Complete cleaning of Xiaomi phone from garbage: 7 proven ways

Your Xiaomi will start to slow down, quickly discharge or issue messages about a memory shortage? The reason most often lies in the accumulated digital garbage: the remnants of remote applications, cache, duplicate photos and temporary files of the system. Even after a standard cleaning through Settings → Storage on the device are gigabytes of unnecessary data that is not visible to the user.

In this article, we will discuss 7 Deep cleaning methods – from built-in tools MIUI You'll learn how to safely remove garbage without losing important data, which files can be erased and which ones should not be touched. /data and the Dalvik cache, which occupy up to 30% Memory but not displayed in the standard file manager.

1. Built-in tools MIUI: what can be cleaned without risk

So, to start with the official methods that MIUI itself offers, which are secure, root-free, and beginner-friendly, the main tool is Cleanup (formerly called Security), to open it:

1. Go to the Settings → Storage;
2. Slip on the line Clean (or Release in new versions);
3. Select the category of garbage: Application cache, Unused files or Duplicates.

The system will automatically scan the device and show how much space can be freed up.

• 📱 Application caches are temporary files that create programs to speed up work, and they can be deleted without consequences, but they will recover the next application launch;
• 🗑️ Unused files – Remains of deleted applications, downloads and old ones APK. They can be washed with ease;
• 🔄 Duplicate photo/video — MIUI Looks for identical media files, but sometimes misrepresents similar footage!

⚠️ Note: Do not clear the Downloads section through this tool if it stores important documents. → Documents.

After cleaning, restart the phone – this will help the system recalculate the free space and close the background processes that could block files.

2. Manual folder cleaning: what can be removed in File Manager

Xiaomi's standard Explorer (or File Manager) hides many of the system folders, but some of the garbage can be found and removed manually. Open the Explorer and check the following directories:

Pay special attention to the Android/data folder, which stores the data of the installed applications, and you can only delete folders of programs that you have already uninstalled!

For example, if you deleted Genshin Impact, but the folder is still com.mihoyo.GenshinImpact weighing 2-3 GB, you can easily erase it. For convenience, sort files by date of change: old folders are likely to belong to remote programs.

Check the Download folder for unnecessary files |

Delete the contents of DCIM/.thumbnails|

Clean it up. MIUI/debug_log|

Delete the folders of remote applications in Android/data|

Check the basket in the gallery (folder.trash)

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3. Cleaning up the Dalvik and ART cache: hidden system debris

One of the biggest memory eaters in Android is the Dalvik cache (or ART in newer versions), which is an optimized version of the apps that the system creates to speed up their launch, and over time, this cache grows to a few gigabytes, but doesn't show up in standard cleaning tools.

To remove it:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone;
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version line to activate Developer Mode.
3. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers;
4. Find Clear Dalvik/ART cache (or Clear Dalvik data in older versions).

Once cleaned, the phone will automatically restart, which is normal, and it can take 5 to 10 minutes to process, because the system will have to reassemble the cache for all applications. Don't interrupt it!

⚠️ Warning: If the phone is slower after cleaning Dalvik, it will be temporary, and performance will recover after 1-2 days, when the system reassembles the cache for commonly used applications.

This method is especially effective if you haven’t updated your firmware in a long time or installed many new programs, and on average, it frees up 500 MB to 2 GB of storage.

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If the "Clear Dalvik cache" item is not in the developer menu, try an alternative way: reset settings (without deleting data) through Settings → System → Resets → Reset all settings. This will also clear Dalvik, but affects more settings.

4. Remove pre-installed applications (bloatware) without root

Xiaomi is known for a lot of pre-installed apps (bloatware), many of which can’t be removed by standard methods, including Mi Browser, Mi Music, Mi Video, GetApps and others, which take up space in memory and run in the background even if you’re not using them.

You can remove them without root rights in two ways:

Method 1: Disconnecting through ADB

This will require a computer with Xiaomi drivers installed and the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool.

1. Enable USB Debugging in Settings → For Developers;
2. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission;
3. Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (Mac/Linux) and type:

adb devices

(Your device should be displayed)

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

(Replace com.miui.browser with the desired application package)

List of packages of popular system applications Xiaomi:

• 🌐 com.android.browser / com.miui.browser — Mi Browser;
• 🎵 com.miui.player — Mi Music;
• 🎬 com.miui.videoplayer — Mi Video;
• 📦 com.xiaomi.midrop – Mi Drop (unhelpful without other Xiaomi devices);
• 🛒 com.xiaomi.mipicks - GetApps (theme and sticker store).

Once the commands are executed, the apps will disappear from the menu, but their data will remain in the system (in case you want to return them back).

Method 2: Use of App Inspector Application

If ADB seems difficult, install App Inspector from Google Play (or similar, such as Package Name Viewer) to show all the apps installed with their packages.

1. Find an unnecessary system application.
2. Copy the package (e.g. com.miui.weather2)
3. Use ADB or apps like Debloater to uninstall.

⚠️ Note: Do not remove system applications with packages starting at com.android, com.qualcomm or com.google – this can lead to unstable phone performance!

5. Optimization of autoboot and background processes

Many applications run automatically when you turn on your phone and run in the background, consuming memory and battery power. MIUI has a built-in autoload manager, but it's hidden from the user.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management;
2. Stick to three points (⋮) top-right;
3. Select Autoboot;
4. Disable unnecessary apps (e.g. games, instant messengers that shouldn’t work in the background).

Also check the Battery and Performance → Battery Management section, where you can limit background activity for individual programs:

• 🔋 Without restrictions – the application works in the background always;
• ⚡ Limit background activity – the app won’t update without you launching;
• ❄️ Deep Optimization – The app freezes after closing (suitable for gaming).

Pay special attention to social networks (Facebook, Instagram) and instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram), which often hold dozens of processes in mind, even when you are not using them.

6. Deep Cleanup via Recovery Mode (without data loss)

If standard methods don’t work and the phone is still slowing down, try cleaning through Recovery Mode, which deletes temporary system files but doesn’t affect user data (photos, contacts, messages).

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone;
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the recovery menu, select the language (English / Whale);
4. Go to Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache;
5. Confirm the cleaning and wait for completion;
6. Choose Reboot. → Reboot to System.

This method cleanses:

• 🗃️ Cache system (/cache);
• 🔄 Temporary update files;
• 📱 Residues from installation/removal of applications.

If the phone is faster after the reboot, the problem was system debris. If there is no change, a more radical measure may be needed (for example, a factory reset).

⚠️ Warning: Do not choose Wipe Data or Factory Reset for recovery, this will lead to complete data loss.

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Cleaning the cache with Recovery Mode is the most effective way to remove system debris that is not visible to the user, and it helps in 80% of cases when the phone brakes “for no reason”.

7 Third-party cleaning utilities: What works on Xiaomi

If the built-in MIUI tools seem inadequate, you can use third-party apps, but be careful: many Google Play cleaners are themselves sources of advertising and background processes, and we tested several tools and selected the most effective ones:

For Xiaomi, we recommend SD Maid, which is one of the few apps that can clean /data folders without root rights (although with limitations).

1. Run the Storage Analysis;
2. Check the CorpseFinder (App Remains) and SystemCleaner sections.
3. Delete unnecessary files by following the program’s prompts.

If you choose to use CCleaner or analogs, disable Autorun and Notifications in their settings so that they do not become a source of garbage themselves.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi cleanup