Xiaomi’s smartphones are famous for their performance, but over time, even the most powerful devices start to run slower.It’s a natural process of accumulating system debris, app cache and residual files. Owners often wonder how to effectively return the gadget to its original speed without buying new hardware.
There are several ways to completely clean up your smartphone memory and optimize the operation of the MIUI operating system. The choice of the specific method depends on how deep the cleaning you need: whether it is enough to delete temporary files or you need to perform a complete reset to factory settings.
In this article, we will take a look at all the tools available for cleaning Xiaomi Redmi, and you will learn how to safely remove unnecessary data, free up space and restore the speed of the interface using built-in functions and proven techniques.
Use of the built-in "Security" application
The easiest and safest way to start cleaning is to use the standard application from the developers of the MIUI shell, which is already pre-installed on each device and available immediately after purchase, and this tool does not require the installation of third-party software, which eliminates the risk of viruses.
Run the Safety app on the home screen. Click on the Cleanup or Speed button to allow the system to perform automatic analysis. The algorithm will find unnecessary files, cache and remnants of deleted programs.
- 🗑️ Cache Clearing – Delete temporary files that take up space but are not needed to work.
- 📦 Removal APK — Finding application installation files that are no longer in use.
- 📸 Cleaning photos – finding similar or blurred images in the gallery.
After the analysis, the system will suggest that you delete the objects you find, so you can choose specific categories or clear them all at once, and it's important to carefully review the content before you delete the photos so you don't lose important images.
⚠️ Note: Deep Cleanup may suggest removing WhatsApp or Telegram files. Check the attachments in messengers before confirming, as there may be important documents there.
Regular use of this tool helps keep the system clean, but it may not be enough to solve problems with speed.
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Start the built-in cleanup once a week to prevent a major slowdown in the future.
Manual cleaning of storage and application management
Automated systems don't always see everything. Some applications, especially social networks, can grow to giant sizes, taking up gigabytes of space. You have to manually go through the system settings to get full control.
Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Here you will see a list of all installed programs. Sort them by size to find heavyweights. Often the leaders are YouTube, TikTok or browsers.
Select an app and click Memory, and you have two important functions available here: Clear the cache and Clear Everything. One deletes the temporary data, the other resets the app to the state immediately after installation, removing your logins and settings inside it.
- 📱 Cache – temporary data for fast download that can be deleted without fear.
- 🔒 Data – personal information, logins and settings within a particular application.
- 🚫 Delete – Complete removal of the program from the device.
You should pay special attention to the download folder. PDF-files, installers and images from the Internet. Go through this list and delete everything that's superfluous.
☑️ Weekly inspection of the vault
Cleaning through Recovery Mode (Recavery)
If the system is unstable or the phone is locked, Recovery mode is used. This is a special diagnostic mode built into Xiaomi firmware, which allows you to perform deep cleaning, which is not available through the normal interface.
To enter this mode, you need to turn off your smartphone completely. Then press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power, but keep the volume.
In the Recovery menu, you can control volume (up-down) and power button (select).
- 🔄 Wipe All Data – Complete reset to factory settings (removes everything).
- 🧹 Wipe Cache – Clean only the cache of the system (safe, data will be saved).
Selecting Wipe All Data will completely delete all user data, including contacts, photos and apps, and use this method if you’re selling a phone or want to start with a clean slate.
⚠️ Note: Before entering Recovery, be sure to remove SIM-microSD card and memory card, if any, so as not to accidentally format their contents.
What to do if the Recovery menu doesn’t appear?
Full reset to factory settings (Hard Reset)
The most radical method that ensures that all data is completely deleted and returned to the “out of the box” state is ideal before selling a device or in case of serious software failures that cannot be fixed otherwise.
You can reset via the settings menu. Go to Settings → About Phone → Reset. The system will warn you that all data will be destroyed. Make sure the battery is at least 30-40% charged.
The process can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. The phone will reboot several times. Do not interrupt the process and do not try to turn the device off manually until the screen of the initial setting appears.
| Parameter | Description of action | Risk of data loss |
|---|---|---|
| Soft Reset | Rebooting the device | No. |
| Wipe Cache | Cleaning the system cache | No. |
| Factory Reset | Full reset via menu | High (all data) |
| Hard Reset | Reset via Recovery | Critical (all data) |
Once the procedure is complete, the phone will be like a new one, you will need to re-sign in to your Google account and Mi Account, and if you do not log out before reset, the system can request a password from them to confirm ownership (protection against theft).
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Hard Reset is the only solution that fixes file system-level software errors, but requires a mandatory backup.
Cleaning through a computer and ADB-team
For advanced users, there is the possibility of cleaning the system with a computer and an ADB debugging bridge. This method allows you to remove system applications that cannot be removed in the usual way, and clean hidden partitions.
To start, you need to turn on the developer mode. Go to About Phone and quickly click on the MIUI version 7 times. Then activate Debugging by USB in the advanced settings.
Connect your phone to your PC and enter a command to clear the cache:
adb shell pm trim-caches 999999999This command will force the cache of all applications to clear, freeing up significant space, and you can also use commands to remove specific system packets, but this requires caution.
- 💻 Connection – original cable and installed drivers are required.
- ⚙️ Debugging – mandatory inclusion of the developer mode.
- 🛠️ Tools – the presence of Platform Tools installed on the computer.
Using ADB gives you maximum control, but one error in the command can lead to system failure.
Prevention and optimization after cleaning
Once you have completely cleaned up Xiaomi Redmi, it is important to maintain the result.Do not install questionable applications from unknown sources and regularly check the permissions that require the program.
Turn off automatic app updates on the mobile network, leaving this feature only for Wi-Fi. This will save traffic and prevent heavy files from loading back in the background at the wrong time.
Use cloud services to store photos and videos. Built-in Google Photos or the Mi Cloud will free up local memory, leaving access to media files at any time.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use accelerators and cleaners from third-party developers from the Play Market. They often contain ads and consume resources themselves, slowing down the phone.
Compliance with these simple rules will allow your smartphone to work quickly and steadily for a long time. Regular maintenance is more important than rare radical measures.