Cleaning apps and their data on Xiaomi Redmi: all the ways from cache to complete removal

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are known for their price-performance ratio, but even the most powerful models eventually start to slow down. The main reason is the clog of memory with residual application files, cache and unnecessary data. If your Redmi Note 12, Redmi 10 or other model is slower, do not rush to reset to factory settings: in 80% of cases, it is enough to properly clean the applications and their data.

In this article, we will discuss all available methods, from manual cache cleaning to system applications removal (including those that cannot be removed by standard means). You'll learn how to make space without losing important data, what tools to use for deep cleaning, and why some applications come back after being deleted, and how to avoid common bugs that lead to malfunctions. MIUI.

Important: Cleaning procedures differ depending on the firmware version (MIUI 12, MIUI 13, MIUI 14 or HyperOS. We'll show you the key differences, but if your version isn't mentioned, follow the general principles. → The phone. → Version. MIUI.

1. Why apps take up a lot of space and how to fix it

Each application installed on Xiaomi Redmi consists of three types of data:

• 📦 Same as himself. APK-File – installation package (weighs from 10 MB to 200)+ MB).
• 🗃️ User data – saved settings, logins, progress in games.
• 🧹 Cache – temporary files to speed up work (can grow to gigabytes!).

The problem is that even after deleting an application, its data often remains in memory. For example, the game Genshin Impact after uninstallation can leave the user with a memory. 5 GB "junk" in a folder /Android/data/. And instant messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp cache media files that take hundreds of megabytes.

How do you fix that?

• 🔍 Regularly check the list of applications in Settings → Apps and sort them by size.
• 🚮 Delete not only the application itself, but also its data (more about this in the next section).
• 📊 Use the built-in memory analyzer (Settings) → Memory) to find "gluttonous" programs.

⚠️ Note: Do not clear the cache of system applications (such as com.miui.home or com.android.systemui) through third-party utilities like Clean Master.

2. Guide to cleaning the application cache

Cache speeds up programs, but over time it accumulates and takes up gigabytes of memory, and you can clean it selectively (for individual applications) or globally (for all at once).

Clearing the cache for one application

This method is suitable if you want to make room without affecting important data (for example, save in games).

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want (like YouTube or Facebook).
3. Click Storage (or Memory in newer versions of MIUI).
4. Put it on Clear the cache.

For applications with a large cache volume (such as Google Play Store or Chrome), you may need to re-clean after 1-2 days – some programs recover cache the next time you run.

Mass cleaning of the cache

If you need to make room quickly, use the built-in tool:

1. Go to Settings. → Memory.
2. Click Clean in the Cash section of the applications.
3. Confirm the action (a password or pattern lock may be required).

This method removes the cache of all applications except system ones. After cleaning, some programs (such as Instagram or TikTok) will load longer on the first run — this is normal.

Backup of important data|Close all background applications|Connect the charger (if the charge is below 30%)|Check the vacant space before and after cleaning-->

2.3 When cleaning the cache does not help

If the memory is not released after cleaning the cache, check:

• 📁 Download folder – often unnecessary files accumulate there.
• 🎵 Media files from messengers (in WhatsApp this is a folder) WhatsApp/Media).
• 🕹️ Game data – some titles (e.g, PUBG Mobile) store maps and textures in a separate folder.

⚠️ Note: On HyperOS devices (e.g. Redmi Note 13 Pro)+) Mass cache cleaning can reset some widgets. Before the procedure, take screenshots of the home screen to quickly restore the location of the icons.

3. Complete removal of applications and their data

Normal deletion through the Delete menu leaves behind data in folders /Android/data/ and /Android/obb/. To remove the application completely, you need to take two steps:

Standard disposal

1. Press the app icon on the home screen → Choose Delete (or Deinstall).
2. Or go to Settings. → Apps, find the program and click Delete.

For system applications (such as Mi Video or Mi Music), the Remove button may not be active, in which case use the method in the following section.

Removal of remaining data

After the uninstallation:

1. Open any file manager (such as embedded Files or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to the file. /Android/data/ and find a folder with the name of the remote application (for example, com.facebook.katana for Facebook).
3. Delete the folder manually.
4. Repeat the same for the folder. /Android/obb/ (Here are additional game files stored here).

For convenience, use date sorting – folders of remote applications usually appear at the end of the list.

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If the folder /Android/data/ not displayed in the file manager, enable the display of hidden files in the program settings or use Root Explorer (superuser rights required).

Removal of system applications (without root)

Some pre-installed programs (Mi Pay, Mi Community, GetApps) cannot be removed by standard means, but they can be disabled:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select a system application (e.g. Mi Browser).
3. Click Disable (the button will appear if the application can be deactivated).
4. Confirm the action.

Disabled programs will not be displayed in the menu and will not be updated, but their files will remain in memory. ADB.

4. Clearing data messengers and social networks

Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) and social networks (Facebook, Instagram) are the main memory eaters, they cache photos, videos and stickers that take up tens of gigabytes over time. Let's look at how to clean the most popular apps.

4.1. WhatsApp

WhatsApp caches all the media you receive or send to clear them:

1. Open WhatsApp. → press ⋮ → Settings → Warehouse.
2. Select a category (such as Photo or Video).
3. Mark unnecessary files and click Delete (basket icon).

For complete cleaning:

• 🗑️ Delete the folder. WhatsApp/Media manually (it will be restored at the next launch).
• 🔄 In WhatsApp settings, turn off Automatic Media Download (Settings) → Warehouse → Autoboot media).

4.2. Telegram

In Telegram, the cache is stored in a folder Telegram/Telegram Images and can occupy up to 50 GB. Cleanup:

1. Open Telegram. → ⋮ → Settings → Data and memory.
2. Select Clear Telegram cache.
3. Mark the file types (Photos, Videos, Documents) and click Clear.

For deep cleaning:

• 📂 Remove the Telegram folder in the root memory directory.
• 🔄 In Settings, turn off Media Autoboot for Mobile Data and Wi-Fi.

4.3. Instagram and Facebook

These apps cache stories, photos and videos.

1. For Instagram: Profile → ⋮ → Settings → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
2. For Facebook: ⋮ → Settings → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

In addition:

• 🎬 Remove the Instagram or Facebook folder in /Android/data/.
• 📥 In the application settings, turn off Autoplay Video.

⚠️ Note: After clearing the cache on Instagram or Facebook, apps may require re-entering the login and password.If you use two-factor authentication, make sure you have access to backup codes.

5.Use of built-in MIUI tools for cleaning

Xiaomi offers several built-in memory optimization utilities that are less efficient than manual cleaning, but are convenient for regular use.

Security (Security)

The Security app (shield icon) contains tools for cleaning:

1. Open Security. → Go to the Cleanup tab.
2. Click Deep Clean (or Clean up garbage in newer versions).
3. Select categories to clean (Cache, Residual Files, Large Files).
4. Press Clear.

The advantage of this method is that it automatically scans all types of garbage, including temporary files and empty folders, and sometimes deletes useful data (for example, logs for debugging).

Lite Mode (Light Mode)

If your Redmi is working on MIUI 12 or later, turn on Easy Mode:

1. Go to Settings → Special features → Lite Mode.
2. Activate the function.

This regime:

• 🚀 Disables animations and visual effects.
• 🗑️ Automatically clears cache at low memory level.
• 🔋 Optimize battery consumption.

The disadvantage is that the interface becomes less visual, and some features (e.g. Second Space) are turned off.

5.3 Automatic Cleaning (Smart Cleanup)

Set up automatic cleaning:

1. Open Security. → ⚙️ → Auto-cleaning.
2. Turn on the option and select a schedule (e.g., Every day at 3:00).
3. Mark the file types to delete (Cache, Temporary Files).

This feature is useful if you often forget to clean your memory manually, but it doesn’t delete application data — only cache and debris.

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Built-in tools MIUI They are safe to use, but only clean surface debris. For deep cleaning, combine them with manual methods.

6 Third-Party Cleanup Apps: What Works on Xiaomi

Google Play is full of cleaning utilities, but most of them are either inefficient or contain ads. We tested popular programs and picked those that actually work on Xiaomi Redmi.

6.1. Files by Google

Google’s official app with Cleanup feature:

• 🔍 Finds duplicate files.
• 🗑️ Deletes cache and temporary files.
• 📤 Offers to transfer files to the cloud.

Advantage: no advertising and suspicious permissions, disadvantage: does not clear the application data.

6.2. SD Maid

A powerful tool for experienced users:

• 🧹 Deletes residual files after uninstallation.
• 🔍 Finds and cleanses databases.
• 📁 Optimizes folders.

For full-fledged work, root rights are required, but even without them, the utility is useful for finding “garbage”.

6.3. CCleaner

A popular utility, but Xiaomi works with reservations:

• ✅ Effectively clears the cache.
• ❌ Can delete useful files (for example, logs for debugging).
• ⚠️ Contains advertising in the free version.

Recommended: Use only to clean the cache, avoid the Optimization function – it closes the background processes, which can disrupt the work MIUI.

⚠️ Note: Do not use applications like this DU Speed Booster or 360 Security – They aggressively close the background processes that are on the Internet. MIUI Often leads to the error "System interface stopped».

7. Cleaning system files and hidden data

Even after removing all unnecessary applications, Xiaomi Redmi still has system files that can be safely cleaned.

7.1.Download folder

The standard place for downloaded files that are often forgotten to delete:

1. Open the files. → Go to Downloads.
2. Sort files by size (⋮ → Sort by → Size).
3. Delete unnecessary files (especially videos) APK).

For automatic cleaning:

• 🔄 Enable the option Auto Cleanup Downloads in Files (⋮ → Settings → Auto-cleaning).

7.2. folder DCIM/.thumbnails

Here you can find miniatures of photos and videos that can take up to 1 GB:

1. Open a file manager with support for hidden folders (such as Solid Explorer).
2. Move to the DCIM/.thumbnails.
3. Delete all files in this folder.

The miniatures will be restored automatically the next time you view the gallery.

Logs and dumps of the system

Files with the.log or.dmp extension are created when crashes and take up space:

1. In the file manager, find the folders:

Delete all files in these folders.

This data is only needed by developers to debug, and it's useless to the average user.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files in folders /system/ or /vendor/ — This can make it impossible to boot the system. /sdcard/ (internal memory; or /data/ (if there is root).

8 What to do if memory is not released after cleaning

If you deleted all unnecessary files but the memory is still busy, the problem may be:

• 📱 Hidden sections (e.g, /cache or /recovery).
• 🔒 Encrypted data (on File-Based Encryption devices).
• 🕳️ «Dead files (deleted but not yet freed up space).

Resetting the device

Sometimes the system doesn't immediately clear up space after deleting files.

1. Reboot the phone.
2. After turning on, check the free space in Settings → Memory.

8.2 Virus testing

Some malware creates hidden files that take up space:

1. Install an antivirus (such as Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light).
2. Scan the device.
3. Delete the threats you found.

Resetting the cache of the section

If the memory is “hung” on one value, reset the cache partition /cache:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up to enter Recovery.
3. Select Wipe Cache Partition (Manage volume buttons, confirmation – power button).
4. Reboot System Now (Reboot System Now)

This procedure does not delete user data, but clears temporary system files.

Verification through ADB

For advanced users:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and enable USB Debugging.
2. Run a command to check the real free space:

adb shell df -h

Compare the value in the Available column with what the phone shows in Settings → Memory. If the difference is significant, the problem is with the system files.

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If the memory is not released after all the manipulations, the cause may be a corrupted file system, in which case only resetting to factory settings or flashing through Fastboot will help.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Redmi cleanup