Xiaomi’s modern smartphones have impressive specs, but even they are not immune to the gradual filling of internal storage.Users often face a situation where the device starts to run slower and notifications of space shortages appear at the most inopportune moment.It is a natural process that affects all Android owners, regardless of brand.
The main reason for overflow is not only the installation of applications, but also the accumulation of temporary files, messenger cache and system logs. MIUI or HyperOS system tries to optimize this process, but manual intervention is often necessary to restore performance.
In this article, we will discuss how to safely and efficiently free up gigabytes of space, learn how to find hidden files, properly clean the cache of applications, and use the built-in system tools to maintain order in the device.
Storage analysis: search for "eaters" of the place
Before you start deleting files, you need to understand what exactly takes up precious gigabytes. The standard file manager often hides real data volumes, so you should use the system diagnostic tools. Go to the Settings → Memory menu to see a detailed map of disk usage.
Here you'll see a breakdown by category: apps, images, video, audio, and system files. Notice the "Other" or "Other" section, which often takes up the lion's share of memory, which is storage for cache, archives, and temporary data that the system cannot automatically classify.
You can use third-party snails to do a deeper analysis, but standard tools are usually enough. It's important not just to look at the numbers, but to understand the nature of the files. For example, 4K videos can take up more space than all the games installed combined.
⚠️ Warning: Before deleting any system files, make sure they are not critical to operating system performance.Deleting important libraries can lead to a bootloop or unstable interface.
Regular monitoring prevents critical disk filling, and if you notice that the volume of data is growing without your involvement, it is worth checking the background processes and application autoloads.
Cleaning the cache and temporary files of the system
The fastest way to free up space is to clear the cache, and cache is temporary data that applications save to make it work faster, and over time, these files accumulate and can take up a significant amount of space without carrying any useful information to the user.
Xiaomi smartphones have a built-in Security app, which launches and presses the Clean button, which will update the device and prompt you to remove garbage, and it is safe because it does not affect personal data, passwords or game saves.
However, automatic cleaning does not always remove the cache of all applications.
- 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → All applications.
- 🔍 Find an application that takes up a lot of space (for example, a browser or social networks).
- 🗑️ Click on “Memory” and select “Clear Cache».
It's important to distinguish between "Clear Cache" and "Clear Everything." The second option will completely reset the app to the factory state by removing your logins and settings inside it. Be careful when choosing an action.
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Clear the cache of your browser and streaming services (YouTube, Spotify) regularly – they tend to accumulate gigabytes of temporary videos and thumbnails.
Some users prefer to use ADB-And you have to do this on a regular basis, and you have to do this on a regular basis, so that you don't get choked up by the debris.
Working with the folder “Other” on Xiaomi
The Other folder is a real mystery to many Redmi and Poco owners, and it places files that have not been categorized as standard, including remnants of remote applications, messenger cache, update files, and system logs.
Often the size of this folder can reach 10-20 GB or more. It's not always possible to clean it up with standard tools. First, try clearing the data from the Media Storage system application. Go to Settings. → Annexes → Showing System Processes → Media storage → Memory. → Clean up.
After that, it is recommended to restart the device, the system will index the files again, and the size of the folder "Other" can be significantly reduced, if this does not help, you will have to search for specific files through the Explorer.
| File type | Where to look (way) | Can I remove it? |
|---|---|---|
| Logs of updates | /data/log/ | Yes (with caution) |
| Cash Telegram. | Android/data/org.telegram.messenger/ | Yes (better via TG settings) |
| Temporary files | /data/local/tmp/ | Yes. |
| System bases | /data/data/ | No (critical for OS) |
⚠️ Note: When working with a file system through third-party file managers (such as Total Commander or MiXplorer), never delete files whose purpose you do not know.
It's also worth checking the folder. MIUI/debug_log. Some firmware versions can record bug reports that take up space, and if you're not a developer and you're not debugging the system, you can delete those files.
Why does the Other folder grow again after cleaning?
Cleaning messengers: Telegram and WhatsApp
The leaders in memory consumption on any smartphone are messengers. Telegram and WhatsApp store all received photos, videos and documents in memory of the device by default. During a year of active correspondence, there can accumulate tens of gigabytes.
Telegram has a great built-in memory management tool. Go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory Use. Here you will see the Cache slider. Click on Clear Cache, you will delete temporary files, but they will download again when you view. More effectively set up automatic cleaning: set a timer for “Delete Media Over 3 Days” or “1 Weeks”.
On WhatsApp, the situation is similar. Go to Settings → Data and Storage → Storage Management. The app will show a list of chats sorted by location, you can selectively delete large videos or files from specific dialogues without deleting the correspondence itself.
- 📹 Turn off auto-save media in the gallery in the settings of both messengers.
- 🗑️ Regularly delete files from the Sent and Status folders (in the case of WhatsApp).
- 📦 Use cloud storage to transfer old email archives.
Remember that clearing the messenger cache doesn’t delete your messages, they are stored on the server (or in a local database that the cache doesn’t affect).However, if you decide to clear “all data” of the application, the messages will be lost without prior backup.
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Setup autodelete cache in Telegram is the most effective way to forget about the problem of memory overflow with the messenger forever.
Removal of duplicate photos and videos
Over the years, the gallery has accumulated hundreds of identical shots, screenshots and unsuccessful takes. Xiaomi's built-in gallery is able to find similar images, but third-party algorithms often work more accurately. Duplicates can occupy up to 15-20% of all photo content.
You can use Google's Files app to find repeats, or specialized tools like Remo Duplicate Photos Remover, which scan hash amounts of files and suggest that you delete exact copies, which is safe and time-saving.
Also worth looking at is the Screenshots and Downloads folder, which often includes ad images saved accidentally or old instructions that are no longer needed, and revision of these folders can instantly free up several gigabytes.
If you have Google Photos enabled, use the Free Space feature, which will remove photos and videos that are already securely stored in the cloud, one of the safest cleanup methods.
Use of Developer Mode and ADB
For advanced users who are not afraid of the command line, there is a method of cleaning through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to remove system debris that is not available through the usual interface.
First, you need to activate the developer mode. Press 7 times on "Version". MIUI» In the About section, then in the Developer menu, turn on Debugging by USB».
Connect your phone to your computer and execute a command to clear the cache of all applications at once:
adb shell pm trim-caches 99999999999This command forcibly trims the cache of the applications if it exceeds the specified value (in bytes). By specifying a huge number, you will force the system to clear all the available cache.
⚠️ Attention: Use ADB Incorrect commands can lead to the removal of important system components.
You can also remove pre-installed apps (bloatware) that you don't use through ADB, which not only frees up space, but also speeds up the system by removing unnecessary background processes.