How to safely delete unnecessary files on Xiaomi Redmi 6: 7 proven ways

Xiaomi Redmi 6 is one of the most popular budget smartphones with 32/64 GB of memory, but even this amount becomes scarce over time. Photos, videos, app cache and system debris take up precious megabytes, and the phone begins to slow down. In this article, we will discuss how to properly delete unnecessary files on Redmi 6 without risking damage to the system or losing important data.

Redmi 6 features MIUI-based work (versions 10-12), where memory cleaning has its nuances. For example, standard file deletion does not always free up space effectively, and some system files are dangerous to touch. We will look at both basic methods (embedded MIUI tools) and advanced ones using ADB and third-party utilities. Importantly, before any manipulation of files, make a backup!

This article is relevant for all Redmi 6 (Redmi 6A, Redmi 6 Pro) and firmware versions. If your phone runs Android 8.1 Oreo or Android 9 Pie, the instructions will be unchanged.

1. Cleaning through the built-in Files application

The easiest way to delete unnecessary files is to use Xiaomi’s standard File Manager app, which is pre-installed on all Redmi devices and can analyze memory by sorting data into categories: images, video, audio, documents and APKs.

To begin cleaning:

1. Open the Files app (the folder icon on the desktop).
2. Go to the "Cleaning" tab (in the lower menu).
3. Wait for the scan to be completed – the system will show how much space is occupied by cache, duplicates, large files and unused APKs.
4. Select the categories to remove and click "Clear".

The advantage of this method is security: the application does not allow you to delete critical system files, but it also has disadvantages:

• 🔍 Not always finds deep cache applications (for example, remnants from remote programs).
• 📁 Does not clean the Download folder automatically – you need to check it manually.
• 🔄 Does not delete temporary files MIUI, file MIUI.

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If the Cleanup section does not show duplicate photos, try updating the Files app via Google Play.

2. Removing the application cache manually

App cache is the main memory eater on Redmi 6. Over time, it can take 1-3 GB, especially if you actively use social networks (Facebook, Instagram), instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) or games.

Method 1: Clearing the cache for a specific application

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (like YouTube or Chrome).
3. Click Clear Cache (not to be confused with Clear Data – it will delete all settings!).

Method 2: Mass cleaning of the cache

1. Open the Settings → Memory.
2. Click "Clean" in the "Cash" section.
3. Confirm the action.

After mass cleaning of the cache, some applications can load longer on the first run - this is normal, but you should not clean the cache too often (every 1-2 weeks is enough), otherwise:

• 🐢 Applications will be slowed down when opened.
• 🔄 Increased traffic consumption (cache saves it when reloading).
• 📱 There may be errors in the operation of some programs (for example, maps in Google Maps).

3. Removal of system debris and temporary files

MIUI creates a lot of temporary files that are not always deleted automatically, stored in hidden folders and can take up to 500 MB-1 GB to find and delete.

Step 1: Enable the display of hidden files

1. Open the Files app.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → "Settings".
3. Activate the option "Show hidden files".

Step 2: Remove unnecessary folders

Go to the root memory directory and delete the contents of the following folders (if they are not empty):

• 📂 MIUI/backup/AllBackup — backups.
• 📂 MIUI/sound_recorder — tape-recording.
• 📂 MIUI/screenrecorder — screenshot.
• 📂 Android/data — cache of games and applications (remove only remote folders!).

Outdated backup copies in MIUI/backup|Temporary screen recordings in MIUI/screenrecorder|Cache of remote applications in Android/data|The error logs in MIUI/debug_log-->

Attention! Do not delete the MIUI/theme and MIUI/wallpaper folders, or your personalization settings will reset, and do not touch files with the.db extension, which are system application databases.

4. Clean Download folder and downloads from browsers

Download is a real dump of unnecessary files.

• 📄 Documents from WhatsApp/Telegram.
• 🎵 Music and video from VK Instagram.
• 📦 APK-files of installed (and remote) applications.
• 🌐 Files downloaded via browser (Chrome, MIUI Browser).

To clean it up:

1. Open the Files" → "Downloads” (Download).
2. Sort files by date ("Date" in the menu) and delete the old ones.
3. Note the files with the.apk extension, which are the application installers, and if the program is already installed, the APK itself can be removed.

Also check the browser download folders:

• 🌐 Chrome: Android/data/com.android.chrome/files/Download
• 🌐 MIUI Browser: Android/data/com.android.browser/files/Download

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Regularly cleaning the Download folder can free up to 1-2 GB of memory, especially if you frequently download files from instant messengers.

5. Removal of duplicate photos and videos

Photo and video duplicates are one of the main causes of memory loss, and they occur when:

• 📸 Transfer files from the computer.
• 🔄 Sync with Google Photos or Mi Cloud.
• 📱 Use multiple galleries (e.g. Google Photos) + standard gallery MIUI).

To find and remove duplicates:

Method 1: Built-in function in "Files"

1. Open Files → Cleanup → Duplicates.
2. The app will show groups of identical photos/videos. Choose which copies to leave.
3. Press "Delete."

Method 2: Third-party applications

If the built-in tool does not find duplicates, use:

• 📱 Files by Google (has an advanced duplicate scanner).
• 📸 Duplicate Files Fixer (specialized in photo/video).

Before mass removal of duplicates, check if they are:

• 🖼️ Edited versions (e.g. with filters).
• 📁 Backups from Google Photos (may have different permission).

6. Memory Cleanup with ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don't work, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) for deep cleaning, which is only suitable for users familiar with the command line!

Step 1: Preparation

1. Download Platform Tools from the Android website.
2. Turn on USB Debugging on Redmi 6: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times to activate Developer Mode), then Settings → Additional → Developer → Debugging on USB.
3. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm access.

Step 2: Cleaning commands

Open the command line (cmd) in the adb folder and type:

adb shell pm clear com.miui.cleanmaster # Clearing the cache of the Security app


adb shell pm clear com.android.providers.media # Reset media cache




adb shell rm -rf /sdcard/MIUI/debug_log/* # Deletion of error logs

Attention, the rm-rf command permanently deletes files. Don't use it for folders you don't know how to get to!

Step 3: Checking the Results

After completing the commands, restart the phone and check the vacant space in Settings → Memory.

7. Third-party utilities for cleaning memory

If manual methods seem complicated, you can use specialized applications, but be careful: many "cleaners" contain advertising or collect data.

1. Files by Google

• 🔍 Finds garbage, duplicates and large files.
• 📊 Shows which apps take up the most space.
• 🆓 Free and malware free.

2. CCleaner

• 🧹 Clears cache, browser history and temporary files.
• 🔧 Has a tool for managing the autoload.
• ⚠️ The free version has limited functionality.

3. SD Maid

• 🗑️ Deletes residual files after uninstalling applications.
• 🔍 Finds the "dead" folders in Android/data.
• 💰 Part of the functions paid.

Don't use a cleaner that promises to speed up your phone by 300%.

• 🚫 Close background processes, which leads to slowdown.
• 📊 False information about the "liberated place".
• 🔄 Can delete important system files.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory cleanup on Redmi 6