)
2. Go to the Category section → Duplicate.
3. Select unnecessary copies and click Delete.

For a deeper scan, use third-party apps:

• 📂 Files by Google – Finds duplicates, large files and unused apps.
• 🔍 CCleaner – clears the cache and analyzes the storage.
• 📊 SD Maid is an advanced tool for finding “dead” files (remnants of remote programs).

⚠️ Warning: Before mass removal of duplicates, check if they are backup copies of important documents, MIUI Sometimes creates copies of contacts in.vcf format in a folder MIUI/backup/AllBackup.

6. Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If the smartphone is unbearably slow and cleaning doesn’t work, then you have to hard reset to factory settings, which will delete all data, including apps, photos and accounts, so back up first:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Select the data to save (contacts, messages, applications) and click Create a backup.
3. After completion, go to Settings → About Phone → Reset → Erase all data.
4. Enter the password (if set) and confirm the reset.

For models with HyperOS (such as the Redmi Note 13 Pro+), the path to reset is different:

• 🔄 Settings → Memory. → Resetting settings → Delete all data.
• 🔒 After the reset, the device will request a Mi Account if the account binding was enabled.

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Factory reset removes even hidden system files that cannot be manually cleaned, the only way to get performance back out of the box if the smartphone is heavily littered.

7.Verification for viruses and malware

Brakes and strange behavior of the smartphone can be caused by viruses. MIUI has built-in antivirus, but it is not always effective.

1. Open Security → Scan and start the check.
2. Install a third-party antivirus (Malwarebytes, Dr.Web Light) and scan the device.
3. Check the list of installed applications for suspicious ones (for example, with names like com.system.update or android.security).

Signs of infection with the virus:

• 📱 Installation of applications spontaneously.
• 🔋 Quick battery discharge even in standby mode.
• 📶 Suspicious mobile data traffic (checked in Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Using traffic).
• 💸 Debiting money from the account (if paid subscriptions are connected).

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If the antivirus finds threats in system files (e.g. /system/app/), don’t manually delete them, which can damage the firmware.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up Xiaomi Redmi