How to completely clean Xiaomi smartphone from garbage: a step-by-step guide

Your Xiaomi smartphone is slowing down, overheating or quickly discharged? The reason most often lies in accumulated digital garbage: remnants of deleted applications, cache, duplicate photos and unnecessary system files. Even new models like the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ or POCO F6 after 6-12 months of use begin to work slower due to clogged memory.

In this article, we've got 7 proven cleanup methods that will make your device faster, and we'll look at both standard MIUI tools and hidden features that aren't mentioned in the official instructions, and we'll also talk about which files can be deleted without risk to the system, and which ones can't be touched.

1. Built-in utility "Cleaning" in MIUI

The easiest way to do this is to use the regular Cleanup app (formerly called Security), which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones and can remove:

• 🗑️ Application cache (temporary files that take up to 5-10 GB)
• 📁 Residual files after uninstallation of programs
• 📥 Downloads (APK, archives, documents older than 30 days)
• 🔍 Photo and video duplicates (available in new versions) MIUI 14+)

How to start:

1. Open the Cleanup app (icon with broomstick).
2. Press Deep Cleaning → Scan.
3. Select file categories to delete (we recommend ticking everything except the Journals – it is better to clean them manually).
4. Confirm the action with the Clean button.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files from the System cache manually through the Explorer - this can lead to malfunctions MIUI. Use only the built-in utility.

2. Manual cleaning of the app cache

The built-in utility doesn't always remove the cache completely, like Facebook, Instagram or TikTok can take 1-2 GB each, even if you haven't used it in a long time, to clear the cache of a particular app:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select a program (e.g. Google Chrome).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
4. For a complete data reset, click Clear Data (⚠️ Note: This will delete all settings and accounts in the app!).

List of the most voracious cache apps (according to Xiaomi Community data for 2026):

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If after cleaning the cache, the application began to work slower, restart the smartphone. The system will restore the necessary temporary files automatically.

3. Delete unnecessary system files

MIUI creates many service files that are rarely deleted automatically, including:

• 📄.thumbnails – photo and video miniatures (can weigh up to 1 GB).
• 📄 DCIM/.thumbnails — gallery-cash.
• 📄 Android/data — Remnants of remote games (such as Genshin Impact cache or Call of Duty Mobile).
• 📄 MIUI/backup — backups.

How to delete:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC or use a file manager (such as Mi File Manager).
2. Enable the display of hidden files (in Mi File Manager: ⋮ → Settings → Show hidden files).
3. Go to the folders from the list above and delete their contents.

⚠️ Attention: Do not delete folders MIUI Or Android in its entirety, just the contents! Also, don't touch files with the.db extension).

Delete folder.thumbnails| Clear DCIM/.thumbnails| Remove old APKs from Download| Clear Telegram cache in Android/data/org.telegram.messenger folder

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4.Clean through Recovery Mode

If the smartphone is slowing down a lot and standard methods don't work, try cleaning through Recovery Mode.

• 🧹 Cache system (Wipe Cache Partition).
• 🔄 Residual files after updates (Dalvik Cache).

Instructions:

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache (control – volume buttons, confirmation – power button).
4. After cleaning, restart the device (Reboot).

This method does not delete personal data, but resets some settings (e.g. background processes) and is suitable for Redmi, POCO and Mi models based on MIUI 12-14.

5.Use of ADB for deep cleaning

For advanced users, there is a method of cleaning through Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which allows you to delete files that are not available through standard methods, for example:

• 🗃️ Residual files after resetting settings.
• 📦 Google Play Services Cache That Is Not Cleared Through Settings.
• 🔧 Unnecessary system APK (rooted-only!).

Instructions for Windows:

1. Download ADB Tools and unpack it into the C:\adb folder.
2. Enable USB debugging on your smartphone (see spoiler above).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and open the Command Prompt in the adb folder.
4. Enter the commands in turn: adb devices (you should have your device name) adb shell pm clear com.android.providers.media (clears media cache) adb shell pm clear com.google.android.gms (clears Google Services cache)

⚠️ Note: Commands pm uninstall or rm -rf They can permanently delete system applications, which will cause your smartphone to fail. Use only pm clear commands to clear the cache.

6. Optimization of autoboot and background processes

Many apps run automatically when you turn on your smartphone and run in the background, consuming resources.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Autostart Management.
2. Sort the list by the latest auto-run.
3. Turn off autoboot for underutilized programs (e.g. AliExpress, Wildberries, games).

Also limit background activity:

1. In Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Management.
2. Select an application (e.g. VKontakte) → Limit background activity.

This will reduce CPU heat and extend battery life by 10 to 15 percent, especially for low-end models like the Redmi 12C or POCO M6 Pro.

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Turning off autoboot for 10-15 unnecessary applications can free up to 300-500MB of RAM and reduce battery consumption by 5-8% per day.

7. reset to factory settings (last resort)

If all previous methods failed, it would be a complete reset, which would delete all data, including photos, contacts and apps, but would return the smartphone to factory speed. On models with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip (such as the Xiaomi 14), the reset can take up to 10-15 minutes – don’t interrupt the process!

How to reset:

1. Back up your important data (via Settings → About Phone → Backup or Mi Cloud).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose to erase all data and confirm the action.

After discharge:

• ⚡ Do not restore data from a backup older than 3 months – it may contain the same “junk».
• 🔄 Install only the necessary applications (avoid clutter from day one).
• 🛡️ Turn off auto-update apps on Google Play.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi cleanup