How to Clean Up Your Xiaomi Phone: The Complete Guide

Does your Xiaomi constantly give out a notification of a memory shortage? Apps are slowed down and photos are not saved due to overcrowded storage? The problem is familiar to most smartphone users of this brand - especially on budget models with 32 or 64 GB of internal memory. But even owners of flagships with 256 GB sooner or later face the need to clean.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can free up space on Xiaomi, from basic to advanced. You’ll learn how to delete unnecessary files without risking the system, which apps are safe to uninstall, and how to set up automatic cleaning. And why the standard MIUI cleaner removes no more than 10% of the garbage and what to do with the other 90%.

Why is Xiaomi running out of memory?

Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI They have features that speed up storage, and first, the system defaults to creating duplicate photos (e.g., in a gallery and folder). DCIM/Thumbnails). Second, many Xiaomi apps (like Mi Video or Mi Music) cache media files even when you're not using them. MIUI frequently 1-2 GB and not always properly removed after installation.

Another reason is hidden system files, like the /data/log folder can weigh a few gigabytes if you don't manually clean it, and apps like Google Play Services or Mi Cloud create cache that you can't see in a standard file manager.

• 📱 Duplicates of media files - gallery, downloads, messenger cache
• 🔄 Remains of updates - folders Downloaded_rom and MIUI
• 🗑️ System garbage - logs, dumps, temporary files
• 🎮 Cash games — PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact and others can borrow from 5-10 GB

Before you start cleaning, check what exactly takes up space. Go to Settings → About Phone → Memory. Here you will see a diagram of the memory distribution by category: applications, media, system files and cache.

Method 1: Cleaning the application cache

Cache is a temporary file that creates applications to speed up work, and over time, they accumulate and can take several gigabytes. You can clear the cache in two ways: for individual applications or for all at once.

To clean the cache selectively:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as YouTube or Facebook).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

For mass cleaning:

1. Open Security → Cleanup (or Optimization in newer versions of MIUI).
2. Click Deep Clean and select Cash applications.
3. Confirm the action.

⚠️ Note: Do not clear the cache of system applications like Android System or Miui System – this can lead to interface failures.

After clearing the cache, some apps (like Instagram or TikTok) can take longer to load on the first run – this is normal, as they recover temporary data.

Delete the cache of messengers (Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram)

Clear the browser cache (Chrome, Mi Browser)

Delete the cache of streaming services (YouTube, Netflix)

Leave the cache of banking applications (SberBank, Tinkoff)-->

Method 2: Remove Unnecessary Applications

Xiaomi smartphones often come with pre-installed apps, many of which duplicate features or are not used at all. For example, Mi Browser is installed alongside Google Chrome, and Mi Music is installed instead of Google Play.

To remove unnecessary applications:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Show All Apps.
3. Find the app you want to uninstall (such as Mi Video or Mi Pay).
4. Click Remove (if the button is inactive – the application is system, it can only be disabled).

Some system applications (such as Mi Cloud or Mi Community) cannot be removed completely, but they can be disabled:

1. In the app menu, click Disable.
2. Confirm the action – the application will stop working and will not be updated.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete or disable applications called com.android. or com.xiaomi. (e.g. com.xiaomi.micloud) – this may disrupt the system.

Method 3: Clean up downloads and duplicate files

Download folder is one of the most littered places on your smartphone. APK-files, documents, archives and media that you've long forgotten, and duplicate photos that are created when you edit or send them via messengers.

To clear the downloads:

1. Open the Files app (or any file manager).
2. Go to the Download folder.
3. Sort files by date or size (click on three dots → Sort).
4. Delete unnecessary files (pay special attention to files with the extension.apk,.zip,.rar).

To search for duplicates:

• 🔍 Use applications like Files by Google or Duplicate Files Fixer to automatically find duplicate files.
• 📁 Manually check the folders: DCIM/Camera — photo-initial DCIM/Thumbnails — Miniatures (can be removed) Pictures/Screenshots — screenshot WhatsApp/Media — chat-media

Note the Android/data folder, which stores game and app data, for example, PUBG Mobile cache can weigh 2-3 GB, and Genshin Impact can weigh up to 15 GB! These files can be deleted, but then you have to download them again the next time you start the game.

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Before mass deletion of files, back up your important data to the cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud) or your computer.

Method 4: Transfer files to a memory card or cloud

If you don't have enough space on your internal memory, but you have a microSD card, you can transfer some files to it, but remember that not all data can be moved — for example, most applications require internal memory to work.

To transfer files to the memory card:

1. Open the Files app.
2. Select the files you want to transfer (photos, videos, music).
3. Click More → Move and select a memory card.

To automatically save new files to the card:

1. Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
2. Press Preferred Preferred Preservation Place.
3. Select Memory Card.

If you don’t have a memory card, use cloud storage:

• 🌥️ Google Photos – automatically uploads photos and videos (you can configure compression to save space).
• 🌥️ Mi Cloud – gives 5GB for free for backups.
• 🌥️ Yandex Disk or Mail.ru Cloud – suitable for documents and archives.

⚠️ Note: Do not transfer application data to the memory card through Settings → Annexes → Warehouse → This can cause disruptions, as Xiaomi is not optimized for applications with a SD-map.

Method 5: Cleaning system files and logs

MIUI creates many service files that are rarely deleted automatically, including:

• 📜 Error logs - folder /data/log (can weigh up 1-2 GB).
• 🗃️ Remains of updates - folders Downloaded_rom and MIUI root-catalog.
• 🔄 Memory dumps – files with.dmp or.log extension.

To clear these files:

1. Connect your phone to your computer in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Enable the display of hidden files (in Windows: View → Hidden Items).
3. Delete the contents of the folders: /data/log (You need root or file manager permissions with access to system folders). /Downloaded_rom — Here are the downloaded firmwares. /MIUI/backup — backups.

For cleaning without a computer:

1. Install a file manager with root access (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Go to /data/log and delete all files (if there is no root, use the adb shell).

If you do not have root rights, you can clear logs through the Restore mode:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Up + Power to enter Recovery.
3. Choose Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.

Method 6: Optimize MIUI and disable unnecessary functions

MIUI has a lot of background processes that consume memory, and by disabling some functions, you can save up to 500 MB-1 GB.

What can be turned off:

• 📡 Auto-Update Apps: Open the Google Play Store. Go to Settings → Auto-Update Applications. Choose Not to Auto-Update.
• 📊 Data collection MIUI: Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Confidentiality: Disable Usage Data and Diagnostics.
• 🎵 Mi music and video: Open Settings → Sound and vibration. Turn off Mi music in Multimedia.

You can also limit background activity for individual applications:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Management.
2. Select an app (such as Facebook).
3. Set the background activity limit in the Limit position.

Another way to save space is to turn off animations and visuals:

1. Activate Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Disable or reduce the animation scale (Window animation scale, transition animation scale).

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Disabling MIUI data collection not only frees up space, but also increases battery life by 5-10%.

Method 7: Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If all of the above methods didn’t work and the phone still lacks space, you can perform a complete reset.This will delete all data, including apps, photos and settings, so make a backup beforehand.

How to reset Xiaomi to factory settings:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset.
2. Press Resetting.
3. Choose Delete all data and confirm the action.

Once reset, the phone will reboot and be like new, and you'll need to reconfigure accounts, install apps, and recover data from the backup.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3) After reset, you may need to re-activate the device via Mi Account!

If the memory is refilled quickly after the reset, the problem may be a malfunction of the drive, in which case contact the service center for diagnosis.

Method 8: Using third-party cleaning applications

If standard MIUI tools fail, you can use third-party utilities to find and delete files that are not visible in the usual manager.

Popular cleaning applications:

• 🧹 CCleaner – removes cache, temporary files and duplicates.
• 🗑️ Files by Google – Finds large and unnecessary files, offers to clear the cache.
• 🔍 SD Maid – an advanced utility for cleaning system debris (requires root for full functionality).
• 📦 1Tap Cleaner – Quickly clears the cache of all applications.

When using third-party cleaners:

• Do not delete files with.db,.odex or.apk extensions in system folders – this can disrupt Android.
• Before mass deletion, check which files are selected – some utilities may suggest removing important data.
• Do not clear the cache of system applications through third-party programs – use only standard settings for this.

Example of working with SD Maid:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Run the scan (CorpseFinder will find the remnants of the remote applications).
3. Select files to delete and confirm the action.

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Before using cleaners, check their Google Play rankings and reviews. Some apps (like "Clean Master") may show false virus notifications.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory cleanup on Xiaomi