How to Clean Memory on Xiaomi: The Complete 2026 Guide

Your Xiaomi constantly issues a notification “Not enough memory”? apps are slowed down and photos are not saved? The problem is familiar to most smartphone owners of this brand – especially on budget models with 32-64 GB of internal memory. But even the flagships Redmi, POCO or Mi eventually face a shortage of space due to the features of the MIUI shell and the habit of users to download “everything”.

In this article, 10 proven ways to clean up memory, from basic to advanced, including hidden MIUI features that not everyone knows, how to delete unnecessary files without harming the system, which applications can be safely uninstalled, and why Xiaomi’s standard Cleaner isn’t always effective, and finally, answers to frequent questions and a list of dangerous actions that can break your smartphone.

1. Analysis of occupied space: what exactly eats memory?

Before you clean it, you have to figure out what's taking up space. MIUI has a built-in analysis tool, but it doesn't always show the whole picture.

Open Settings → About Phone → Memory. Here you will see a diagram of the allocation of memory by category: System, Applications, Media Files, Cash and Other. Click on each category to see the details:

• 📱 System: usually takes 10-15 GB. If there is more than 20 GB, it is possible that duplicate firmware or updates are installed.
• 🎵 Media: photos, videos, music, often the most "weighing" - especially if you shoot videos in the video 4K 60 FPS.
• 🗑️ Cache: Temporary application files. It can take up to 5-10 GB, but it is easy to clean.
• 📦 Other: the most mysterious category, which may be hiding system logs, backups, update files and debris from remote applications.

For more detailed analysis, use third-party utilities such as Files by Google or SD Maid, which will show hidden files, duplicates and large folders that are not visible in the standard MIUI Explorer.

2.Cache cleanup: Quick and safe

Cache is a temporary file that creates applications to speed things up, and over time, it accumulates and can take several gigabytes.

Method 1: Clearing the cache of all applications

Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management. In the upper right corner, click three dots and select Sort by size. Now you'll see the apps taking up the most space. Click on any one and select Clear Cache.

Method 2: Mass cleaning through the "Cleaner"

MIUI has a built-in tool: Settings → Cleaner. You can delete:

• 🧹 Application cache (safe for all applications).
• 🗑️ Unnecessary files (residues after deleting programs).
• 📁 Empty folders (sometimes left after updates).

But be careful: do not clear the cache of system applications (for example, com.android.systemui or com.miui.home).

3. Removing unnecessary apps and MIUI "junk"

Xiaomi is known for preinstalling a lot of apps, many of which cannot be removed by standard means, but some of them can be uninstalled or disabled, freeing up to 1-2 GB of memory.

What applications can be removed?

The list of “extra” applications depends on the model and the firmware region, but it is usually safe to remove:

• 🎵 Mi Music and Mi Video (if you use other players).
• 📰 Mi Browser (if you use Chrome or Firefox).
• 📡 Mi Remote (if you do not use the remote for equipment).
• 💼 Mi Pay (if you don’t use Xiaomi).
• 📊 Analytics and MSA (statistics collection services, but their removal may disrupt some functions).

To remove system applications, root or ADB rights will be required. Instructions via ADB:

1. Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times to unlock the developer menu).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer (replace com.miui.videoplayer with the desired application package).

Attention! Deleting some system applications may result in:

• Mistakes in updating MIUI.
• A broken widget or functions (such as weather on the lock screen).
• Loss of warranty (if root is used)

4. Optimization of media files: photos and videos

Photos and video are the main memory eaters: one 4K video can weigh 500MB, and RAW photos can weigh 20-30MB each.

Method 1: Compression of photos

MIUI has a built-in compression function: Gallery → Album → Click on the photo → More → Compress.

Select quality (high or medium recommended) and save a copy. The source can be deleted after quality check.

Method 2: Automatic optimization with Google Photos

Install Google Photos and enable Free Space: Google Photos → Settings → Free Space.

The app will find all photos and videos that have already been uploaded to the cloud and prompt you to delete local copies of them.

Method 3: Convert video to a lighter format

Use apps like Video Compress or CapCut to:

• 🎞️ Reduce the permit (e.g., with a 4K before 1080p).
• 🔄 Reduce bitrate (optimally 8-12 Mbps for Full) HD).
• ⏱️ Cutting off unnecessary fragments.

Before mass deletion of media files:

⚠️ Warning: Always back up important photos and videos on your PC or cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud, Yandex Disk.

5. Cleanup of downloads and temporary files

Download folder and temporary files often contain gigabytes of unnecessary data: old APKs, documents, archives. Here's how to find and delete them:

Where to look?

• 📁 folder /sdcard/Download — here accumulate files from the browser and messengers.
• 🗃️ folder /sdcard/DCIM/.thumbnails — Image sketches (can be removed without consequences).
• 📦 folder /sdcard/MIUI/debug_log — Logs of the system (required only for debugging).
• 🔄 folder /sdcard/Android/data — cache and application data (clean selectively so as not to break programs).

How do I clean it?

Use the built-in File Manager (MIUI File Manager):

1. Open the Explorer → Categories → Downloads.
2. Sort files by date or size.
3. Select the unnecessary and press Remove.

For deep cleaning, use SD Maid (requires root) or Files by Google – they will find duplicates and empty folders.

💡

To prevent unnecessary files from accumulating, set up automatic cleanup of downloads in Google Chrome: Settings → Downloads → Clean files after opening

6. Transfer data to a memory card or cloud

If you have a microSD slot on your phone, you can transfer some of the data to it, but note that not all apps support a memory card in MIUI.

What can I reschedule?

• 📸 Photos and videos (via Gallery) → Settings → Storage area).
• 🎵 Music and podcasts.
• 📄 Documents (PDF, Word, Excel).

How do I move the apps?

MIUI does not have a built-in SD application port feature, but you can use ADB:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and execute: adb shell pm set-install-location 2 (this will force the system to install new applications on the SD by default).
2. To transfer applications that are already installed, use AppMgr III (requires root).

The alternative is cloud storage:

7.Reset to factory settings: a last resort

If nothing works, and the memory is full, it's a complete reset, which will delete all the data, but it will return the phone to its "clean" state.

How do you reset?

1. Create a backup copy of important data (contacts, photos, messages).
2. Go to Settings → About Phone → Resetting → Erase all data.
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

What will be removed?

• 📱 All installed applications and their data.
• 📇 Contacts, messages, calls (if not synced with your account).
• 🖼️ Photos, videos and documents in internal memory.
• 🔑 Wi-Fi passwords and system settings.

⚠️ Warning: After resetting, the phone may “hang” on the logo MIUI, If you've removed the system applications before, you'll need to flash through Fastboot.

8 Hidden MIUI features for memory cleanup

Xiaomi hides a few useful tools that help to free up space.

Deep cleaning function

Some versions of MIUI have a hidden menu: ##4636## → Storage → Clear the data.

This method removes the deep cache of the system that is not visible in a standard cleaner.

Shutting down the logs and dumps

MIUI constantly records logs of the system operation, which can take up to 1-2 GB.

1. Activate Developer Mode (click 7 times on MIUI Version).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Turn off Error Log and USB Debugging (log recording).

Cleaning the folder /data/local/tmp

This folder contains temporary update and installer files, which can be deleted via ADB:

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

💡

Regularly cleaning the /data/local/tmp folder can prevent errors when updating MIUI and free up to 500 MB of memory.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory cleanup on Xiaomi