Smartphones of the line Xiaomi Redmi traditionally offer an excellent price-performance ratio, however Even powerful models eventually run out of internal storage. Users often notice that the device starts to work slower, photos are not saved, and instant messengers refuse to download new files. This occurs due to the accumulation of system garbage, duplicate media files and the growth of the application cache, which can occupy gigabytes of usable space.
Freeing up memory on the Android shell MIUI or new HyperOS requires a systematic approach, since standard methods for deleting applications often do not affect hidden files. In this article, we will analyze in detail the tools of the built-in optimizer, manual cleaning of folders and specific settings that will help restore the phone to its former speed without losing important data.
Before taking radical measures like resetting the settings, it is necessary to conduct a deep diagnostic of the storage. Understanding what exactly is taking up space will allow you to act precisely and effectively, while maintaining the functionality of the system and personal data.
Analysis of storage fullness and system optimizer
The first step should always be diagnosis. Smartphones Xiaomi have a built-in powerful analysis tool that allows you to visually assess the distribution of files. Go to Settings → Memoryto see a detailed map (occupancy) of the disk. Here it organizes data into categories: applications, images, videos, audio and system files.
Pay special attention to the section "Other". Often this category hides the largest amount of data, consisting of messenger caches, residual files of uninstalled apps and temporary update data. The system analyzer cannot always correctly decrypt the contents of this folder, so a manual check here will be extremely useful.
The built-in "Security" application (or "Cleanup" in new versions of the software) offers the "Junk Cleanup" function. Click on the appropriate button for the scanner to find temporary files and the advertising cache. However, you should not blindly trust this tool: it often marks useful map cache files or offline music as garbage.
⚠️ Attention: Before using the Deep Clean function in the Security application, carefully review the list of files. The algorithm may suggest deleting old screenshots or documents that you may still need.
For more precise management, use the built-in file manager. Go to the Analyzer section inside the Explorer application. This tool can find large files, duplicate images and rarely used applications, offering to delete them in one click.
Clearing the cache of instant messengers and social networks
The most power-hungry applications on any Android smartphone, including Redmi Note and Redmi K series are instant messengers. Telegram and WhatsApp by default they save all received media files to internal memory, creating giant archives for several months of use.
In Telegram, cleaning is done most effectively through the settings of the application itself. Go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory usage. Here you will see the total cache size. Click the "Clear Telegram Cache" button. Don't worry, your chats and files will not be deleted permanently - if necessary, they can be downloaded again from the server.
For WhatsApp, the procedure is slightly different, since this application stores backups locally. Go to Settings → Data and storage → Storage management. You will see a list of chats sorted by space. You can select a specific conversation and delete the sent videos or documents, leaving the text correspondence untouched.
- 📱 Enable automatic cache deletion in Telegram: set a timer (for example, 3 days) so that the cache is cleared automatically.
- 📸 Disable autosaving to the gallery: in the WhatsApp and Viber settings, disable saving incoming photos to the system gallery.
- 🗑️ Regularly check the “Sent” folder in messengers: duplicate photos that you have already sent often accumulate there.
Don't forget about social networks, such as VK or Instagram. These apps also have cache sections in their settings. Clearing the cache through the Android system menu (Settings → Applications → [Application name] → Storage → Clear cache) is a safe operation and does not affect your logins and passwords.
If you actively use Telegram to work with documents, set up a folder for downloading files to the SD card (if it is supported by your Redmi model) so as not to fill up the internal memory.
Manage photo gallery and cloud services
Media files traditionally occupy the lion's share of memory. Modern cameras Xiaomi record in high definition, and one minute video in 4K can weigh hundreds of megabytes. It becomes physically impossible to store this entire library on the device without regular cleaning.
The ideal solution is to set up automatic synchronization with the cloud. The service Google Photos is preinstalled on all Android smartphones. Activate the "Startup and Sync" feature. Once the photos are uploaded to the cloud, use the "Free up space" function in the application menu. It will only delete photos from your device that are already securely saved in your Google account.
If you prefer the ecosystem Xiaomi Cloud, check the synchronization settings in the menu Settings → Mi Account → Xiaomi Cloud → Gallery. However, it is worth remembering that the free space in the Xiaomi cloud is limited (usually 5 GB), while Google provides 15 GB for free.
| Service | Free limit | Features for Redmi | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Photos | 15 GB | Deep integration with Android | Main option for backup |
| Xiaomi Cloud | 5 GB | System settings synchronization | Additional option for contacts and notes |
| Yandex Disk | 10 GB | Unlimited for photos from your phone (promotion) | A good alternative for Russian users |
| SD card | Up to 1 TB | Requires a slot in the phone | The best storage solution video archives |
It is also worth using the built-in duplicate search tool. The Gallery or File Explorer app often has a Find Duplicates feature. The algorithm compares images and suggests removing copies, leaving only the best quality file. This can instantly free up several gigabytes.
⚠️ Attention: Before mass deleting photos, make sure that cloud synchronization is 100% successful. Check the availability of files in the web version of the cloud service from your computer.
Transferring applications and working with an SD card
Many models Redmi support the installation of microSD memory cards. This is the easiest way to expand storage for media files, but there are some nuances to installing applications. Modern versions of Android limit the ability to move full-fledged applications to an external card for security and performance reasons.
However, you can change the default save location for new files. Go to the camera settings and specify saving photos and videos to the SD card. Also, in the settings of the voice recorder and some file managers, you can select an external drive as the target folder.
For some applications, the “Move to SD card” function is available in the application management menu. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications, select the desired app (for example, a heavy game or a navigator with offline maps) and check for a button to change storage. If the button is active, transferring data will free up valuable internal space.
☑️ Preparing the SD card for work
It is possible to format the memory card as “Internal Memory” (Adoptable Storage). In this case, the system encrypts the card and merges it with the main storage. This allows you to install applications directly onto the card, but makes it unreadable on other devices without a full reset.
If you decide to use the card as internal storage, make sure it is of high quality. Cheap cards can become a “bottleneck”, slowing down the entire smartphone Redmi and causing the interface to freeze.
Removing system garbage and folders.thumbnails
In the Android file system there are hidden folders that are not visible during normal browsing, but take up enormous space place. The most famous of them is .thumbnails. In this folder, the system stores thumbnails of all your photos and videos for quick display in the gallery. Over time, the size of this folder can reach 5-10 GB.
To get to it, you will need a file manager with access to hidden files (enable the “Show hidden files” option in the Explorer settings). The path to the folder usually looks like this: DCIM →.thumbnails. You can safely delete the contents of this folder. The system will automatically create it again, but it will be empty and will begin to grow again only as you view the gallery.
Another problem area is the folder Android/data. Cache files of games and heavy applications are stored here. Deleting the contents of this folder for active applications will reset their settings or force them to download resources again (for example, maps in the navigator or textures in the game). You should clear this section only for those apps that you have already deleted, but from which “tails” remain.
How to prevent .thumbnails from growing?
Create an empty file in the DCIM folder named .thumbnails (without extension). The system will not be able to write data to it, and the thumbnail folder will not bloat. However, the gallery may start to work a little slower when scrolling.
It is also worth checking the folder MIUI/debug_log. In some firmware versions, system debugging logs are recorded here, which can occupy gigabytes. If you are not a developer and do not debug the system, these files can be safely deleted.
⚠️ Attention: The interface and location of system folders may vary slightly depending on the version MIUI or HyperOS. If you are not sure of the purpose of the file, it is better not to delete it manually.
Uninstalling unused applications and Bloatware
Smartphones Xiaomi often come with pre-installed software that not everyone needs. This is the so-called bloatware: games, partner services, additional utilities. Even if you don’t use them, they take up space and can run in the background.
Check your installed apps. Go to Settings → Applications and sort the list by size. Delete games you haven't played in the last six months. For system applications that cannot be removed in the standard way, you can use disabling. Click on the application and select “Disable” - this will hide it and stop all processes associated with it, freeing up RAM.
For advanced users, it is possible to remove system garbage through a computer using the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) utility. This allows you to remove even deep system apps like Mi Video or Mi Music if you prefer third-party alternatives. However, this method requires caution, since removing critical components may lead to unstable operation of the phone.
- 🚀 Use “Developer Mode” to limit background processes if the phone is old.
- 📦 Replace heavy applications with “Lite” versions (for example, Facebook Lite, Telegram X).
- 🧹 Regularly check the "Autostart" list in the "Security" application to prevent unnecessary apps from starting with the phone.
Remember that deleting standard applications via ADB is not irreversible. When performing a factory reset (Wipe Data), all deleted system components will return to their places.
Comprehensive cleaning should include not only deleting files, but also disabling background services of unnecessary applications, which directly affects the speed of Redmi.
Radical measures: Factory reset settings
If none of the above methods helped free up enough space, or if the phone is extremely unstable, the last option remains - a full reset. This procedure will return the device to the state it was in when you purchased it, completely erasing all user data and applications.
Before performing a reset, it is critical to take a full backup. Use the built-in Mi Mover app to transfer data to another phone or create a full copy on PC. Make sure your contacts are synced with your Google account and your photos are synced with the cloud.
To reset, go to Settings → About phone → Reset settings → Delete all data. The system will ask you to enter your password or pattern. After confirmation, the formatting process will begin, which will take from 5 to 15 minutes depending on the amount of memory and speed of the drive.
⚠️ Attention: Make sure the battery level is at least 50% before starting the reset. Interrupting the process by turning off the phone may damage the software and require flashing at a service center.
After booting a “clean” system, you will find that almost all of the factory space is available. This is a great time to start using your phone more disciplined, installing only the necessary applications and immediately setting up synchronization with the cloud.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why is the space not freed up after deleting applications?
When deleting an application via the desktop, its data folders often remain in the root of the internal memory or in folder Android/data. In addition, the messenger cache is not deleted along with the application unless you manually clear it first. Use a file manager to search for residual folders with the name of the deleted app.
Is it safe to delete the .thumbnails folder?
Yes, it is completely safe. This folder stores only thumbnails of your photos for quick viewing in the gallery. The next time you open the gallery, the system will re-create thumbnails for the required pictures, but the folder will not swell to gigabyte sizes right away.
Is it possible to transfer WhatsApp to an SD card on Redmi?
You cannot directly transfer the WhatsApp application itself to an SD card in modern versions of Android. However, you can change the path for saving media files in the WhatsApp settings (if the version of the application and firmware supports it) or manually move the folder WhatsApp/Media to the memory card, although this may interfere with the display of files inside chats.
What is "Other" in the phone storage?
The "Other" category usually includes system files, application cache, messenger data, firmware update files and documents that the system could not classify as photos, videos or music. Most often, the space here is occupied by the Telegram cache and offline maps of navigators.
How often do you need to clear the memory on Redmi?
It is recommended to carry out preventative cleaning of the messenger cache once a month. Deep cleaning, removing duplicates and unnecessary files, should be done once a quarter. If you actively shoot video in 4K, you should check your free space weekly.