Memory Cleanup on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Android 2026

Your Xiaomi is slowing down, apps are constantly flying out, and the system is issuing warnings about memory shortages? The problem is familiar to most smartphone owners on MIUI — even flagship models are eventually clogged with unnecessary files. Unlike the iPhone, where cleaning the memory is reduced to a few taps, Android on Xiaomi requires a comprehensive approach: there is an app cache, duplicate photos, residual files after updates, and hidden garbage from Google Play Services.

In this article, we will discuss current memory cleanup methods for MIUI 14/15 based on Android 13/14, including little-known features like Storage Sense and manual cleaning of /data/local/tmp. We will discuss how to make space without data loss, which files can be deleted safely and which should not be touched. We will separately focus on the specifics of Xiaomi – for example, why the standard Optimizer often skips gigabytes of garbage and how to fix it.

1. Built-in tools MIUI: What's really working?

To start with the obvious, Xiaomi offers several built-in memory cleanup tools, but not all of them are equally useful. The main section — Settings → Phone → Memory — shows the big picture, but often misses key points.

• 📁 System application cache (such as Google Play Services or Mi Account) that can take up to 2-3 GB;
• 🔄 Residual files after deleting programs (lib and cache folders) /data/data);
• 📷 Photos created by Google Photos or a standard gallery MIUI.

The most effective built-in tool is Clean (Settings → Apps → Cleaning). There are three key options here:

1. Garbage files -- removes temporary data, thumbnails, logs and empty folders.
2. App cache clears the cache of all programs, but does not touch the authorization data, can slow down the first download of applications after cleaning.
3. Large files - shows files >100MB (video, APK, archives) and carefully check the list before deleting them.

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If the memory is not free after cleaning through the built-in tool, restart the phone - MIUI sometimes does not update the data about the free space without a reboot.

An important nuance: MIUI 14/15 introduced Storage Sense, which automatically deletes unnecessary files (cache, shopping cart) after a specified period of time, turns on Settings → Memory → Autocleaning, and recommends activating but setting exceptions for important applications (e.g. messengers).

2. Manual garbage disposal: hidden folders and files

Xiaomi's built-in tools only clear the tip of the iceberg, and the main debris is hidden in system folders that even Optimizer can't get to.

To access these folders, use any root file manager (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer). If not, connect your phone to your PC and use ADB:

adb shell


su




rm -rf /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails/*

Pay special attention to /data/local/tmp, which stores temporary MIUI and Google Play update files. You can delete them without consequences, but only if you are not downloading updates at the moment. Check this in Settings → About Phone → System Update.

3. Cleaning the cache and application data: what can be deleted

App cache is the main memory eater on Xiaomi, for example, Facebook can accumulate up to 1 GB of cache per month, and Google Maps can accumulate up to 2 GB. But it’s not that simple: some applications (for example, messengers) store important data in the cache.

How to clean properly:

• 📱 Social networks and instant messengers: cache can be deleted completely, but do not touch the application data (otherwise you will lose chats on Telegram or WhatsApp).
• 🎮 Gaming: Cache often takes up gigabytes (e.g, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact. Uninstall it via Settings → Annexes → [Game] → Memory. → Clear the cache.
• 🌍 Maps and navigators: in Google Maps or Yandex.Cache maps are downloaded offline maps.
• 🛒 App Stores: Google Play and Mi App Store cache can be cleaned without consequences.

Check if important files are downloaded in the application

Make a backup copy of chats (for messengers)

Remember your logins/passwords (if you are clearing the data)

Reboot your phone after a mass cleaning-->

To clean the cache of all applications, use ADB:

adb shell pm list packages -f | awk -F= '{print $2}' | xargs -n1 adb shell pm clear

⚠️ Warning: This command clears both the cache and all the applications, and once it's done, you'll have to log in to all the accounts and configure the programs!

4. Removal of duplicate photos and videos: tools and life hacks

One of the biggest invisible memory eaters on Xiaomi is photo and video duplicates, which are created by:

• 🔄 Automatic backup in Google Photos and Mi Cloud;
• 📸 Simultaneous shooting on the main and front cameras;
• 🎥 Previews for video (folder.thumbnails);
• 📱 Transfer files between devices via Mi Share or Bluetooth.

The easiest way to find duplicates is to use the Files by Google app (Cleanup) → It analyzes images by content, not by file name, so it even finds renamed copies:

• 📱 Duplicate Files Fixer – Searches for duplicates by hash of files;
• 🖥️ CCleaner (PC version) – a deeper analysis when connecting a phone;
• 📊 SD Maid – finds not only duplicates, but also “orphan” files (remains after deleting applications).

If there are too many duplicates (for example, after transferring a photo from another phone), use ADB to mass delete:

adb shell find /storage/emulated/0/DCIM -type f -name "*.jpg" -size +100k | sort | uniq -d | xargs -I{} adb shell rm {}

This team will find everything. JPG-file-size >100KB in a folder DCIM And it will delete duplicates. Backup before you do it!

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Photo and video duplicates can take up up to 30% of memory on devices with active camera use. Regular cleaning (every 2-3 months) saves up to 5-10 GB.

5.Storage optimization: file transfer and cloud services

If memory is catastrophically lacking and you do not want to delete anything - transfer files to the computer. SD-It's done in a non-obvious way at Xiaomi:

To transfer applications to SD-map:

1. Insert a memory card (UHS-I Class 10 or higher is recommended).
2. Go to Settings. → Annexes → [Select the application] → Memory. → Change. → SD-map.
3. ⚠️ Note: Not all applications support portability. System programs (Mi Account, Google Play Services) cannot be moved.

To automatically upload photos to the cloud:

• 📷 Google Photos: Settings → Backup and synchronization → Select the quality of "High" (unlimited storage) or "Original" (considered in the quota of Google Drive).
• ☁️ Mi Cloud: Settings → Accounts and synchronization → Mi Cloud → Gallery. 5GB is free, but sync is slower than Google's.

If you are using Mi Cloud, consider two nuances:

1. Files uploaded to Mi Cloud are not automatically deleted from your phone (unlike Google Photos) and must be manually erased.
2. Synchronization works only when connected to Wi-Fi (on a mobile network – only if you turn on the option in the settings).

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To save space, transfer the music to SD-In Spotify and Yandex Music, you can save tracks to the memory card: → Memory. → Preservation site → SD-map.

6.Reset to factory settings: when justified

If all previous methods failed, the last resort is hard reset, which is a radical way to do this, but it's guaranteed to clear all memory, including:

• 🗃️ Systemic garbage in /data and /cache;
• 📱 Residual files after deleting applications;
• 🔧 Incorrect settings causing lags;
• 🦠 Viruses and malware (if any).

How to do the reset correctly:

1. Back up your important data (photos, contacts, SMS) and use Mi Mover or Google Drive.
2. Go to Settings → About Phone → Resetting → Erase all data.
3. Select “Clear All” (not “Reset” – this will only delete settings, not files).
4. After reset, do not restore data from the backup immediately. First, check if the memory problem has been solved.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) POCO X3 Pro) after reset, there may be a problem with activating the device due to the binding to the Mi Account. If you forget the password, you will have to contact Xiaomi with proof of purchase.

If the reset didn’t help (which happens with hardware memory problems), check the health of the drive through ADB:

adb shell dumpsys diskstats

Look for lines from bad_blocks — if >0, This is a sign of memory wear, and only a memory module replacement (on modern Xiaomi memory is integrated into the motherboard, so the repair will cost you a lot of money). 30–50% phone-price).

7. Prevention: How to prevent memory clogging

To avoid cleaning your memory every month, follow these simple rules:

Additional advice:

• 📵 Turn off the automatic download of media files in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram), this will save up to 1-2 GB per month.
• 🎵 Set up music streaming instead of downloading (in Spotify, Yandex Music).
• 📺 Delete YouTube and TikTok cache after watching videos (these apps can accumulate up to 500MB of cache per day!).
• 🔄 Check the Download folder regularly – unnecessary ones accumulate here. APK, PDF archives.

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Memory clogging is 70 percent more effective than periodic cleaning, and 5 minutes a week is enough to avoid problems.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi memory cleanup