Cleaning up app data and media on Xiaomi: from cache to hidden files

Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI They are known for their functionality, but over time, even they start to slow down due to accumulated temporary files, app cache and duplicate media. According to research, up to 30% of internal memory on Android devices is occupied by unnecessary data, which users rarely delete manually. If you have a Redmi, POCO Mi has become slower to work, and the free space is melting before our eyes - the problem lies in the accumulated digital garbage.

In this article, we will discuss all methods of cleaning: from standard tools MIUI You will learn how to securely remove the cache of applications (including system ones), find and erase duplicate photos / videos, clean downloads and even free up space in the section Android/data, And we're going to focus on cleaning up messaging apps (Telegram, WhatsApp) and social media, which are very important. 50% The average user’s memory.

Why Xiaomi is “clogged” faster than other smartphones

Firmware MIUI It has two key features that accelerate the accumulation of waste:

• 🔄 Aggressive caching: The system saves temporary files longer than stock Android to speed up the re-launch of applications.This is good for performance, but without cleaning the cache grows to giant sizes.
• 📁 Duplication of media files: MIUI automatically creates thumbnails for the gallery (.thumbnail) and backups of edited photos, which are not always deleted during cleaning.
• 🤖 Background Processes: Even closed applications can leave temporary files in folders behind /data/data and /cache.

For example, tests showed that after a month of active use, POCO X5 Pro with 256 GB of memory, 12-15 GB took up unnecessary data - and this is with regular deletion of the cache through the settings»:

Interestingly, even after the factory reset, some of the debris is left in the hidden partitions, which is due to the nature of the file system. f2fs, Which Xiaomi uses on most devices.

Standard MIUI cleaning tools

So, to start with, built-in features are secure and don't require superuser rights. MIUI 12-14: Three key tools:

1.Cleaning the cache through "Memory"

The easiest way to delete temporary files is:

1. Open the Settings → Memory.
2. Slip the "Clean" button in the "Cash" section.
3. Confirm the action (the system will show how much space will be vacated).

⚠️ Note: This method only removes the cache of user applications. Android/data remain intact.

2. Built-in "Optimizer"

Quick cleaning function (Settings) → Annexes → Optimizer removes:

• 🗑️ Unnecessary APK-files after updates.
• 📄 Temporary download files.
• 🔍 Residual data of remote applications.

But it often skips large messaging files and duplicate media, and a different approach is needed to clean it deep.

Manual memory management

In the Settings section → Memory. → Application data may be available:

• 📊 See which apps take up the most space.
• 🧹 Delete cache or data of a particular application (for example, Telegram or TikTok).
• 🔍 Find "heavy" files (sorting by size).

Deep Cleanup: Hidden Folders and System Files

If standard methods don't work, it's time to dig deeper. Most users don't know that Xiaomi has hidden sections where gigabytes of garbage accumulate.

1. folder Android/data and Android/obb

Here are stored:

• 🎮 Cache games (such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile can take up to 10 GB!).
• 📥 Data downloads from browsers and messengers.
• 📂 Residual files after deleting applications.

To clean up:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and enable File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Open the internal memory folder → Android → data.
3. Delete folders with the names of remote applications (for example, com.tencent.ig for PUBG Mobile).

⚠️ Warning: Do not delete active application folders, this will cause crashes! Only those that are already uninstalled.

2..thumbnails folder and multimedia duplicates

MIUI Creates thumbnails to speed up gallery loading, but often doesn't delete them after changing or deleting the original files:

1. Use a file manager (such as Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).
2. Enable the display of hidden files (Manager settings) → Show hidden files).
3. Move to the DCIM/.thumbnails and remove all contents.

To search for duplicate photos / videos, we recommend the application:

• 🔍 Files by Google (built-in cleaning tool»).
• 📸 Duplicate Files Fixer (seeking similar images).

💡

Before mass deleting duplicates, sort files by date of creation – often the originals are older than the copies the system created.

3. Logs and dumps of the system (/cache and /log)

These folders contain debugging information that only developers need, which is useless for the average user, but can take up to 1-2 GB.

1. Install Root Explorer (super user rights required) or use it ADB.
2. Go to /cache and delete all content.
3. In a file. /log You can delete files with the extension.log and.dump.

Without root rights, these folders are not available, but you can clean them through Recovery Mode:

1. Turn off the phone.


2. Press the power button + volume up until the Mi logo appears.




3. Select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.




4. Reset the device.

Cleaning of data messengers and social networks

Applications like WhatsApp, Telegram and VK — The main memory eaters. They retain the memory:

• 📹 Videos and GIFs from chats (even if you haven't downloaded them!).
• 🎵 Audio and music.
• 📁 Cash thumbnails and stickers.

1. WhatsApp

To clean up:

1. Open WhatsApp Settings → Warehouse.
2. Sort files by size and remove unnecessary ones (especially videos!).
3. Manually check the folder. WhatsApp/Media — There may be files that are not displayed in the application.

2. Telegram

Telegram caches all the media files you’ve ever opened:

1. Go to Settings. → Data and memory → Warehouse.
2. Tap "Clear Cache" (can release up to 5-10 GB!).
3. Turn off “Autoload Media” to save space in the future.

3. VK, Instagram, TikTok

These apps store cache in Android/data:

• 📱 For VK: delete the folder com.vkontakte.android → cache.
• 🎥 For TikTok: clean up com.zhiliaoapp.musically → files.

⚠️ Note: After cleaning the data of social networks, you may need to re-enter the account.

💡

Messengers and social networks take up to 70% of the garbage memory, and cleaning their cache regularly is the most effective way to free up space.

Third-party utilities for deep cleaning

If manual methods seem complicated, use specialized applications.The best options for Xiaomi:

Example of working with SD Maid:

1. Run the scan (CorpseFinder looks for residual files).
2. Check the AppCleaner section to remove unnecessary items APK.
3. Use SystemCleaner to clean logs (root required).

⚠️ Warning: Avoid “cleaners” with aggressive advertising (such as Clean Master) – they often collect user data.

Cleaning Automation: How Not to Do It Manually

To avoid wasting time on regular cleaning, set up automatic cleaning:

1. Task Planner in MIUI

V MIUI 13/14 has a built-in tool:

1. Open the Settings. → Annexes → Optimizer → Auto-cleaning.
2. Turn on the option and select the frequency (weekly/daily).
3. Add critical applications (e.g. banking) to the exceptions.

2. Tasker + AutoTools

For advanced users:

• 🤖 Create a Task in Tasker that runs a Cache Cleanup Schedule.
• 📅 Use the AutoTools plugin to select specific applications.
• 🔔 Set up a notification of the completion of the process.

3. ADB-clean-up

If you know me, ADB, scriptable:

adb shell pm clear --user 0 com.example.app # Data cleanup of a specific application


adb shell cmd package bg-dexopt-job # Optimization of background processes

For mass cleaning of the cache of all applications:

adb shell "su -c 'find /data/data -name 'cache' -exec rm -rf {} +'"

⚠️ Note: Su commands require root rights and may disrupt the system if used incorrectly.

What to do if the place is not vacated?

If after all the manipulations the free space has not increased, check:

1. Hidden system partitions

In Xiaomi, part of the memory is reserved for:

• 🔧 /vendor and /system (firmware and drivers).
• 🛡️ /persist (communication module, IMEI).

These partitions are not available for cleaning without root, but they can be checked through DiskUsage (memory analysis app).

2. Damaged file system

If the device suddenly shows "memory is full" but there are few files, there may be a file system error.

1. Make a backup copy of the data.
2. Recovery Mode (Wipe & Reset) → Wipe All Data).
3. If the problem persists, reflash the device through the Mi Flash Tool.

3. Viruses and malware

Some viruses create hidden files or disguise themselves as system processes.

• 🛡️ Install Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light.
• 🔍 View the list of running processes in Settings → Annexes → Launched.

💡

If the memory still disappears after all the actions, the problem may be a hardware failure of the flash drive, in which case only replacing the memory module in the service center will help.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi cleanup