Smartphones of the Redmi i Xiaomi line are famous for their excellent price-performance ratio, but over time, even the most powerful models begin to work slower. The main reason for the decrease in performance is the internal memory overflowing with application caches, residual files and temporary data that accumulate during use. Owners of shell-based devices MIUI or a new one HyperOS often face a lack of space and interface slowdowns, not understanding where exactly the gigabytes disappear.
Proper cleaning of applications can not only free up valuable space, but also extend the life of the drive, and also increase the overall stability of the system. Unlike simply uninstalling apps, deep cleaning requires an understanding of the folder structure and functions of the operating system Android. In this article, we will look at proven methods for removing garbage that are safe for your data and do not require superuser rights.
Many users mistakenly believe that standard tools are not enough and immediately install third-party “accelerators”, which often themselves become a source of advertising and background processes. However, the built-in tools Xiaomi are quite powerful if you know where to look for the settings you need. A competent approach to phone maintenance will allow you to forget about constant notifications about low memory.
Analysis of occupied space through settings
The first step before any cleaning should be diagnostics. It is necessary to determine exactly which applications take up the most space, since often it is not games that are “heavy”, but instant messengers or streaming services. To do this, go to menu Settings, then select section Applications and click on item All applications. Here you will see a complete list of installed software, sorted by default or by size.
Pay attention to the "Memory" and "Cache" tabs. Memory — this is the weight of the application itself and its permanent data (photos in chats, downloaded maps), and Cache - temporary files that can be deleted without loss of functionality. For example, a messenger can take up 200 MB in installation, but grow to 10 GB due to saved media files. Regular monitoring of this section helps identify memory “eaters.”
In new versions of the shell HyperOS more detailed statistics on storage usage have appeared. The system can tell you which files can be safely deleted by analyzing duplicates and rarely used apps. Don't ignore these tips, but always double-check the contents before deleting to avoid accidentally erasing important documents.
⚠️ Attention: Be extremely careful when analyzing system applications. Removing Google system services data or MIUI components may lead to incorrect operation of the phone, synchronization failures, or complete failure of some functions.
Clearing the cache and data of specific applications
The most effective way to free up space is to manually clear the cache of problematic applications. When you open the app, it creates temporary files to quickly load content, but over time this data can take up hundreds of megabytes. To clear them, go to Settings → Applications → All applications, select the desired app (for example, YouTube or TikTok) and find the button Clear at the bottom of the screen.
Here it is important to distinguish between two types of cleaning: “Clear cache” and “Clear all” (or “Clear data”). The first option deletes only temporary files, without affecting your logins, settings and correspondence. The second option completely resets the application to the "just from the store" state, deleting all accounts and local saves.
- 📱 Use "Clear cache" for heavy games and browsers to speed them up without losing progress.
- 🗑️ Use "Clear all" only if the application is not working correctly or you want to completely remove all traces of it from phone.
- 💾 For messengers, it is better to use the built-in cleaning functions inside the application itself so as not to lose important chats.
Particular attention should be paid to social network applications VK and messenger Telegram. They have their own cache management settings, which are often more effective than system ones. Inside these applications, you can set up automatic cache clearing, for example, once a week or when a certain limit is reached, which will save you from having to do it manually.
☑️ Safe clearing checklist
Using the built-in Security application
In each The smartphone Redmi has a pre-installed system application "Security" (Security), which is the main tool for servicing the device. Despite criticism from some experts, this tool is deeply integrated into the system and has access to sections that are closed to third-party apps. Launch the application and select the section Cleaning.
The system will automatically analyze the device for temporary files, remnants of deleted applications and advertising debris. After scanning, you will see a list of categories that you can clear. It is recommended that you carefully review each category, especially the Trash and Large Files, to make sure that there is nothing important there.
The Boost function in the same application helps free up RAM (RAMby closing background processes. However, you should not abuse this function, since constant forced unloading of applications can, on the contrary, increase battery consumption due to their restart by the system.
| Data type | Description | Deletion security | Recommended frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application cache | Temporary files for fast loading | Safe | Once a week |
| Residual files | Deleted app folders | Safe | Once a month |
| APK files | Software installation packages | Safe (if the software is installed) | Immediately after settings |
| Thumbnails | Thumbnails of photos and videos | Safe (will be created again) | If there is not enough space |
Why after cleaning the space again is filling up?
System processes and applications are constantly creating new temporary files. This is normal Android behavior. The cache speeds up the operation of applications, so you cannot completely disable its creation, but regular cleaning is necessary.
Removing hidden garbage and advertising files
Many free applications leave behind folders with advertising banners and error logs that are not deleted by standard means. These files are often located in the root directory of the internal memory or in the Android/datafolder. To find them, it is better to use a file manager, for example, the built-in Explorer from Xiaomi or the more advanced Total Commander.
Pay attention to the folders with the names of deleted games or apps. Chinese applications and services also leave a lot of garbage, creating hidden folders with names like .temp, log or developer abbreviations. You can delete the contents of such folders, but it is better to leave the folder itself so that the application does not create a new one with the same access rights.
The folder DCIM often accumulates thumbnails of deleted photos. If you cleaned the gallery, but space is not freed up, check the folder .thumbnails inside DCIM. The files there can weigh several gigabytes. Deleting them is safe; the system will create them again the next time you open the gallery.
Check your Downloads folder periodically. Browsers and instant messengers often save open documents and pictures there, which the user forgets about in a month.
Cleaning messengers: WhatsApp and Telegram
Messengers deserve special attention, since they are the main garbage collectors on a modern smartphone. WhatsApp saves all received media files to a common gallery and to its internal database. To clean, go to Settings WhatsApp → Data and storage → Storage management. Here you can select chats that take up the most space and delete large videos or documents.
Telegram Stores data in the cloud, but caches it on the device for quick access. In Telegram settings, go to Data and memory → Memory usage. There you will see the cache size and can clear it with one button. It is also recommended to enable the “Auto-delete media” function, setting the retention period to, for example, 3 days or 1 week.
- 📹 In WhatsApp, most often space is occupied by video messages and contact statuses, which can be disabled in the privacy settings.
- 📂 Telegram allows you to selectively clear the cache only for channels or chats, leaving important files.
- 🔄 Regular clearing of messengers prolongs the life of the application database, preventing it from bloating and slowdowns.
Do not forget that clearing the messenger cache does not deletes your correspondence from the server (unless it is a local WhatsApp backup without a copy in Google Drive). However, if you decide to clear the "All Data" of the application, you will lose access to the message history on this device until you resynchronize.
Removing system updates and unnecessary services
System MIUI i HyperOS stores update packages after successful installation, which may weigh from 2 to 4 GB. These files are located in a hidden folder downloaded_rom or similar. After successfully updating the system and checking its stability, these files can be safely deleted through the file manager or the Security application in the Cleaning section.
It is also worth considering disabling or removing pre-installed applications (Bloatware) that you do not use. In Redmi many system applications (for example, Mi Video, Mi Music, some Google services) can be disabled in the menu Applicationsby pressing the button Disable. This will stop them from running in the background and updating, although the disk space will be freed up slightly.
⚠️ Attention: MIUI and HyperOS interfaces may differ depending on the Android version and regional firmware. The location of menu items may change after system updates. If you do not find the described item, use the search in the settings (magnifying glass at the top of the screen).
System update packages (ROMs) can be removed only after successfully installing a new firmware version and checking the stable operation of the phone for a couple of days.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it safe to use third-party cleaning applications, such as Clean Master?
Using third-party “cleaners” on modern versions of Android is often ineffective and even harmful. The system itself limits the background activity of such apps. They can display intrusive advertisements, collect user data, and create additional CPU load. Built-in tools Redmi are quite enough to maintain order.
What happens if you delete the Android/data folder?
Deleting the entire folder Android/data will lead to resetting the settings of many applications, loss of offline maps, game saves and cache media files. Applications may stop launching or require re-authorization. You can only delete the contents of folders of specific deleted applications or their cache inside these folders, understanding the consequences.
Why does the memory quickly fill up again after cleaning?
This is normal system behavior. Applications create a cache for faster operation, instant messengers load new photos, and the system writes logs. If the memory fills up critically quickly (within a few hours), perhaps some application is not working correctly (“cyclic log”) or you have a widget that constantly updates heavy content.
How to clear “Other” in Redmi storage?
The “Other” category usually contains application files that are not recognized by the system as photos, videos or music, as well as cache and system files. To clear it, you need to find the specific application that is occupying this volume (through the storage settings) and clear its cache or data. Often “Other” is inflated by instant messengers and streaming services.