Smartphone users Xiaomi often face a situation where the device’s memory is rapidly filling up, and there is an urgent need to find and delete unnecessary files. Owners of the model Redmi 9 are no exception, since this popular budget model has a limited amount of built-in storage. Understanding where physical and logical location storageis located is the key to effective space management.
In the operating system Androidon which the shell runs MIUI, the concept of "storage" is divided into two levels: system settings menu and file system accessible through Explorer. Many users confuse these concepts when trying to find photo folders or application caches in the memory usage statistics menu. In fact, all your data - from downloaded movies to system logs - is located in specific directories of the internal memory or on the card microSD.
Access to this data is carried out through a standard application Explorer, which is pre-installed on each device Redmi. However, simply opening it is not enough: you need to understand the folder structure so as not to delete files that are critical for the operation of the system. In this article, we will analyze in detail the memory architecture of your smartphone and show safe paths to user data.
System memory management menu
The first level of interaction with storage is system settings, which give an overall picture of space occupancy. You won't find specific files here, but you can see which categories of data are taking up the most space. To go to this section, you need to open the application Settings and scroll down the list to the item About phone.
In the menu that opens, you will see a graphical display of used and free memory. By clicking on it, the system will redirect you to the detailed menu Storage. Here the data is divided into clear categories: applications, images, video, audio, and more. This is a convenient tool for initial diagnostics, allowing you to quickly understand what exactly is “eating up” gigabytes.
It is worth noting that this section displays not only user content, but also system files that cannot be deleted manually through Explorer. For example, a section System occupies a fixed amount of space required for work MIUI. Attempts to free up space here are limited to clearing the cache or deleting applications, but direct access to files from here is prohibited for security reasons.
⚠️ Attention: Do not try to free up space by deleting data through the Applications menu without understanding its purpose. Removing system components can lead to unstable operation of the phone.
Physical location of files in internal memory
To directly access files, you must use the application Explorer. On your desktop or Tools folder, look for the yellow folder icon. After launch, you will see two main sections: Internal storage and, if available, SD card. It is the internal drive that is the main storage where all data is saved by default.
Internal memory structure Redmi 9 is a root directory with many folders. The most important folder for the average user is DCIM. The abbreviation stands for Digital Camera Images, and this is where all photos and videos taken with the main and front cameras are stored. Inside it there is usually a subfolder Camera.
Another critical directory is the folder Download. All files downloaded from the browser Chrome or other sources on the Internet are automatically saved here. If you downloaded a document, an application installation file, or a picture from the Internet, with a 99% probability it is located here. Regularly checking this folder helps free up a significant amount of space.
The folder Androiddeserves special attention. It contains data from installed applications. Inside it there are subfolders data and obb. The folder obb often contains heavy game cache files that can occupy several gigabytes. Deleting the contents of this folder may cause games to stop launching or require the data to be downloaded again.
Before deleting files from the Android folder, back them up to a computer or cloud, as restoring a deleted game cache may take a long time.
Working with a microSD memory card
The model Redmi 9 is equipped with a hybrid slot that allows you to use a memory card microSD with a capacity of up to 512 GB. This is an excellent solution for expanding storage, especially if the internal memory of 32 or 64 GB is not enough for you. The memory card is displayed in Explorer as a separate device with its own file structure.
By default, the camera and many applications save data to internal memory. To change this behavior, you need to go to the camera settings and select the memory card as the default save location. However, instant messengers and browsers often continue to save files inside the phone unless you configure them individually.
When you connect a memory card, the system may offer to use it as internal storage (adaptive storage) or as portable. In the case of Redmi 9 and shell MIUI portable storage mode is most often used. This means you can easily remove the card and insert it into another file reader.
| Data type | Recommended location | Advantages |
|---|---|---|
| Photo and Video | SD card | Saving internal memory, easy transfer |
| Applications | Internal memory | High speed, stability |
| Documents | SD card | Easy archiving and |
| Game cache | Internal memory | Fast loading of levels and textures |
Therefore, it is not recommended to transfer active applications or system processes to it. Use it primarily for storing media files and archives.
Hidden folders and system junk
In the file system Android there are hidden folders whose names begin with a dot (for example, .thumbnails). By default, Explorer does not show them, so as not to clutter the interface. However, it is in such folders that a huge amount of garbage often accumulates, which quietly consumes space.
The folder .thumbnails is located inside the directory DCIM. It stores thumbnails of your photos for quick display in your gallery. Over time, this cache can grow to several gigabytes. Emptying this folder is safe: the system will automatically create new thumbnails the next time you open the gallery, but it will take a little time.
You should also pay attention to folders from uninstalled applications. Often, after uninstalling a app, its folder with the name of the brand or service remains in the root of the internal memory. For example, folders from old instant messengers or games can lie like dead weight for months. You can safely delete them manually through Explorer.
How to show hidden files in MIUI?
In the Explorer application, click on the three dots in the corner of the screen, select "Settings" and activate the "Show hidden files" switch. After this, all folders starting with a dot will become visible.
⚠️ Attention: Be careful when deleting folders starting with a dot. Some of them may contain settings for active applications. Delete only those whose purpose you know for sure.
Clearing the cache of instant messengers and social networks
One of the main reasons for storage overflow on Redmi 9 is instant messengers. WhatsApp, Telegram i Viber save all received media files to the phone’s memory. Over time, chats turn into huge archives of photos and videos, which are duplicated in different folders.
In the case of WhatsApp, the files are usually located in the folder Android/media/com.whatsapp (on new versions of Android) or in the root folder WhatsApp (on older versions). Inside you will find subfolders Mediawhere images, videos and voice messages are stored. Manually cleaning this directory allows you to delete only heavy files, leaving text correspondence untouched.
Telegram works a little differently, caching files in its protected folder. The best way to clear space is to use the built-in cache clearing feature in the settings of the application itself. Go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory usage and click the clear button. This is a safer method than manually deleting files through Explorer.
Checking these folders regularly should become a habit. It is enough to look into the messenger storage once a month and delete unnecessary videos that you have already watched, but which continue to take up space in the device’s memory.
☑️ Monthly memory cleaning
Using the built-in Cleanup tool
Shell MIUI offers users a powerful built-in tool for system optimization. The application Security (green icon with a shield) contains a section Cleanup. This tool automatically scans your device for temporary files, remnants of uninstalled apps, and adware.
Starting a cleanup takes just a few seconds. The system offers to delete files that do not affect the operation of the phone. However, you should look at the list carefully before confirming. Sometimes the algorithm suggests deleting large files that you downloaded intentionally, mistaking them for garbage.
Also in this section there is a “Deep cleaning” function. It analyzes large files, rarely used applications, and similar photos. This is a great way to find "heavyweights" that you forgot to remove. The function of grouping similar photos is especially useful when you have taken dozens of identical photos and want to keep only the best one.
⚠️ Attention: The Security application interface may change with MIUI updates. If you don't find a feature, check for updates for system apps in the GetApps store.
MIUI's built-in cleaning tool is safe for system files, but always check the list of files marked for deletion so you don't accidentally erase important documents.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why is the memory full, although I haven’t downloaded anything?
Most often, space is taken up by application caches, automatically saved photos from instant messengers, and system logs. Also check the folder DCIM/.thumbnailswhich can grow to large sizes.
Is it possible to transfer all applications to an SD card in Redmi 9?
Unfortunately, modern versions of Android and MIUI limit this possibility. Most applications must remain in the internal memory to work correctly, although some data can be transferred manually.
How to find the Android folder in the new MIUI Explorer?
In new versions of the shell, access to the folder Android/data may be limited. Use third-party file managers such as Total Commander or Files by Googlethat have advanced access rights.
Is it safe to delete the MIUI folder?
No, delete the root folder MIUI impossible. It contains important theme settings, sounds, and system application data. Delete only specific subfolders inside it if you are sure of their contents (for example, old topics).
What to do if the phone says "Not enough memory" when updating?
You need to free up at least 2-3 GB of free space. Delete large videos, clear the YouTube and Instagram cache, and transfer photos to your computer or cloud storage.