Smartphones of the Redmi 6series, released several years ago, are still actively used due to their reliability and unpretentiousness. However, over time, even the most durable devices begin to suffer from a lack of free space. The operating system Android and the shell MIUI gradually accumulate gigabytes of temporary files, which slow down the processor and cause interface freezes.
Users often encounter a situation where the system blocks the installation of updates or the creation of new photos due to full storage. In this material, we will analyze in detail all the legal and safe ways to free up space on your device, ranging from simple settings to radical measures.
Analysis of the current state of the storage
Before you start deleting files, you need to determine exactly what is taking up space on your drive. Standard tools Xiaomi provide fairly detailed statistics, but many owners ignore this stage, deleting the necessary applications instead of “heavy” junk files.
To start diagnostics, go to the menu Settings, then find the section About phone and click on the item Storage. The system will perform automatic analysis and show a pie chart of data distribution. Here you will see categories: applications, images, videos, audio and system files.
Pay attention to the “Other” section. Often this is where forgotten downloads from instant messengers or residual files of deleted apps are hidden. If this partition occupies more than 30% of the memory, a manual check of the folders through the file manager is required.
⚠️ Attention: if an incorrect value is specified in the “System” section (for example, 0 bytes or a negative number), this is a sign of a failure in the file table. In this case, it is recommended to make a backup copy of important data before further manipulation.
Use the built-in Security application for a quick scan. It often finds more junk than a standard file manager.
Clearing system cache and temporary files
The easiest and safest way to get back a few gigabytes of free space is to clear the application cache. The cache is temporary data that apps save to speed up their work, but over time they become redundant.
In smartphones Redmi this procedure is simplified as much as possible thanks to the shell MIUI. You don't need to go into the settings of each application separately. It is enough to launch the pre-installed utility Security with an icon in the form of a shield.
Click on the button Cleaning (broom icon). The system will scan the device and offer to remove “Junk”. Be careful: the system may not flag some cache types by default. Click on the text with the amount of data to be cleared to open a detailed list.
- 🗑️ System cache - safe to delete, does not affect the operation of the OS.
- 📦 Advertising ID cache - it is recommended to clear it regularly for privacy.
- 📸 Gallery thumbnails - can be deleted, but the gallery will take longer to load the next time you open it.
- 📱 Cache of installed applications - deleted without losing personal data inside the apps.
After selecting categories, click the clear button. This operation takes less than a minute, but can free up from 500 MB to 2 GB of space depending on the intensity of use of the phone.
☑️ Daily memory hygiene
Managing media files and transferring data
The main load on the smartphone's memory Redmi 6 usually comes from photographs and videos. Modern cameras take high-resolution pictures that quickly fill up the internal storage. Transferring the archive to external media is the most effective solution.
Make sure you have a memory card of format microSD. Insert it into the slot (combined with the second SIM tray) and format it as portable storage. After this, you can transfer the files manually or set up automatic saving.
Open the application Explorer and go to the folder DCIM. Select all photos and videos, press the menu button (three dots) and select Move. Specify the memory card as the target directory. This process may take time depending on the amount of data.
| Data type | Approximate size | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
| Photos (JPEG) | 2-5 MB | Transfer to SD or to the cloud |
| Video (1080p) | 100-200 MB/min | Urgently transfer to PC |
| Whatsapp messages | Up to 10 GB | Clear in chat settings |
| Downloads | Various | Delete old ones APK installers |
It is also recommended to configure the camera to save pictures directly to the memory card. Go to the camera settings, find the item Save to SD card and activate the switch. This will prevent the internal memory from filling up in the future.
⚠️ Attention: Formatting the memory card will permanently delete all data on it. Be sure to copy important information from the flash drive to your computer before formatting.
Optimization of instant messengers and social networks
Communication applications such as Telegram, Viber and WhatsAppare hidden memory eaters on Android. They automatically download all images and videos from chats, duplicating them in internal storage.
In WhatsApp cleaning is done through the settings of the application itself. Open a chat, tap the contact or group name, then select Media, links and documents. Here you can delete files in bulk or sort them by type.
For Telegram the situation is simpler, since this is a cloud messenger. Go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory usage. Set the cache retention period, for example, “3 days” or “1 week”. The application will automatically delete old files, but they will remain on the server and will be downloaded again if necessary.
Disable auto-downloading of media on mobile networks. This will not only save space, but also save your mobile traffic. In the settings of each messenger, find the “Startup” section and select the “Only via Wi-Fi” or “Never” option.
Why do messengers take up so much space?
Messengers create thousands of small thumbnail files and duplicate images. Even if you deleted a photo from a chat, a copy of it may remain in the system .thumbnails folder or in hidden application caches.
Deleting unused applications and games
Often users install games “one time” or try many utilities, which then simply lie dead weight. Each such application takes up space not only with its installation file, but also with the data it generates during operation.
Go to the section Settings → Applications → All applications. Sort the list by size. You will be surprised to find that some game that you have not played for six months takes up 4 GB of space.
When deleting heavy games, the system will offer to save user data. If you plan to return to the game in the near future, you can save your progress. In other cases, choose complete removal with data clearing.
Do not forget about system applications that you do not use. W MIUI many of them can be disabled. Find in the list pre-installed services Xiaomi or Googlethat you do not need (for example, Google Movies or Mi Video, if you watch content through a browser), and click the button Disable.
⚠️ Attention: Do not remove or disable system components with the names “System Interface”, “Settings” or “Task Manager”. This can lead to unstable operation of the phone or endless rebooting.
Regular audit of installed applications once a month helps keep the system clean and prevents critical memory filling.
Radical measures: reset to factory settings
If none of the above methods free up enough space, your phone's file system may be fragmented or corrupted by hidden errors. In this case, the only correct solution is a complete data reset.
This procedure will return your Redmi 6 to the state in which it was immediately after purchase. All personal files, contacts, messages and settings will be deleted. Therefore, it is critical to make a full backup.
To perform a reset, go to Settings → Advanced settings → Recovery and reset. Select item Reset settings. The system will ask for confirmation and a password for your account.
Settings -> Advanced settings -> Recovery and reset -> Reset settings -> Delete all dataAfter rebooting, the phone will be completely clean. You'll need to go through the initial setup again, connect to Wi-Fi, and sign in to your Google account. The performance of the device will increase significantly, as all the accumulated software “junk” will disappear.
⚠️ Attention: Make sure that the battery charge is at least 50-60% before starting the reset. Interrupting the process by turning off the phone can damage the software and require flashing it at a service center.
What to do if the phone does not turn on after a reset?
If after the reset the MIUI logo appears and the process freezes, try entering Recovery mode (Volume up + Power). Select Wipe Data -> Wipe All Data. If this does not help, you will need to connect to a PC and use the Mi Flash Tool utility.
Frequently asked questions
Is it possible to transfer the applications themselves to a memory card on Redmi 6?
Unfortunately, in modern versions Android i MIUI the function of transferring applications to an SD card is often blocked by developers or is available only for certain apps. Even if there is a “Move to SD” button in the application settings, many system services will not allow this. It is better to use a memory card only for photos, videos and documents.
Why does the memory fill up immediately after cleaning?
This is normal system behavior. Applications immediately begin to regenerate the cache for faster operation. It's also possible that you have photo syncing enabled or downloading updates in the background. Check your application auto-update settings in Google Play.
Is it safe to delete the .thumbnails folder?
Yes, the folder .thumbnails can be safely deleted. It contains thumbnails of your photos for quick display in the gallery. After deleting, the gallery will run a little slower on first launch until it creates new thumbnails, but this will free up a significant amount of space.
How to clear memory if the phone constantly hangs?
If the interface does not respond to presses, try entering Recovery mode (press Volume Up + Power). In the menu, select Wipe Cache Partition (not to be confused with Wipe Data). This will clear the system cache without deleting personal files.