Disk Cleanup on Xiaomi: How to Free up Space on Your Phone Without Losing Data

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones are known for their functionality, but even they face a lack of space over time. Clogged memory slows down the device, prevents updates and saves new files. Unlike the iPhone, where cleaning is limited to standard tools, Android on Xiaomi offers much more features, from built-in utilities to hidden features for power users.

The problem isn’t always with your photos or apps. Often the fault is with the system cache, residual files of remote programs, duplicates in Download, or even hidden folders from MIUI that are not visible in the standard file manager. In this article, we’ll look at the unique cleaning methods that work specifically for Xiaomi — including little-known tricks with ADB and developer settings.

Important: Before you start cleaning, check how much space is occupied. Go to Settings → About Phone → Memory. If less than 10% of the total volume is free, the device is already at its limit, and this can cause lags even in simple applications.

1. Built-in cleaning MIUI: What to remove and how to use correctly

The easiest way is to use the Cleanup tool, which is integrated into MIUI. Find it through a search in settings or through the Settings path → Applications → Cleanup. Here, the system automatically analyzes junk files, application cache and unnecessary data.

But not everyone knows that this tool works selectively, like it doesn't touch:

• 📁 Cache of system applications (for example, com.miui.gallery or com.android.phone)
• 📂 folder MIUI in the root catalogue where the themes and wallpapers are stored
• 🔄 Logs of error (/data/log), gigabytes

To make cleaning more efficient:

1. Click on Deep Clean (not available on all models).
2. Turn on the “Clean the Recycle Bin” option, which will remove files from the Recycle Bin folder that many forget to check.
3. Check the Big Files section – forgotten videos or archives are often found here.

⚠️ Warning: If after cleaning some applications (such as YouTube or Telegram) start to load longer, it is normal. They recover cache the next time they run!

2. Manual cache cleaning: which folders can be deleted without risk

System cache (/cache) and application cache (/data/data/...) are the main memory eaters. Unlike iOS, where the cache is controlled automatically, it can be manually cleaned on Android, but it is important not to overdo it: deleting the cache of some applications (for example, Google Play Services) can lead to crashes.

Safe for cleaning folders:

To clean the cache of all applications at the same time:

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Cache data.
2. Click "Clear" (confirmation required).

⚠️ Note: Do not clear the cache for the Google Play Store, Google Play Services and MIUI System unnecessarily, this can disrupt the app store and system updates.

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If the app is slower after cleaning the cache, restart the phone. MIUI recovers critical cache data when it restarts.

3. Removing duplicates and unnecessary files: Xiaomi’s hidden tools

MIUI has a built-in tool to find duplicate files, but it's hidden in the depth of settings. Find it along the way:

Settings → Memory → Files → Duplicate files

The system scans the device and displays repetitive photos, videos and documents, especially useful for users who often take screenshots or save memes from social networks.

Additional sources of debris:

• 📸 Screenshots and Screen Recordings: Folder Pictures/Screenshots and Movies/Screenrecords. Many people forget to remove them.
• 📥 Downloads from messengers: Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber save media files in the Telegram/Telegram Images, WhatsApp/Media.
• 🎵 Offline music: apps like Spotify or Yandex Music cache tracks to Android/data/com.spotify.music/files.

For automatic garbage cleaning, set up "Autocleaning" in Settings → Annexes → Cleanup → Settings (⚙️) → Auto-cleaning. Recommended parameters:

• 🗑️ Clean the basket once a week
• 🧹 Delete unused files older than 30 days
• 🔄 Clean the cache at low charge (turn off if you save battery)

4. Cleaning through ADB: for power users

If standard methods didn't work, and the phone still shows that the memory is full, it's time for advanced methods, one of which is the use of ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is a way to remove system debris that is not visible in the normal interface.

What can be done through ADB:

• 🧹 Clear the cache of all users (including hidden profiles for some applications).
• 🗑️ Delete residual files after uninstalling applications.
• 🔍 Find and delete empty folders that take up space in the file system.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB on your computer (download Platform Tools from Google).
2. Enable USB debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times to become a developer), then Settings → Additional → Developers → Debugging over USB.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the commands:

adb shell


pm clear com.miui.cleanmaster #Cache cleaning standard cleaner




rm -rf /data/local/tmp/* # Delete temporary files




rm -rf /cache/* # Cleaning system cache (requires root)

⚠️ Attention: Rm teams -rf They can permanently delete important data if you've entered it incorrectly. Don't use it if you're not sure what you're doing. For most users, pm clear commands are enough.

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ADB-Cleaning is effective for removing debris that is not visible in the standard interface but requires caution. Start with pm clear commands for specific applications, not mass file removal.

5. Data transfer to memory card: how to do it correctly

Many Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pro) support microSD cards, but simply inserting a card is not enough – you need to properly configure the data storage on it.

How to transfer files:

1. Insert a memory card (UHS-I U3 class is recommended for speed).
2. Go to Settings → Memory → SD card.
3. Select “Format as internal memory” (Warning: this will remove all data from the card!).
4. After formatting in Settings → Applications for each application will be available option "Move to the SD-map".

What data can be transferred:

• 📷 Photo and video (via Gallery) → highlight files → "Move it")
• 🎮 Game data (in game settings or through Settings) → Annexes → [Game] → Memory)
• 📄 Documents and downloads (manually through file manager)

Limitations:

• ❌ Not all applications support the transfer to SD (particularly systemic).
• ❌ The memory card is slower than the internal memory, so games can slow down.
• ❌ When you remove the map, the applications transferred to it will stop working.

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If the phone doesn’t see the memory card, try formatting it into FAT32 via your computer, and then repeat the formatting procedure as an internal drive in Xiaomi’s settings.

6.Reset to factory settings: when it's the only way out

If all previous methods failed and the phone still shows that the memory is full (e.g., 0 bytes of free space is displayed in real file availability), there may have been a failure in the file system, in which case a hard reset will help.

How to reset Xiaomi without losing important data

1. Make a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Move the copy to your computer or cloud (such as Google Drive or Mi Cloud).
3. Perform reset: Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Reset settings.
4. After restarting, restore the data from the backup.

What will be removed:

• 📱 All installed applications and their data
• 📂 Files in internal memory (but not in the SD-card, if it is formatted as a removable disk)
• 🔧 System settings (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, accounts)

What's left:

• 📁 Files on the memory card (if it was not encrypted)
• 📧 Data in cloud services (Mi Cloud, Google Account)

⚠️ Warning: If the phone showed errors before reset such as "Memory damaged" or "Impossible to read" SD-"card" after the reset may require firmware through Fastboot. In this case, contact the service center.

7.Prevention: How to avoid memory filling in the future

To avoid having to clean up every week, set up Xiaomi for automatic memory management:

• 🔄 Insert "Auto-cleaning" (see section 3).
• 📥 Set messengers to autodelete media: Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Auto-deleting media. On WhatsApp: Settings → Warehouse → Storage management.
• 🎥 Turn off auto-save videos from social networks: TikTok: Profile → Settings → Conservation and data → Save to your device. On Instagram: Turn off the option in the posting settings.
• 📊 Use lightweight versions of apps (such as Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite) that take up less space.

Check the Memory Analysis section in Settings → Memory regularly. Here you can see the most space-consuming applications and optimization suggestions.

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Set up auto-cleaning and control over downloads from messengers reduce the need for manual cleaning by 70-80%.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory cleanup on Xiaomi