Xiaomi’s modern smartphones have a lot of hardware, but over time, even the top models start to run slower. The main reason for the performance drop is because of overflowing internal memory and the accumulation of system debris. If you notice that the interface has slowed down and applications load longer than usual, it’s time to clean up your device’s file system.
Many users mistakenly believe that you need to bring your device to a service center or buy a new model to fix a problem, but in 90% of cases, you can fix it yourself using built-in optimization tools, and cleaning your phone is a safe and effective procedure that will restore the device to its former speed.
In this article, we will take a look at all the methods available, from quick cleaning through the standard Security app to deep formatting through Recovery, which files can be deleted without fear of damaging the system, and how to prevent memory from clogging again in the future.
Use of the built-in Security application
The first and simplest tool that every Mi or Redmi owner should have is the Security app, which is designed specifically for MIUI and HyperOS shells, and can find hidden debris that is not visible when you browse folders.
To start the procedure, open the application and click on the large green Clean button. The system automatically scans the device for temporary files, remnants of deleted applications and cache. The analysis usually takes no more than a minute, after which you will be asked to delete the objects found.
⚠️ Note: In the Cleanup section, the app may suggest removing large files or rarely used apps. Carefully check the list before confirming so you don't accidentally erase important photos or documents.
Don't just limit yourself to the basic button. There's a Deep Cleanup section inside the app that lets you work with garbage in more detail, and you can safely remove the social media cache, which often takes up gigabytes of space without affecting your personal communications.
💡
Use the “Accelerate” feature in the notification curtain or desktop widget regularly to reset background processes and free up RAM in one click.
Manual cleaning of cache and application data
If automated tools have not completely solved the problem, you need to move to manual cleaning. Social networks and instant messengers such as Telegram, WhatsApp and VK have a habit of accumulating huge amounts of temporary data. These files speed up the application, but over time they begin to slow down the system.
To clear the cache of a particular application, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find a “heavy” app (like Instagram), click on it and select Storage. Here you will see two buttons: “Clear Cache” and “Clean Everything.”
Use the Clear Cache button to securely delete temporary files. If the application is not working properly or you want to reset it to factory settings, you can select Clear Everything, but remember that this action will delete your logins and local settings inside the program.
- 📱 Telegram: better to clean through the settings of the application in the section "Data and memory» → «Memory Use" to Save Important Files.
- 📸 Camera: Cleaning up data can reset resolution and filter settings, so be careful.
- 🌐 Browsers: Cleaning Chrome or Mi Browser cache will speed up page loading and fix site display errors.
☑️ Check before manual cleaning
Storage analysis and removal of large files
Often, the place ends not because of system debris, but because of forgotten videos, duplicate photos and APK installation files. Newer versions of MIUI have a handy built-in analyzer that visualizes memory occupancy.
Go to Settings → About Phone → Storage (or through the Explorer app → Analyzer section) and you will see a diagram that highlights the file types in color: images, videos, documents and applications. Clicking on any sector will put you in a file list sorted by size.
Pay special attention to the Download folder and messenger folders (such as WhatsApp/Media), which is where most often you store videos you see that you no longer need, and deleting even a few of these files can free up several gigabytes of space.
| File type | Where to find | Can I remove it? | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash app. | Settings / Applications | Yes. | Safe, speeds up work. |
| Files.apk | Download folder | Yes (if the appendix is installed) | Make room |
| tumbnails | DCIM / .thumbnails | Yes (recreated) | Speed up the gallery |
| System Logs | MIUI/debug_log | Yes. | Safe for the user |
What is a.thumbnails folder?
Full reset to factory settings
The most radical but effective way to clean a phone is a full reset, which returns the smartphone to a store-like state, removing all user data, accounts and apps.
Before you decide to do this, make sure to back up your data to your Mi Cloud, Google Drive, or computer. After you reset, you can’t recover deleted files without a backup.
To perform the reset, go to Settings → About Phone → Reset. Select “Erase All Data.” The system will request confirmation of the screen unlock password and Mi Account. After the reboot, the cleanup process will begin, which can take from 5 to 15 minutes.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure the battery is charged at least 50-60% Interrupting the process due to battery discharge can damage system partitions and build up the device.
This method is especially useful if you are planning to sell a smartphone or if the device is infected with a virus that cannot be removed by standard antivirus software.
Cleaning through Recovery Mode
If the phone is loading but is extremely unstable, or you have forgotten the unlock password, you can clean it through Recovery Mode, a deeper level of interaction with the system that does not require you to load the MIUI interface.
To enter Recovery mode, turn off the phone completely. Then press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, continuing to hold the volume until the Recovery menu appears.
In the menu, the navigation is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button. You need to select Wipe Data, then Wipe All Data, and confirm the action by selecting Confirm. After the process, select Reboot to restart.
💡
Recovery Mode is a tool for advanced users that allows you to reanimate the device even in case of critical system boot errors.
Prevention of memory clogging
To avoid having to ask yourself how to clean your phone often, you need to implement a few good habits: Regular maintenance takes less time than dealing with the effects of memory overflow.
First, set up automatic cleaning in the Security app. Go to the app settings and turn on the Auto Clean option by selecting frequency (e.g., once every 3 days). Second, turn off auto-save media files in messengers if there is no urgent need for this.
It is also recommended to regularly check the Recycle Bin folder in the gallery and cloud storage, where files take up space until final deletion, and using cloud services to store photos and videos allows you to keep local memory free.
- 🗑️ Removal of take-ups: check the gallery once a month for the same photos.
- 📲 Lite versions: Install lightweight versions of apps (Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite) if you have little memory.
- ☁️ Cloud: Use Google Photos with Free Place to automatically delete photos that have already been uploaded to the cloud.