Cleaning up WhatsApp storage on Xiaomi: A complete guide with tables and warnings

WhatsApp messenger on Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi series) often becomes the main “eater” of internal memory, the reason for the automatic saving of photos, videos, voice messages and stickers, which over time take up tens of gigabytes.

Unlike the iPhone, where WhatsApp storage is integrated into iOS settings, on Android (and MIUI in particular), the cleanup process is nuanced. For example, standard file deletion through the gallery does not always free up space - the messenger can duplicate media in hidden folders. In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods, including hidden MIUI functions, that will help you return precious gigabytes without losing important chats.

Why does WhatsApp take up so much space on Xiaomi?

According to a study by Sensor Tower, the average WhatsApp user receives up to 1.5 GB of media every month — and this is without taking into account backups.

• 📁 Duplication of files: MIUI By default, saves copies of media in a folder DCIM/WhatsApp, Even if you have disabled the autoboot in the messenger settings.
• 🗑️ Cache and temporary files: WhatsApp creates a cache to speed up work (such as video previews) that can weigh up to 500 MB.
• 🔄 Backups: Local backups (databases folder) take up to 2-3 GB and are not automatically deleted.
• 🎵 Voice Messages: Unlike text, they are saved as audio files in the WhatsApp folder Media/WhatsApp Voice Notes.

Another feature of Xiaomi is the MIUI Optimization feature, which can block cache clearing for “system” applications (including WhatsApp), which means that standard methods like Settings → Apps → Clear cache sometimes do not work.

Method 1: Clean up via WhatsApp’s built-in settings

The safest way is to use the tools of the messenger itself, which allow you to delete unnecessary files without affecting chat rooms and important media.

1. Open WhatsApp and tap on it. ⋮ (three-point) → Settings → Warehouse.
2. Wait for analysis (it can take up to 2-3 minutes on Xiaomi with a lot of data).
3. Sort files by size by clicking on "Sort by: Size".
4. Select unnecessary files (checks on the right) and click 🗑️ "Delete".

Please note the categories:

• 📸 Photo: Delete screenshots, memes and random snapshots.
• 🎥 Video: The heaviest category – one video can weigh 50-200 MB.
• 🎤 Voice: Delete messages older than 30 days (they are rarely needed).
• 📄 Documents: PDF, APK Other files that can be re-downloaded.

⚠️ Note: WhatsApp does not show files from archive chats in the "Storage" section. To clear them, first unclick the chat (click the dialog). → 📁 "Archiving/Unarchiving").

Method 2: Manually clean WhatsApp folders through a file manager

If the built-in WhatsApp tools don't work, you'll have to work with the file system directly, and Xiaomi will do it with standard Files by Google or Mi File Manager.

1. Open the file manager and go to internal memory. → WhatsApp.
2. Open the Media folder – all media files are stored here, broken down into categories: WhatsApp Media/ ├── WhatsApp Images/ # Photo Photo ├── WhatsApp Video/ # Video ├── WhatsApp Animated Gifs/ # Gifs. ├── WhatsApp Voice Notes/ # Voice-over. ├── WhatsApp Documents/ # Documents └── WhatsApp Profile Photos/ # Avatars
3. Delete unnecessary files manually. Use date or size sorting to speed up the process.

Important nuances for Xiaomi:

• 🔍 Databases folder contains backups of chats. Delete files with an older date 7 days, for example, msgstore-2023-10-01.db.crypt14).
• 🚫 Do not delete the Backups folder – it is needed to restore Google Drive.
• 🔄 After cleaning, restart the phone: MIUI Sometimes does not update the data on the free space without a rebut.

💡

On Xiaomi MIUI 14+ enable the display of hidden files in the file manager settings (⋮ → Settings → This will help you find the.nomedia folder, which can block the display of media in the gallery.

Method 3: Clear WhatsApp cache through Android settings

WhatsApp cache on Xiaomi can take up to 1 GB, but standard cleaning through Settings → Apps don’t always work because of the features of MIUI.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find WhatsApp on the list and tap on it.
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
4. If the button is inactive, click Clear data, but this will delete all settings of the messenger (you will have to re-enter the account).

On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro+ or POCO F5), WhatsApp cache can be “protected” by the system.

• 🛠️ Use Developer Mode: Enable it in Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Tap 7 times, then go back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers and disable optimization MIUI.
• 🔄 Restart the phone and re-clean the cache.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi with MIUI 13 and below, clearing the cache through settings can result in the loss of unsaved media files (those that have not yet been downloaded to the gallery.

Method 4: Automatic cleaning with MIUI Cleaner

Xiaomi offers a built-in MIUI Cleaner (formerly Security) tool that can find and delete junk files, including duplicates from WhatsApp.

1. Open the Security app (shield icon).
2. Go to the Cleanup tab.
3. Slip on Deep Cleanup and wait for the scan.
4. In the Large Files or Duplicates section, find WhatsApp files (they are usually labeled as com.whatsapp).
5. Select unnecessary files and click Clear.

Advantages of the method:

• 🤖 Automatically finds duplicate media files (e.g. the same photos in the same file) DCIM and WhatsApp Images).
• 📊 Shows which files take up the most space.
• 🔒 Safer than manual cleaning – does not affect system folders.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ You don’t always see files in your Databases folder.
• ❌ May miss voice messages older than 1 year.

Method 5: Use of third-party applications (for advanced users)

If the built-in MIUI and WhatsApp tools didn't work out, you can use third-party utilities.

Instructions for SD Maid (recommended for Xiaomi):

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Run the scan in the CorpseFinder section (search for the remaining files after deleting applications).
3. Go to AppCleaner and select WhatsApp.
4. Delete the cache and unnecessary files (the app will show you what can be safely cleaned).

⚠️ Note: Apps like Clean Master or CCleaner are not recommended for Xiaomi, they often delete important files. MIUI, Which causes system failures.

💡

On Xiaomi with MIUI 14+, third-party cleaners can conflict with built-in optimization.Pre-use disable Auto Cleanup in the security settings.

How to Prevent WhatsApp Memory from Filling in the Future

To avoid clearing WhatsApp storage every week, set up the messenger and MIUI according to these rules:

• 📥 Turn off autoload media: WhatsApp → ⋮ → Settings → Data and storage. In Automatic Media Download, select Never for Mobile Data and Wi-Fi.
• 🗃️ Set up a backup: WhatsApp → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup. Select Google Drive and set up automatic copying once a month (a daily copy creates extra files).

Use cloud services

1. Enable autoloading photos from WhatsApp to Google Photos (settings → Backup and Sync).
2. After downloading, delete local copies on WhatsApp.

On Xiaomi Redmi and POCO with 64 GB of memory, it is recommended to limit the size of WhatsApp backups to 1 GB. To do this, delete old chats with a lot of media (for example, group conversations with GIFs) before creating a backup.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning WhatsApp on Xiaomi