Maximum memory cleanup on Xiaomi: from cache to hidden system files

Even on Xiaomi’s new 128GB and 256GB smartphones, sooner or later, a “Not Enough Space” notification appears, and it’s not always because of your photos or apps — MIUI actively caches data, duplicates and accumulates garbage in the background. In this article, we’ll look at all the possible cleanup methods, including hidden features that are not written about in standard instructions.

Xiaomi's peculiarity is the aggressive use of internal memory to speed up work. MIUI can borrow 20-30% More space than Android, because of preloaded data and optimizations. We tested the methods on Redmi Note models. 10 Xiaomi 13 Ultra is the results in the table below. Important: some actions require root rights or debugging. USB, But most of the ways work without them.

1. Deep cache cleaning: what to remove and what not to

Cache is the main memory eater on Xiaomi, but not all cache can be safely deleted, for example, cleaning the cache of Google Play Services will lead to the reloading of 500+ MB of data, and deleting the cache of the MIUI System can reset the theme settings.

• 📱 Cache of user applications: Social networks (Telegram, VKontakte), instant messengers, games. 5-7 GB of garbage.
• 🎵 Media cache: Miniature photos / videos in the gallery, temporary files of music players (Mi Music, Spotify).
• 🌐 Browser cache: Mi Browser and Chrome store copies of pages that can weigh up to 1GB.
• ⚠️ Exceptions: Don’t touch the cache of system applications like com.android.phone or com.miui.securitycenter – this can disrupt your phone.

How to clean safely:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Sort by size (click on the three dots in the upper right corner).
3. Select the application → Storage → Clear the cache.
4. For mass cleaning, use Settings → Memory → Cleanup (but this will only remove surface debris).

⚠️ WARNING: Clearing WhatsApp cache will delete all media files from chats if they are not saved to the gallery. → chat → Backup.

2. Delete duplicates and “dead” files

MIUI It has an unpleasant feature: when moving files between folders or after system updates, duplicates with names like IMG_20230515_123456(1).jpg. In addition, after uninstallation of applications, their folders remain in the /Android/data/ and /Android/obb/.

How to find and delete:

• 🔍 Use the built-in File Search in Explorer → Search → Xiaomi can search for repeated photos / videos by hash.
• 🗑️ To remove folders of the remaining applications, connect the phone to the PC and manually check: /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/ /storage/emulated/0/Android/obb/ Folders with names of remote applications (for example, com.tencent.mm for WeChat) can be safely deleted.
• 📁 Manually check the folder. DCIM/.thumbnails — There are miniatures that can weigh up to 500 MB.

Use applications like Files by Google or SD Maid (requires root for deep cleaning) to automate, but beware: some SEOs delete useful files, such as offline map data in Google Maps.

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Before mass deleting duplicates, turn on the display of hidden files in the Explorer (Settings → Show hidden files). Often the garbage is hidden in folders with a dot at the beginning of the name (for example,.cache).

3. Cleaning of system logs and dumps

Xiaomi actively logs the system, especially if you have USB debugging or MIUI beta enabled. These files can take up to 2-3 GB and are stored in hidden folders. They can be safely deleted, but you will need an ADB or a file manager with root permissions.

Cleaning methods:

For removal without root:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) → Additional → For Developers.
2. Open the command line on your PC and type: adb shell su rm -rf /data/log/* rm -rf /data/tombstones/* rm -rf /data/miui/debug_log/*

⚠️ Note: Delete files in /data/ If you don't root, you can crash the system if you go wrong. Use this method only if you're confident in your actions.

4. MIUI Storage Optimization: Hidden Functions

Xiaomi has built in MIUI some hidden cleaning tools that are not visible in the standard menu, such as Deep Cleaning, which removes not only cache, but also temporary files of system processes.

How to enable hidden options:

• 🔧 Enter the code in the dial box (as for a call): ##4636## Go to the Warehouse → Clean up the data. This will remove debris that is not available through standard settings.
• 📊 B Settings → Memory click on the use schedule → In addition, you can see hidden files here (for example, data for the MIUI Optimization).
• 🗃️ The Guide. → Categories → System files (not available on all models) display files that are usually hidden.

On models with MIUI 14+, the Light Mode feature has appeared, which automatically clears the cache and limits the background processes. Activates in Settings → Special Features → Easy Mode. This can release up to 1-2 GB without manual actions.

Delete the cache of social networks and messengers |

Check /Android/data/ and /Android/obb/ for the remnants of remote applications |

Clear logs via ADB or root conductor |

Start a hidden cleanup code ##4636##|

Remove duplicate photos/video with built-in tool-->

5. Transfer of applications to SD-card (if supported)

Not all Xiaomi models allow you to transfer applications to the SD-card, but if your phone supports Adoptable Storage (e.g. Redmi Note) 8 pro POCO X3), It can release you to 10-15 GB.

How to check and configure:

1. Put it in. SD-map (preferably) UHS-I Class 10 or faster).
2. Go to Settings. → Memory. → SD-map.
3. If you have the option to use as internal memory, select it. Attention: the card will be formatted and encrypted, it will not be read on other devices!
4. After formatting, go to Settings → Applications, select the application → Warehouse → Change. → SD-map.

Limitations:

• ❌ Not all apps support portability (such as WhatsApp or Banking apps).
• ⚠️ After extraction SD-Application maps will stop working.
• ⚡ Speed of application with SD-cards are lower than internal memory.

6.Reset to factory settings: when justified

If all previous methods failed, it would be a hard reset, which would delete all data, including accounts, settings and apps, but would put the phone back in its "clean" state. On Xiaomi, you can do the reset in two ways:

Method 1. Through settings (soft reset):

1. Make a backup in Settings → About Phone → Backup.
2. Go to Settings → About Phone → Resetting → Delete all data.
3. Choose Clear everything and confirm.

Method 2. Through Recovery (hard reset):

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Up + Power before the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi) 11T, Redmi K50) Recovery reset can block the bootloader if the phone has been unlocked before, in which case you will need to re-unlock through the Mi Unlock Tool.

After discharge:

• 🔄 Do not restore data from the backup right away – first check how much memory is freed up.
• 📥 Install applications selectively, not all at once.
• 🚫 Turn off automatic app updates on Google Play.

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Factory reset is a last resort. If the problem is in the garbage, not viruses or system failures, try all other methods first. Once reset, the phone will run faster, but you will lose all data without the possibility of recovery (if you did not backup).

7.Alternative methods: cloud storage and compression

If physical memory is sorely lacking, consider cloud solutions and optimizing existing files:

• ☁️ Autoupload photos to the cloud: - Google Photos (free 15 GB, lossless compression). - Mi Cloud (5 GB free, integrated into the cloud. MIUI). Set up automatic download to the Gallery → Settings → Backup and enable the option to Delete after download.
• 📦 Video and Photo Compress: Applications like Video Compress or Photo & Picture Resizer will reduce the weight of media files on the Internet. 40-60% without any noticeable loss of quality. MIUI There is a built-in tool: open the photo in the Gallery → Edit → Squeeze.
• 🎮 Optimization of games: - In Settings → Special facilities → Optimizing games can reduce graphical settings to save memory. - For Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile, this will free up the game. 1-2 GB.

For advanced users:

• 🛠️ Change of file system to F2FS (requires rooting TWRP). Increases read/write speed and reduces fragmentation.
• 🔗 Symlinks for transferring folders (for example, DCIM) on SD-map without loss of functionality.

8.Prevention: How to prevent memory clogging

To avoid clearing your memory every week, set up Xiaomi for automatic optimization:

• 🤖 Limit background activity: - Settings → Battery → Application power management → Select Limit Background Activity for Unnecessary Applications.
• 📥 Turn off auto update: - Google Play: Settings → Auto-update of applications → Do not update automatically. - Mi App Store: Settings → Auto-update → Off.
• 🗑️ Set up automatic cleaning: - Settings → Memory. → Auto-cleaning → Turn on and select the frequency (for example, once a week).
• 📸 Optimize the camera: - Into the camera → Settings → Photo/video quality choose High over Maximum (saves up to 30% of space).

Also useful:

• 🔌 Connect your phone to your PC regularly and check Download, Bluetooth folders, Pictures/Screenshots — There's a lot of trash in here.
• 📵 Remove unnecessary APK-files after installing applications (they remain in Download or in Download) /sdcard/apk).

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Prevention is more important than treatment: set up automatic cleaning, limit background processes and regularly check the storage, which will eliminate the need to urgently vacate space.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi memory cleanup