Where to store in Xiaomi: A complete guide to finding and managing memory

Why users can’t find storage on Xiaomi

You bought a new Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone, but can't find where your music, photos or downloaded files are stored? This problem is familiar to many - the MIUI interface changes regularly and the paths to system folders are hidden from the user. Unlike "clean" Android, where the file manager opens the root directory at once, on Xiaomi, access to the storage is often disguised under several layers of menus.

Even more difficult for those who have moved from the iPhone: there is no familiar Files, and standard Explorer from Xiaomi shows not everything. For example, the DCIM folder with a photo can be displayed, and the MIUI system directory with themes can not. Even experienced users sometimes get lost when you need to find a downloaded APK or app cache. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to access the storage, including hidden folders and technical nuances for different versions of MIUI.

Standard method: through the built-in conductor

The most obvious way is to use the standard Explorer app (or File Manager in global firmware) and find it:

• 📱 On the main screen there is an icon with the image of the folder (often in the Tools folder")
• 🔍 Through search by system (swipe down on the main screen) → enter "Conductor")
• 📂 In the menu of all applications (the icon "9 points" in the dock panel)

After opening, you will see several tabs: Device (internal memory), SD-Map (if installed), Categories (photo, video, audio by type), Network (access to cloud services). To work with files, you need a Device tab - here you can see the root directory of the storage with folders:

folder DCIM (photo)|Download folder (downloads)|folder MIUI (system-file)|Android folder (application data)|Bluetooth folder (received files)-->

⚠️ Note: If you can't see the Android folder, it's OK -- it's hidden by default. To open it, you need to enable the hidden files in Explorer settings (three dots in the upper right corner). → Settings → Show hidden files).

Alternative File Managers: When Standard File Managers Are Not Suitable

Xiaomi’s Embedded Explorer has limitations: it doesn’t show some system files, it doesn’t support any of the features. FTP-server and often hangs over large folders. If you need more features, install one of these managers:

🔹 Important: When the third-party manager first starts, they will ask for permission to access the storage. Allow all requests, otherwise the application will not be able to work with files. MIUI 14+ Additional permission may be required in the settings → Annexes → Permit management → Special access → Access to all files.

Standard Conductor|Solid Explorer|FX File Explorer|MiXplorer|Other-->

Hidden folders and system directories: what can and can not be touched

Xiaomi has folders in the storage that don't show up by default, but take up space. Here are the most voracious ones:

• 🗃️.thumbdata – miniatures for gallery (can weigh several gigabytes)
• 📁 com.xiaomi.midrop – Temporary files for transferring data over Mi Drop
• 🔄 Android/obb — Cache of games (such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile)
• 📱 MIUI/backup — backup copies of the system (created when reset)

The Android/data folder contains application data — cleaning it will cause resets in games and programs (for example, you will lose progress in Brawl Stars or Clash Royale). If you need to free up space, it is better to delete the cache through Settings → Apps → [Select App] → Storage → Clear cache.

⚠️ Attention: Folder MIUI/theme It stores downloaded themes. If you don't use them, you can delete the content, but don't touch files with the.mtz extension, which is an active theme, and deleting it will result in a reset to standard.

How to find storage via PC: USB and ADB connection

Sometimes it's easier to manage files through a computer.

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC through USB-cable (preferably original).
2. A notification will appear on the phone – select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
3. On the PC, a window with internal storage will open (on Windows it will be like a removable disk).

If the telephone is not identified:

• 🔌 Check the cable (not everyone supports data transfer).
• 🔄 Reboot both devices.
• 📋 Install Mi drivers PC Suite from the official website.

For advanced users, there is a way to access through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is useful if you want to access system folders without root permissions. For example, to view /data/data content (where application settings are stored), do:

adb shell


su




ls /data/data

💡

If the su command doesn't work, you don't have root permissions on your device, and to get them, you have to unlock the bootloader and flash Magisk, and that voids the warranty!

Freeing up the place: what can be removed without consequences

When the memory runs out, Xiaomi starts to slow down and give a notification, "Storage is almost full."

🔹 Tip: Use the built-in cleaning tool: Settings → Warehouse → Cleanup: Here Xiaomi analyzes junk files and suggests that they be deleted. Unlike third-party cleaners, this method will not remove anything important.

💡

Don’t use apps like Clean Master or CCleaner, which often delete files and give false warnings about viruses.

Frequent storage problems and their solutions

Problem 1: The storage system shows that the memory is full, but the files are few.

Solution: This may be related to:

• 📊 Error in calculating the free space (reboot the phone).
• 🔍 Hidden files (enable their display in Explorer).
• 🛠️ Damaged file system (reset via Settings) → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge).

Problem 2: You can't move the application to SD-map.

Solution: Starting with MIUI 12, Xiaomi has blocked this feature for most apps.

1. Install. SD-map as internal storage (formatted, data erased!).
2. Use AppMgr III (requires root).

Problem 3: After the MIUI update, the files are missing.

Solution: Updates sometimes reset paths to folders.

• 📂 folder MIUI/backup — There could be backups.
• ☁️ Mi Cloud (if synchronization was enabled).
• 🔍 Search the entire device through the Explorer (magnifying glass icon).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions