How to find out what is occupied by the memory of the Xiaomi Redmi phone: a complete guide with hidden chips

Xiaomi Redmi smartphone owners often face memory problems, but do not always understand which files or applications occupy precious gigabytes. Unlike the iPhone, where memory analysis is as simple as possible, MIUI offers several hidden tools that many users do not even know. This article will not just show how to see occupied space, but also teach you to identify “invisible eaters” of memory – from the cache of messengers to system logs, which Xiaomi does not always show in the standard interface.

We'll break down 5 working methods, from basic to advanced, including ADB analysis and third-party utilities with extended rights. We'll focus on common mistakes: for example, why cleaning the cache through settings often gives a temporary effect, and some files come back after a few days. If your Redmi Note 12 or Redmi 10C suddenly started showing "Memory is full" with free 10 GB, here you will find an explanation and a solution.

1. Standard Memory Analysis through MIUI Settings

The most obvious way is to use the built-in Storage tool in your settings, which shows the distribution of memory by category (applications, media, systems), but hides up to 15% of the files that MIUI refers to as "other data" without detail, to open this section:

1. Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
2. Click on the graph of occupied memory.
3. Select a category (e.g., “Applications”).
4. Slip on the “Others” line at the bottom of the list – it often hides temporary update files or Google Services logs.

Note the System Data item – if it takes more than 5GB, it may indicate:

• 📁 Accumulated error logs (especially after update failures).
• 🔄 Undeleted firmware files (MIUI Maintains the latest 2 versions of the OS).
• 🤖 Cache system applications (e.g. Mi Video or Mi Browser).

⚠️ Note: Do not clear system data through the Storage menu unless you are sure of its purpose. /data/log/ This could lead to Google Play Services crashing.

2.Hidden section of Deep Clean in Security App

Xiaomi’s Security app contains a Deep Clean tool that analyzes files that are not available through the standard storage menu.

• 🗑️ Residual files after deleting applications (folders) /data/data/).
• 📥 Unnecessary APK Download folder (for example, outdated versions of applications).
• 🔍 Duplicate photos created by Mi Gallery or Google Photos editors.

How to start:

1. Open the Security app (shield icon).
2. Go to the “Cleaning” tab → “Deep Cleaning”.
3. Wait until the scan is completed (it can take up to 5 minutes).
4. Pay attention to the “Big Files” section – there are often hidden videos from Telegram or WhatsApp that do not appear in the gallery.

Deep Clean does not show files protected by Android Work Profile (if you use a work account). ADB.

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If you see a folder in the Deep Cleanup section, com.xiaomi.midrop, which is a few gigabytes in size, this is a file transfer cache via Mi Drop, which can be safely deleted, but the next time you use the service, the files will return.

3. File Manager Analysis: What's Hidden in Android Folders

The built-in File Manager (or Files) in MIUI allows you to look into system directories, but by default hides protected folders.

1. Open File Manager.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → “Settings” → “Show hidden files”.
3. Go to the root directory (/) and open the folders:

Pay special attention to /MIUI/screenrecorder/, which stores screen recordings that don't always appear in the gallery. Files can weigh 500MB each!

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files from the folder /system/ or /vendor/ — This will lead to a device blink (complete inoperability).

Advanced Analysis through ADB (for Power Users)

If standard methods don't give you the full picture, you can connect to your phone via Android Debug Bridge (ADB) and execute commands for detailed analysis, which requires a PC and enabled USB debugging.

Steps for connection:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times).
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate “Debugging by USB”.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your trust in your computer.
4. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb shell


df -h

This command will show the partitioning of memory. For detailed folder analysis, use:

du -sh /data/* | sort -rh | head -n 20

The result will bring out the TOP-20 folders that occupy the most space in the /data section.

• 📦 /data/app/ — fixed-appendice.
• 🗃️ /data/media/0/ — User files (photos, videos).
• 🔧 /data/dalvik-cache/ — cache of the Android virtual machine (can be cleaned via adb shell pm clear-globals).

5. Third-party applications for memory analysis

If the built-in MIUI tools seem inadequate, you can use third-party utilities.The best options for Xiaomi Redmi are:

• 📊 Files by Google – Shows junk files and offers cleanup, but doesn’t see system folders MIUI.
• 🔍 SD Maid (requires root) - analyzes databases, cache and residual files. highlights the "hulls" (remnants of remote applications).
• 🛠️ DiskUsage – visualizes occupied space in the form of an interactive map.

Apps without root rights will not be able to scan folders /data/data/ or /system/. Full access requires unlocking the bootloader and installing Magisk.

Install Magisk and get root rights

Create a backup of data in Mi Cloud

Disable the antivirus (it can block the scan)

Close all background applications-->

6.Typical memory eaters on Xiaomi Redmi

Even if you clean the cache regularly, some MIUI applications and features continue to take up space unnoticed.

• 📹 Mi Video and Mi Gallery - create thumbnails (.thumbnail) for every video, even if you haven't watched it. folder can weigh up to 2GB.
• 💬 Telegram and WhatsApp cache media files in a folder /Android/media/. Cleaning through messaging settings doesn’t always delete all files.
• 🎮 Games with OBB-Files – for example, Call of Duty Mobile or Free Fire download additional data up to 4 GB, which is not deleted when uninstalled.
• 🔄 Updates MIUI — folder /cache/ota/ keep the last 2-3 firmware version (before) 3 GB).
• 📡 Offline Maps – Google Maps or Yandex Maps save regions of 500 MB-1 GB each.

How to fight:

1. For Telegram: in the chat settings, select “Clear Cache” → “Delete all files”.
2. For games: Before deleting, go to Settings → Storage → Games and select “Clear Data”.
3. For MIUI: After updating manually delete files from /cache/ota/ via File Manager.

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The /MIUI/extra/ folder often contains backups of customizations and themes, and can be safely cleaned, but then resets custom themes and wallpapers.

7 How to Free Your Memory Without Losing Data

If your analysis shows that your memory is full of unnecessary files, but you don’t want to lose important data, follow this algorithm.

1. Transfer files to a memory card or cloud: 📸 Photos and videos in Google Photos (settings) → «Make room»). 🎵 Music - on SD-Card (if supported) or in Yandex Music.
2. Optimize applications: 📱 Remove unused programs through Settings → Annexes → Permits → Unused. 🔄 Turn off auto-update apps on Google Play.
3. Clean up the system trash: 🧹 Launch Deep Clean in the Security App. 🗑️ Delete the folders. /MIUI/debug_log/ and /cache/ manually.

Preventive tip: Check /Download/ once a month — APKs, archives and documents you've long forgotten accumulate here, like WhatsApp or VK installation files can take up to 100MB each.

⚠️ Note: Do not use the One-Tap Cleansing feature in SEO applications (e.g. Clean Master) and often delete important files. MIUI, Which causes problems with the widgets or theme.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Redmi memory