Where in Xiaomi stored memory: the analysis of all types of storage and hidden folders

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO offer users several types of storage, from embedded memory to cloud services, but not everyone knows where files are stored, how to access them, and why space sometimes disappears for no apparent reason, especially for devices with MIUI 14/15, where the folder structure has changed compared to earlier versions.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at all kinds of Xiaomi storage, from standard /storage/emulated/0/ folders to hidden system partitions that aren’t visible through a regular file manager, how to make room, find lost files, and even recover deleted data, and why a MIUI folder can take up to 10GB without you knowing and how to fix it.

If you've ever heard a message that says, "Not enough memory," but you can't find what's taking up space, this guide is for you. We're not going to just go with basic tips like "clean up the cache," but we're going to dive into technical details that the manufacturer doesn't usually advertise.

1. Internal Storage: Folder Structure and Hidden Files

The main storage of Xiaomi smartphone is built-in flash memory (eMMC or UFS depending on the model). In MIUI, it is divided into several logical partitions, but the user can only access a part of them. The main folder you see in the file manager is /storage/emulated/0/ (or /sdcard/ in older versions).

Here are the key folders that take up the most space:

• 📁 DCIM — Photos and video from the camera (including the hidden folder.thumbnails with thumbnails).
• 🎵 Music, Movies, Pictures – Media files automatically sorted by the system.
• 📱 Android – Application data (including cache and cache) OBB-The data folder inside it is hidden without root rights.
• 🔧 MIUI — System shell files (themes, wallpaper, log files) can weigh up to 5-10 GB on devices with a long history of updates.

To see the full list of folders, use a file manager with superuser rights (such as MiXplorer) or connect your phone to your PC via MTP. Note: some folders (such as Android/obb) may not appear in Xiaomi’s standard Explorer, but take up gigabytes.

💡

If the MIUI folder has grown to inadequate size, try to clean it through Settings → About Phone → Memory → Clean. Select System Garbage and confirm the deletion of logs and temporary files.

External drives: SD-maps USB-OTG

Xiaomi devices support memory expansion via microSD (on hybrid slot models) or USB-OTG (flash drives and external SSDs).

• 📱 On the Redmi Note. 10/11 and POCO X3/X4 SD-The card is formatted as a portable storage (files are only saved manually) or internal (expands the main memory, but requires full formatting).
• ⚠️ When using the card as an internal storage, it cannot be removed without losing data - the system encrypts the partition.
• 🔌 USB-OTG It only works with the file system. FAT32 exFAT. NTFS It is not supported without additional drivers.

To check if the external drive is recognized:

1. Connect. SD-map USB-device.
2. Open the Settings → Storage.
3. Scroll down to the Portable Device section or «SD-map».

If the drive is not displayed, try:

adb shell sm list-disks

This command will show all the connected drives in the system, and if the output is empty, there's a problem with the physical connection or the drivers.

3.Mi Cloud Cloud Storage: How it works and where data is stored

Mi Cloud is a cloud service from Xiaomi that offers up to 5GB of free space (expands to 200GB for a fee), however, many users do not understand where files uploaded to the cloud are physically stored and how they sync with the device.

Here are the key points:

• 🌍 Mi Cloud servers are located in China, Singapore and the United States, and only foreign data centers are available for Russian users (due to sanctions).
• 📱 Local copy of cloud files is stored in a folder /storage/emulated/0/MiCloud/, But only if the option "Save on the device" is enabled».
• 🔒 Photos and contacts are synced automatically if you have Settings enabled. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud.

To check what data is taking up space in the cloud:

1. Open the Mi Cloud app (or the web version of i.mi.com).
2. Go to the "Storage Management" section.
3. Click on the category (such as “Photo”) for a detailed view.

Sign in to Xiaomi account on your device | Check whether Wi-Fi/mobile Internet is enabled | Open Mi Cloud → Sync | Make sure the categories you need (photos, contacts) are active | Run manual sync (Update button)

-->

⚠️ Note: If you delete a file from Mi Cloud via the web interface, it will also disappear from your phone (and vice versa).To avoid loss, first download the backup via Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Backup.

4. Hidden system partitions: what takes place "invisible"

Even if you delete all user files, the system can show that 10-20 GB is occupied, “nothing is known about what”, because of hidden partitions that do not appear in the standard file manager.

You can use hidden sections without root rights to view them ADB-team:

adb shell df -h

This command will display a list of all mounted sections with an indication of occupied and free space.

⚠️ Note: Delete files from the section /system or /vendor If you don't know the consequences, it can cause a device to blink (total inoperability). If you need to make room in these sections, the only safe way to do that is to reflash your phone to a lighter version. MIUI (for example, MIUI Lite).

5. How to find and delete junk files

Standard cleaning through Settings → Memory only removes surface debris. To thoroughly clean the storage, follow this algorithm:

1. App cache: Go to Settings → Apps → Application management, select any application and click Clear Cache. Use SD Maid or CCleaner for bulk cleaning.
2. OBB-game files: folder /Android/obb/ It can weigh tens of gigabytes. Delete files only for remote games.
3. Use Google Files or Duplicate Files Fixer to find repetitive images.
4. Log files MIUI: folder /MIUI/debug_log/ grow up 1–2 GB. It can be safely cleaned.

To automate the process, we recommend a script for Tasker or Termux:

find /storage/emulated/0/ -type f -name "*.log" -delete


find /storage/emulated/0/ -type f -name "*.tmp" -delete

These commands will delete all logs and temporary files in the main storage.

💡

Regular cleaning of folder /MIUI/debug_log/ can release 2 GB space on devices with active use of themes and widgets.

Recovery of Deleted Files: Is It Possible?

If you accidentally delete important data, the chances of recovery depend on the file type and the time since it was deleted.

• 📸 Photo/Video: Use DiskDigger or Recuva (requires root for deep scanning).
• 📄 Documents: Check the folder /storage/emulated/0/Download/ — Sometimes files are left in the file manager’s “basket.
• 🎵 Music: If files have been synced to Mi Cloud, check the web version of the service.

For root-right devices, you can use the command:

adb shell su -c "find /data/ -name '*.jpg' > /sdcard/recovered_files.txt"

This team will find everything. JPG-files in system partitions and save their paths to a text file.

⚠️ Note: After deleting files, do not write new data to the device - this reduces the chances of recovery. MIUI, Because it can overwrite deleted files.

7.Storage optimization: how to prevent memory filling

To avoid a shortage of space, follow these recommendations:

• 📱 Transfer of applications to SD-Map: In Settings → Select the program and click “Move to” SD» (It doesn’t work for all applications).
• ☁️ Automatic upload to the cloud: Enable autosynchronization of photos in Google Photos or Mi Cloud with the option “Delete after download».
• 🎮 Cache Limiting: In game settings (such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile), reduce graphics quality to reduce size OBB-file.

For advanced users, a script is useful for automatic cache cleaning once a week (Termux is required):

termux-wake-lock


while true; do




find /storage/emulated/0/ -type f -name "*.tmp" -delete




604800 #7 days sleep




done

💡

If you often shoot videos in 4K, Set the camera to save files immediately SD-Map: Camera settings → Preservation site → SD-map.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi storage