Where in Xiaomi smartphones stored memory: a complete guide to all sections

Did you buy a new Xiaomi and find that the space on your phone is so low that you haven't downloaded anything? Or are you trying to find a downloaded file that has disappeared from the Download folder? The problem isn't you -- the storage architecture of Xiaomi smartphones, which is different from the usual Android devices, is scattered across several sections, some of which are hidden from the user.

In this article, we will not only show where Xiaomi has its phone memory, but also explain how these sections work, why they fill up “on their own” and how to make room without losing important data. /data, supplant 30% It is not in the memory, but in the conductor, and how MIUI Manages the app cache and why cleaning through Settings is often useless.

The material will suit the owners of all modern models, from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra. We will not go into technical details for developers, but give practical tips that will help even a beginner.

1.Inner memory: what hides the "Storage" section in the settings

The first place users look when searching for memory is the Settings menu. → Storage. This shows the total amount of internal memory and how it's categorized into applications, images, videos, etc. But this data is often misleading.

For example, if you see System Data occupying 15GB, it doesn’t mean it can be deleted.

• 📱 Firmware MIUI (weighs 3-5 GB and is not cleaned)
• 🔄 Cache updates (remains after installing patches)
• 📁 System Logs (required for diagnosis, but can be deleted through Settings) → The phone. → All specifications → Logs)
• 🔒 Encrypted data (such as fingerprints or Mi Account data)

To see the real memory distribution, use third-party apps like Files by Google or SD Maid, they're going to show you the hidden folders that MIUI It does not display by default, for example:

• /data/app — fixed-appendice
• /data/data — user data of applications (saving games, settings of messengers)
• /data/media/0 — Your files (photos, music, documents)

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If the "Storage" menu shows that the Other is 10+ GB is probably the remnants of remote applications. SD Maid to search for junk files with.apk or.obb extension in folders /data/local/tmp and /cache.

2.Folder MIUI: Why it weighs gigabytes and can it be cleaned?

One of the most mysterious folders in Xiaomi — MIUI, It's the root of internal memory, it takes 1 to 5 GB and it contains:

• 🎨 Themes and Wallpapers (theme folder – here are stored downloaded themes from Mi Theme Store)
• 📱 Backup (backup folder – application backups and settings)
• 🔊 Sounds and melodies (daddy) sound_recorder — tape-recording)
• 📊 Logs and dumps (daddy) debug_log — Data for debugging, only developers need)

Most of the contents of the folder MIUI You can remove it manually, but there are nuances:

• 🚫 Don't delete the folder. MIUI whole - this will lead to malfunctions in the shell.
• ✅ Safe to clean: MIUI/backup (unless you need old backups), MIUI/theme (Removed themes can be downloaded again), MIUI/sound_recorder (if you don't need the records).
• ⚠️ folder MIUI/debug_log can weigh up 1 GB, but its cleaning will not give much free space - the system will restore the logs in a few days.

To reduce folder size MIUI future:

1. Turn off automatic downloading of themes in Settings → Topics → Settings → Autoloading themes.
2. Transfer the recordings of the recorder to the cloud or on the PC.
3. Limit the number of backups in Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

3.External memory: how Xiaomi works with SD-map

If your Xiaomi supports microSD cards, you may have noticed that they don’t connect the same way as other Android devices. MIUI There are two modes of operation with SD-card:

1. Portable storage (default) – the card is used as a removable drive, applications are not installed on it, but you can transfer files (photos, videos, music).
2. Internal memory: The card is formatted and becomes part of the main storage, and you can install applications on it, but once the card is removed, they will stop working.

To change the regime:

1. Put it in. SD-phone-card.
2. Go to Settings. → Warehouse → [Name of name SD-map] → Settings (three points) → Formatting as an internal memory.
3. Confirm the formatting (all data from the card will be deleted!).

Important limitations:

• 🔄 After formatting as internal memory, the card will not be read on other devices (for example, on a PC via a card reader).
• 📱 Not all applications support installation on SD-map (especially system and high-demand games).
• ⚡ Class cards A1 or A2 (For example, SanDisk Ultra A1) They work faster and are suitable for installing applications.

4.Mi Cloud Cloud Storage: How It Links to Phone Memory

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s cloud storage that syncs your data by default: contacts, photos, notes and even SMS. Many users do not suspect that files from the Mi Cloud are duplicated in internal memory, taking up space.

Where to look for these takes:

• MIUI/backup/AllBackup — Backups created through Mi Cloud.
• DCIM/CloudAlbum — Photos uploaded to the cloud but stored locally.
• Download/MiCloud — files downloaded from the cloud.

How to turn off unnecessary synchronization:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn off sync for unnecessary categories (such as Gallery or Notes).
3. Delete local copies of cloud files through Explorer.

If you are actively using Mi Cloud, check the automatic boot settings:

• 📸 Photo: Gallery → Settings → Mi Cloud → Autoboot (you can disable download over the mobile network).
• 📝 Notes: Notes → Settings → Synchronization.
• 🎵 Music: Mi Music → Settings → Cloud music.

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Disabling gallery sync with Mi Cloud can free up to 5-10 GB if you have a lot of photos, but remember: once turned off, new photos will not automatically be backed up in the cloud!

5. Hidden system folders: What takes up space without your knowledge

Even if you delete all the files you don’t need, Xiaomi’s internal memory can be 80 to 90 percent full, because of hidden system folders that don’t show up in standard Explorer, and the most voracious ones are:

To see these folders, you'll need a Explorer that supports root or hidden files.

• Solid Explorer (enable “Show hidden files” in settings)
• FX File Explorer (root access for system folders required)
• MiXplorer (allows you to view) /data rootless)

Make sure you have a backup of important data|Do not delete folders called com.xiaomi.* are system applications.|Clean thumbnails and logs first – they take up a lot of space and are not critical.|After cleaning, restart your phone so that the system recovers the necessary files.

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6. App cache: why cleaning through settings doesn't help

Settings menu → Warehouse → Cache has a clear button, but often when you press it, the space doesn't grow much. MIUI Clears only the common cache, and the bulk of the cache is taken by individual applications.

Where to look and how to clean:

1. Messenger cache (Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber): Go to Settings → Annexes → [Name of messenger] → Warehouse → Clear the cache. Telegram additionally clear Settings → Data and memory → Clear Telegram cache.
2. Social media cache (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok): These apps cache videos and images. Clean the cache once a week. Instagram can limit cache: Settings → Account. → Use of data → Saving traffic.

Cash games.

PUBG Mobile

Genshin Impact

Call of Duty

• Games store graphical resources in /Android/obb.
• Clearing the game’s cache can result in data being reloaded (up to a few gigabytes!).

To automatically clean the cache, use:

• 🤖 Built-in function MIUI: Settings → Battery and productivity → Cleaning (works only for background processes).
• 📱 Third-party applications: CCleaner (cautiously - can delete the necessary data), SD Maid (more secure).

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If the free space runs out again quickly after cleaning the cache, check the sync settings in Google Photos and Mi Cloud. These services can automatically upload photos and videos in the background, filling the memory.

7 How to Free Your Memory Without Losing Data: 5 Ways to Work

If you’ve exhausted all the obvious methods, but your memory is still full, try these custom solutions:

1. Transfer of applications to SD-card (if formatted as internal memory): Suitable for lightweight applications (messaging apps, utilities) Games and system applications cannot be ported.
2. Cleanup of duplicate photos and videos: Use Google Photos (Settings) → Free up space) or Gallery Doctor. Delete folder DCIM/.thumbnails — she weighs up 1 GB.
3. Disabling Content Preload: On YouTube: Settings → Background mode → Video preloading → On Netflix: Settings → Downloads. → Quality of loading → Select “Wi-Fi only».
4. Removing old updates MIUI: folder /cache and /data/ota_package can weigh up 2 GB. Cleared through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → Three points. → Remove the downloaded package.

Resetting section cache

• Go to Settings. → The phone. → All specifications → Version. MIUI (Tap 7 times to turn on the developer mode).
• Come back to the extra. → For developers → Resetting section cache.

If nothing works, the last option is hard reset.

• Make a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
• Save your photos to your PC or cloud.
• Write down the logins and passwords from the accounts (they will erase!).

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Wipe Cache Partition is the safest way to free up space without losing data, and it deletes temporary system files but does not affect your photos, apps or settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory in Xiaomi