Xiaomi smartphones eventually begin to “brake” even on top models like Xiaomi 14 Ultra or Redmi Note 13 Pro+. The main reason is the accumulation of system debris: remnants of remote applications, cache, temporary files and duplicates. According to internal tests of MIUI, up to 30% of free space on the device can take up unnecessary “junk” that is not visible to the user through a standard file manager.
In this article, we present 7 working methods for cleaning up Xiaomi garbage, including hidden MIUI features, ADB commands, and secure tools from third-party developers.
- 🗑️ Application cache (including system cache)
- 📁 Residual files after uninstallation of programs
- 🔄 Photo/video duplicates (including in the Mi Cloud)
- 📱 System log files that take up gigabytes
All methods have been tested on current versions of MIUI 14/15 and are suitable for devices from POCO X6 to the flagship Xiaomi 13T. Cleaning through the engineering menu (#4636##) on new firmware is blocked - use alternative methods from this article.
📊 How often do you clean your Xiaomi garbage?
Once a week.
Once a month
Only when the phone starts to brake
Never cleaned.
1. Built-in Cleanup utility in MIUI: What it actually deletes
Standard Settings tool → About Phone → Memory → Cleaning is the first step, but it only removes 10-15% of the garbage.
- 🧹 Remove the cache of user applications (not system!)
- 🗑️ Clears the file. /data/local/tmp (time-file)
- 📥 Remove downloads older than 30 days (unless marked as important)
- ❌ NOT TOUCH: Log files of the system (/data/log) Remains of the remote APK (/data/app-lib) Duplicates in the gallery
On the Redmi Note 12 Pro with 256 GB of memory after such cleaning, an average of 1.2-1.8 GB is released. For comparison: manual cleaning according to our instructions gives 4-7 GB of free space.
⚠️ Warning: If the phone is even slower after cleaning through the built-in utility, this is a sign of memory fragmentation, in which case only a complete reset or transfer of data to a memory card and then formatting the internal drive will help.
2. Manual cleaning of the cache of system applications (without root)
System applications like com.miui.home or com.android.systemui accumulate cache that is not removed by a standard cleaning process to remove it:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Show all the processes.
- In the search, type the name of the system application (for example, miui.home).
- Select Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
List of key system applications for cleaning:
| Name in MIUI | Packet name (to be searched) | Average cache size |
|---|
| MIUI launcher | com.miui.home | 150-300 MB |
| System interface | com.android.systemui | 80–120 MB |
| Google Play Services | com.google.android.gms | 200-500 MB |
| Mi Cloud | com.xiaomi.cloud | 50–90 MB |
Important: Do not clear the data (no cache!) of system applications - this can lead to failures in the MIUI. The exception is com.miui.weather2 (weather), which can be reset without consequences.
3. Delete log files via ADB (for power users)
Log files (/data/log) take up to 2-3 GB on active devices and cannot be deleted without ADB or root rights.
- Download Google’s Platform Tools and unpack it in C:\adb.
- Turn on USB Debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) → Additional → For developers → Debugging over USB.
- Connect your phone to your PC and type in the command line: adb shell su rm -rf /data/log/* rm -rf /data/tombstones/* rm -rf /data/anr/* exit exit exit exit
If the su command doesn't work, you don't have root rights. Alternatively, use the SD Maid app (requires access to the root system).
⚠️ Note: Removing logs through ADB It can reset some network settings (such as saved Wi-Fi passwords). → Additionally. → Backup and reset.
What happens if you delete all the logs?
Log files are used to diagnose errors, and deleting them won't hurt the system, but it can make it harder to find the cause of failures when you call the service center.—> 4. Search and remove duplicate photos / videos Gallery app MIUI automatically creates thumbnails and copies of files that take up to 1–1.5 GB. To find duplicates: Open the Gallery → press three points → Control. Select Duplicates, the system will show all duplicate files. Click Remove duplicates (leave one copy of each file). Use Files by Google for deep cleaning: 🔍 Start the analysis in the Cleanup section. 📸 Go to the Big Files tab – there are often bad videos or screenshots hiding there. 🗃️ In the Downloads section delete APK-files (they take up space even after installing applications) Hidden folder with garbage: /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Extra/. It stores temporary files of themes, wallpapers and animations. Delete all the contents, it's safe. 5. Cleaning Remnants of Remote Applications When Uninstalling Apps via Google Play or Settings → Appendices remain: 📂 Folders with data in /data/data/[packet] 🗃️ Cash in /data/app-lib/[packet] 📁 Files in /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/[To delete them completely: Install App Inspector (free on Google Play). Find the remote app by name and copy the package name (e.g. com.whatsapp). Open Mi File Manager → Type the name of the package in the search → delete all folders found. Use the automatization SD Maid (CorseFinder section) The app will find all the dead folders from the remote programs. Type of garbage Size (on average) Can I remove residual folders without root /data/data 5–50 MB on the appendix ❌ No Cash in. /Android/data 10–300 MB ✅ Yes. APK-file /Download 20–100 MB ✅ Yes. 6. Optimization of boot and background activity Many applications (Facebook, TikTok, Mi Fit) are launched at the start of the system and work in the background, creating temporary files. To disable autoboot: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management. Select the application. → Auto-start → Turn off the slider. In the same menu, press the battery. → Select to limit background activity. List of apps that can be safely disabled from autoboot: 📱 Mi Video, Mi Music (unless you use it) 🎮 Game Turbo (if you don't play) 📊 Mi Browser, Mi Pay (if you use alternatives) 🔄 Clean Master and other “optimizers” (they create garbage themselves) ⚠️ Note: Do not disable autoboot for com.google.android.gms and com.xiaomi.finddevice – this will cause disruptions in Google Services and the Device Search feature. 💡Limiting application background activity not only cleans up garbage, but also increases battery life by 15-20% (tests for the battery). POCO F5). 7. Wipe cache reset via Recovery If the phone is slowing down a lot and standard methods don't work, reset the partition cache. This won't delete your data, but will clear the system cache that may be damaged. Turn off the phone. Press the power button. + volume up until the Mi logo appears. In the Recovery menu, select Wipe & Reset. → Wipe Cache. Confirm the action and restart the phone: 🐢 Strong slowdown after update MIUI. 🔄 Endless reboots. 📱 Hanging when opening a camera or gallery.Important: On new models (Xiaomi) 13, Redmi Note 13) Recovery menus can be in Chinese. Use an interpreter or focus on the location of items (4-And on top is Wipe Cache). FAQ: Frequent questions on cleaning garbage on Xiaomi: Can you clean garbage through a PC (for example, when connecting to a computer)? Yes, but with restrictions. MTP You will only see user files (/storage/emulated/0/). System folders (/data/, /cache/) It's hidden, it's necessary to have full access. ADB Exception: if the phone is unlocked (unlocked bootloader), you can use it TWRP Recovery for mounting system partitions. Why does the memory fill up again after the garbage is cleaned: 📱 Background activity of messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) – they constantly cache media. 🎮 Games (such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile) generate cache of up to 1-2 GB per session. 🔄 Auto-update apps in Google Play (update cache doesn't clear automatically). Solution: disable auto-download media in instant messengers and limit mobile traffic for Google Play. Which garbage cleanup apps really work on Xiaomi? Verified tools (2026): 🛠️ SD Maid is the best for removing residues of applications (requires root for full functionality). 🗑️ Files by Google – Safe to Delete Duplicates and Large Files. 🔍 CCleaner - only for cache cleaning (do not use the "Optimize" function, DU Speed Booster – they create background processes and advertising. How to clean up your garbage on Xiaomi without losing data? Safe methods (do not affect user files): Cache cleanup via Settings → Memory. Removing duplicates in the Gallery. Resetting partition cache via Recovery (not Wipe Data!) Manually cleaning folders. /Download, /DCIM/.thumbnails. Risky methods (may result in data loss): ❌ Deletion of files in /data/data backup. ❌ Use of rm commands -rf into ADB without understanding the consequences. 128 GB memory is constantly lacking space? are three factors to blame: Section /system borrower 8–12 GB (not available to the user). MIUI reserve 4–6 GB for updates (folder) /cache). Annexes shall be established in /data, eater 30% from the stated memory (for example, from 128 GB is really available ~100 GB). Solution: Move photos and videos to a memory card or cloud, and apps (where possible) to a memory card or cloud. SD-Map through Settings → Annexes → Move it to SD.