Have you ever noticed how your Xiaomi starts to slow down over time, even though there is enough free memory? Or why, after updating MIUI, the phone suddenly starts to run out faster? Not only can cache or background processes be the culprit, but also system debris that accumulates unnoticed: remnants of deleted applications, fragmented files, duplicate media and even broken data from old firmware. It is to combat this that Xiaomi smartphones have a deep cleaning feature – but what does it actually do and when is really worth using?
Many users confuse deep cleaning with a simple memory release or factory reset. In fact, it is a unique MIUI tool that analyzes the system at the file structure level and deletes not only temporary files, but also “orphan” data that interferes with the stable operation of the OS. However, improper use of this feature can lead to the loss of important files or even malfunctions of some applications. In this article, we will understand how deep cleaning works on Redmi, POCO and Mi when it is really needed, and when it is better to do with standard optimization methods.
What is deep cleaning in Xiaomi and how it differs from the usual
Settings menu → Memory. → Xiaomi has two options: a regular cleanup (removes app cache, temporary files and garbage from the cart) and a deep cleanup. The latter goes further, it scans:
- 🗑️ Residual files from long-deleted applications (such as settings or databases that have not been cleaned correctly).
- 🔄 Duplicate media files, including screenshots, uploaded pictures from messengers and copies of photos.
- 📁 Fragmented data in system folders that slow down reading/write.
- 🛠️ Incorrect entries in the Android database, which can “fly” applications.
The main difference from regular cleaning is that deep covers system partitions that the user cannot access without root rights. For example, it can delete the Dalvik cache (the Android virtual machine), which sometimes inflates after MIUI updates, or clean the system logs that occupy hundreds of megabytes.
But there is also a danger: if deep cleaning is interrupted (for example, due to a battery that is depleted), it can damage the file system.
⚠️ Warning: Never run a deep clean if the battery is lower 50%. During the scanning process, the phone may reboot, and this is fraught with a failure of the file system. ext4/f2fs, It is used by modern Xiaomi.
When a deep cleaning is really needed (and when it is useless)
Many users run this feature just in case, but in practice it is not always necessary.
- 🐢 The phone is noticeably slow when opening applications, although 10 are free+ GB memory.
- 🔄 After updating MIUI The app or app appeared to be “flying out».
- 📱 In the Settings section → Memory can be seen that the "System" takes up an abnormally large amount of space (e.g., 15).+ GB against the background of 64 GB of internal memory).
- 🚨 Errors like “The app has stopped” or “Not enough memory” appear, although there is enough space.
When a deep cleaning will not help (and may even harm):
- 📉 You just want to free up space for new photos / videos – it is enough to clean or transfer files to a memory card.
- 🔋 The phone discharges quickly - the problem is more likely in the background of applications or battery wear, rather than in the garbage.
- 📲 You recently reset your phone to factory settings - deep cleaning is redundant here.
Also worth considering is that on the new Xiaomi 13/14 and Redmi Note 12/13 models with f2fs file system, deep cleaning works differently than on older ext4 devices.It is less aggressive but also less effective at freeing up space.
💡
Before you clean it up, check how much space the Android/obb folder takes up – often gigabytes of data from games that can be manually deleted without risking the system.
Step-by-step: how to do a deep cleaning on Xiaomi
If you think you really need a feature, follow this instruction, which can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes depending on the storage capacity and model of the phone.
- Open Settings → Memory → Cleaning.
- Slip the button “Deep Clean”** (on some firmware it may be called “Extended Clean” or “Optimization”).
Save important files to the cloud or PC| Charge your phone to at least 50% |Close all background apps |Disable automatic application updates-->
Some models (such as the POCO F5 or Redmi K60) may have a deep cleaning notification that they need to optimize their applications, which is normal – just wait for the process to be completed (usually takes 2-5 minutes).
⚠️ Warning: If the phone gets worse after deep cleaning (e.g., apps stop opening or artifacts appear on the screen), this is a sign of damage to system files.
What Deep Cleaning Removes: A Complete List (with Risks)
To avoid unpleasant surprises, it is important to understand what data can be erased. Below is a table with the categories of files that the feature affects and the potential consequences of deleting them.
| Category of files | What's removed | Risks. |
|---|---|---|
| Cash app. | Temporary files (images, form data, game cache) | Applications will be loaded longer on the first run |
| Residual files | Folders and databases from remote programs | Game saves may disappear if they were in a shared folder. |
| Logs of the system | Debugging files (.log,.dump) | Without consequences for the user |
| Duplicate media | Photo/video copies (e.g. from DCIM/.thumbnails) | Screenshots or uploaded memes may be removed |
| Cash Dalvik. | Optimized files for Android virtual machine | The phone will “slow down” until the next reboot. |
Be especially careful when cleaning on custom firmware devices (such as Xiaomi.eu or Pixel Experience), where deep cleaning can erase critical files of the modified OS, leading to a bootloop ( looped reboot).
What to do if the deep cleaning is “hung”?
Alternatives to Deep Cleaning: What is Safe and Efficient
If you’re afraid of the risks associated with deep cleaning, there are more gentle ways to optimize your phone:
- 🧹 Manually clean the cache through Settings → Annexes → [Select an application] → Memory. → Clear cache.It's secure and doesn't affect system files.
- 🗃️ Transferring files to a memory card or cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud) frees up space without risk to the OS.
- 🔄 Resetting cache to Recovery (reboot to recovery mode and select Wipe Cache Partition) Removes only temporary system files.
- 🛠️ Cleaning applications like SD Maid or Files by Google – they allow point-to-point garbage removal without risk to the system.
For example, if the problem is MIUI brakes, it often helps to reset the system animations through Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (stick 7 times, then turn off animations in the Developer).
For POCO and Redmi owners with Snapdragon processors, there is another life hack: disabling MIUI background activity through Settings → Battery → Performance Mode. This reduces the load on the processor without cleaning files.
💡
Deep cleaning is not a panacea. In 80% of cases, the phone brakes are not related to garbage, but to overloading RAM or background processes. Before cleaning, check the list of running applications in Settings → Applications → Running.
Myths about Deep Cleaning: What Not to Fear (and What’s True)
There's a lot of rumors going around this function, and let's look at the most common ones.
Myth 1: “Deep cleaning removes all photos and contacts.”
Reality: No, it doesn’t touch user data in DCIM, Downloads or Contacts, but it can erase thumbnails of photos (they are restored the next time you open the gallery) or messenger cache (for example, stickers in Telegram).
Myth 2: “After a deep cleaning, the phone will be like new.”
Reality: It's an exaggeration. It removes debris, but it doesn't eliminate memory fragmentation (especially on cheap models with eMMC instead of UFS) and doesn't fix broken sectors of the drive. It requires factory resetting to make real rejuvenation.
Myth 3: “Deep cleaning is bad for your phone.”
Reality: The function itself is safe if you don’t interrupt it and run it on a discharged phone, and the only risk is that you don’t finish the process properly (for example, if you force it to shut down while cleaning the Dalvik cache).
Myth 4: “It should be done once a month.”
Reality: Frequent deep cleaning is useless, because the garbage just doesn't have time to accumulate in such volumes, just run it every 3-6 months or at obvious signs of brakes.
Features of deep cleaning on different models Xiaomi
The algorithm of the function depends on the version of MIUI and the hardware of the phone.
- 📱 Old models (Redmi) 4/5, Mi A1/A2): Deep cleaning more aggressively removes the system cache, because these devices often suffer from memory shortages.
- 📱 Mid-size segment (Redmi Note) 10/11, POCO X3/X4): function is optimized for UFS 2.1/2.2, It works faster and less often leads to lags.
- 📱 Flagships (Xiaomi) 12/13/14, Mix Fold: Deep Cleanup Integrated with Artificial Intelligence MIUI and analyzes not only garbage, but also usage patterns (for example, may suggest removing unused applications).
On Android One devices (for example, Mi A3) deep cleaning in the usual form is not used – instead, the standard Android Storage Sense tool is used, which is less effective for dealing with system debris.
Also, consider that on POCO with POCO Launcher shell, the path to the function may differ: Settings → System → Memory → Cleanup → Extended. In some regional firmware (for example, for India), the deep cleaning option may be hidden – it can be enabled through Settings → Additional → Special features → Show hidden functions.