Cleaning up your Xiaomi app data: The complete guide

Xiaomi’s current smartphones have a lot of hardware, but over time, even flagship models may run into a memory shortage. MIUI or the new HyperOS actively accumulate temporary files that take up gigabytes of usable space. Users often notice that after months of active correspondence, watching videos and using social networks, the device starts to work slower.

There is a common misconception that you have to delete apps completely to solve the problem, but in most cases, it is enough to clean up the accumulated garbage. Deleting the data resets the application to the “just out of the store” state, while saving the program itself on the device. This action does not affect the Android system files, but effectively removes local logs, image cache and temporary databases.

In this guide, we will look at all the available ways to optimize storage, learn how to distinguish file types, understand risks and safely free up space, and look at both standard system tools and advanced methods for advanced users who want to gain full control of their gadget.

Difference between Cache and Application Data

Before we take any drastic action, it is important to understand the technical difference between the two main types of information being cleared, and many users confuse these concepts, sometimes leading to the loss of important information or, conversely, to inefficient cleaning. Let's look at what lies behind each term.

Cache is a temporary file that an app creates to make it work faster. For example, the browser saves copies of pages and pictures visited so that when you re-open the site, you don't download them again from the Internet. Social networks cache photos and videos viewed. Cache removal is safe and often solves problems with the freeze of programs.

⚠️ Cache cleaning can temporarily slow down the application on the first run after the procedure, as it will have to re-load the necessary resources from the network.

Unlike temporary files, these apps include all your personal information: settings, logins, passwords (if not synced to the cloud), correspondence history, game saves and downloaded files, and a data reset is equivalent to reinstalling an application without removing it from the list of programs.

Standard cleaning through system settings

The safest and most recommended way to manage memory is built directly into the MIUI shell, which provides a user-friendly interface for managing each component installed, and is suitable for most users and does not require the installation of additional software.

To start, you need to go to the application management menu, and here you will see a complete list of all installed programs, including system ones, if the appropriate filter is enabled, and navigation on the menu may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same.

Follow the following steps to access memory management:

• 📱 Open Settings and select the Application Item.
• 🔍 Click on All Apps to see the full list.
• 📂 Find the right program in the list or use the search.
• 🗑️ Select the option Memory or Storage.

In the window that opens, you will see two main buttons: Clear Cache and Clear All (or Reset) The first button is secure for instant free space. The second button requires confirmation, as it deletes user data.

💡

Use the "Sort by Size" feature in the app list to quickly find the programs that occupy the most space, often messengers and video services.

Use of the built-in "Security" application

Xiaomi's smartphone arsenal includes a pre-installed security utility that combines antivirus and memory cleaner, a universal tool for rapid system prevention, which allows you to scan the device for temporary files in all applications at once.

Start the app and select Cleanup. The system will analyze the storage and suggest removing the garbage. However, be careful: the automatic analyzer sometimes suggests removing useful files, such as WhatsApp thumbnails or saved documents.

For more in-depth work, go to the Application Management section inside the utility or use the Deep Clean function, where you can selectively delete large files, duplicate photos and APK-Installation files that are no longer needed.

Regular use of this tool helps keep the system on track, but don't rely on automation alone, and periodic manual checks of large folders give you better results than blind trust in the purifier's algorithms.

Specifics of cleaning messengers and social networks

Messengers like Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber are the main memory eaters on any smartphone. They store every photo, video and voice message sent in local storage. Simple cache clearing through Android settings here may not be effective enough or redundant.

In the case of Telegram, the app stores all media files in its cache, even if they are already viewed. Fortunately, the developers have built-in memory management mechanism. Go to Settings → Data and Memory → Memory Use. Here you can set up automatic cache cleanup, for example, delete files older than 3 days or 1 week.

⚠️ Note: When you clear your messenger data through your Android settings, you will be taken out of your account. Make sure you remember your phone number and have access to your phone. SIM-reauthorization card.

For WhatsApp, the situation is similar, but the file structure is more complicated: Media files are often duplicated in the phone gallery. Before resetting data, it is recommended to back up chats in Google Drive, which will save the history of correspondence that otherwise will be impossible to recover.

Cleaning through file manager and ADB

For advanced users who don’t have enough standard tools, there are more powerful tools: File Manager Explorer (or any third-party, such as Total Commander) allows you to manually delete folders with garbage, usually located on the Android/data path or at the root of internal memory.

However, starting with Android 11 and up, access to the Android/data folder is limited, blocking direct access to data from other applications for security purposes, and this can be avoided by using special file managers or connecting the phone to a computer.

The most radical and effective method is the use of Android Debug Bridge (ADB) debugging, which allows you to force the data of any application, even a system application, without superuser rights, and it requires a computer and a minimum set of commands.

adb shell pm clear com.package.name

Replace com.package.name with the real name of the app package you want to clear. The package name can be found in the Play Store in the address bar or through special analyzer apps. This method instantly resets the application without even having to open the settings menu on the phone itself.

💡

Use of the ADB-commands are the fastest way to clean up data en masse, but it requires caution: a bug in the packet name can affect the wrong application.

Frequent questions and troubleshooting

Even with all the instructions, there may be unusual situations: users often encounter reports of errors or incomprehensible behavior of the system after cleaning. Below are answers to the most common questions that will help avoid panic.

Sometimes the Clear Data button may be inactive (gray), which is typical for system applications that are critical to MIUI operation. The system blocks their reset to prevent them from going into an endless bootloop, in which case only resetting to factory settings or removing updates to that particular component helps.