Smartphone Xiaomi Redmi Note 7, released in 2019, still remains a popular device due to its excellent price-performance ratio. However, over time, even the most productive device begins to slow down, and notifications about lack of space appear more and more often. This is a natural process of accumulation of system garbage, application cache and duplicate files.
Proper cleaning can not only free up valuable gigabytes in the internal memory, but also significantly extend the life of the battery, reducing the load on the processor. In this article, we will look at all the effective ways to remove unnecessary data, from built-in MIUI tools to radical reset methods.
You should not ignore the first signs of a slowdown in the interface. Timely maintenance of the operating system Android ensures that your phone will work as fast as the day it was purchased.
Using the built-in Security application
The Company Xiaomi preinstalls a powerful utility for optimizing the system, which is hidden from the eyes of inexperienced users behind shield icon. This application Security is the main tool for dealing with garbage in the MIUI shell. It scans the device for temporary files, remnants of uninstalled apps and advertising cache.
To start the cleaning procedure, just open the menu and press the big green button. The system will automatically determine the amount of space occupied and offer to delete the found objects. It is important to understand that the operating algorithms of this tool can be aggressive.
⚠️ Attention: Before clicking the “Clean” button, carefully review the list of found files. Sometimes the system marks important messenger caches as garbage, which can cause downloaded images or voice messages to disappear.
In addition to standard cleaning, the utility menu has a section Cleaningwhere you can configure deletion settings in detail. Here you can remove installer APK files, which often remain after updating apps. It’s also worth taking a look at the section Deep cleaningwhere large files are stored that you might have forgotten to delete.
Enable automatic cache clearing once a week in the Security application settings so that your phone always remains in good shape without your participation.
Manual deletion of cache and application data
Automatic tools do not always cope with heavy applications, such as social networks or video editors. These apps create huge amounts of temporary data that clog the storage Redmi Note 7. Manual cleaning through the system settings gives complete control over what exactly will be deleted.
To get to the desired section, follow the path Settings → Applications → All applications. From the list, select a app that takes up a lot of space (for example, Telegram or YouTube). Inside the application card you will see two important buttons: Clear and Reset.
Clicking on the “Clear” button deletes only temporary files cache without affecting your personal settings and accounts. This is a safe operation that can be performed regularly. The “Reset” button returns the application to the state immediately after installation, deleting all logins and data.
☑️ Checking heavy applications
Pay special attention to the gallery and download files. Often documents and pictures that you no longer need accumulate in the folder. Removing them through a file manager Download Documents and pictures that you no longer need accumulate. Removing them through a file manager Explorer frees up space instantly.
Removing system garbage and duplicates
Over time, files accumulate in the smartphone’s memory that are not directly related to the application cache, but take up space. These include duplicate photos, empty folders, and leftovers from system updates. The MIUI shell has built-in algorithms for searching for such objects.
The application Explorer has a “Documents” category and a “Recent” section. Here you can often find old presentations or installation files for games that you have already completed. Deleting this data is safe for the operation of the system, but is critical for freeing up space.
It is also worth checking the folder MIUI/debug_log. It stores debugging logs created by the system when errors occur. If you are not a developer and do not send error reports to Xiaomi engineers, this folder can be safely cleared completely.
⚠️ Attention: Never delete files with the .xml or .ini extension from the Android root folder manually if you are not sure of their purpose. This can lead to a malfunction of system services.
To search for duplicate photos, you can use third-party utilities from Google Play, but often the built-in album also highlights similar pictures. This is especially true for owners of Redmi Note 7 with a 48 MP camera, since one photo can take up to 10 MB.
Cleaning the Android folder and hidden directories
The most difficult part of maintenance is working with the system folder Android. Inside it there are subfolders data and obb, where game data and specific app settings are stored. Inaccurate deletion of files from here may result in games no longer launching.
The folder Android/obb stores cache files of heavy games. If you deleted the game but forgot to empty this folder, gigabytes of data will remain as dead weight. Check for folders with the names of deleted projects and delete them.
The directory Android/data stores settings and a cache of running applications. You should go here only as a last resort, for example, if some application is frozen or not working correctly. Before deleting anything from this folder, it is better to make a backup copy.
What to do if the Android folder does not open?
In new versions of Android, access to this folder is limited. Use a third-party file manager with extended rights or connect the phone to a PC for direct access to files.
Resetting the settings to factory settings as a last resort
If none of the above methods helped and the phone continues to slow down, there remains a radical, but the most effective method - a complete reset. This procedure will return Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 to the “out of the box” state, deleting absolutely all user data.
Before starting the operation, it is critical to save all important information to external media or cloud storage. After the reset, it will be impossible to recover deleted files without special equipment.
To perform a reset, go to the menu Settings → About phone → Reset settings. Select "Delete all data". The phone will reboot and begin the formatting process, which may take from 5 to 15 minutes.
| Action | Risk of data loss | Efficiency cleaning | Execution time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clearing application cache | Low (temporary files only) | Medium | 5-10 minutes |
| Deleting large files | Medium (need to check files) | High | 15-20 minutes |
| Factory reset | Critical (everything is deleted) | Maximum | 30-40 minutes |
Full reset of settings is the only way to guarantee the removal of viruses or deep system contamination that cannot be cleaned manually.
Prevention of memory clogging in future
In order not to return to the issue of cleaning every two months, it is worth changing your smartphone usage habits. Disable automatic saving of media files from instant messengers to the gallery. This will prevent duplication of pictures that are already in chats.
Regularly check the list of installed applications. If you haven't opened a game or app for more than a month, you probably don't need it. Removing unused software is the best prevention of slowdowns.
Use cloud services to store photos. Setting up automatic uploading to Google Photos or Yandex.Disk will allow you to store pictures in original quality without taking up space on the internal storage Redmi Note 7.
⚠️ Attention: The MIUI interface may vary slightly depending on the Android version and regional firmware. If you do not find the described menu item, use the search in settings.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it safe to delete the .thumbnails folder in the gallery?
Yes, it's safe. This folder stores thumbnails of your photos for quick display in your gallery. After deleting, it will be re-created automatically, but this will free up space if you have thousands of pictures.
Why is the space freed up after cleaning, but an hour later it is occupied again?
Most likely, you have instant messenger synchronization active or background downloading of updates. Check your application auto-update settings in Google Play and limit background activity for heavy apps.
Is it possible to transfer all applications to a memory card on Redmi Note 7?
No, modern versions of Android and MIUI limit the ability to transfer applications to an SD card. Only photos, videos and music can be transferred to the card. Some applications allow you to change the path where files are saved in their internal settings.
Deleting the cache deletes my logins and passwords?
No, clearing the cache only affects temporary files. Your logins, passwords and correspondence will be saved. To delete personal data, you need to use the “Reset data” or “Clear all” function in the settings of a specific application.