Xiaomi garbage cleanup: a complete guide to all models (2026)

Why Xiaomi’s smartphone is “clogged” and how to fix it

Even the most productive Xiaomi eventually begins to slow down: applications open for a long time, the system “hangs”, and free space on the disk melts before our eyes. The reason for this is the system garbage: app cache, residual files after uninstalling programs, duplicate photos and temporary MIUI data. According to research, up to 30% of internal memory on Android devices is occupied by unnecessary files that users do not even suspect.

Unlike the iPhone, where garbage cleaning is reduced to a few taps, MIUI requires a comprehensive approach. Here it is important not only to remove the cache, but also to optimize the work of MIUI Optimizer, disable the background processes of unnecessary services (for example, mipush or miui.analytics), and properly configure the built-in cleaning tools. In this article, 10 proven methods that work on all models, from the Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

Before you start, remember that not all files that seem like garbage can be deleted without consequences. For example, the cache of some system applications (like com.android.systemui) when forced cleansing can lead to interface failures, and we will analyze what can be cleaned safely and what can only be as a last resort.

Method 1: Built-in utility "Cleaning" in MIUI

The most obvious, but often underrated, method is the use of the standard Cleanup tool (formerly Security), which is available on all Xiaomi smartphones since MIUI 10 and can remove:

• 🗑️ Application cache (including system cache)
• 📁 Temporary files and APK-remains
• 🔍 Duplicate photos and screenshots
• 📥 Downloads (sorted by size)

How to start:

1. Open the Security app (shield icon).
2. Go to the Cleanup tab.
3. Click Scan and wait for analysis.
4. Select file categories to delete (we recommend ticking everything except the Journals – it is better to clean them manually).
5. Put it on the clean.

⚠️ Note: If after cleaning in the Storage section (Settings) → No room is added, check the folder. /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Backup — There may be gigabytes of backups created by the system automatically.

Cash app.|Temporary files|APK-remains|Duplicate photos-->

Method 2: Manually cleansing cache for individual applications

The built-in utility doesn't always cope with deep cache cleaning, especially for games (Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile) and social networks (TikTok, Instagram).

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the appropriate app (such as Facebook).
3. Slip the Warehouse.
4. Click Clear Cache (not to be confused with Clear Data – it will delete all settings and accounts!).

To speed up the process, you can sort applications by cache size:

• In the same Application Management menu, click on the three dots in the upper right corner.
• Select Sort. → By size.
• Clear cache for applications that are >500MB (except for launchers and system services).

💡

If the app is slower after cleaning the cache, that's OK, you need the cache to speed up the loading of data, and after 1-2 days, the performance will be restored.

Method 3: Removing garbage through Recovery mode

If Xiaomi's smartphone is slowing down a lot and the built-in tools aren't helping, try cleaning through Recovery Mode.

• 🧹 Residual files after updates MIUI
• 🔄 Damaged cache sections (cache and dalvik-cache)
• 📦 Unnecessary system log files

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select the language (if you have a choice).
4. Go to Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
5. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.
6. Restart the device (Reboot) → Reboot to System).

⚠️ Note: Do not confuse Wipe Cache with Wipe Data – the second option will erase all your data (photos, contacts, applications) and return the phone to factory settings!

Method 4: Clean Download folder and browser downloads

Download is one of the main memory eaters.

• 📄 PDF and DOCX-files opened once
• 🎵 Audio files from messengers
• 📦 Archives (ZIP, RAR) post-unpacking
• 🖼️ Images and memes from social networks

How to clean:

1. Open the File Manager application.
2. Go to Categories → Downloads.
3. Sort files by size (tap them into three dots) → Sorting → By size).
4. Remove anything that is older than 3 months and takes >50MB.

Don’t forget about the browser cache:

• In Chrome: Settings → History → Clear Data → Cached Images and Files
• In Mi Browser: Settings → Privacy → Clear personal data.

Once a week | Once a month | Only when memory ends |Never cleaned-->

Method 5: Removing duplicate photos and videos

MIUI has a nasty feature: when editing photos (trimming, filters), the system saves the original + edited copy, resulting in a year of use in the gallery accumulates hundreds of duplicates, and also debris becomes:

• 📸 Screenshots with the same content (e.g. checks or correspondence)
• 🎥 Video from messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) in low resolution
• 🖼️ Images from Google Photos or Mi Gallery

How to find and remove duplicates:

1. Open Gallery → Albums → Duplicates (if there is no section, use third-party apps like Files by Google or CCleaner).
2. Select all duplicates and click Delete.
3. For deep cleaning, check the folders: /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots

💡

Before mass removal of duplicates, back up important photos to the cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud or Yandex Drive).

Method 6: Disconnect unnecessary system processes

MIUI is known for running dozens of background processes, many of which are not needed by most users.

• 📡 mipush – push notification service (you can disable if you do not use Xiaomi branded services)
• 📊 miui.analytics – collection of usage statistics (responsible for “smart tips»)
• 🔄 miui.daemon – background synchronization (often hanging in processes for no reason)

How to disable (without root rights):

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three Dots → Show all processes.
2. Find unnecessary services (names start with com.xiaomi. or miui.).
3. Go to the trial. → Stop it. → Disable (if available).

For advanced users: If you have an unlocked bootloader, you can uninstall system applications via ADB:

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.xiaomi.mipush

⚠️ Note: Do not disable processes called android., media. or bluetooth. – This will cause key functions to fail!

Method 7: Cleaning Log Files and Memory Dumps

Android maintains detailed logcats that can take up to 1-2 GB on older devices, and Tombstones (memory dumps after application crashes) and ANR files (interface freezes) are also trash, and can be safely removed.

Where to look:

To delete, use File Manager with the hidden file display mode enabled (Settings → Show hidden files). If there is no folder, then there are few logs and there is nothing to clean.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up Xiaomi garbage