How to find Thumbnails folder on Xiaomi phone: all the ways and nuances

Why Thumbnails folder is important for Xiaomi users

Have you ever noticed that the gallery on Xiaomi (be it Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or Mi 11) is slower than before? Or that internal memory is mysteriously reduced even though you haven't installed new apps? The culprit is often the hidden folder Thumbnails, a thumbnails storage for speeding up image loading in the gallery. These cached previews take from 100MB to 1-2GB, but they're not easy to find.

Unlike regular photo folders, Thumbnails is hidden by MIUI — it doesn’t appear in a standard file manager without additional settings. Moreover, its location depends on the firmware version and device model. In this article, we’ll discuss all the current ways to find the Thumbnails folder on Xiaomi in 2026, including methods for devices with MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS, and also explain how to clean it safely.

Before we get into the instructions, it's important to understand that the Thumbnails folder is not just garbage, it speeds up the scroll of the gallery, but it can also contain thumbnails of long-deleted photos. If you encounter a "Gallery is not responding" or "Insufficient memory" error, cleaning this cache can be the solution.

Method 1: Search through the standard MIUI file manager

The easiest method is to use the built-in Explorer (or Files by Google, if installed), but by default the Thumbnails folder is hidden.

1. Open Explorer (the folder icon on the desktop or in the application menu).
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → select Settings.
3. Activate the option to Show Hidden Files (or Display System Files in newer versions of MIUI).
4. Go to the root directory of internal memory (/storage/emulated/0/).

Now look for a folder with one of the following names (depending on the MIUI version):

• 📁 DCIM/.thumbnails — classically MIUI 12 older.
• 📁 Pictures/.thumbnails — Alternative path on some models POCO.
• 📁 Android/data/com.miui.gallery/cache/thumbnails — for MIUI 14+ HyperOS.
• 📁 MIUI/thumb — rare variant on older devices (Redmi) 4X, Mi A1).

If the folder is not in the specified places, try searching inside the Explorer (magnifying glass icon) and enter the thumbnails request (without register).

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On some firmware, the folder may be called thumbnail (singular) or have the.nomedia extension, in which case delete the.nomedia file so that the content is visible in the gallery.

Method 2: Using Third-Party File Managers

Standard MIUI Explorer doesn’t always show all hidden folders, especially on newer versions of HyperOS, and third-party software like:

• 🛠️ Solid Explorer – supports root access and dual-panel mode.
• 🛠️ FX File Explorer – has a built-in search for system files.
• 🛠️ Root Explorer – for root-righted devices (allows you to edit system folders).

Instructions for Solid Explorer:

1. Install the app from Google Play and open it.
2. In the upper left corner, click on the three lines (menu) → Root catalog.
3. Go to /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/ or /data/data/com.miui.gallery/.
4. Turn on the display of hidden files in the settings (eye icon in the upper right corner).

If you are using FX File Explorer, use the built-in search engine:

1. Click on the magnifying glass icon at the top.
2. Enter thumbnails and select the option "Search in Hidden Folders".
3. Wait for the scan to be completed (may take 1-2 minutes).

Method 3: Search through ADB (for advanced users)

If you're not afraid of the command line, Android Debug Bridge (ADB) will help you find the Thumbnails folder even without root permissions.This method works on all versions of MIUI and HyperOS, but requires connecting the phone to a PC.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver.
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to activate the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission on the smartphone screen.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb devices

If the device appears in the list, run the search command:

adb shell find /storage -name "thumbnail" 2>/dev/null

The system will display all the paths where the word thumbnail occurs, such as:

/storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails


/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.gallery/cache/thumbnails

Method 4: Cleaning a gallery cache without finding a folder

If your goal is to just make room, you don't have to search for Thumbnails folder manually.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Gallery (or MIUI Gallery) and select it.
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

This will remove all the thumbnails, but they will automatically recover when the gallery opens next.

• ✅ No need to search for hidden folders.
• ✅ System-Secure (does not affect user files).
• ✅ It works on all versions. MIUI HyperOS.

There are, however, downsides:

• ❌ The first gallery opening after cleaning will be slower (miniatures will be created anew).
• ❌ Does not remove thumbnails from other apps (e.g. Google Photos).

Backup of important photos

Close all applications that use the gallery

Connect your phone to charge (if the memory is almost full)

Check the vacant space after cleaning-->

Where else can you store miniatures on Xiaomi

Thumbnails is not the only place where MIUI stores the cache of images, but depending on the firmware and the applications installed, thumbnails may be in:

Please note that deleting the MIUI Cloud or Theme cache may cause the related functions to fail, for example, after cleaning the /MIUI/theme/thumb/ folder, the theme icons in the settings will appear standard until the next update.

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Folders with thumbnails from third-party applications (WhatsApp, Google Photos) can be deleted without risking basic data. However, the cache of system services (MIUI Cloud, Themes) is better not to touch unnecessarily.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When working with the Thumbnails folder, users often encounter problems, and here are the most common ones and how to solve them:

⚠️ Note: If the.thumbnails folder is deleted, reboot your phone and the system will restore the files automatically the next time you start the app.

Error 1: Thumbnails folder reappears after deletion.

It's normal behavior, and MIUI recovers the cache the next time you open a gallery, to minimize the size of the gallery.

• 📉 Clean the cache regularly through Settings → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse.
• 🚫 Turn off automatic thumbnail creation in gallery settings (if available).

Error 2: Not enough permissions to delete the folder.

If you see a message that says “No access” or “root rights required,” try:

• 🔧 Use Root Explorer (only for devices with unlocked bootloader).
• 🔄 Move the folder to the basket through the Explorer, and then clear the basket.
• 📱 Clear gallery cache through settings (as described in Method 4).

⚠️ Note: On HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi 14, Redmi) K70) Attempting to delete system folders without root rights can cause the Gallery application to crash, in which case only resetting the gallery settings through Settings will help. → Annexes → gallery → Reset.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions