Modern smartphones Xiaomi and Redmi have a powerful hardware, but even they eventually begin to “think” when working with heavy messengers. Telegram is deservedly considered one of the most functional applications, but this functionality has the opposite side: it ruthlessly absorbs the internal memory of the device. Users often notice that after a few months of active correspondence, the messenger begins to occupy tens of gigabytes, which is critical for models with a small storage capacity.
On Android, especially with the MIUI or HyperOS proprietary shell, the process of accumulating temporary files is particularly aggressive because of the nature of the background services. Cache is temporary data that speeds up the loading of images and videos, but when it becomes too much, it begins to slow down the system. Clearing this data is a safe procedure that does not affect your personal correspondence, contacts or secret chats.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available ways to clean up storage, from standard settings to advanced file management techniques. You will learn how to find hidden folders, what to do if the cleanup button is inactive, and how to set up automatic garbage removal in the future.
Why Telegram Cache is Growing So Fast on Xiaomi
The main reason for the messenger’s huge appetite lies in its storage architecture. Unlike some competitors, Telegram is set to store all media files in the device’s local memory by default, so that you can instantly open old photos and videos even without access to the Internet. However, on Xiaomi smartphones, this leads to a quick filling of the Documents section and system memory.
The second factor is that there is no automatic aggressive cleaning in the basic settings immediately after installation. The user must set limits or frequency of cleaning. If this is not done, the messenger will store all the channels, stickers and voice messages you have ever viewed, especially for those who are in a lot of news channels with heavy video content.
- 📸 Media Content: Photos and videos automatically downloaded from chats and channels make up the lion’s share of the volume.
- 🗣 Voice Messages: Even short circles and audio messages take up space and can weigh hundreds of megabytes in total.
- 📂 Documents and files: Transferred PDF, APK-Files and archives are stored in cache forever until you manually delete them.
⚠️ Cash and email history are different things, and clearing the cache won't delete your messages, but it will delete the downloaded files from your phone's memory.
Basic cleaning through application settings
The easiest and safest way to free up space is to use the built-in tools of the messenger itself. This method does not require third-party software and works equally well on all versions of Android. First, open the app and go to the main settings menu. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of Telegram, but the logic remains the same.
You need to find the data section, which is usually hidden in the data settings and storage submenu, and here you will see detailed statistics about how much space is taken up by photos, videos, files and other cache, and the numbers may surprise you, especially if you haven't done maintenance in a long time.
☑️ Basic cleaning algorithm
After clicking on the clean button, the system will suggest choosing the period for which you need to delete the data. You can leave files for the last week or month if you are afraid of losing access to important information without the Internet.
💡
Use the Auto Delete feature in the same settings menu so that the messenger cleans files older than 3 days or weeks.
Cache removal through Android system settings
If an application is not working properly or is frozen, the standard cleaning inside the messenger may not work, and in this case, the system settings of MIUI come to the rescue. This method forcibly resets temporary files at the operating system level, and it is important to understand that here we are not working with the application interface, but with system files.
Go to your Xiaomi smartphone settings and find the Apps. Search Telegram for all the apps. You'll need to go to Memory or Storage. Here you'll see two buttons: Clear and Delete Data. The first one is what we're interested in, because the second one will delete all your logins and login settings.
Pressing the cache clean button in the system menu is safe for your correspondence. The system will only delete temporary files necessary for performance. After this procedure, it is recommended to completely restart the device so that Android correctly redistributes the space available.
| Action. | Risk of data loss | Impact on the account |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning inside the application | No (only cache) | Absent. |
| Systemic cache cleaning | No (only cache) | Absent. |
| Data erasure (Clear Data) | High (exit from account) | Re-entry required |
| Deletion of the annex | Medium (needs backup of secret chats) | Re-installation required |
Manual deletion of files through a conductor
For advanced Xiaomi users, there is the option to manually delete files through standard Explorer.This is especially useful if you need to delete specific heavy videos or documents that are not deleted through settings. The standard path to messenger files on modern versions of Android has changed due to Google's security policy.
Files are now often found on the Android/data/org.telegram.messenger/files path. In older versions of the system, the folder could simply be called Telegram at the root of internal memory. Using the built-in Explorer app, you can sort files by size and delete the largest video or image folders.
What to do if the Android/data folder is hidden?
When manually deleting, be extremely careful. Deleting system files inside the application folder can cause it to malfunction. Only delete the contents of the media folders, do not touch databases and configuration files. If in doubt, use built-in cleaning tools.
⚠️ Note: When manually cleaning through a conductor, make sure you don't delete the folder with secret chats, if you have them.
Auto Removal Setup and Optimization
So that the memory problem doesn't come back in a month, you need to set up the automation right. Telegram allows you to set storage limits for each type of media separately. It's the most efficient way to keep order without the user being involved. You can set different rules for photos, videos and files.
It is recommended to set the cache shelf life to 3 days or 1 week, which is enough for comfortable use: you can re-read recent correspondence with pictures, but old “heavy” files will be deleted automatically.
- 🎥 Video: The most “heavy” content, it is better to set a minimum shelf life (1-3 day-day).
- 🎵 Audio and music: If you listen to music on Telegram, the period can be increased to a month.
- 📄 Files: Documents are usually important, so you can leave them alone or clean them every six months.
💡
The optimal setup for most users is auto-delete the cache every 3 days and limit the cache size to 2GB.
Decision and typical errors
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the cleaning button is inactive or the cache is cleared, but the memory capacity is not reduced. Often this is due to the fact that the cleaning process is interrupted by the MIUI energy saving system. In such cases, it is worth trying to turn off the energy savings for the messenger during the maintenance.
Another common problem is the confusion between Clear cache and Clear data. If you happen to choose the latter, don't panic. Your correspondence is still there, it's stored on the server. You just need to re-enter your phone number and confirmation code to log in.
If the messenger continues to work slowly after all the manipulations, it may be a problem with a crowded database of local messages, in which case a complete reinstallation of the application with a pre-backup of chats (if possible for your type of account) or just a re-sign in can help.