Xiaomi Redmi Manual Cleansing of Unnecessary Files: A Complete Guide with Hidden Tricks

Why Xiaomi Redmi is getting littered faster than other smartphones

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are among the most popular in Russia due to the ratio of price and functionality, but many owners face a problem: even after installing several applications, the free space on the device melts before their eyes. What is the matter?

The reason is because of the MIUI architecture, Xiaomi’s proprietary shell, which aggressively caches data to speed up work, but often doesn’t delete it after use, and many system applications (such as Mi Video, Mi Music, GetApps) create duplicate files in the background, and if you’ve ever used themed wallpapers or fonts, their residual files can take up to 1-2 GB of memory, even after deleting.

In this article, we will discuss the manual cleaning methods that work on all Redmi models (from Redmi Note 4X to Redmi 13 Pro). Without third-party software, without the risk of removing important data - only proven methods from MIUI experts.

Preparation: What to do before cleaning

Before you start deleting files, follow three mandatory steps that will save you from losing important data and system failures.

⚠️ Note: If your Redmi is discharged below 30%, Interrupting the cleaning process due to shutdown can damage system files, especially if you are working with a folder. /data.

• 📱 Backup important data (photos, contacts, messages) through Settings → Google → Backup or manually copying files to PC.
• 🔍 Check the free space in the Settings → The phone. → Storage. Write down the current values so you can evaluate the efficiency of the cleaning.
• 🔧 Turn off automatic optimization in Settings → Battery and productivity → Optimization so that the system does not interfere with manual cleaning.

If you use Redmi with an unlocked bootloader or custom firmware, some system folders may be hidden, in which case you will need a root Explorer (for example, Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).

Cleaning the cache of applications: hidden gigabytes

Cash is the main memory eater on Xiaomi Redmi.The system saves temporary files to speed up applications, but often forgets to delete them. For example, YouTube cache can take up to 500 MB, and TikTok can take up to 1 GB.

To clear the cache selectively (without deleting application data):

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Sort by size.
3. Select an app with a large cache (e.g. Google Play Services, Mi Browser, Facebook).
4. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

For mass cleaning of the cache of all applications:

1. Go to Settings → Storage → Cache data.
2. Confirm the cleaning (the system will show the released volume).

⚠️ Warning: Do not clear the cache of the system applications com.android.systemui, com.miui.home and com.xiaomi.findevice – this can lead to interface failures and loss of the “Find device” function».

Clear the cache of Google Play Services | Delete the cache of Mi Browser| Clear the cache of social networks (VK, Telegram) | Clear the cache of cards (Google Maps, Yandex.Maps) | Skip system applications with unknown names-->

Removal of duplicates and residual files

MIUI has a nasty feature: when you delete applications or media files, it often leaves “tails” – empty folders, thumbnails, settings files. For example, after you delete the game, you can leave save files in /Android/obb, and after cleaning the gallery – thumbnails in /DCIM/.thumbnails.

To find and remove duplicates:

• 📁 Use the built-in conductor MIUI (Menus. → Files).
• 🔎 Go to the Category section → Duplicates (available on MIUI 12+).
• 🗑️ Select unnecessary files and click Delete.

For manual search of residual files:

1. Open the Explorer and enable the display of hidden files (in the Explorer settings).
2. Go to the folders: /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/ – here are files of remote applications /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails – photo and video thumbnails /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/ – themes, wallpaper, fonts
3. Delete folders with the names of remote applications (for example, com.tencent.ig for PUBG Mobile).

Cleaning up downloads and temporary files

Download folder is a real dump of unnecessary files. APK-Installers, archives, messaging and email documents, and many Redmi users don't even realize that this folder could contain gigabytes of forgotten files.

How to Clean Downloads Effectively:

• 📥 Open the files. → Categories → Downloads.
• 📅 Sort files by date (Last or Old).
• 🗑️ Delete: 📦 Archives (.zip,.rar) over 6 months old. 📄 Documents with titles like document(1).pdf, Scan_001.jpg. 📱 APK-.apk files – they take up space and can be dangerous.

To automate the process, use a filter in the conductor:

1. Slip on the filter icon (in the upper right corner).
2. Select the file type → Archives or APK.
3. Delete all files found (check first if there are any important ones).

💡

If you download files from Telegram frequently, enable automatic cache clearing: Telegram Settings → Data and Memory → Autoclean Media. This will save you up to 3-5 GB per year.

Optimization of MIUI system applications

Xiaomi system applications are the main source of hidden debris, many of which can not be removed without root rights, but you can disable and clean their data, which will free up to 1-3 GB of memory.

List of safe to disable system applications (checked at MIUI 14/15):

How to disable system applications:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the right app (such as Mi Video).
3. Click Disable (if the button is inactive, the application is critical to the system).
4. Return to the app's storage menu and click Clear Data.

⚠️ Warning: Do not disable com.xiaomi.finddevice and com.miui.securitycenter, which will result in loss of locking and data protection features.

Manual cleaning of Android/obb and Android/data folder

The /Android/obb and /Android/data folders contain game and application data. Once a program is deleted, its files often stay here, taking up space. For example, PUBG Mobile leaves behind a folder weighing 1.5-2 GB, and Call of Duty - up to 3 GB.

Important: Deleting files from /Android/obb will cause game progress to reset. If you play online games with a link to your account (Google Play, VK), progress will recover after you re-install. For offline games, saves will be lost.

How to safely clean these folders:

1. Open the explorer and go to /storage/emulated/0/Android.
2. Go to the obb folder: 🎮 Delete folders with the names of remote games (for example, com.tencent.ig for the game). PUBG). 📦 The.obb files are additional game data, which can be deleted if the game is deleted.

data

• 🗑️ Remove application folders that are not in the installed list (check in Settings). → Annexes).
• 🔍 Folders with names like com.*.cache can be cleaned completely.

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The /Android/data folder can contain important files even for remote applications. Always check the date of change of the folder - if it is older than 6 months, it can be safely deleted.

Additional Tricks: Hidden MIUI Functions for Cleaning

MIUI has a few hidden features that help free up space without manual file search, which are little-known but extremely effective.

• 🧹 Deep Cleanup: Go to Settings → About the phone, tap 7 times on the version MIUI, Then go back to the settings. → Additionally. → Deep cleaning. This tool removes system debris that is not available through normal settings.
• 🗃️ Cleaning of miniatures: In the conductor go to /DCIM/.thumbnails And delete all the files. They'll automatically recover the next time you view the gallery.
• 📶 Clean Logs: From the Engineering Menu (#4636##) select Logs and Reports → Clear logs.This will delete debugging files that can take up to 500MB.

For Redmi models with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Redmi) K50 Pro, Redmi Note 12 Pro+) usefully clear the animation cache:

1. Go to Settings → Screen → System animation.
2. Choose No Animation.
3. Return to Settings → Storage → Other files and clear the cache.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up Xiaomi Redmi