How to find a buffer in a Xiaomi phone: hidden folders, cache and temporary files

Ever wonder where copied texts, images, or temporary application files on your Xiaomi go? Many users are faced with the problem that the clipboard is suddenly empty and the phone’s memory is packed with unknown things. In fact, Xiaomi smartphones (especially MIUI) have buffer data stored in several hidden places, from the standard clipboard to the system cache and temporary application folders.

In this article, we will look at where to find buffer files, how to access them (including without root rights), and what to do if they take up too much space. You will learn about embedded MIUI tools, hidden directories like /data/clipboard, and how to safely clean the cache without breaking the phone.

What is a buffer in a Xiaomi phone and where is it stored

By the term “buffer” Xiaomi users usually mean three things:

• 📋 Clipboard – temporary storage for copied text, links or images (works through the system service com.android.clipboard).
• 🗃️ Application cache – folders with temporary files (for example, /data/data/com.app.name/cache), which speed up the work of programs, but over time grow.
• 🔄 Temporary system files – log files, memory dumps and other technical data that MIUI debug.

It's important to understand that clipboard and cache are different things: the former stores data for paste (before rebooting or cleaning), and the latter optimizes the operation of applications, for example, when you copy text from Telegram, it enters the clipboard, and pictures from the chat are cached in the folder /data/data/org.telegram.messenger/cache.

On Xiaomi with MIUI 12-14, the clipboard is stored in a protected memory area by default and is not accessible through a standard file manager. However, it can be seen through the engineering menu or special applications (about them below), Cache is in open folders, but requires superuser rights to be completely cleaned.

⚠️ Note: Don't confuse the clipboard with Xiaomi's cloud buffer (Mi Cloud Clipboard feature) which syncs data between devices but stores it on Xiaomi servers rather than in the phone's memory.

How to open the clipboard of Xiaomi: 3 ways

If you need to find the latest copied text or image, try these methods:

1. Built-in clipboard manager in MIUI

Starting with MIUI 12, there's a hidden tool in the firmware to view the history of the buffer.

1. Open any field to enter text (for example, in Notes or Messages).
2. Press and hold the empty space until the menu appears.
3. Slip on the icon "Buffer exchange" (the icon of two documents).

Here you will see the last 5-20 items (depending on the model) and you can clear the history with the Delete Everything button.

2. through the application "Security" (Security)

Xiaomi has a built-in “cleaner” that shows the cache and buffer:

1. Launch the Security app (shield icon).
2. Go to the Cleanup section. → Deep cleaning.
3. Scroll down to the clipboard block - temporary data is displayed here.

3. Through third-party applications

If the built-in tools don’t show the right information, install one of these apps:

• 📱 Clipboard Manager (shows extended history of buffer).
• 🔍 Files by Google (Scans folders for temporary files).
• 🛠️ SD Maid (to clean cache and search for junk files).

⚠️ Note: Exchange buffer management applications require permission android.permission.READ_CLIPBOARD. Do not install them from unverified sources – this can lead to data leakage.

Where temporary files and cache are stored on Xiaomi

Application cache and system temporary files take up the lion's share of junk memory, and can be found in the following folders:

To view these root-free folders, use an ADB-enabled file manager (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer). Full access requires a PC connection and command:

adb shell


su




ls /data/data/com.miui.home/cache

On Xiaomi models with MIUI 14 and later, the path to the clipboard can vary depending on the regional firmware, for example, in the global version it is /data/clipboard/, and in the Chinese version it is /data/miui/clipboard/.

Check the free space in the settings → Memory

Make a backup copy of important data

Close all working applications

Turn off sync with Mi Cloud (if you clear the clipboard)-->

How to Clean Buffer and Cache Without Harming Your Phone

Cleaning the clipboard and cache can free up from 500 MB to 2-3 GB of memory, but you need to do it carefully.

1. Clearing the exchange buffer

The safest way is through built-in tools:

1. Open the "Settings" → Additional → clipboard.
2. Put it on the clean.
3. For a complete reset, restart the phone.

2. Cleaning up the app cache

This can be done in two ways:

• 🧹 Through Settings: Go to Settings → Annexes → App management. Select an app (e.g. Chrome or Facebook). Click Clear cache (not data!).

Through the Security app:

1. Open the Security" → Cleanup.
2. Select Deep Cleanup and tick unnecessary files.
3. Click Clear (do not touch the System Files section!).

3. Delete temporary files via ADB

For power users: connect your phone to your PC and follow the commands:

adb shell pm clear com.miui.clipboard # Clearing clipboard


adb shell pm clear com.android.providers.media # Cleaning up media cache

⚠️ Note: Do not use the rm commands -rf /data/* or similar – this will lead to a breakdown of the system and require flashing the phone.

💡

If the applications are slower after cleaning the cache, restart the phone. The system will restore the necessary temporary files automatically.

Why Xiaomi’s Clipboard Is Cleaning Up Its Own

Many users complain that copied text or images disappear from the buffer for no apparent reason.

• 🔄 Reboot the phone - clipboard in MIUI stored in RAM and reset when turned off.
• 🗑️ Auto Clean – Auto Cleaning in the Security app can delete old data.
• 📱 Memory Lack – If less than 10% is free, the system will force the cache and buffer to clear.
• 🔒 Limitations MIUI — In some firmware, the clipboard stores no more than 20 elements.
• 🛠️ Failures in the service com.android.clipboard – solved by restarting the process through Settings → Annexes → Show it all. → Three points. → Show system-based → Clipboard.

Hidden folders with buffer data: how to find them

In addition to the standard clipboard, Xiaomi has hidden directories where temporary data is stored, which can be viewed through the root file manager or ADB.

Here are the key paths:

• 📁 /data/clipboard/ — Here are the last elements of the clipboard (files) clipboard_*.db).
• 📁 /data/data/com.miui.clipboard/databases/ — buffer-base.
• 📁 /data/local/tmp/ — temporary system files (e.g. update log files).
• 📁 /cache/ — recovery cache OTA-update.
• 📁 /data/system/dropbox/ — squashing 1–2 GB).

Note that transferring the buffer to the SD can slow access to copied data due to the speed of reading the memory card.