Have you noticed that your Xiaomi has become slow and the space on the internal drive is melting away? Even after removing photos and applications, the memory is still filled to the full? The problem is not your forgetfulness - smartphones on MIUI have features that clog up memory unnoticed by the user. In this article, we will discuss 12 main reasons why Xiaomi memory clogs on its own, and show how to deal with this without resetting to factory settings.
Let's warn you right away: many of the Internet's "tips" (like cleaning the cache through the engineering menu) are not only not helpful, they can be harmful. We've collected up-to-date data on the latest versions of MIUI 14/15, including hidden mechanisms that are not even mentioned in the official documentation. For example, did you know that the system automatically creates duplicate photos in the.thumbnails folder, and some applications (like Mi Video) cache video files in the background?
If you’re ready to get your Redmi, POCO, or Xiaomi back to speed, read on. We’re not going to recommend “just delete unnecessary files” (this is obvious), but we’re going to show you where to look for garbage and how to prevent it from accumulating again.
1. App cache: why it can't be cleaned just like that
The most obvious cause of memory clogging is app cache, but there’s a nuance: if you manually clean it through settings, many programs (like Google Play Services or Mi Account) will start to run slower, as they will have to reassemble temporary data, and some apps (like Facebook or Instagram) can automatically restore cache in the background, nullifying your efforts.
Here's what really helps:
- 🔍 Use the built-in memory analyzer in Settings → Memory: It shows which apps take up the most cache space. Only clean those you rarely use.
- 🚫 Do not touch the cache of system applications (e.g. com.miui.gallery or com.android.systemui) – this can cause crashes.
- ⚙️ For social networks and instant messengers, it is better to use lightweight versions (for example, Facebook Lite or Messenger Lite), which cache significantly less data.
Note that MIUI 14+ has a feature called AutoCache Cleanup (includes in Settings → Memory → Settings) that deletes unnecessary temporary files once a week, but it doesn’t work perfectly – sometimes skipping large files from games or streaming services.
2. Hidden MIUI folders: where the system hides your files
MIUI creates dozens of hidden folders that users don't even know they're doing.
- 📁.thumbnails – here you can store thumbnails of all your photos and videos (can take up to 500 MB-1 GB).
- 📁 MIUI/ss — Screenshots you took with the three-finger-down gesture (even if you deleted them from the gallery).
- 📁 Android/data — Application files that are not deleted when uninstalled via Play Market.
- 📁 DCIM/.thumbdata — Gallery miniature cache (sometimes duplicated by.thumbnails).
To see these folders, you’ll need a file manager with root access (like Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer) or a command via ADB:
adb shell ls -la /sdcard/⚠️ Attention: Do not delete folders MIUI/bugreport or lost.dir, which is used to diagnose the system, but the contents of.thumbnails can be cleaned (it will be restored automatically the next time you view the gallery).
Install a file manager with root access
Check the.thumbnails folder (delete content)
Clean up DCIM/.thumbdata
Remove old screenshots from MIUI/ss
Check it out. Android/data Remnants of Remote Applications-->
3.Duplicate photos: how MIUI Gallery creates copies
The MIUI Gallery app has an unpleasant feature: it automatically creates duplicate photos in several cases:
- When editing a photo (the original is saved, plus a copy with changes is created).
- When using the "Collage" or "Document" functions (the source files remain in place).
- Synchronization with Mi Cloud (sometimes both versions are downloaded – the original and the compressed copy).
To find duplicates:
- Open the gallery. → Albums. → Recent.
- Sort files by “Date of Change” – duplicates usually have the same date, but different times.
- Use apps like Duplicate Files Fixer (it finds similar photos even with different names).
💡 Useful tip: Before mass removal of duplicates, back up important photos on your PC or in the cloud. MIUI Gallery mistakenly marks as duplicate photos with similar content, but different resolution (for example, the original and the version for Stories).
4. Residual files after deleting applications
When you delete an app through Play Market or Settings → Apps, MIUI doesn’t always clear all associated files.
- 📂 Folders in Android/data and Android/obb (particularly).
- 🗃️ Settings files in /data/data (root-only).
- 🔗 Symbolic references to /sdcard (For example, WhatsApp or Telegram).
How to clean:
- Use SD Maid (deep cleaning app) or Files by Google (it has a Clean up function → Residual Files).
- For games: check the Android/obb folder – 1-3 GB files can remain here even after uninstallation.
- If you have root access, follow the command: rm -rf /data/data/com.name.packet (you can find out the name of the package through the App Inspector).
⚠️ Note: Some apps (such as Xiaomi Community or Mi Video) leave files in the user's hands after deleting them. MIUI/system_ad. They can be manually removed, but they will recover after the next update. MIUI.
5. MIUI Update Cache: Why Downloaded Files Take Gigabytes
The system automatically downloads MIUI updates in the background, even if you have disabled auto-update.
- /sdcard/Downloaded_rom — There are full firmwares (weights) here. 2–3 GB).
- /cache/ota – update cache (available only from root)
- /data/ota_package — temporary.
How to clean:
- Remove the contents Downloaded_rom manually (it is safe).
- If the update is already installed, clear the cache in Settings → Apps → System Update → Memory → Clear the cache.
- To disable the background download of updates, go to Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → ⋮ → Settings and disable "Downloading over Wi-Fi".
📌 Key Conclusion: If you don’t plan to update anytime soon, feel free to delete files from your site. Downloaded_rom — They will be rebooted the next time you update.
6. Logs and dumps of the system: why they take place
MIUI maintains detailed logs that can take hundreds of megabytes to run, which are used to diagnose crashes, but are rarely used by the average user.
| folder | What's stored | Is it safe to remove |
|---|---|---|
| /sdcard/MIUI/debug_log | MIUI Logs (Errors, Crashes) | Yes. |
| /sdcard/bugreport | Memory dumps when failures | Yes (but don't remove during diagnosis) |
| /data/anr | Logs "app not responding" | Only root |
| /data/tombstones | Core dumps (critical failures) | No (may be needed for repairs) |
For cleaning:
- Folders. debug_log The bugreport can be removed manually.
- To clear anr and tombstones, root or command is needed: adb shell rm -rf /data/anr/* adb shell rm -rf /data/tombstones/*
⚠️ Note: If your phone reboots frequently or apps crash, do not delete tombstones – these files will help the service center determine the cause of the failure.
7. cache of streaming services: Netflix, YouTube, Mi Video
Video viewing apps (Netflix, YouTube, Mi Video) cache content in the background, even if you didn't download it specifically.
- 🎬 Mi Video saves previews of videos in /sdcard/MIUI/video/thumbs.
- 📺 YouTube caches video for offline viewing in /Android/data/com.google.android.youtube/files/Offline.
- 🍿 Netflix keeps uploaded movies in /Android/data/com.netflix.mediaclient/files/Download.
How to manage the cache:
- On YouTube: Settings → Background and data → Clear the cache.
- On Netflix: App settings → Delete all downloads.
- In Mi Video: Clean the thumbs folder manually or turn off autoplay in the settings.
💡 Useful tip: If you watch high-resolution videos often, limit your cache to app settings. For example, on YouTube, you can select "Wi-Fi Only" for downloads.
8. Temporary files of messengers: Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber
Messengers are the main memory eaters. They keep:
- 📸 Photos and videos in original quality (even if you haven't downloaded them).
- 🎵 Voice messages (in Telegram they are stored in.ogg format).
- 📄 Documents and stickers (e.g. folder) Telegram/Telegram Documents can weigh a few gigabytes).
How to clean:
| messenger | A garbage folder | How to clean up |
|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp/Media | In the chat settings: "Clear media" | |
| Telegram | Telegram/Telegram Images, Telegram Video | Settings → Data and memory → Clear cache |
| Viber | Viber/media | In the settings: "Memory → Clean Media" |
⚠️ Note: Telegram has a hidden folder Telegram/Telegram Audio, where voice messages are stored, can only be removed manually, and the cleaning function in the app does not work on them.