Cleaning up system memory on Xiaomi: a complete guide for MIUI and HyperOS

Why Xiaomi System Memory is Clogged and How to Fix It

Have you noticed that your Xiaomi has slowed down, applications suddenly shut down, and the settings are lit up with a warning about a lack of memory? These are symptoms of crowded system memory. Unlike user storage (where your photos and videos are located), system memory is responsible for the operation of Android, MIUI/HyperOS And then there's the apps that are pre-installed, and when it's full, the smartphone starts to gasp".

The reasons for the problem lie in the architecture of MIUI and HyperOS: the system actively caches data to speed up work, but often does not know how to clean it properly. For example, after updating the firmware, old files can remain in memory for years, taking up 1-3 GB of useless garbage.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working cleaning methods, from safe (manual cache cleaning) to radical (factory resetting). All instructions are relevant for devices on MIUI 12-14 and the new HyperOS, including the Redmi Note 12/13, POCO F5/X5, Xiaomi 13/14 and older devices like Redmi 9 or Mi 11.

Method 1: Manually cleansing the application cache

The safest way to free up 200-800MB of memory is to remove the cache of individual applications, which will not affect your data (photos, accounts, settings), but will clear the temporary files that accumulate during use.

How to do this:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Sort by size.
3. In the list, find apps marked “Cash” (usually YouTube, Chrome, Facebook, Mi Video).
4. Click on the app → Storage → Clear the cache.

Pay special attention to system applications:

• 📱 com.android.systemui - interface MIUI/HyperOS (cash-in 500 MB)
• 🔍 com.miui.search – search by system (up to 300 MB)
• 📊 com.miui.analytics – Xiaomi Analytics (up to 100 MB)
• 🎵 com.miui.player – music player (caches album covers)

YouTube|Google Play Services|Mi Browser|Gallery|Themes-->

⚠️ Warning: Do not clear your data from system applications like com.android.phone or com.miui.home, which can cause a launcher to crash or lose network settings!

After cleaning, restart the device (Long press power button → Reboot) and allow the system to recalculate the free space and apply changes.

Method 2: Cleaning up system debris through “Security”

Xiaomi is embedding a firmware security tool (formerly Security) that can find and delete unnecessary files. Unlike manual cleaning, it analyzes system logs, update residues and duplicate files.

Instructions:

1. Launch the Security app (the shield icon).
2. Go to the Cleanup tab (or Cleaner in global firmware).
3. Press Deep Clean and wait for the scan.
4. Check all categories except Download (there may be important files).
5. Slip Clean and confirm the action.

What exactly does this tool remove:

Important: If after cleaning in the "System cache" section there is more than 1 GB of garbage - this is a sign of a failure in the MIUI. In this case, only resetting the cache through Recovery will help (see Method 4).

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After deep cleaning, check the MIUI/Backup/AllBackup folder in internal memory, which can contain hundreds of megabytes of old backups, and can be deleted if you don't plan to restore data.

Method 3: Removing Unnecessary System Applications (Debloating)

Xiaomi firmware is overloaded with pre-installed applications that cannot be removed by standard methods, such as Mi Pay, Mi Credit, GetApps or Mi Community, which take up space in the system partition and run in the background, consuming memory, and can be disabled or deleted without root.

Method 1: Disconnect via ADB (without root)

1. Turn on USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.payment (replace com.xiaomi.payment with the desired application package).

List of safe packet removal:

• 💳 com.xiaomi.payment - Mi Pay (payments)
• 📦 com.xiaomi.midrop - Mi Drop (file transfer)
• 🎮 com.miui.videoplayer - Mi Video (player)
• 📰 com.miui.news - Mi News (news)
• 🛒 com.xiaomi.shop - Mi Shop (shop)

⚠️ Note: Do not delete packages with the names com.android., com.qualcomm. or com.miui.home, this will cause the system to fail. → Additionally. → Backup.

Method 2: Use Universal Android Debloater (GUI-pc)

If the command prompt is scary, download Universal Android Debloater, which shows you a list of all apps marked "Safe to remove" and lets you disable them in one click.

Method 4: Resetting cache via Recovery Mode

If previous methods didn’t work and the system memory is still full, it’s time to clear the partition cache, which will delete temporary update files, Dalvik cache and other system data that the user can’t see.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select the language (if you have a choice), then: Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache → Confirm
4. After cleaning, go back to the main menu and select Reboot → System.

What this method does:

• 🧹 Remove the remnants of old firmware (releases to the 1-2 GB).
• 🔄 Fixes errors such as "Insufficient Memory" when updating.
• 🚀 Accelerates the system by reassembling Dalvik-cache.

⚠️ Warning: Do not confuse Wipe Cache with Wipe Data! The second option will erase all your data (photos, contacts, applications.

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Resetting the cache via Recovery is the only way to delete files left over from a failed MIUI update. If the phone brakes after upgrading the firmware, this method will return it to speed.

Method 5: Complete reset to factory settings (last resort)

When all other methods are exhausted and the system memory is still clogged, it leaves a hard reset, which will bring the phone back out of the box by removing all data, including:

• 📸 Photos and videos (if not saved to the cloud).
• 📱 Installed applications and their data.
• 🔑 Accounts (Google, Mi Account, social networks).
• ⚙️ All settings (Wi-Fi, wallpaper, sounds).

How to reset your settings:

1. Make a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup or copy files to your PC.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose to erase all data and confirm the action.
4. After restarting, perform the initial setup.

What to do after the discharge:

• 🔄 Do not restore data from backup MIUI — It can contain the same garbage. You'd better just transfer the photo/video by hand.
• 📥 Install applications gradually, checking the free space.
• 🛡️ Turn off automatic download of updates for system applications in Google Play → Settings → Auto-update.

Critical information: On HyperOS devices (such as Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70), the reset takes up to 10 minutes – do not interrupt the process, even if the screen goes out for a long time.

How to prevent refilling of memory

To prevent the problem from returning in a month, follow these rules:

1. Turn off automatic download of updates for unnecessary apps: Google Play → Settings → Auto Update → Wi-Fi only (or Off).
2. Limit background activity: Settings → Applications → Permissions → Autorun Disable Autorun for Social Media and Messengers.
3. Move apps to a memory card (if supported): Settings → Apps → Select an app → Storage → Change → SD card
4. Clean the cache regularly (once every 2 weeks) through Settings → Storage → Cache data.

Useful applications for memory monitoring:

• 📊 Files by Google – Shows Large Files and Garbage.
• 🔍 SD Maid (requires root) – deep cleaning of system files.
• 📈 DiskUsage – visualizes occupied space.

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If you have a POCO F4/F5 or Redmi K60, turn on Performance mode in Settings → Special features → Performance mode. This will reduce background caching and extend the time without cleaning.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi memory cleanup