The smartphone Redmi 7released by the company Xiaomiremains a popular device due to its reliability and availability, but over time the built-in storage inevitably fills up. Users often encounter a situation where the system starts to work slowly, and notifications about lack of space appear at the most inopportune moment. This happens due to the accumulation of temporary files, application cache and multimedia content, which takes up precious gigabytes.
In this article we will look in detail at how to effectively free up memory on Android exactly on the Redmi 7 model, taking into account the features of the shell MIUI. You will learn not only about standard cleaning methods, but also about advanced techniques that will help restore your device to its former speed without losing important data. The right approach to storage management will extend the comfortable life of your gadget.
Storage fullness analysis and system tools
Before you start deleting files, you need to understand what exactly is taking up space on your disk. The shell MIUI for Redmi 7 has a built-in powerful analysis tool that visualizes the distribution of data. Go to Settings, then select About phone and click on section Storage. Here you will see a color chart where each sector is responsible for a specific type of data: applications, images, videos or system files.
The system automatically categorizes files, but sometimes the categories may not be obvious. For example, the "Other" section often frightens users with its volume. Typically, archives, APK installer files, and messenger data that are not included in the standard categories are hidden there. By clicking on any sector of the diagram, you will receive a detailed list of files, sorted by size, which will allow you to quickly find and delete unnecessary ones.
Pay attention to the folder MIUI/debug_logif it exists in the root of the internal memory. In some firmware versions, the system may incorrectly record debug logs, swelling this file to several gigabytes. Its safe deletion will instantly free up a significant amount of space without affecting the stability of the smartphone.
⚠️ Attention: When analyzing the storage, do not delete files with the .obb extension from the Android folder unless you are sure that they belong to deleted games. This may result in lost progress or inability to launch installed applications.
Use the built-in file search in the manager by entering keywords like "video" or "apk" to quickly find heavy objects forgotten in the depths of folders.
Clearing the application cache and using the "Acceleration" function
The fastest way to get some free space back is to clear the cache. Cache is temporary data that applications store to load content faster. Over time, these files become outdated and become useless ballast. On Redmi 7, this can be done in two ways: through the settings of each application separately or in bulk through the system utility.
For mass cleaning, use the proprietary application "Security" (green icon with a shield), which is preinstalled on all devices Xiaomi. Launch it and click the button Cleaning. The system will scan the device and offer to remove "Junk". Be careful: by default, thumbnail images or log files may be selected, which you may want to save.
If you want to free up as much space as possible, it's worth going into the settings of specific "heavy" applications, such as YouTube, Telegram or Instagram. In the menu Applications → All applications select the desired app, go to Memory and press Clear cache. It is important not to confuse this button with the button Clear everything, which will reset the application to factory settings and delete your logins and correspondence.
- 🧹 Regularly clear your browser cache Chrome or MIUI Browser, as they accumulate gigabytes of data when watching videos and websites.
- 📱 Check your messenger cache: Telegram you can configure auto-deletion of the cache in the settings of the application itself, which is critical for Redmi 7 with limited memory.
- 🔄 Reboot your smartphone every 3-4 days: this helps the system to correctly terminate background processes and delete temporary files that are not deleted normally.
Management media files and working with cloud storage
Photos and videos are the main consumers of space on any smartphone. The Redmi 7 camera takes quite high-quality pictures, which can take up from 2 to 5 MB each, and videos in 1080p resolution consume space even faster. It is irrational to store thousands of such files in the internal memory, especially if the basic version of the smartphone has only 16 or 32 GB.
The optimal solution is to use cloud services. You can set up automatic synchronization with Google Photos or Yandex.Disk. Once you've uploaded your files to the cloud, use the Free Up Space feature, which will delete your local copies, leaving only thumbnails for viewing. This allows you to access your entire media library without loading the internal storage.
If you prefer to store data locally, take advantage of the memory card support microSDthat Redmi 7 provides. Transfer all your photos, music and documents to an external card. To do this, select the files in Explorer, click More and select Move → SD card. This action will instantly unload the system partition.
| File type | Average size | Recommended location storage | Cleaning frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo (JPEG) | 2-4 MB | Cloud / SD card | Once a month |
| Video (1080p) | 100-300 MB/min | SD card only | Immediately after viewing |
| Downloads (APK, PDF) | Various | Delete or PC | Weekly |
| Audio recordings | 3-5 MB | SD card | As needed |
⚠️ Attention: Formatting the SD card as “internal memory” (Adoptable Storage) on Redmi 7 is possible, but not recommended. This will link the card to a specific phone, and you will not be able to read the data on another device without formatting.
☑️ Preparing to transfer photos
Transferring applications to a memory card and managing settings
Question of transferring installed applications to a memory card is one of the most common for Redmi 7 owners. Unfortunately, modern versions Android and shell MIUI limit this possibility. Application developers often prohibit porting their products to external media for performance and security reasons.
Nevertheless, it is worth checking the portability. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Select the app and press Memory. If the button Change is active, you can select SD card as the storage location. If the button is gray or missing, it means that the application is strictly tied to the internal memory and cannot be transferred using standard means.
To bypass restrictions, some users use developer mode, forcing the transfer to be allowed. To do this, activate developer mode (7 clicks on MIUI version), then in the menu For developers find the item Allow saving on an external drive. However, this may lead to unstable operation of some apps, since the reading speed of the SD card is lower than the speed of the internal flash memory.
Why some applications cannot be transferred?
Android system restrictions prohibit the transfer of widgets, synchronization services and applications that require high data access speed to avoid interface freezes.
Removing system junk and the Thumbnails folder
There is a hidden folder in the Android system that often grows to unaffordable sizes - this .thumbnails. It stores thumbnails of all the photos and videos you've ever viewed in your gallery. On Redmi 7 with a small screen, the high resolution of these thumbnails is not needed, but the system continues to generate and store them.
To get to this folder, you will need a file manager with access to hidden files (for example, Total Commander or a standard one Explorer with the option to show hidden items enabled). The path to the folder usually looks like this: DCIM/.thumbnails or Pictures/.thumbnails. You can safely delete the contents of this directory.
To prevent this folder from growing again, experienced users create a file in the same place with the same name .thumbnails, but without the extension. The system will try to create a folder, find that a file with the same name already exists, and will not be able to write new thumbnails there. This is an effective method of saving space, but keep in mind that scrolling through the gallery may become a little slower, since the thumbnails will be created anew each time you view.
- 📂 Look for the folder
Android/data: caches of games and heavy applications are stored there, which are not cleared by the standard "Clear cache" button. - 🗑️ Delete the folder
backupif you have already made a backup to the cloud: local MIUI backups take up a lot of space. - 🚫 Do not delete the folder
MIUIentirely: this will reset all theme settings, alarms and system preferences.
⚠️ Attention: The interface and location of system folders may vary slightly depending on the MIUI firmware version (Global, China, Stable, Developer). Always check the latest documentation for your software version before deleting system directories.
Manually deleting the .thumbnails folder is the most effective way to deal with "disappearing" memory, which does not require root access.
Resetting settings as a last resort optimization measure
If everything the above methods did not help and the memory fills up on its own for no apparent reason, perhaps critical errors have accumulated in the system or data fragmentation has reached its limit. In this case, the only radical but effective solution is a complete reset to factory settings. This will return the smartphone to the condition it was in when purchased.
Before performing this procedure, it is critical to save all contacts, photos and documents. Resetting will delete absolutely everything from the internal memory, including Google accounts and Wi-Fi settings. Make sure you have a reliable backup on your computer or in a cloud service.
To perform a reset, go to Settings → Advanced settings → Restore and reset. Select item Reset settings and confirm the action. The process will take about 10-15 minutes, after which Redmi 7 will reboot and offer initial setup. Usually, after this procedure, the device works much faster, and the memory is completely freed.
Path to menu reset:
Settings → About phone → Reset settings → Erase all data
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why is the space not freed up immediately after deleting files?
This is due to the operation of the recycle bin in the application Gallery or Files. Deleted items are moved to temporary storage, where they remain for 30 days. To free up space instantly, you need to go to the application trash and empty it manually.
Is it possible to delete the MIUI/debug_log folder without consequences?
Yes, this folder can be deleted. It contains system debugging logs, which are only needed by developers when searching for errors. For the average user, this data is useless and only takes up space.
How to find out which application slows down the system the most?
Go to Settings → Advanced settings → For developers → Process statistics. It displays a list of applications that consume the most RAM and processor resources at the current moment.
Does memory usage affect on the charging speed of Redmi 7?
There is no direct effect on the charging speed, but critically full memory (less than 500 MB free) can cause the processor to overheat due to constant background recording and system attempts to free up space. This can indirectly force the power controller to reduce the charging current for safety.
Is it worth installing third-party cleaning apps like Clean Master?
On modern versions of Android this is not recommended. Built-in MIUI tools do a better job, and third-party “cleaners” often take up space, show ads and work in the background, using up the battery instead of saving resources.