Xiaomi Data Files: What are these folders, how to find them and safely delete them

Xiaomi smartphone owners are eventually confronted with mysterious "data files" that take up gigabytes of memory but are not visible in a standard file manager. The system reports that the memory is full, and you don't understand where the free gigabytes went. What are these files? Can they be deleted? And why do they even appear?

In fact, data is the backup information that apps, MIUI, and even the user create, including cache, temporary files, program settings, log files, and even hidden backups. The problem is that Xiaomi doesn't always clean up the trash properly, which is why the smartphone's memory is clogged with unnecessary data. In this article, we'll look at what data files are, where they are hidden, and how to safely remove them without harming the phone.

Importantly, not all data can be deleted without consequences, some files are critical to MIUI and applications, and we'll show you how to distinguish garbage from important system data.

What are Xiaomi’s data files and why do they take up memory?

The term “data files” in Xiaomi combines several types of service information:

• 📁 Application cache – temporary files that speed up programs (for example, thumbnails of images in a gallery or loaded pages in a browser).
• 🔄 System log files – error logs, crash reports, and diagnostic information that MIUI debug.
• 📱 Application settings – saved program settings (for example, chat history in Telegram or bookmarks in Chrome).
• 🔒 Hidden backups are automatic backups that the system creates (e.g., copies of the backups). SMS or Mi Account data).
• 🗑️ Residual files – “tails” from remote applications that have not been completely cleaned.

The main problem is that MIUI doesn't always manage these files correctly, for example, when an application is deleted, its cache may remain in memory, or the system continues to write error logs even if the smartphone is stable, and as a result, after a year of use, "data" can take 10-20 GB or more - especially on low-cost models with small storage.

Another nuance: Xiaomi hides some of these files from the user. In a standard file manager, you won't see /data/data/ or /system/cache/, although they do take up space. You need root rights or special utilities to view them.

Where data files are stored on Xiaomi: hidden folders and their purpose

The data files are distributed across multiple system directories, most of which are hidden from the user, but can be seen through ADB or root-access file managers (such as Root Explorer).

The most voracious folder is /data/data/. This is where all settings and cache of installed applications are stored. For example, if you are actively using Instagram or TikTok, their cache can take 1-3 GB each, and the standard cache cleaning in the MIUI settings does not always delete all temporary files.

Another trouble spot — /sdcard/MIUI/. Here, Xiaomi stores backups, system error screenshots and other utility files that can be manually deleted, but some folders (e.g., folders, /MIUI/debug_log/) They will be rebuilt after the reboot.

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To see hidden folders without root, connect your phone to your PC and use Total Commander with the ADB plugin. This will allow you to access system directories without superuser rights.

How to see how much space data files take up

Before cleaning, you need to know which files are taking up memory. MIUI has built-in tools for analyzing:

1. Open the settings → About the phone → Memory.
2. Click on the memory usage schedule.
3. Select the category “Other files” or “System data” – this is usually where the main garbage is hidden.

If the built-in tools don’t show details, use third-party utilities:

• 🔍 Files by Google – Shows Large Files and Suggests Deletion.
• 📊 SD Maid – analyzes cache and residual files (requires root for full scanning).
• 🛠️ CCleaner – Clears cache and temporary files, but can be aggressive.

For advanced users, the ADB team will suit, which will show the exact size of the folders:

adb shell df -h

This command will list all the memory partitions and their fullness, for example, if the /data partition is 90% full, it is a clearing signal.

How to securely remove unnecessary data files

Cleaning should be done carefully so as not to disrupt the system.

Step 1. Clean up the app cache

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as YouTube or Facebook).
3. Click Clear Cache (not to be confused with Clear Data – it will delete all settings!).

Step 2: Systemic debris disposal

• Open the built-in Security app (shield icon).
• Select "Cleaning up" → "Deep cleaning".
• Tick boxes for unnecessary files (cache, temporary files, empty folders).
• Press "Clean."

Step 3: Manually clean hidden folders

If the built-in tools don’t help, manually remove the garbage:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the folder This Computer → [Name of your Xiaomi] → Internal Memory.
2. Delete the contents of the folders: /MIUI/debug_log/ — mistake; /Download/ — arch-load; /Android/data/ — cache of remote applications.

⚠️ Attention: Do not delete folders /MIUI/camera/ (This is where the camera settings are stored; and /Android/obb/ (The cleaning of these games can cause malfunctions.

What to do if data files take up too much space

If the memory is still clogged after cleaning, the problem may be deeper.

If none of the methods worked, the radical solution is to reset to factory settings. Before that, make sure to back up through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.

Important: on some Xiaomi models (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pro) after reset, the /MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder is up to 5 GB.

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If you've had all the manipulations, you can check your phone for viruses or memory failures, and sometimes the problem is a hardware flash drive failure.

How to prevent memory from being filled with data files

To avoid re-filling your memory, follow these tips:

• 🔄 Clean the cache regularly (once every 1-2 weeks).
• 🚫 Do not install applications from unknown sources – they can create hidden files.
• 📱 Use cloud services (Google Photos, Mi Cloud) to store media files.
• 🔍 Check your memory with Files by Google or SD Maid.
• 🛠️ Turn off automatic backup in Settings → Accounts. → Mi Account if you don't need it.

It is also useful to limit the background activity of applications:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Management.
2. Select an app (like Facebook) and set the Energy Savings limit.

This will reduce the number of temporary files that you create.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models with MIUI 12/13 There is a bug that causes the Gallery app to create duplicate thumbnails in the folder. /DCIM/.thumbnails. They can be safely removed, but they will reappear after the reboot. MIUI last-minute.

Frequent questions about data files on Xiaomi