Where Xiaomi Stores Games: Paths to Files, Cache and Save in Android

Have you ever wondered where your Xiaomi smartphone stores installed games? Without understanding the storage structure, it is difficult to vacate space, transfer progress to another device, or simply find files for backup. In this article, we will analyze all possible locations where you can find a new device. MIUI It stores game data from APK-files before saving and cache, and explain how to work safely with them.

It’s important to consider that the path to files may differ depending on the version of MIUI (12, 13, 14 or 15), the smartphone model (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T, etc.) and even from the game itself. For example, Genshin Impact saves data differently than Brawl Stars. We’ll look at the universal methods that work on most devices, as well as the nuances for popular games.

If you plan to clean your memory, transfer games to a memory card, or recover deleted files, this will help you avoid errors, but remember that some folders are hidden from the user, and you will need a super-user or advanced file manager to access them.

1. Basic folders with games in MIUI: where to look for APK and data

By default, all installed games (like any other application) are stored in the system partition /data/app. However, access to this folder is limited - without root rights, you will see only a part of the files.

• 📁 APK-Game files: usually located in the /data/app/[game-pack]-1/base.apk. For example, for Clash of Clans, the path will be /data/app/com.supercell.clashofclans-1/base.apk.
• 🗃️ Application data (cache, settings): stored in /data/data/[This is where the saves, the temporary files and the configurations are.
• 💾 OBB-Files (additional data for heavy gaming): look for the /Android/obb/[a game pack, /Android/obb/com.miHoYo.GenshinImpact/main.1.version.obb.
• 📂 Cash games: often duplicated in /Android/data/[game-pack]/cache. Here you can find loaded textures, sounds and other resources.

To see these folders, you’ll need a file manager with access to a root directory, like MiXplorer or Solid Explorer. In standard Xiaomi Files, many system directories are hidden.

⚠️ Note: Removing files from /data/app or /data/data Without backup, you will delete the game and all your saves completely. If the game syncs to your account (Google Play, Mi Account), you can recover progress, but local data will be lost.

2. How to find games on a memory card (SD-card)

If you migrated games to microSD through MIUI settings, their files will be stored in separate folders on an external drive.

• 📱 APK-file: MIUI It does not allow you to install games directly on SD-The map, but you can manually transfer it. APK any folder (for example, /sdcard/APK/). They will not be able to run from there, except when installed.
• 🎮 OBB and game data: if the game supports storage SD, file will be /sdcard/Android/obb/[game-pack] or /sdcard/Android/data/[game-pack].
• 🔄 Game Save: Some games (e.g. Minecraft) allow you to choose the path to save. /sdcard/games/ or another catalogue.

To check which games support SD portability:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the game from the list.
3. Click Warehouse and see if the Change option is active (to transfer to SD).

⚠️ Attention: Starting with MIUI 12, Xiaomi has limited the ability to transfer games to the SD-card due to Android security policy. If option is not available, try using ADB-teams (see section 5).

Check the class of the memory card (UHS-I recommended)

Create a backup copy of the saves

Free up at least 10% of memory on the card

Use the original SD (not fake)

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3. Where are saved games (saves) on Xiaomi stored

The location of the save depends on how the developer implemented the storage, and here are the most common options:

To extract local saves without root rights, you can use backup through ADB:

adb backup -f backup.ab -apk -obb -shared -all

This command will create a backup.ab file with all the app data, which can then be unpacked using Android Backup Extractor.

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If the game supports sync with Google Play, check the saves in the Game Profile. There you can manually initialize the recovery of progress.

4.Cash games: where it is stored and how to clean it

Cache games take up the lion's share of memory, especially in heavy projects like Call of Duty Mobile or Honor of Kings.

• 🧹 Main cache: /data/data/[game-pack]/cache (root).
• 🗑️ External cache: /Android/data/[game-pack]/cache (rootless).
• 🖼️ Texture and model cache: often in the /Android/obb/[game-pack].

Cleaning the cache can be done in several ways:

1. Through MIUI settings: Settings → Applications → Application Management → [game] → Clear the cache.
2. Through File Manager: delete the contents of /Android/data/[game package]/cache.
3. Using SD Maid or CCleaner, these apps can find and clean the cache automatically.

⚠️ Attention: Cleaning the cache in /data/data/... without a backup can reset game settings (e.g. graphical presets in Genshin Impact (/Android/data/...) It is usually safe to remove.

5. ADB-Teams for working with games (without root)

If you don’t have root rights but need to transfer, back up or delete game files, Android Debug Bridge (ADB) will help.

List of all installed games (packages)


adb shell pm list packages -f | grep -i game




The path to the APK- game file (example for Brawl Stars)



adb shell pm path com.supercell.brawlstars




Copying OBB-file from a device to a PC



adb pull /sdcard/Android/obb/com.miHoYo.GenshinImpact/ C:\Genshin_Backup\




Delete the game cache (without deleting data)



adb shell pm clear com.activision.callofduty.shooter

To transfer the game to SD-card (if) MIUI blocks this option):

adb shell pm set-install-location 2

This command forces the system to install applications on the external drive by default, but not all games support this mode, many require installation in internal memory.

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ADB allows you to manage games without root, but requires enabled debugging over USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (7 times) → Additional → For developers → USB debugging).

6. How to find hidden games and system files

Some games (especially those pre-installed by Xiaomi, such as Mi Game Center) can store files in non-obvious places.

• 🔍 System games: /system/priv-app/ or /system/app/ (root).
• 📦 Data Archives: Sometimes games save backups /data/data/[game-pack]/databases.
• 🔗 Symbolic references: MIUI Can create links to game files in /mnt/asec/ (encrypted).

To see hidden files in MiXplorer:

1. Open the menu (three dots in the upper right corner).
2. Select Settings → Show hidden files.
3. Activate the option to Show system files (requires root).

If you suspect that the game leaves “garbage” after deleting, check the folders:

/sdcard/.thumbnails/


/sdcard/.data/




/sdcard/MIUI/

There may be temporary files or logs.

7. Game Backup: The Complete Guide

To avoid losing progress when resetting your phone or reinstalling the game, make a backup according to this instruction:

1. Synchronization with the account: 🔄 For Google Play Games: Check what is in Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of games enabled option Game data. 📱 For Mi Account games: Close the game and wait for automatic synchronization (works at Mi Game Center).
2. Manual file backup: 📁 Copy the folders. /Android/obb/[play /Android/data/[PC game. 💾 For local saves, use adb backup (see section). 5).
3. Specialized tools: 🛠️ Swift Backup – Creates full backups of data games. 🖥️ Titanium Backup – allows you to save and restore progress.

⚠️ Warning: Backup via adb backup isn't always exciting OBB-For security, copy them separately manually.

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The best way to back up is a cloud sync combination (Google/Mi Account) + hand-copying OBB and data on PCs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)