How to completely clean up data on your Xiaomi phone: 5 proven ways

Why Xiaomi Phone Is Clogged With Garbage and How to Fix It

Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi and POCO lines) are known for their performance, but over time even they start to slow down. The main reason is the accumulation of unnecessary data: app cache, residual files after updates, duplicate photos and undeleted temporary files. According to Counterpoint Research, 68% of users face memory shortages after 12-18 months of active use.

Cleaning up data on Xiaomi is not just about freeing up space, it's also about optimizing the system. For example, cleaning up the Dalvik/ART cache can speed up application launches by 20-30%, and removing debris from the /data/local/tmp folder solves the problem of spontaneous reboots. In this article, we'll look at everything from manual cleaning to factory reset, taking into account the features of MIUI 14/15.

It is important to understand the difference between data types:

• 📁 System cache – temporary OS files that can be deleted without risk
• 🗑️ Residual files – “tails” after deleted applications (remain in the file). /data/data)
• 🔄 Duplicates – copies of photos / videos created by messengers and cloud services
• 🔧 Application settings – saved game and program data (removed only when reset)

Method 1: Built-in utility "Cleaning" in MIUI

The easiest method is to use the standard Security app (or Security in global firmware), which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones and can analyze:

• 🧹 Garbage files (cache, logs, temporary data)
• 📸 Duplicate photos (including screenshots)
• 🎵 Large files (video, APK, archive)
• 🔍 Unused applications (not running) >30 days)

Step instructions:

1. Open the Security app (shield icon)
2. Go to the Cleanup tab (or "Cleaner")
3. Click Scan and wait for analysis (it will take 10-60 seconds)
4. Select file categories to delete (we recommend ticking all items except "Download")
5. Click "Clean" and confirm the action.

🔹 Feature MIUI 15: Newer versions have introduced a Deep Clean feature that removes the cache of system processes (such as mediacodec and surfaceflinger) that can temporarily slow down the phone after the first clean, but through a process called a "deep cleaner". 5-10 minute speed will recover.

Method 2: Manual cleaning through "Settings" (without third-party programs)

If the built-in utility failed, try manually cleaning through the settings menu, which allows you to point-to-point delete unnecessary data without affecting important files, especially for users who have:

• 📱 I've filled in 90%+ (system begins to lay)
• 🔄 Applications are constantly restarted
• 📸 Gallery is full of photos from messengers

Step-by-step:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management
2. Sort the list by size (click on the three dots in the upper right corner)
3. Choose a high-weight app (e.g. Facebook, Telegram, Google Play Services)
4. Click on Storage → Clear Cache and Clear Data (Warning: The second item will delete all application settings!)
5. For system applications (such as Gallery or Downloads), use only Clear Cache.

🔹 Hidden folder with garbage: Xiaomi has a system directory /data/local/tmp, where do the temporary update files and installers add up to clean it up:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and turn on Developer Mode (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times)
2. In Settings → Additional → For developers, enable debugging over USB
3. Use it. ADB-Command: Adb shell rm -rf /data/local/tmp/*

Method 3: Cleaning with Recovery Mode (for power users)

If the phone is slowing down or not turning on normally, cleaning through Recovery Mode will help.

• 🗃️ Application and System Cache (Cache Partition)
• 🔄 Temporary update files (OTA)
• 📦 Residual data after incorrect removal of programs

🔴 Note: This method does not delete user data (photos, videos, documents), but resets some system settings)!

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the power button and volume button at the same time before the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select the language (volume buttons) and confirm the choice of the power button.
4. Go to "Wipe & Reset" → "Wipe Cache"
5. Confirm the action and wait until it is completed (it will take 1-3 minutes)
6. Select "Reboot" → "Reboot to System"

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO F3) After cleaning the cache, access to Google Play Services may disappear:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts → Google
2. Delete your account and add it again.
3. Reboot the phone.

Method 4: Complete reset (Hard Reset)

A last resort that should only be used if:

• 🐢 The phone is unbearably slow (loading) >5 minutes)
• 🔄 Persistent application errors ("App has stopped")
• 📵 Not included or downloaded only before the logo
• 🦠 Suspicion of a virus that is not removed by antiviruses

🔴 Important: Full reset removes all data from internal memory, including photos, videos, messages and installed applications!

How to make a Hard Reset:

1. Create a backup through Settings → About Phone → Backup or Mi Cloud
2. Turn off the phone.
3. Press the power button + increase the volume before the Recovery appears
4. Select "Wipe Data" → "Wipe All Data"
5. Enter the password (if it has been set) and confirm the reset
6. After restarting, set your phone as new.

📌 Advice for models with MIUI 14+: After reset, do not restore data from the backup immediately – check the phone’s performance first. 1-2 Often the lags come back because of corrupted files in the backup.

💡

Before reset, write down your phone's IMEI (type *#06#). In rare cases, after Hard Reset, it may reset and you'll need to restore it through an engineering menu.

Method 5: Cleaning with ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don't work and you don't want to reset completely, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB).

• 🧹 Remove the cache of specific system processes
• 🗑️ Clear folders that are not available through the conductor
• 🔧 Correct errors of file access rights

🔹 Required: Computer with installed ADB-Drivers and Included Debugging USB phone-on.

The main cleaning commands are:

# Clearing the cache of all user applications


adb shell pm trim-caches -f 1000000000




Deletion of temporary system files



adb shell rm -rf /data/local/tmp/*




Cleaning Dalvik cache (accelerates work)



adb shell dalvikvm -clear




List of the most "heavy" packages (for analysis)



adb shell dumpsys meminfo | grep "TOTAL"

⚠️ Attention: Adb shell rm command -rf /data/data/* Delete all application data, including game saves and messenger settings! Use it only if you are ready for the complete loss of user data.

How to Prevent Memory Clogging in the Future

To avoid having to clean your phone every month, follow these guidelines:

🔹 Hidden function MIUI: B Settings → Special facilities → The system speeds up is called "Memory Optimization" and automatically closes the background when there is less than 500 MB of free memory.

📌 For owners. POCO and Redmi with MIUI 13+: In the developer settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — 7 Enable the option “settings put global” settings_enable_monkey 0). This will reduce the number of log files that the system creates.

💡

Regularly cleaning the cache and removing unnecessary files extends the battery life by 15-20%, since the system does not have to constantly reboot data into memory.

Frequent questions about Xiaomi cleanup