Modern smartphones, such as Xiaomi Redmi 9, have impressive characteristics, but over time they begin to work slower. The main reason for the brakes is overcrowded internal storage and the accumulation of system garbage. Automatic cleaners often fail to cope with deep stains or, conversely, delete the necessary data. The manual cleaning method allows you to control every step and free up gigabytes of space without installing dubious software.
In this article we will look at proven methods for deleting temporary files, remnants of deleted applications and messenger caches. You'll learn how to use built-in tools MIUI for maximum efficiency. The process does not require root access and is absolutely safe for the device if you follow the instructions.
Analysis of storage capacity
Before deleting files, you need to understand what exactly is taking up space in your memory Redmi 9. The Android system provides a built-in analyzer that visualizes the distribution of data. This allows you to avoid deleting important documents by mistake and focus on the real sources of “garbage”.
Go to Settings and find the section Memory or Storage. Here you will see a color chart where applications, images, videos and system files are indicated in different colors. Click on any category to see a detailed list.
Particular attention should be paid to the category "Other". This name often hides cache files of social networks, downloaded messages in instant messengers, and remnants of system updates. It is this category that most often grows to tens of gigabytes on budget devices.
If you see that the bulk is occupied by photos and videos, do not rush to delete them thoughtlessly. It's better to transfer media files to your computer or cloud storage. System garbage can be deleted without fear of losing personal data.
Clearing the application cache manually
Cache is temporary data that applications save to speed up their work. Over time, these files become outdated, take up space, but cease to be useful. Clearing the cache is the safest way to free up space, as it does not delete logins, passwords or conversations.
To manually clear it, go to Settings → Applications → All applications. You will need to go through the list of the most “heavy” apps. Typically these are browsers (Chrome, Yandex), social networks (VKontakte, Instagram) and video services (YouTube).
Select the desired application from the list. On the app information screen, find the "Clear" or Storagebutton. There will be two options: “Clear cache” and “Clear everything”. Select the first option.
If you accidentally click "Clear all", the application will be reset to factory settings: you will be logged out of your account, saved maps and interface settings will be lost. Be careful when choosing an action so as not to lose access to your services.
☑️ Check before clearing the cache
Deleting residual files and folders
When deleting applications using standard Android tools, empty folders or configuration files are often left on the device. These "tails" can accumulate for years. To find them, we need the built-in file manager Explorer.
Open the application Explorer on the desktop. Go to the root folder of the internal storage. Look for folders with the names of previously deleted games or apps. It is also worth checking the folders named Android/obb and Android/data.
In the directory Android/obb game cache files are stored. If you deleted a game, but the folder with its name remains, you can safely delete it. This often frees up 1 to 5 GB of space on one device.
⚠️ Attention: Do not delete folders with the names of Google or Xiaomi system services (for example,
com.google.android.gms), even if they seem superfluous to you. This may interfere with notifications and synchronization.
Also check the folder Download (Downloads). Installation files .apk of old versions of apps that are no longer needed often accumulate there. Removing them is completely safe if the applications are already installed.
How to find hidden files?
Sometimes files are hidden by default. In Explorer settings, turn on the "Show hidden files" option to see folders starting with a dot, for example .thumbnails.
Cleaning up messengers: WhatsApp and Telegram
Messengers are the main memory eaters on smartphones Redmi. They automatically save every photo and video received to a gallery, duplicating the files in their internal folders. Manual cleaning here gives the greatest effect.
B WhatsApp go to the application settings → Data and storage → Storage management. You will see a list of chats sorted by space. You can select a specific chat and delete only media files, leaving text correspondence.
In Telegram the situation is even more interesting. Go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory usage. There is a button here Clear Telegram cache. Feel free to press it - the messenger will download the files again only when you open the desired chat again.
Disable autosave of media to the gallery for both applications. This will prevent duplication of files: the photo will be stored only inside the messenger, and not take up space in the general phone gallery.
In Telegram, you can set up automatic cache clearing. Set the "Keep media" option for 3 days or a week, and the application itself will delete old files.
Using the built-in "Security" application
The shell MIUIinstalled on Redmi 9has a powerful system application Security. It includes a Cleanup tool that goes deeper than standard Android tools.
Launch the application and click on the icon Cleanup (broom icon). The system will scan the device for temporary files, cached advertisements, and installation residues. Click the cleanup button to delete what was found.
Next go to the Deep cleaning section within the same application. Here you can find large files, duplicate photos, and rarely used applications. The tool will offer to remove them with one click.
However, you should not rely only on the automatic mode. In the "Large Files" section, the system may suggest deleting a video that you shot six months ago and want to save. Always check the list before confirming the deletion.
| Data type | Deletion security | Impact on the system | Recommended frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application cache | High | Applications open a little slower the first time | Once every 2 weeks |
| Downloads | Medium (needs checking) | Absent | Once a month |
| Folder .thumbnails | High | The gallery will re-build thumbnails | As filling |
| .log files | High | Absent | Once a month |
Reset settings as a last resort
If manual cleaning did not help and the phone continues to slow down; perhaps critical errors or virus debris have accumulated in the system. In this case, a full reset to factory settings helps. This will return Redmi 9 to the “out of the box” state.
Before this procedure be sure to create a backup copy of all contacts, photos and important documents. After the reset, it will be impossible to recover deleted files without a backup. Use Mi Cloud or a computer to save data.
Go to Settings → About phone → Reset settings. Select an item Erase all data. The phone will reboot and begin the cleaning process, which may take 10-15 minutes.
⚠️ Attention: Make sure the battery has enough power is at least 50% before the reset starts. If the phone turns off during the formatting process, this may lead to software failure.
After turning on, set up the phone as new. Do not restore all applications from a backup at once, but install only the necessary ones. Often old settings are the reason for slow operation.
A full reset removes absolutely everything, including viruses and system junk, but requires careful preparation and saving personal data in advance.
Is it possible to delete the Android folder completely?
No, delete the entire folder Android impossible. Important data of installed applications is stored inside it. If you remove it entirely, all apps will be reset, and some may no longer run. Delete only the contents of folders inside it related to deleted games.
Why does the memory fill up immediately after cleaning?
This is normal for modern applications. Messengers and browsers immediately begin to re-accumulate cache for faster operation. The system also creates new log files. The main thing is that the space does not disappear critically quickly (gigabytes per hour), this may indicate a failure.
Is it necessary to install third-party apps like Clean Master?
On Redmi 9 with a shell MIUI this is not necessary. Built-in tools work more efficiently and do not show intrusive advertising. Third-party cleaners often become a source of garbage and drain the battery.
How to clear the DNS cache on Redmi 9?
This can help if there are problems with the Internet. Go to Settings → Connection and sharing → Private DNS. Select "Disabled", save, and then enable "Auto" or re-enter the address. You can also reboot the router.
Does deleting photos from the gallery free up space in the cloud?
No, if you have you have synchronization enabled with Google Photos or Mi Cloud. Deleting a photo from your phone will also delete it from the cloud. To free up space on your phone, but save photos in the cloud, use the "Free up space" function in the Google Photos app.