Owners of a popular budget model Xiaomi Redmi 7 often face the problem of not having enough free space in the internal memory. Despite the fact that the device came out with various configurations, even 32 or 64 gigabytes eventually become filled to capacity with system files, application cache and media content. When the storage is full, the smartphone begins to work unstable: freezes appear, applications crash, and the system refuses to accept updates.
You can clear the memory on Android Xiaomi Redmi 7 in several ways, from built-in MIUI utilities to manually deleting files via a computer. In this article we will analyze in detail all the available optimization methods to make your gadget “fly” again. It is important to understand that regular maintenance of the device extends its service life and maintains performance at a high level.
Before taking drastic measures, it is worth assessing what exactly takes up the most space. Often, users do not even suspect that gigabytes are being “eaten up” by forgotten videos in instant messengers or the map cache, which can be safely deleted.
Built-in Cleanup tool in MIUI
The easiest and safest way to free up space is to use a standard application from shell developers MIUI. It automatically scans the system for temporary files, remnants of uninstalled apps and advertising junk. To start the process, just find the icon with the name Cleaning (or Cleaner) in the "Tools" folder or on the main screen.
After launch, the utility will conduct a quick analysis and show the amount of data available for deletion. The app's operating algorithm takes into account the specifics of the Android file system, so the risk of deleting something important is minimal. However, you should carefully look at the scan results before confirming the action.
In the cleaner interface you will find several categories of data:
- 🗑️ Application cache —temporary files that can be deleted without affecting the operation of apps.
- 📸 Deleted photos —images located in the gallery recycle bin that are still occupied place.
- 📦 APK installation packages —installer files that often remain after software updates.
- 📰 Advertising garbage —temporary files created by browsers and news aggregators.
⚠️ Attention: The Deep Clean function may prompt you to delete old WhatsApp files or large videos. Before deleting, make sure that you really do not need this data, since recovery will be impossible without a backup.
Set up automatic cleaning in the Security application so that the phone itself removes garbage once a week without your participation.
Regular use of this tool allows you to keep the system clean. It is enough to run the procedure once a week to avoid critical filling of the drive. This is especially true for the model Redmi 7, which does not have a huge amount of built-in memory by modern standards.
Manually deleting applications and managing the cache
If the automatic utility has not freed up enough space, you need to move on to manually managing the installed software. Many apps you rarely use can take up hundreds of megabytes. Go to the section Settings, then select Applications and click All applications.
In the list that opens, sort apps by size (space taken up). You will immediately see the leaders in memory consumption. Often these are social networks, instant messengers and games. Click on the unnecessary application and select the button Delete. If the app is a system one and cannot be removed, try clicking Disable.
For frequently used applications, such as Telegram, Viber or YouTube, deletion is not suitable. In this case, clearing the cache of a specific application helps. Inside the menu of each application there is a button Clear, next to which there is a trash can icon. It is important not to confuse it with the “Erase data” button, which will reset the app to factory settings.
☑️ Application audit
Particular attention should be paid to the browser Chrome or MIUI Browser. They store a huge number of temporary files to load pages quickly. Clearing the browser cache can instantly free up from 100 to 500 MB of free space.
Working with media files and gallery
Photos and videos are the main consumers of space on any smartphone. On Xiaomi Redmi 7 e with a medium-resolution camera, files can weigh a lot, especially if you shoot high-quality video. The standard Gallery application has a built-in tool for finding duplicates and similar photos.
Open the gallery, go to the tab Albums and scroll down to the section Deleted. Often, users delete photos but forget to empty this trash bin, where the files are stored for another 30 days. It is also worth checking the album Screenshots and Records screen, which are often forgotten after creation.
| File type | Average size | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Photo (JPEG) | 2–5 MB | Transfer to the cloud or to PC |
| Video (1080p) | 100–300 MB/min | Remove excess or compress |
| Audio (MP3) | 3–10 MB | Keep only hits |
| RAW photos | 15–25 MB | Delete after processing |
To free up space, you can use cloud services such as Google Photos. Set up the “Free up space” function, which will automatically delete from your device those pictures that have already been uploaded to the cloud. This is a safe way to store an archive without taking up the internal memory of your phone.
Cleaning messengers: Telegram and WhatsApp
Messengers are hidden memory hogs. Over the years of use, folders Telegram and WhatsApp accumulate thousands of images, voice messages and videos sent in chats. This data is duplicated and takes up space even after being deleted from the conversation, unless you clear the application cache.
The Telegram has an excellent built-in memory management tool. Log in Settings → Data and memory → Memory usage. Here you will see a button Clear cache. Moreover, you can set up automatic deletion of media files: for example, set the video to be deleted 3 days after viewing.
In WhatsApp the situation is similar. Go to Settings → Data and storage → Storage management. The application will show a list of chats that take up the most space. You can select a specific conversation and delete all media files inside it, leaving the text conversation untouched.
⚠️ Attention: Clearing the messenger cache does not delete your correspondence, but deletes downloaded pictures and videos from the phone’s memory. When you reopen the chat, they can be downloaded again, unless they have been deleted from the server.
Checking these settings regularly can save gigabytes of space. For active users of social networks, this procedure should become a monthly habit.
Why do instant messengers take up so much space?
Messengers save each received picture and video to a local database for quick access. Even if you hide media in a chat, the file physically remains on the disk until you force clear the cache.
Using a microSD memory card
The smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 7 is equipped with a slot for a microSD memory card, which is an excellent solution to the problem of lack of space. You can transfer most of your media files and even some applications to an external drive. To do this, insert the card into the slot (shared with the second SIM card slot) and format it as internal memory or portable storage.
When formatted as “Internal Memory” (Adoptable Storage), the system will combine the card space with the main drive. This will allow you to install applications directly onto the card. However, remember that the card will be encrypted and cannot be read by other devices without a reset.
If you select the "Portable storage" mode, you can manually move photos, videos and music. Go to the application Files, select the desired folders, click “Move” and specify the path on the SD card. This will free up valuable space in the internal partition for system operation.
Using a fast memory card of class A1 or A2 will significantly speed up the operation of the smartphone when installing applications on external media.
Do not forget that the speed of the memory card is lower than that of the built-in flash chip. Therefore, it is better to leave system applications and games with heavy graphics in the internal memory for maximum performance.
Resetting to factory settings as a last resort
If none of the above methods helped, and the phone continues to signal a critical lack of space, a radical option remains - a full reset to factory settings. This procedure completely erases all data from the device, returning it to a store-like state.
Before you begin, be sure to back up your important data. Use an account Google or a app Mi PC Suite to save contacts, messages and photos. After the reset, you will be able to restore this data, but all accumulated garbage will disappear forever.
To perform a reset, go to Settings → About phone → Reset settings → Erase all data. The device will ask for a screen unlock password and confirmation of the action. The process will take a few minutes, after which the phone will reboot.
⚠️ Attention: Make sure the charge level is The battery level is at least 50% before the reset starts. Interrupting the process due to a low battery may damage the software and require flashing at a service center.
After returning the system to its factory state, you will receive a clean smartphone with the maximum amount of free memory. This is a great chance to start using your device more rationally, installing only the necessary applications.
What to do if the phone does not reset?
If the process freezes at the data deletion stage, try resetting it through Recovery mode. To do this, turn off the phone, hold down the Volume Up + Power buttons, select the language and Wipe Data.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to delete the Android folder on Redmi 7?
No, delete the entire folder Android strongly not recommended. It stores application data, cache and settings. Removal will lead to app malfunctions. You can clean only the subfolder cache inside it, but it is better to do this through the app settings.
Why is the space not freed up after deleting files?
Perhaps the files have been moved to the Gallery Trash or Explorer Trash, from where they need to be permanently deleted. Also check if cloud synchronization is enabled, which may temporarily hold data in the cache.
How to transfer applications to a memory card on MIUI?
In modern versions of MIUI, the function of transferring applications to an SD card is often hidden or disabled by developers. Try going to Settings → Advanced settings → Memory and change the default save location, but for specific applications this option may not be available.
Is it safe to use third-party apps like Clean Master?
The use of aggressive third-party cleaners is not recommended. They often contain advertising, take up a lot of space, and can delete necessary files. The built-in MIUI cleaner is quite enough for safe operation.
What is the swap file and can it be deleted?
The swap file is used by the system as virtual RAM. On Redmi 7 with a small amount of RAM, it is important for stability. You should not delete it manually, this can lead to application crashes.