Where to find and how to clean the storage in your Xiaomi phone

Users of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face situations where the device starts to run slower or stops taking new photos. The first question in such cases is: where is the storage in the phone and how to get to it? In the Android operating system, which is the basis of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS, the file management system has its own specifics, different from the usual Windows.

Understanding folder and partition structure is critical to maintaining your device properly. Many owners have been storing unnecessary files in system directories for years without realizing that it directly affects performance. In this article, we will examine all aspects of managing your device’s internal space, from basic settings to advanced cleaning techniques.

Basic methods of access to memory management

The easiest way to see what your smartphone's memory is doing is through the standard settings menu, which is a universal path that applies to all firmware versions, whether it's the old MIUI 12 or the latest HyperOS. You don't have to search for hidden folders manually, the system visualizes the data itself.

To get to this section, you need to follow the path: Settings → About Phone → Storage. This shows a general diagram showing the distribution of space between apps, images, videos and system files. When you click on any category, you will see a detailed list.

An alternative and faster way is to use the built-in Security app, which is pre-installed on every Xiaomi device by default, and on the home screen of this app is a Cleanup button, which not only scans garbage, but also shows the amount of free memory.

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The About Phone system menu gives the most accurate and detailed information about the space allocation, while the Security app focuses on quick cache cleanup.

It's important to understand the difference between internal memory and RAM. Internal storage (ROM) is where your photos, applications and system are located. RAM is used for processes running right now. Cleaning up one does not affect the volume of the other.

File system structure and conductor

To get deeper into the file system, you need to use a built-in conductor, which is called “File Manager” in Xiaomi phones, and this is where all the data you download from the Internet or receive through instant messengers is stored.

When you open the Explorer, you'll see a few basic categories: Downloads, Music, Images, and Documents. However, if you switch to browsing folders, you'll see the real structure of Android. You'll find folders for specific applications, like Android/data or MIUI/Gallery/cloud.

• 📂 DCIM — Here by default all photos and videos taken on camera are saved.
• 📂 Download – folder where everything gets downloaded through a browser or Telegram.
• 📂 Bluetooth – hidden storage for files received through a bluetooth connection.
• 📂 Tencent is a three-dimensional folder with data from WeChat messengers and QQ, gigabyte.

When working with files directly, be extremely careful. Deleting system files in the Android/obb folder can cause games to stop running or require re-downloading resources.

Advanced users can access the root file system via a file transfer mode (MTP) connection to a computer, which allows them to manage the storage like a simple flash drive, dragging and dragging files with a mouse.

Memory analysis by third-party utilities

Xiaomi’s standard tools are good, but sometimes more detailed analysis is required. Third-party apps can show file trees where the size of each item is visualized graphically, which helps you instantly find forgotten video files or archives that are hidden in the back of folders.

One of the most effective tools is Files by Google, or the DiskUsage analyzer, which is building a memory card where each square is a file, and the bigger the square, the more space it takes up, and it's a visual representation of where the space goes.

Using these tools is especially useful for finding duplicates. Often users do not notice that the same photo is saved in five different copies due to synchronization or errors in data transfer.

When installing third-party analyzers, carefully monitor permissions. Don't give the application access to changing system files if its main function is only to display information.

Cleaning cache and temporary files

Temporary files are a natural process for Android. Apps create copies of data for fast download, but over time, these files can take up a huge amount and even get damaged, causing errors. Regular cleaning of the cache is a mandatory maintenance procedure.

Xiaomi phones have a built-in cleaning mechanism. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Select a heavy app (like YouTube or Chrome), click Storage and select Clear Cache. It is important not to confuse it with the Clean All button, which will reset the app settings.

For instant messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp, it’s better to use built-in cleanups. Telegram does this through Settings → Data and Memory → Memory Use → Clear cache. You can also set up autodelete files older than 3 days.

⚠️ Warning: Clearing data (not cache) in system applications such as Google Play Services or System Framework can lead to unstable phone operation and loss of account sync.

You can automate the process using the "Accelerate" function in the notification curtain. Double tapping the percentage of RAM usage in the menu of running applications also causes a quick clearing of the system cache.

Working with cloud storage and SD card

If built-in storage is not enough, Xiaomi offers integration with cloud services. Mi Cloud allows you to transfer contacts, notes, voice recordings and photos to the cloud, freeing up space on the device. When optimizing is enabled, the original photos are stored on the network, and only thumbnails are left on the phone.

For models that support memory cards (MicroSD), you can transfer some of the data, but modern versions of Android limit the installation of applications on an external card. SD-The card is best to take out media files: music, movies and archives of documents.

Setting up automatic uploading photos to Google Photos or Yandex.Disk also solves the problem of space shortage. After successful uploading, the built-in tool “Free space” will delete local copies, leaving them accessed via the Internet.

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Use the regimen «SD-It's just a last resort, it slows down the card and makes it unreadable on other devices without formatting.

System partitions and hidden files

Some of the internal storage is always reserved for the needs of the system. In Xiaomi phones with a MIUI shell, this section can take up from 10 to 20 GB. It stores the operating system itself, drivers and factory applications.

There's also a hidden partition called.thumbnail, which is created in the DCIM folder, which stores thumbnails for the gallery, and sometimes this file grows to giant sizes (tens of gigabytes), if there are tens of thousands of photos in the gallery, and it can be safely deleted, the system will create a new, smaller one.

To access hidden folders that start from a dot, the explorer needs to enable the display of hidden files in the settings, usually through the three-dot menu in the corner of the Explorer screen.

⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to manually resize the system partition through an engineering menu without in-depth knowledge.This can result in a bootloop (cyclic reboot) and loss of warranty.

After major firmware updates (e.g., switching from MIUI 14 to HyperOS), a folder with the name of the previous version may remain, and it can be deleted a few days after the update if the system is stable.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)