Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face a situation where the device starts to run slower, applications open longer, and the system notifies you of a storage overflow. This is a natural process of accumulation of digital garbage, which is inevitable when you use the gadget actively. The MIUI or HyperOS operating system stores temporary files, application cache and error logs, which over time take up gigabytes of usable space.
Lack of free memory doesn’t just prevent you from uploading new photos or music; it critically affects the performance of the entire device, as the system lacks space for temporary operations. In this article, we’ll look at proven ways to free up space, from simple embedded tools to advanced methods of cleaning hidden partitions.
You don't have to be a technician to do this, but we've developed a step-by-step guide to help your smartphone get back to speed, and the key is to act consistently and understand which files can be deleted without risking the system.
Analysis of storage occupancy and search for large files
Before you start deleting data, you need to understand what's taking up space. There's a built-in tool in the MIUI shell that visualizes the memory allocation, and it shows how much space apps, images, videos and system files occupy, and it allows you to immediately identify the heavyweights that are devouring resources.
Often users forget about long-downloaded movies, TV shows or archives of working documents, which can weigh several gigabytes and lie dead weight, and manually go through the Download and DCIM folders to find forgotten media files.
Telegram and WhatsApp have the ability to automatically save all photos and videos to the gallery, even if you have already viewed them, creating duplicates that take up space in both the chat and the memory of the phone.
You can use a standard explorer for detailed analysis, go to the Analyzer or Cleanup section of the Security app, and the system will suggest that you delete large files that you haven't opened in a long time, and it's a safe and quick way to find obvious redundant data.
Use of the built-in "Security" application
The easiest and most reliable way to clean up memory is to use Xiaomi’s standard tool, which is already preinstalled on every device and has access to all necessary system partitions for safe cleaning.
Launch the app and click on the Cleanup button, and the scanner will analyze the device and find temporary files, remnants of deleted applications and advertising debris, a process that takes only a few seconds and does not require an Internet connection.
☑️ Proper cleaning through the Security app
It is important to note that standard cleaning does not affect your personal data, such as contacts or notes.However, it can delete stored Wi-Fi passwords or browser autocomplete data if you have not made a backup.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use third-party software from Play Market with aggressive advertising.They often work worse than the built-in tool and may contain malicious code that will slow down the phone even further.
The Security app also has Deep Clean feature, which allows you to find similar images, old screenshots and large files that were not detected by a quick scan, and regular use of this feature helps keep the phone in good shape.
Cleaning the cache of applications and messengers
Social media and instant messengers are the main consumers of memory on a modern smartphone, saving thousands of thumbnails, voice messages and temporary files to quickly load your feed, and over time, the cache of Telegram alone can reach 5-10 gigabytes.
To clear the cache of a particular application, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Select the program you want (like Instagram or TikTok) and click Storage. Here you will see two buttons: Clear cache and Clear everything.
Use the Clear Cache button if you want to just clear space. It's safe: you won't crash out of your account and your correspondence will be saved. The Clear All button (or Reset) will delete the app to a post-installed state, which will require you to log in again.
What is the difference between cache and application data?
For messengers like WhatsApp, it’s better to use a built-in cleanup. Go to chat settings → Data and Storage → Storage Management. You can delete files larger than 5MB or clear old chats that you’re no longer running.
Removal of duplicates and hidden system debris
When you use the camera and the Internet, you get duplicates on your phone, which can be the same photos taken in serial mode, or files left over after you update your apps, and manually search for them for a long time, but there are effective methods.
Xiaomi has a feature for finding similar images, which analyzes images and suggests leaving only the best by removing the rest, and it is also worth checking the.thumbnails folder in hidden system directories where thumbnails of deleted photos are stored.
| File type | Where to find | Can be removed | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Files.tmp | Temp folder | Yes. | No. |
| Folder.Trash. | Gallery basket | Yes (unless you need a rehab) | Low. |
| Files log | System folders | Yes. | No. |
| Android/data folder | Root folder | Careful. | High (game reset) |
Some users try to delete folders called Android or MIUI through the file manager, which is absolutely impossible, as this will lead to malfunction of the system and loss of application data.
You can use Google's Files app or standard Explorer to find duplicates by sorting files by size, often with forgotten archives. ZIP oral APK-files that are no longer needed.
Synchronization and cloud services
One of the most effective ways to free up space on your phone is to move data to the cloud. Xiaomi Cloud or Google Photos allows you to store media files on the server, leaving only thumbnails on the device.
Turn on the “Free Space” feature in Google Photos settings, and the app will remove photos and videos from your phone that have already been successfully uploaded to the cloud, which can instantly free up tens of gigabytes without losing the quality of your memories.
It's also worth checking the voice recorder and notes sync settings, if they take up a lot of space, export important records to your computer or to cloud storage, and delete them from your phone, which is especially true for users who use their smartphone to record lectures or interviews.
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Use the "Optimize Storage" feature in Google Photos, which replaces the original photos with compressed versions of high quality on the device, and stores the originals in the cloud.
Don't forget about offline maps and music. Navigators and streaming services often download region maps and playlists to work without the Internet, check if this data is up to date, and delete unnecessary regions or albums.
Radical measures: reset to factory settings
If none of the above methods worked, and the phone is still slow, the last resort is: a full reset to factory settings (Factory Reset) deletes absolutely all data and returns the system to the state "out of the box".
Before this procedure, make sure to make a full backup. Save contacts, photos, documents and a list of applications on the Mi Cloud, Google Drive or computer. Once reset, it will be easy to restore data, and the system will work as new.
To perform the reset, go to Settings → About Phone → Reset. Select “Erase All Data.” The process will take a few minutes, after which the phone will turn on with the initial settings.
⚠️ Warning: Before reset, make sure that the battery is at least 50%. interruption of the reset process due to battery discharge can damage the system partition and the inability to turn on the phone.
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A complete reset is the only solution that is guaranteed to remove deep-seated system debris and registry errors accumulated over the years of use.
After reset, don't rush to install hundreds of apps at once, install only the necessary ones and watch how the memory is filled, which will help you develop the habit of keeping your smartphone clean regularly without getting to a critical state.