Memory Cleanup on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Redmi, POCO and Mi

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones are known for their functionality, but over time, even the most productive models (Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO F5 or Xiaomi 13T) start to slow down due to memory shortages. The reason is not always a small amount of storage — often the fault of system debris, app cache and duplicate files. Unlike the iPhone or “pure” Android, MIUI has unique memory management mechanisms that require separate analysis.

Many users mistakenly believe that clicking “Clean” in the settings is enough, but it only removes surface debris. In fact, up to 30-40% of memory can be occupied by hidden cache, temporary update files and duplicate media files (especially if you are actively using Google Photos or Xiaomi Gallery). In this article, we will analyze 10 proven ways to free up memory, including the little-known features of MIUI 14/15, and also tell you what files can be deleted without risk to the system.

Important: The methods are suitable for all modern Xiaomi devices, including the Redmi 10/11/12 series, POCO X5/F5, Xiaomi 12/13/14 and older models on MIUI 12.5+. If your phone runs on HyperOS (the new firmware for flagships of 2026), some menu items may differ - we will specify alternative paths.

1. Analysis of occupied memory: what exactly takes place?

Before you start cleaning, you need to understand which files are eating up memory. MIUI has a built-in analyzer, but it doesn't always show the full picture. Here's how to get the details:

Open Settings → About Phone → Memory. Here you will see a diagram of the memory distribution by category:

• 📁 System files – firmware, updates, preinstalled applications (usually takes up 8-12 GB).
• 📷 Media files – photos, videos, music (often duplicated in cloud services).
• 📦 Annexes — established programmes + their cache.
• 🗑️ Garbage – temporary files, remnants of deleted applications, log files.

Pay attention to the Other item – up to 5-7 GB of unnecessary data is often hidden here: downloaded files from messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), card cache (Google Maps, Yandex.Navigator) and even old versions of MIUI updates.

Hidden feature: To see the full file size list, connect your phone to your computer via USB (file transfer mode) and use WinDirStat (Windows) or Disk Inventory X (macOS) to help identify heavy folders like /MIUI/Backup or /Android/data/com.xiaomi.market that don’t show up in the standard analyzer.

2. Cleaning of cache and debris with built-in tools

MIUI has one of the most advanced cleaning tools among Android smartphones, Security, but few users know that it has advanced settings that remove far more debris than the standard Clean button.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Security app (if it isn’t on the desktop, find it in the list of all apps).
2. Go to the Cleanup section (in the lower menu).
3. Press Deep Clean (top right).
4. Check all the points, especially: 🧹 Residual files – Remnants of remote applications. 🗃️ Files. APK — Installation of programs that are no longer needed. 📄 Logs – System Logs (can weigh up to) 1-2 GB).

Clean up

⚠️ Warning: Do not manually clean the System cache section through Recovery, which can cause a malfunction. MIUI, Especially if you have a custom firmware installed or unlocked the bootloader.

After deep cleaning, it is recommended to restart the phone - this will help the system recalculate the free space. If after the procedure, the memory is less than 1 GB, then the main problem lies in media files or applications (more on this later).

Close all background applications|Connect your phone to charge (the process may take time) 5-10 minute)|Make a backup copy of important data|Shut down. VPN (Can block access to system files)-->

3. Removal of duplicate photos and videos

One of the biggest memory eaters is duplicate media files, which appear when you:

• 📲 Transfer files between devices (via Xiaomi Share, Bluetooth).
• 🔄 Automatic backup in Google Photos or Mi Cloud.
• 📸 Shooting in mode HDR or AI-Cameras (additional copies are made).

MIUI 14/15 has a built-in tool for finding duplicates:

1. Open the Gallery → Albums → Smart Albums → Duplicates.
2. The app will automatically find the photos and videos that are being repeated. Click Delete duplicates.
3. For more accurate cleaning, use filters by date or file size.

If the built-in tool doesn’t find duplicates or you need more options, install third-party apps:

• 🛠️ Files by Google – has the function “Clean up” with the search for duplicates and large files.
• 🗃️ Duplicate Files Fixer – Finds Repeated Documents, Music and Fixer APK.

⚠️ Before mass removal of duplicates, check if they are backups from Mi Cloud or Google Photos. Sometimes "duplicates" are just thumbnails for previews, and removing them can disrupt the gallery.

4. Cleaning the cache of applications (including system)

App cache speeds up their work, but over time can grow to giant sizes. For example, Facebook or Instagram can accumulate up to 1-2 GB of cache, and Google Play Services can accumulate up to 500 MB. In MIUI, there are two ways to clean the cache: standard and advanced.

Method 1: Clearing the cache for individual applications

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as Chrome or TickTock).
3. Click Clear Cache (not to be confused with Clear Data – it will delete all settings!).

Method 2: Mass cleaning the cache of all applications

1. Open Settings → Memory → Clean Memory.
2. Select the Cash App tab.
3. Click Clean – this will remove the cache of all applications except system ones.

To clean the cache of system applications (for example, Mi Video, Music, Theme Store) you will need to use ADB or root access. Without special knowledge, this is not recommended - you can disrupt MIUI.

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If after cleaning the cache, the application began to work slower, just restart it - the cache will recover automatically the next time you use it.

5. Removal of unnecessary applications and their residues

Even after deleting applications, Xiaomi often has residual files, such as folders in /Android/data or /Android/obb. These can take anywhere from 100 MB to several GB (especially for games like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile).

How to remove applications correctly:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Sort the list by size (click on the three dots at the top right → Sort → by size).
3. Remove unnecessary programs, starting with the hardest ones: 🎮 Games you haven’t played in a long time (for example, PUBG Mobile, Free Fire). 📺 Video players with downloaded content (MX Player, VLC). 📊 Social networks with large cache (Twitter, Vkontakte).

/Android/data

/Android/obb

Mi File Manager

⚠️ Note: Do not remove Xiaomi system applications (e.g. Mi Security, Mi Share, Theme Store) without root rights. MIUI, including problems with updates and synchronization.

If you want to get rid of pre-installed software (such as Mi Browser or Mi Music), use the command via ADB:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.browser

Replace com.android.browser with a batch name for an unnecessary application (you can find it through the App Inspector in the Play Market).

6.Storage optimization: cloud, archiving and file transfer

If the phone is constantly running out of space despite being cleaned regularly, it’s worth considering alternative ways to store data.

1. Transfer files to a memory card (if supported)

• 📱 Supports microSD cards (up to) 1 TB): Redmi Note 11/12, POCO M5/X5, Xiaomi 10 Lite.
• 🚫 Not supported: most flagships (Xiaomi) 13/14, POCO F5 Pro).

To move applications to the map:

1. Insert microSD (A2 class is recommended for speed).
2. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
3. Select the application → Storage → Change → Memory Map.

Limitation: Not all applications support portability (especially system and protected games).

2. Automatic upload to the cloud

Xiaomi offers two cloud services:

• 🌥️ Mi Cloud – 5 GB free (stores photos, contacts, notes).
• ☁️ Google Photos – 15 GB free (compression photo without restrictions).

To enable automatic synchronization:

1. For Mi Cloud: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization.
2. For Google Photos: Open the application → Profile → Photo settings → Backup.

3. File Archiving and Compression

If you need to free up the space urgently, but do not want to delete files:

• 🗄️ Use WinRAR or 7-Zip to archive folders with photo / video (compression can reduce the size of the file) 30-50%).
• 💾 Transfer the archives to a computer or external drive.

7 Hidden MIUI functions for memory release

MIUI has a few hidden tools that few people know about, which help free up memory without installing third-party applications.

1. Cleaning "Other Files"

In the Settings → Memory section, there is a category Other, which can take up to 5-10 GB. To clear it:

1. Click on Other in the memory chart.
2. Select Clean – the system will delete temporary files, logs and update residues.

2. disable automatic downloading of media in messengers

Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber) automatically upload photos and videos that quickly fill up memory.

• 📱 In Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Autoboot media → Choose Never.
• 💬 On WhatsApp: Settings → Warehouse → Autoboot media → Turn off for mobile data and Wi-Fi.

3. Removal of older versions of MIUI

After system updates, the old firmware versions remain in memory and can take up to 2-3 GB.

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click on the three dots at the top right → Remove the downloaded service pack.
3. To remove old versions of the firmware, use the command through ADB: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.updater ⚠️ Warning: This will disable automatic updates! To return the feature, reinstall the update via the Mi App Store.

4. Clearing the card cache

Applications like Google Maps or Yandex.Navigator save offline maps that can weigh 1-5 GB.

• 🗺️ In Google Maps: Profile → Settings → Offline maps → Delete.
• 🚗 In Yandex.Navigator: Settings → Maps. → Offline maps → Delete everything.

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Regularly cleaning the cache of cards and messengers can free up to 3-5 GB of memory without deleting important files.

8.Extreme measures: reset to factory settings

If all of these methods didn't work, and the phone still gives you a "Memory is full" notification, the last option is a complete reset, which is a radical method, but it's guaranteed to free up all of the user's memory, return the phone to "clean" state.

How to do the reset correctly:

1. Save important data: 📱 Contacts (export to.vcf via Google Contacts). 📷 Photos and videos (copy to your computer or cloud). 🔑 Passwords (use Google Password Manager or KeePass).

Settings → About the phone → Reset settings → Erase all data

Erase internal memory

Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (may take 5-15 minutes).

⚠️ Warning: After reset, the phone will return to the factory firmware. MIUI manually (via Recovery or Fastboot), you will have to re-instal the current version, and all accounts (Google, Xiaomi, Mi Account) will be deleted, so remember your passwords beforehand!

If the memory is refilled quickly after the reset, the problem may be a malfunction of the drive (especially relevant for low-end models of Redmi with eMMC memory), in which case only replacing the memory module in the service center will help.

Alternative to reset: If you don't want to lose data, try updating your firmware through Fastboot. This will reinstall the system but save user files.

1. Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware website.
2. Unpack the archive and connect the phone to your PC in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power when the phone is off).
3. Launch the file. flash_all.bat (Windows or flash_all.sh (macOS/Linux).

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory cleanup on Xiaomi