How to completely clean the memory of the Xiaomi phone: from cache to factory settings

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 13 Ultra) start to slow down due to clogged memory. The reasons range from the accumulation of temporary files to the “junk” residues of remote applications. In this article, we will examine all the ways to clean up memory, from basic to radical, including hidden MIUI functions that are not written in the standard instructions.

It’s important to understand that cleaning up memory is not just about freeing up space, but also optimizing the device. For example, on models with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset (such as Xiaomi 14), a cache that is clogged can reduce performance by 30-40%, even if 10-15 GB is free. We analyzed official Xiaomi recommendations, user reviews on forums (including 4PDA and Mi Community), and tests on real devices to collect current methods that work in 2026.

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

Before you clean it, you need to understand which files are eating away at memory. MIUI has an inbuilt analyzer, but it doesn't always show the full picture. Here's how to get the exact data:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Memory (or Settings → Storage on the new versions of MIUI 14/15). Here you will see a diagram with the distribution of memory by categories: Applications, Images, Video, Audio, System Files and Other.
2. Click on a category (like Apps) to see a list of the most voracious programs. Notice the Cash column, which often takes up several gigabytes.
3. For detailed analysis, use third-party utilities such as Files by Google or SD Maid, which show hidden files, duplicates, and remnants of deleted applications that MIUI does not display.

Typical memory eaters on Xiaomi:

• 📸 Photos and videos: Even after being removed from the gallery, they can remain in folders DCIM/.thumbnails or Pictures/Screenshots.
• 🎮 Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile Cache Can Weigh 5-10 GB.
• 🗑️ System garbage: log files (/data/log), temporary update files (/cache).
• 📱 Social networks: TikTok, Instagram and Telegram store cache of media files (up to) 3-5 GB).

If the System Files section is more than 10-15 GB, this is an excuse for deep cleaning (this is discussed in section 5). On models with MIUI 13 and below, rebooting sometimes helps: press Power + Volume up for 10 seconds to reset the temporary data.

2.Cleaning the app cache: Quick and secure

Cache speeds up software, but eventually it becomes digital junk, and there are two ways MIUI can clean it up:

Method 1: Manual cleaning for individual applications

Suitable if you need to free up space without deleting application data (for example, saved games or chats).

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as YouTube or Facebook).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

Method 2: Mass cleaning the cache of all applications

Faster, but can lead to temporary lags when the programs are first run after cleaning.

1. Go to Settings → Storage → Cache data.
2. Confirm the cleanup (the system will show how much space will be vacated).

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse cache and app data! Cleaning up data will delete all settings, accounts and game progress, like WhatsApp, it will delete all chats.

On the test Redmi Note 11 Pro+ after mass cleaning of the cache freed up 3.2 GB (of which 1.8 GB — cache Google Play Services and MIUI System).

Close all active applications

Connect your phone to charge (the process can take 5-10 minutes)

Backup important data (in case of failure)

Check the vacant space before and after cleaning-->

3. Delete unnecessary files and duplicates

Even if you delete photos and videos regularly, you still have shadow copies of them on your phone, and here's how to find and delete them:

3.1. Cleaning the folder. DCIM/.thumbnails

This hidden folder stores thumbnails of all images and videos, and even after the originals are deleted, thumbnails can stay for years.

1. Connect your phone to your PC or use a file manager (such as Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).
2. Enable the display of hidden files (in Mi File Manager: Settings → Show hidden files).
3. Go to /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails and delete all files.

3.2. Search and removal of duplicates

Photo and video duplicates appear when you back up, import from other devices, or make application errors (such as Google Photos).

• 📱 Use the built-in feature in Mi File Manager: Categories → Duplicate.
• 🖥️ On PC: Duplicate Cleaner or CCleaner (scan folders only) DCIM and Pictures).

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files from folders /system or /vendor — This can lead to the collapse of the system and the need to flash the.

Cleaning of downloads (Download)

Download folder is a graveyard of unwanted files: old APKs, PDFs, archives. sort files by date (Last → Old) and delete anything older than 6 months.

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Before you delete files, turn on the extensions in Mi File Manager (Settings → More → Show file extensions). This will help distinguish the desired document.pdf from the garbage temp123.tmp.

4. Application optimization: what can be removed without harm?

Many pre-installed MIUI applications take up space and work in the background, even if you are not using them, and can be disabled or removed (on some models).

List of safe applications for removal

These programs are not critical to the system (but check to see if you are using them before you delete them):

• 🎵 Mi Music – standard player (can be replaced by Spotify or YouTube Music).
• 📺 Mi Video - Video Player (alternative: VLC).
• 📖 Mi Browser – Browser (better to use Chrome or Firefox).
• 🛒 GetApps – Xiaomi’s branded store (duplicates Google Play).
• 📡 Mi Remote - remote control (if not used for control equipment).

4.2. How to remove system applications?

To remove pre-installed programs, root or ADB rights are required. Without root, you can only disable:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as Mi Browser).
3. Click Disable (the button will appear if the application can be deactivated).

For complete removal through ADB:

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

Replace com.android.browser with the package of the desired application (you can find out the package through the App Inspector in Google Play).

⚠️ Note: Removing system applications may lead to update errors MIUI. For example, without GetApps, no branded updates for the camera or firmware will be installed.

5.Deep cleaning: reset to factory settings

If the phone slows down to an unacceptable level and the memory is less than 10% free, Hard Reset will help.

• 📱 Applications and their settings.
• 📸 Photos, videos, music (if not on the list) SD-map).
• 🔑 Google Accounts, Mi Accounts and Passwords.
• 📱 System settings (wallpaper, sounds, network parameters).

How to do Hard Reset correctly:

1. Create a backup copy: 📱 Through Mi Cloud (Settings) → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup). 🖥️ Through Xiaomi. PC Suite (download from the official website).
2. Reset: Method 1: Settings → About Phone → Reset → Erase All Data. Method 2 (if the phone doesn’t turn on): Press Power + Volume up, select Wipe Data.

Set up your phone again, but don’t restore a backup over 6 months old – it may contain the same junk files.

⚠️ Attention: On models with MIUI 14+ After reset, you may need to re-assign your Mi Account to unlock the bootloader. If you forget your password, your phone may remain locked!

How much space is freed? 12.3 GB was freed up on the POCO X5 Pro after the reset (of which 4 GB is system garbage, 8 GB is cache and application residues).

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Factory reset is the only way to completely remove system debris that accumulates after MIUI updates. However, this is an extreme measure: use it only if other methods have not worked.

6.Memory optimization without deleting files

If cleaning didn’t work, try optimizing your memory usage:

Transfer of annexes to SD-map

It is suitable for models with Adoptable Storage support (e.g. Redmi 9A or POCO M3).

1. Put it in. SD-card (class 10 is recommended or UHS-I).
2. Go to Settings. → Warehouse → SD-map → Settings → Formatting as an internal memory.
3. After formatting, transfer applications to Settings → Annexes → [select] → Warehouse → Change. → SD-map.

⚠️ Note: After formatting SD-The card as internal memory cannot be used in other devices without completely erasing the data.

Disabling application background activity

Many programs (like Facebook or AliExpress) continue to run in the background, consuming memory and battery power to limit them:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Management.
2. Select the application and set a Background activity limit → Limit.

Use of cloud storage

Move your photos and videos to the cloud to make room:

• 📸 Google Photos: Automatically uploads photos in original quality (up to 15 GB free).
• ☁️ Mi Cloud: 5GB free for Xiaomi owners (in Settings) → Mi Account → Mi Cloud).
• 📁 Yandex Disk or Mega: Up to 20 GB free of charge when registering.

Once files are uploaded to the cloud, they can be deleted from the phone, leaving only thumbnails to view.

7. Hidden MIUI features for memory cleanup

MIUI has a few hidden tools that are not mentioned in the official instructions, which help to clear the memory without deleting important files.

7.1 Deep Clean (Deep Clean) mode

This feature removes temporary system files that are not visible to the user:

1. Open Security (the shield application).
2. Press Cleaning → Deep Cleaning.
3. Select file categories to delete (e.g., Application Residues or System Logs).

7.2 Cleaning Update Files

After updating MIUI, the firmware files 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 in the upper right corner → Remove the downloaded package.

7.3 Reset MIUI settings without data loss

If your phone is slowing down, but you don’t want to lose files, try resetting only the system settings:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Reset all settings (not to be confused with Erase all data!).

This will bring back the network, sound and interface settings to factory settings, but will not affect photos, videos or apps.

⚠️ Attention: On models with MIUI 15 Resetting settings can cause some features (e.g. Second Space or App Lock) to be disabled.

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If the phone still brakes after cleaning, check the processor temperature in AIDA64. Overheating (above 60°C) can be the cause of lags, not memory shortages.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi memory cleanup