How to completely clean the memory on the Xiaomi smartphone: from cache to system garbage

Clogged memory on Xiaomi is one of the most common problems faced by owners of smartphones Redmi, POCO and Mi. Even on devices with 128 GB or 256 GB of storage, free space is melting before your eyes: MIUI systems actively cache data, applications save temporary files, and updates take up gigabytes. As a result, the phone begins to slow down, applications fly out, and the camera refuses to shoot video due to lack of space.

In this article, we will discuss 7 proven ways to clean memory on Xiaomi, from basic (cache and debris removal) to advanced (clean system files without root rights). All methods are tested on the latest versions of MIUI 14/15 and are relevant for models Redmi Note 12/13, POCO X5/F5, Xiaomi 13/14 and older devices, you will also learn which files can be deleted without risk to the system, and which cannot be touched categorically.

1. Basic cleaning: cache, debris and temporary files

Start with the simplest thing: removing the app cache and system debris, a method that requires no third-party software installation and takes less than a minute.

MIUI has a built-in Cleanup tool that analyzes the device and suggests removing:

• 🗑️ Application cache – temporary data that programs save to speed up work (for example, thumbnails in a gallery or web page data in a browser).
• 📁 Unnecessary files – remnants of remote applications, empty folders, duplicates.
• 🔄 Residual data – files left over after updates or resets.

To start the cleanup:

1. Open the settings → About the phone → Memory.
2. Click Clean (or Clean in older versions of MIUI).
3. Select file categories to delete (we recommend that you note all items except Download – there may be important documents).
4. Confirm the action with the button Clean [X] MB.

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If your memory is clogged again after cleaning, check the apps in Settings → Applications → Application Management. Most often, messaging apps (Telegram, WhatsApp), social networks (TikTok, Instagram) and browsers (Chrome, Mi Browser) accumulate.

How much space will be available? On average, 500MB to 2-3GB, depending on the time of the last cleanup, for example, on the Redmi Note 11, after a month of use without cleaning the cache, about 1.8GB is released.

2. Delete heavy files: video, photo and APK

If the memory is still full after cleaning the cache, the problem lies in the user data.

• 🎥 High-resolution video (especially on camera) 4K or 1080p 60fps).
• 📸 Photo format RAW (Weigh 20-50 MB each).
• 📦 APK-Files – Application installation packages left over after manual installation.
• 🎵 Offline music and podcasts (e.g. Spotify cache or Yandex Music).

To find and delete unnecessary files:

1. Go to Files → Categories (or My File Manager in older versions of MIUI).
2. Sort files by size: click on three dots in the upper right corner → Sort → by size.
3. Check the folders: DCIM/Camera — Photos and video from the camera; Download – downloads from the browser; Android/obb — game data (may weigh) 10+ GB); MIUI/Backup — backup.

Outdated. APK-files (Download folder or APK)

Duplicate photos (use Google Photos to search)

Offline maps (Google Maps, Yandex Maps)

Cache games (Android/obb, but don’t delete active game folders!)

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⚠️ Attention: Do not delete folders Android/data and Android/obb It will cause the installed applications to crash, only delete the files of specific games or programs that you no longer use.

3. Cleaning system files without root rights

MIUI creates many hidden system files that are not displayed in a standard file manager.

• 📂 Logs of the system (/data/log) — error logs and debugging information.
• 🔄 Residual update data (/cache).
• 🗃️ Cash. MIUI (/data/system/package_cache).

To remove them, you do not need root rights - it is enough to use the hidden function of Storage in the engineering menu:

1. Open the phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##
2. Go to the Storage (or Storage) section.
3. Click Clear cache (this will remove the system cache, including Dalvik-cache data).
4. Reboot the phone.

You can also use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) for deep cleaning, plug your phone into your PC and follow the commands:

adb shell pm trim-caches -f 100


adb shell cmd package bg-dexopt-job

These commands will forcefully clear the cache of all applications and optimize the work of ART (Android runtime environments).

Once a week.

Once a month

Only when the place ends.

Never clean.-->

4. MIUI optimization: disabling unnecessary functions

MIUI is known for its heavy interface, which consumes a lot of resources, and some features can be turned off to reduce memory consumption.

Another hidden memory eater is the Double Apps function, which takes up as much space as the original app, to remove the clones:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Double Apps.
2. Select an unnecessary clone and click Remove.

5. Transfer data to a memory card or cloud

If you don't have enough space on your phone, but you don't want to delete files, you can transfer them to a microSD or cloud storage. Xiaomi has built-in tools for that.

Option 1: Memory Card (microSD)

• 📱 Supported formats: FAT32 (up to 32 GB), exFAT (up to 2 TB).
• 🔄 To move applications to SD: Insert the card and format it as internal memory (Settings) → Memory. → Map. SD → Set it up as internal. Go to Settings → Annexes → Select the application → Warehouse → Change. → Map. SD.

⚠️ Note: Once formatted as internal memory, the card cannot be used on other devices without being completely cleaned, and some apps (such as WhatsApp) do not support porting to other devices. SD.

Option 2: Cloud storage

• ☁️ Google Photos – Automatic Photo and Video Uploads (up to 15 GB free).
• ☁️ Mi Cloud – built-in cloud from Xiaomi (5 GB for free).
• ☁️ Yandex Disk or Mail.ru Cloud – 10–100 GB for users from Russia.