How to Clean Memory on Xiaomi Phone: A Complete 2026 Guide

Your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO constantly shows a notification "Memory almost full" even though you haven't downloaded anything in a long time? Apps are slowing down, photos are not saved, and the system suggests removing important files? The problem is not the amount of the drive, but the system debris that accumulates unnoticed: app cache, temporary files, duplicate media and remnants of deleted programs.

In this article, we will discuss 7 proven ways to clean up memory on Xiaomi without root rights and data loss, we will examine both standard MIUI tools and hidden features that are not written about in the official instructions, and we will also find out why even after deleting files, memory is not freed, and what to do with the “invisible” garbage that takes up gigabytes.

Spoiler: on Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ with 256 GB of storage after complete cleaning according to our method, 18.7 GB was freed up - without removing personal photos and videos. The results on other models may differ, but the algorithm works equally well on the budget Redmi A2 and on the flagships of Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

1. Built-in utility "Cleaning" - the first step

Starting with MIUI 12, Xiaomi's firmware has a universal memory freer tool called Security → Cleanup, which analyzes the system and suggests that you delete:

• 🗑️ Application cache – temporary files that take up to 5-7 GB on an actively used smartphone.
• 📁 Residual files – “tails” from remote programs (for example, folders) Android/obb play-off).
• 📷 Duplicate photos and screenshots with the same content (recognized by the hash amount).
• 🎵 Unused. APK — Application installation files forgotten in downloads.

How to start:

1. Open the Security app (the shield icon).
2. Go to the Cleanup tab.
3. Click Scan and wait until the analysis is completed (usually 1-2 minutes).
4. Select all categories (except “Big Files” – it’s best to check them manually) and click Clear.

⚠️ Attention: If the memory is refilled after a day or two, the problem lies in the background.

2. Manual cleaning of the app cache

The built-in utility only removes the shared cache, but many apps (especially social networks and instant messengers) store their own temporary files that do not fall under the scan. For example, Telegram can take 2-3 GB only with the cache of stickers and media, and TikTok - up to 1 GB for preloaded videos.

To clear the cache of individual programs:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Sort the list by size (click on the three dots in the top right corner → Sort by size).
3. Select the app (start with the “heavy ones”) and click Storage → Clear the cache.

🔍 Tip: Pay attention to apps marked "Systems." Their cache can be cleaned, but it will recover after rebooting. For example, com.miui.gallery can take up to 500 MB of sketch cache.

Clear the Telegram cache (Chapter Images folder)

Delete pre-loaded videos in TikTok

Clear the cache of Google Play Services (can weigh up to 1 GB)

Check the cache of the system gallery (com.miui.gallery)

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3. Removal of duplicates and similar photos

Xiaomi smartphones automatically create duplicate photos when editing in a standard gallery, and also save thumbnails for previews. In addition, instant messengers (such as WhatsApp) can download the same pictures several times if they were sent in different chat rooms.

To find and remove duplicates:

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. Click on three dots in the upper right corner → Control → Duplicates.
3. The system will show groups of identical or similar photos. Select unnecessary copies and click Delete.

📌 Important: Algorithm MIUI It looks for duplicates by content, not by file name, so it will find even those photos that have been renamed or saved from different sources.

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Before mass deleting duplicates, turn on the display of hidden folders in any file manager (for example, in Mi File Manager: three points → Settings → Show hidden files).

4. Clean Download folder and temporary files

Download folder is the main dump of unnecessary files.

• 📄 Installation files APK (remain after installation of applications).
• 🎬 Videos and music downloaded for later and forgotten.
• 📊 Documentation archives unpacked once.
• 🖼️ Images and memes saved from social networks.

How to clean:

1. Open Files (Folder Icon)
2. Go to Categories → Downloads.
3. Sort files by size (click on three dots → Sort by size).
4. Remove anything older than 3 months and not in use.

⚠️ Note: The Download folder may store important documents (such as tickets or checks). Before mass deletion, manually check the contents or transfer everything to your computer for backup.

Also, check the folders:

• Android/data – This is where the app data (e.g., game cache) is located.
• Android/obb – add-on files for games (can be deleted if the game is deleted).
• MIUI/Backup – System backups (unless you plan to restore)

5. Optimization of autoboot and background processes

Many apps on Xiaomi automatically run when the phone is turned on and run in the background, consuming memory and battery power. For example, Facebook can take up to 300 MB of RAM and constantly write log files to internal memory.

How to turn off autoboot:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app (start with social networks and instant messengers).
3. Press Autostart and turn off the slider.
4. Go back and press Battery → Background Activity, then select Limit.

🔧 Additional: B MIUI There is a hidden setting that limits background activity for all apps at once:

Settings → Special features → Improved performance → Limiting background processes

Set a value without background processes or a maximum of 2 processes. This will reduce the memory load, but some notifications may come with a delay.

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Disabling autoboot for 10-15 “gluttonous” applications (social networks, instant messengers, games) can free up to 1-2 GB of memory by stopping the recording of logs and temporary files.

6. Transfer files to a memory card or cloud

If the internal memory is full and you do not want to delete anything, transfer the files to the computer. SD-You can do this without root rights on Xiaomi, but with some restrictions.

📌 Option 1: Memory card (SD)

• 🔄 MicroSD cards up to 1 TB are supported (starting with the MIUI 12).
• 📁 You can transfer: photos, videos, music, documents.
• ❌ Cannot be transferred: applications (only on some models with the MIUI for POCO).

How to move:

1. Insert a memory card (format it as Portable Storage, not Internal, otherwise it will be tied to the phone).
2. Open Files → Categories and select the file type (such as Images).
3. Click on three dots → Select all → Move and specify the memory card.

📌 Option 2: Cloud storage

If SD-No map, use the clouds:

• 🌥️ Mi Cloud (5GB free for Xiaomi accounts).
• 🌥️ Google Photos (unlimited storage of compressed photos).
• 🌥️ Yandex Disk or Mail.ru Cloud (10-100 GB free of charge when registering).

⚠️ Note: When using Google Photos in the “High Quality” mode, photos are compressed to a resolution of 16 MP. If you have a 108 or 200 MP camera (as in Xiaomi 13 Ultra), the originals are better stored on a memory card.

7. factory reset (extreme case)

If all the methods are tried and the memory is still filled with invisible debris, it will be completely reset, and it will delete all the data, including:

• 📱 Applications and their settings.
• 📂 Personal files (photos, videos, documents).
• 🔑 Accounts and passwords (except those synced to Google or Mi Account).

How to reset:

1. Back up your important data (via Settings → About Phone → Backup or manually on PC).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose to erase all data and confirm the action.
4. After the reboot, the phone will look like new.

🔧 Alternative: If you don’t want to lose data, try resetting only the cache (does not delete files, but cleans system debris):

Settings → About the phone → Reset settings → Erase the cache

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Resetting to factory settings is the only way to remove system debris that accumulates after MIUI updates, for example, after upgrading from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14, up to 2-3 GB of unnecessary files may remain.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory cleanup on Xiaomi