Have you copied an important document, photo or video to your Xiaomi Redmi, but can't find it in your phone's memory? The problem is familiar to many: MIUI hides copies of files in non-obvious folders, and the standard clipboard works differently than on other Android devices. In this article, we'll look at all possible storage locations, from temporary files to system directories that even the file manager doesn't show.
The feature of MIUI firmware is that it modifies standard Android mechanisms. For example, when copying through MIUI File Manager, files can be duplicated in a hidden.miui folder, and the clipboard saves not only text but also images - but only for 30 minutes. We tested behavior on Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Redmi 10 and POCO X5 Pro models (all on MIUI 14/15) and identified 5 key places to look for "lost" data.
MIUI clipboard: where temporary copies are stored
Unlike pure Android, where the clipboard is cleared after a reboot, MIUI saves copied content longer — but with limitations: Text and links are stored for up to 24 hours, and images and files are stored for only 30 minutes, and access to the buffer history is blocked if you do not turn on the appropriate setting.
To see the saved items:
- 📱 Open any field to enter text (for example, in Notes or Messages).
- 📋 Click on the input bar and select the clipboard (the icon with two documents).
- 🔍 If there is no option, go to Settings. → Additionally. → Clipboard and activate the clipboard history.
Important: MIUI doesn't save files larger than 25MB in the clipboard, you'll have to search for them in other folders, and the history is reset after you upgrade or reset your settings, and if you copied data through third-party applications (like Total Commander), they could have been saved in their own temporary directories.
Download folder: why you can’t always see copied files here
The standard place for downloaded and copied files is the Download folder (or Downloads in Russian), but MIUI divides it into several subdirectories that are not always visible in a standard file manager, for example, files copied through the Mi Browser browser can fall into:
- 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Download/browser — for web pages and media.
- 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Download/telegram — If you copy it from Telegram.
- 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Download/.temp — temporary files (hidden folder).
To see the hidden folders:
- Open Files (standard MIUI manager)
- Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → Settings → Show hidden files.
- Go back to Download and check the folders with a dot at the beginning of the title.
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If you have copied files via a computer (on USB), check the /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/USB folder, which may leave temporary copies even if the transfer ended with an error.
3..miui system folder: where MIUI hides duplicate files
One of the most secret folders in MIUI is.miui, which is created at the root of internal memory.
- 📄 Backup copies of files when copying through MIUI File Manager.
- 🖼️ Cache images from the gallery and screenshots.
- 📂 Temporary data for Application Cloning and Second Space functions.
The path to the folder is /storage/emulated/0/.miui. To see it, turn on the hidden file display (as in the previous section).
| folder | What it keeps. | Can I remove it? |
|---|---|---|
| backup | Copies of files during moving/copying operations | Yes, but only if the operation is complete. |
| thumbnail | Image and video miniatures | Yeah, but they'll regenerate automatically. |
| clone | Data for cloned applications | No, it'll disrupt the duplication. |
| temp | Temporary files in data exchange | Yes, but only after the operations are complete. |
Warning: Do not delete the.miui folder completely, this can cause firmware to malfunction. If you need to free up space, only clean the contents of the thumbnail and temp subfolders.
What happens if you delete the.miui folder?
4. App cache: where copies from messengers and social networks are stored
If you copied files from Telegram, WhatsApp or VK, they might not be stored in the main memory, but in the cache of applications.
- 📎 Telegram: /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/org.telegram.messenger/cache
- 📎 WhatsApp: /storage/emulated/0/Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Media
- 📎 VK: /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.vk.android/cache
Access to these folders is limited: you won't see them through a standard file manager.
- Use Total Commander or FX File Explorer with root permissions (if any).
- Connect your phone to your PC and use ADB (command: adb pull /sdcard/Android/data/org.telegram.messenger/cache).
- In some cases, it helps to transfer files through Send yourself in the messenger itself.
⚠️ Attention: Cleaning the app cache through Settings → The apps will delete all temporary files, including those that are copied. If you need data from the cache, first back up the folder on your PC.
5. External memory card: features of copying on Redmi
If your Redmi has a microSD installed, MIUI can save files to it by default — even if you didn't choose the card manually.
- 📁 /storage/XXXX-XXXX/MIUI/Backup (where XXXX-XXXX — ID your card).
- 📁 /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Download — duplicates the main download folder.
- 📁 /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Android/data — Application cache (root rights required).
To check where the files are saved by default:
- Open Files → Click on three points → Settings.
- Select Memory by default – here it is indicated whether internal memory is used or not. SD-map.
- If a memory card is selected, all copies will be duplicated by default.
Critical Feature: When Extracting SD-cards without securely disabling files in the folder /storage/XXXX-XXXX/MIUI/Backup Always use the option to remove notifications in the curtain.
☑️ Checking an external memory card on Redmi
6.Cloud Services: Automatic copies in Mi Cloud and Google Drive
MIUI can automatically upload copied files to the cloud, even if you have not explicitly consented to it.
- 🌥️ Mi Cloud: Files can be synced in a folder MIUI/Backup or Gallery/Cloud.
- 🌥️ Google Drive: If Autosynchronization is enabled, copies are searched in Backup → Xiaomi.
- 🌥️ Yandex.Disk: folder Autoboot/MIUI (if the application is installed).
To disable automatic booting:
- Go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud.
- Turn off Gallery Sync and Backup.
- For Google Drive: Settings → Google → Backup → Turn off Photo Uploads.
⚠️ Note: if you delete files from the cloud, they will disappear from the device if sync was enabled. Before cleaning, check if the important data is only in the cloud storage.
7.Special cases: Copying through ADB, TWRP and root
If you use advanced file management techniques (e.g., through ADB or custom recovery TWRP), copies can be saved in non-standard places:
- 🖥️ /data/local/tmp — time-file ADB-operations.
- 🖥️ /cache/recovery — if the copying went through TWRP.
- 🖥️ /sdcard/TWRP — Backups created in recovery.
To access these folders:
- Connect your phone to your PC and use the command: adb shell ls /data/local/tmp
- In TWRP, select Advanced → File Manager and check the /cache folder.
⚠️ Attention: Delete files from /data/local/tmp You can interrupt the background processes of the system. Don't clean this folder unless you're sure of the consequences.
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On root-enabled devices, copied files can be saved to /data/data (app cache) or /system/tmp. Use Root Explorer to search, but beware – changing system folders is fraught with failures.