How to Clean Memory on Xiaomi Android Smartphones: A Complete 2026 Guide

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO are famous for their price-performance ratio, but even the most advanced models face a lack of space over time, due to the accumulation of temporary files, app cache, duplicate photos and junk data from MIUI. If your phone starts to slow down, issue notifications about crowded memory or refuse to install updates, it’s time to act.

In this article, we will discuss 10 proven ways to clean up memory on Xiaomi, including hidden MIUI shell features, working with system tools and secure methods for removing unnecessary files. Particular attention will be paid to how to make room without losing important data and without using questionable “cleaners” from the Play Market. All instructions are relevant for Android 12-14 devices (including HyperOS) and models from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

1. Built-in utility "Cleaning" in MIUI: a quick way

The easiest way is to use the standard MIUI tool, which analyzes memory and suggests that you delete unnecessary files.

Settings → Memory → Cleaning

The utility automatically scans:

• 🗑️ Application cache (temporary files that can be safely deleted)
• 📁 Uploaded files (APK, archives, documents from the browser)
• 🔍 Duplicate photos and screenshots (if the corresponding option is enabled)
• 📥 Unused applications (installed but not running for more than 30 days)

Once scanned, the system will show you how much space you can free up, and click "Clean" and it's done. Importantly, this method only removes obvious debris, but does not touch deep system files or messenger cache (such as Telegram or WhatsApp), which will require separate actions.

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If the Clean Up button is inactive, restart the phone – sometimes MIUI blocks the function due to background processes.

2. Manual cleaning of the app cache: when the automation fails

The app cache is the main memory eater, like Instagram or TikTok, which can take 1-2 GB of cache only, to manually clean it:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (like Google Chrome or YouTube).
3. Press "Storage» → «Clear the cache».

For mass cleaning:

Settings → Memory → Applications → Sorting by cache size

Here you'll see the top apps that take up the most space. Remove the cache from the ones that you don't use very often.

Remove cache from Google Play Services|Clear the data in MIUI Gallery (miniatures)|Drop the cache Telegram/WhatsApp (correspondence)|Remove offline maps in Google Maps-->

⚠️ Warning: Don’t confuse “Clear Cache” and “Clear Data”! The second action will delete all the application settings (for example, logins in the app). VK Cache can be cleaned without risk.

3. Delete unnecessary files through the "Conductor"

MIUI has a built-in file manager that can find large and rarely used files, and open it through the Files icon on your desktop or along the way:

Settings → Memory → Files

In the “Category” section, pay attention to:

• 🎵 Audio: downloaded songs from social networks, voice messages.
• 🎬 Video: saved videos from TikTok, Instagram Reels.
• 📄 Documents: old PDF, Excel files, archives.
• 📦 APK: Application installers left over after installation.

Sort files by size (click on the three dots in the top right corner) and delete anything you don't need, like the Download folder often contains gigabytes of unnecessary files.

Once a week.|Once a month|Only when the place ends.|Never cleaned.-->

4.Photo and video optimization: how to save gigabytes

Media files take up the lion's share of memory, and Xiaomi has several ways to reduce them:

4.1. Enable photo compression in MIUI Camera

Open the camera, go to the settings (cogs) and select:

Photo resolution → High (instead of "maximum")

This will reduce the size of the images from 10-15 MB to 3-5 MB without critical quality loss.

4.2. Removal of duplicates and blurred photos

The MIUI Gallery has a built-in tool for finding takes:

Gallery → Albums → Smart Albums → Duplicates

4.3. Transfer of the photo to the cloud

If you use Google Photos, enable automatic download:

Google Photos → Settings → Backup and Synchronization

After downloading the originals can be removed from the phone (the option “Free space”).

5. Clean up memory through Safe Mode (Safe Mode)

If your phone is slowing down and doesn't respond to commands, try running it in Safe Mode, which disables all third-party apps, and you can remove viruses or "heavy" programs that block the system.

How to log in to Safe Mode:

1. Press the power button before the off menu appears.
2. Press and hold “Switch Off” (or “Reboot” on new models).
3. Confirm the transition to safe mode.

In this mode:

• 🛡️ Remove suspicious apps (such as those with Chinese names).
• 🧹 Clear the cache of system applications (for example, MIUI Security).
• 🔄 Restart your phone in normal mode.

⚠️ Warning: Safe Mode does not have a fingerprint or Face Unlock. PIN.

6. reset of the partition cache (Wipe Cache Partition)

If the phone is slower after updating MIUI or installing new apps, resetting the partition cache will help.This will not delete your data, but will clear temporary system files that may conflict.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
4. Confirm the action and restart the device.

This procedure is useful if:

• 🐢 The phone freezes when you start applications.
• 🔄 No updates are installed MIUI.
• 📱 Memory disappears for no apparent reason (the system shows occupied space, but no files).

7. System garbage disposal via ADB (for advanced)

If you're ready for experiments, you can clear memory through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which removes hidden files that aren't visible in standard Explorer.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press the assembly number → Return to "Additional» → «For developers» → «Debugging by USB»).

Cleanup commands:

adb shell pm clear com.miui.cleanmaster # Cleaning up the utility MIUI Cleaner


adb shell pm clear com.android.providers.media # Reset media cache




adb shell rm -rf /data/local/tmp/* # Delete temporary files

⚠️ Attention: Wrong commands ADB They can damage the system. Don't use rm. -rf folder /system or /data/data — This will lead to data loss!

8.Alternative methods: cloud services and external drives

If internal memory is severely lacking, consider:

8.1. Transfer of annexes to SD-map

On some Xiaomi models (for example, Redmi Note 11) you can transfer some applications to the memory card:

Settings → Appendices → Select Appendix → Storage → Modify → SD- Map

8.2. Use of cloud storage

Services like Google Drive, Yandex Disk, or Mi Cloud (built into MIUI) allow you to automatically sync files and free up space.

8.3 Connection OTG-storage

Through the USB OTG adapter, you can connect a flash drive and transfer photos, videos or documents to it.

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Cloud services save space, but require a stable Internet. SD-map OTG-accumulator.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory cleanup on Xiaomi