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

Have you noticed that your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO is slowing down, apps are crashing, and the system is issuing warnings about space shortages? 90% of the time is due to clogged memory. Even if you regularly delete photos and videos, the device continues to clutter with hidden files, app cache and remnants of deleted programs. In this article, we will examine all possible ways to clean up memory from basic to advanced, including hidden MIUI functions that are not written in the official instructions.

Xiaomi smartphones have aggressive data caching to speed things up. On the one hand, it's a plus: apps open faster and animations work smoother. On the other hand, it's a minus: cache can take up to 15-20 GB on devices with 128 GB of memory if it's not cleaned for years. While standard MIUI tools often only clear the "tip of the iceberg," leaving deep system files intact. We'll show you how to get to these files without rooting and not break the phone.

1. Basic cleaning: what can be removed without risk

Start with the simplest thing, which is to delete unnecessary user files, and even if you think there's nothing superfluous on your phone, check these folders:

• 📸 Photos and videos: MIUI By default, it saves duplicate images (for example, from messengers), screenshots and thumbnails. DCIM/.thumbnails can weigh up 1–2 GB.
• 🎵 Downloads: APK-file, PDF, Archives and other disposable files from the Internet, often containing outdated versions of applications.
• 📄 Documents: Cache of office applications (WPS, Microsoft Office and temporary editor files.
• 🎮 Game data: Save, cache and additional game files (e.g. Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile can take 5-10 GB).

To find the most "heavy" files:

1. Open the Files app (yellow folder icon).
2. Go to the Category tab → Large files.
3. Sort by size and remove the unnecessary.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete Android folders, MIUI Or manually, this will cause your phone to malfunction.

2.Cleaning App Cache: Hidden Gigabytes

App caches are temporary files that are created to speed up programs, and over time they grow into uncontrollable sizes, such as YouTube cache can weigh 500 MB, and TikTok can weigh up to 1-2 GB.

Method 1: Through the MIUI settings

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Choose an app (such as Chrome or Instagram).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

Method 2: Mass cleaning (hidden function)

MIUI allows you to clear the cache of all applications at once, but this option is hidden:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Click 5-7 times on the MIUI version until the message “You are a developer” appears.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Find Do Not Save Actions (or Limit Background Processes) and turn it on.
5. Now in Settings → Storage will appear button Clear cache for all applications.

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After cleaning the cache, restart the phone – this will help MIUI recalculate the free space and avoid “phantom” busy gigabytes.

System garbage disposal: the Optimization tool

MIUI has a built-in deep cleaning tool called Optimization (formerly called Security).

• 🗑️ Residual files after uninstallation of applications.
• 🔄 System logs (error logs, memory dumps).
• 📥 Unused. APK (update-file).
• 📊 Usage statistics (app activity data).

How to start a deep cleaning:

1. Open the Optimization app (shield icon).
2. Press Deep Cleaning → Scan.
3. Select all categories (except Downloads if there are important files).
4. Click Clean and confirm the action.

If the Deep Clean button is not available:

⚠️ Note: Do not clear the Other Files section blind - application data may be stored there (such as saving games or setting widgets.

4.Memory Cleanup via Recovery: When Nothing Helps

If the phone is full and doesn't respond to standard methods, the last thing you can do is clean it up through Recovery.

• 🧹 Cache all the apps.
• 📦 Temporary update files.
• 🔧 System settings (but not user data!).

How to start:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.
5. Restart the phone (Reboot).

This method doesn’t delete photos, videos or apps, but it will reset some settings (like wallpaper or screen brightness).If you want to completely reset your phone, choose Wipe All Data, but remember: this will delete all data without the possibility of recovery.

5 Hidden folders and files: what can be manually deleted

MIUI creates many hidden folders that are not visible in the standard file manager to see them:

1. Install a file manager with root access support (such as FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings.
3. Go to the root directory (/).

What folders can be cleaned without risk:

• 📂 /data/log — System logs (you can delete all files).
• 📂 /cache — Recovery cache (cleared automatically, but sometimes forgotten»).
• 📂 /data/local/tmp — template.
• 📂 /sdcard/Android/obb — Additional game data (remove only for remote games).

Which folders can't be touched:

• 🚫 /system — System files (damage – the phone will not turn on).
• 🚫 /data/data — Application data (delete – lose saves).
• 🚫 /efs — IMEI and serial numbers (damage) = «brick-and-mortar»).

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Even if you delete all the allowed hidden files, the system will recover some of them in a few days. That's okay, MIUI is constantly creating new logs and cache.

6.Automatic cleaning: setting up MIUI to maintain order

To avoid manually cleaning your memory, set up automatic optimization:

1. Open the Settings → Storage.
2. Turn on the Auto Clean option.
3. Choose Daily or Weekly.
4. Specify which files to clean (we recommend to leave ticks on Cash and Unnecessary files).

It is also useful to limit the background activity of applications:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Management.
2. Select Background Limitation for unnecessary apps (such as games or social media).

This will reduce the amount of cache created and extend battery life.

7. Radical methods: reset to factory settings

If all the previous methods didn't work, you'll have a complete reset.

• 📱 All installed applications.
• 📸 Photos, videos and music (if not saved to a memory card).
• 🔑 Accounts and passwords.
• ⚙️ All system settings.

How to Reset Your Phone Right:

1. Make a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
2. Move your important files to your PC or cloud.
3. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
4. Choose to erase all data and confirm.

Once reset, the phone will look like new.

• 🔑 Sign in to your Mi Account, otherwise some features (such as themes or the cloud) won’t work.
• 📱 Not restoring a backup over 6 months will bring back old problems.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro) after reset, you may need to re-activate the bootloader. If the phone does not turn on after reset, connect it to the Mi Unlock Tool on the PC.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi memory cleanup