Where is the cache stored Xiaomi Gallery: search and cleaning

The problem of space shortages on Xiaomi smartphones often comes unexpectedly to the user: you delete apps, transfer photos to the cloud, but the system continues to signal an overflow of internal memory. In this situation, many people forget about the service data of applications that can take up gigabytes of space, especially the standard Gallery, which creates a preview for every image and video in your archive.

Understanding where these temporary files are physically located gives you complete control of the device, not only freeing up valuable megabytes, but also solving problems with app freezes or incorrect thumbnail displays. In this article, we will take a closer look at the file structure of the MIUI and HyperOS shells so you can safely manage the cache.

Structure of data storage in MIUI and HyperOS

The Android operating system that powers Xiaomi smartphones uses a specific file system to store app data. Cache is a temporary file that is created to speed up the program. In the case of the Gallery, it is primarily a thumbnail database that allows you to quickly scroll through an album without having to reprocess heavy source codes every time.

Access to system folders is restricted to superuser rights. Starting with Android 11 and up, Google has tightened its security policy by implementing Scoped Storage, which means that a standard file manager may not display the contents of the Android/data folder without additional permissions or using special tools.

Physically, the cache of the Gallery resides in hidden areas of internal memory. The system marks these files as temporary, but they are not automatically deleted until you initiate this process yourself or until the application decides to do it yourself.

💡

Cache Gallery is a thumbnail database, not your original photos, and deleting it is safe for personal data, but can temporarily slow down the first launch of an app.

The path to cache through the file manager

For those who prefer manual control, it is possible to find a folder with temporary files through a standard Explorer. However, the path will depend on the version of Android and the access rights you give the application.

The standard path where data should theoretically be located is: Internal memory → Android → data → com.miui.gallery → cache. This is where temporary previews are stored. But remember that new versions of the HyperOS shell may block access to this folder by security.

There is also an alternative path for some firmware versions where traces of processing algorithms may remain:

• 📁 MIUI → gallery → Cloud – This can store cloud synchronization data.
• 📁 DCIM →.thumbnails – hidden folder with thumbnails (requires the inclusion of hidden files display).
• 📁 Pictures → Screenshots – sometimes the cache of screenshots grows to huge sizes.

When you try to clean these folders manually, make sure that you delete the contents of the cache folder, not the directory structure itself or the configuration files. An error in choosing a directory can cause the application to reset.

Cleaning through system settings

The safest and most recommended way to free up space is to use built-in application management tools, which ensure that you do not delete or disrupt the integrity of system files. Xiaomi’s settings interface makes it easy to manage any installed software.

To start, go to your device's settings menu. Find the Apps section and select All apps. Find the standard Gallery (often referred to as Gallery or Gallery) in the list. Click on the app icon to open the control menu.

In the window that opens, you're interested in two buttons: "Clear" and "Delete" and it's important not to confuse their functions.

• 🗑️ Clear cache – only deletes temporary files, freeing up space, but saving your settings.
• 🧹 Clear Everything (or Delete Data) – Resets the app to a “post-installation” state, removing albums, concealment settings, and thumbnail database.

Using the Clean Everything feature is useful if the Gallery is not working correctly: it is glitching, does not update albums or shows broken previews, and after this procedure, the application will re-scan the memory and create a new database.

Use of the Security App

Xiaomi smartphone owners have a unique advantage: the built-in Security app, which is deeply integrated into the shell and has access to areas that are closed to ordinary users, and it is the most efficient way to quickly clean up garbage without root rights.

Launch the Safety app (green zipper icon). Select the Cleanup tool on the home screen, and the system will analyze the files and prompt you to remove the garbage. Often, a separate line in this list is the Gallery cache marked as "Unused thumbnails" or simply "Gallery cache."

The advantage of this method is that it can determine which previews are no longer needed because the original photos have been deleted and which are still up to date, and it can free up space more efficiently than simply removing the entire cache folder.

💡

Run a deep cleanup through the Security app once a week to prevent gigabytes of junk files from being accumulated from the Gallery and other media applications.

Don’t ignore the Guidelines section inside the cleaning app, sometimes hiding large video files or duplicate photos that also take up space but aren’t technical cache.

Forced resetting of the miniature database

Sometimes standard cleaning doesn't work if the thumbnails database (thumbnails.db) is damaged or has grown to anomalous size, and in such cases a more radical approach is required, a forced reset, which forces the system to recount all images.

This procedure is especially relevant if you notice that after deleting thousands of photos, the space has not been vacant. Most likely, the "dead" cache still occupies space on the disk.

1. Open Settings → Applications → All applications.
2. Find the Gallery and click Clear Everything (don’t be afraid, the photos will remain).
3. Reset the device.
4. When the first launch is made, the Gallery will run slowly, creating a new cache.

Once you restart, the system will start the background indexing process, which is when the phone can get a little warmer and the battery is used up more, which is normal behavior because the processor reprocesses the graphics data.

Cleaning through ADB for advanced users

For users who are not afraid of the command line, the most powerful cleaning method is the use of Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which allows you to remove the cache of applications that are not accessible through the interface by the system.

You'll need a computer, USB-cable and on-line debugging USB By connecting the device, you can execute a command to force the cache of a particular packet to be cleared, which is useful if the "Clean" button in the settings is inactive (silent).

adb shell pm clear com.miui.gallery

Executing this command completely removes all application data, including cache and settings, similar to the Clean All action on the menu, but works even in cases of system interface errors.

⚠️ Note: pm clear removes all application data without recovery. Make sure your cloud sync is enabled if you're afraid of losing local album settings.

Table: Comparison of cleaning methods

To make it easier for you to choose the right method, we have systematized information about cleaning methods, each with its own advantages and disadvantages depending on your situation.

Choose your method based on your skills, and for most users, the best solution is a bunch of built-in MIUI tools.

Possible problems and solutions

You may encounter a number of common problems during the cleaning process, such as the Gallery may not open for a long time after cleaning or showing empty albums, which indicates that the re-indexing process is not yet complete.

Another common problem is that you automatically re-cache, which happens when you have thousands of high-resolution photos in your memory, and the cache will grow in proportion to the number of media files.

⚠️ Warning: If after cleaning, the Gallery cache starts to grow at an abnormal rate (e.g., 1 GB per hour), this may indicate a malfunction of the application or the presence of a corrupt file that the system is trying to process indefinitely.

In such a situation, it is recommended to update the Gallery app through the GetApps store or Google Play, and it is also worth checking for system updates in the About Phone section.

Regular file system maintenance is key to fast work of your Xiaomi. Do not allow overflow of memory, as this affects not only the speed of recording photos, but also the overall performance of the interface.