Xiaomi folder: purpose, security and management methods

You opened a file manager on your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone and found a strange folder called com.xiaomi.finddevice? Don't rush to delete it -- it's not a virus or junk files. This directory is directly linked to one of the key features of Xiaomi's ecosystem, which is responsible for finding and managing your device remotely.

In this article, we will look at what is stored in the folder com.xiaomi.finddevice, how it appears on the phone, whether it can be moved or deleted without consequences, and what to do if the folder takes up too much space, and we will focus on security issues, because many users fear that they may be tracked through this feature.

If you've ever lost a phone or locked it up through a Mi Account, you've already seen Find Device work. The folder with the same name makes it work properly. But why does it sometimes grow to hundreds of megabytes, and what do you do about it? Read on.

What is com.xiaomi.finddevice and why you need it

The com.xiaomi.findevice folder is a system directory that is created automatically when you activate the Find Device function in your Mi Account settings.

• 📁 Search service cache data (temporary files to speed up work).
• 🔑 Logs and reports of recent location sessions.
• 📡 Configuration files linking the device to a Xiaomi account.
• 🔄 Backups of settings to restore access when reset.

Without this folder, the remote search, lock or reset function will not work, for example, if you lose your smartphone, you can use i.mi.com to:

• 📍 View the last known location.
• 🔒 Block the device with the display of the message on the screen.
• 🗑️ Delete all data remotely (linked to your account).
• 🔔 Turn on the beep (even if the phone is silent).

It is important to understand that the folder com.xiaomi.finddevice is not a virus or spyware – it is an official component of the MIUI firmware that is tested by Xiaomi security, but its contents can take up a significant amount of memory if the service is not working properly.

Where is the folder and how to find it

The com.xiaomi.finddevice folder is located in the system part of the phone's memory, and to see it, follow the following steps:

1. Open the file manager (for example, the standard Files application or MiXplorer).
2. Go to the root directory of internal memory (usually /storage/emulated/0/).
3. Open the Android → data folder.
4. Find the directory com.xiaomi.finddevice (you may need to enable the display of hidden files).

If the folder is not there, it means one of two things:

• ❌ Find Device is disabled in your account settings.
• 🔄 You use custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS) where this service is removed.

On some models (for example, Xiaomi 12T or POCO F5), the folder may be on an alternative path: /data/data/com.xiaomi.finddevice/, but you will need root rights to view it.

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If you can’t find the folder, try enabling hidden files in the file manager settings (usually under “Show hidden files” or “System files”).

Why a folder takes up a lot of space and how to clean it

Normally, the folder com.xiaomi.finddevice weighs from 5 to 50 MB. However, some users are faced with the fact that its size grows to 500 MB-1 GB.

To safely clean the folder, follow the instructions:

Open "Settings" → "Annexes" → "Application management"|Find Find Find Device (or Find Device")|Press "Storage" → "Clear the cache"|Reboot the phone.|Check the folder size again.-->

If cleaning the cache didn’t help, try turning off and re-enable Find Device:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Find Device.
2. Turn off the slider.
3. Wait 1-2 minutes and turn it back on.
4. Reset the device.

Can I delete the com.xiaomi.finddevice folder completely?

Technically, yes, but that will make the device search function unusable, so if you're sure you'll never use Find Device, you can delete the folder, but with reservations:

• ⚠️ Without root permissions, the folder will recover after the reboot.
• ✅ With root rights, it can be permanently deleted, but this will disable the ability to remotely lock the phone if lost.
• 🔧 An alternative is to disable the service in the settings (see section below).

Instructions for users with root access:

1. Install a file manager with root support (e.g., Root Explorer).


2 Go down the path: /data/data/com.xiaomi.finddevice/




3. delete the entire folder or only its contents.




4. Reboot the phone.

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Deleting the com.xiaomi.finddevice folder without root rights is pointless – the system will restore it when the first service Find Device is launched.

⚠️ Warning: If you delete a folder and lose your phone, it will be impossible to restore access to it through Mi Account. In the event of theft, it will deprive you of the tool to lock the device remotely.

How to disable Find Device (and get rid of the folder)

If you're worried about having a folder called com.xiaomi.finddevice, it's easier to turn off the service itself rather than fighting its tracks.

1. Open Settings → Xiaomi account.
2. Select Find Device (or “Find Device” in Russified firmware).
3. Turn off the slider at the top of the screen.
4. Confirm the action with a password from Mi Account.

After the shutdown:

• 📉 The com.xiaomi.finddevice folder will stop updating, but it won’t disappear completely (there will be empty directories left).
• 🔍 Search, block and reset functions via i.mi.com will no longer be available.
• 📱 On some models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Pro), a service shutdown may affect the Mi Cloud (backup).

If you want to completely remove traces of the service, you will have to resort to resetting settings or manual cleaning with root rights (see the previous section).

⚠️ Warning: On devices with MIUI 14+, disabling Find Device may automatically deactivate some Mi Cloud features, such as synchronizing notes or calendar. Before disabling, check which data is associated with your account.

Security: Can someone follow me through com.xiaomi.finddevice?

Many users fear that the com.xiaomi.finddevice folder is being used to collect personal data or track location without their knowledge.

• 🔒 Xiaomi’s official position is that Find Device only works with the user’s explicit consent (linking to Mi Account and enabling the feature in the settings).
• 🌍 Geolocation: The service only detects location when you actively search for a device through i.mi.com. There is no tracking in the background.
• 🕵️ Leakage risks: In theory, if an attacker accesses your Mi Account, they can track your phone, but that applies to any device search service (including Google Find My Device or Apple Find My).

To minimize the risks:

• 🔐 Use two-factor authentication for Mi Account.
• 📱 Check active sessions regularly in your account settings.
• 🔄 Turn off Find Device if you are not using it.
• 🛡️ Set a strong password on your phone (at least 8 characters with numbers and special signs).

If you suspect someone is using your account, immediately:

1. Change your password to account.xiaomi.com.
2. Untie all unknown devices in the "Device Management" section.
3. Enable notifications about new logins in the security settings.

Frequent errors and problems with com.xiaomi.finddevice

Xiaomi users sometimes encounter errors related to the folder com.xiaomi.finddevice.

If standard methods don’t help, try resetting your Mi Account settings (without deleting your account):

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Account Management.
2. Select “Reset the synchronization settings”.
3. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

For advanced users: if Find Device does not turn off via the interface, you can use the ADB- command:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.finddevice

After this command is executed, the service will be disabled until the next reboot or manual activation.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions