How to completely clean Xiaomi phone: from cache to factory settings

Xiaomi smartphones are some of the most popular in Russia, but even they eventually start to slow down: apps open for a long time, memory is clogged with unknown files, and the battery goes down in half a day. The reason most often lies in accumulated digital debris: cache, remnants of deleted programs, duplicate photos and system logs. In this article, we will analyze 7 ways of cleaning, from simple to radical, including hidden MIUI functions that are not written in the official instructions.

It's important to understand that cleaning your phone isn't a universal solution. If your Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 is slower after upgrading to MIUI 15, the problem may be optimizing your firmware, not your full memory. We'll tell you how to diagnose the cause of the brakes and choose the appropriate cleaning method - without the risk of losing important data or turning your phone into a brick.

1. Quick cleaning through built-in MIUI tools

The manufacturer has put some cleaning utilities in MIUI, but they're hidden in the depths of the menu, and the safest way to free up space is to use Optimization and Memory Cleanup, which remove temporary files, application cache, and uninstalled software residues without affecting user data.

How to start:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Cleaning (or Settings) → Memory on new versions).
• 🧹 Click “Clean” in the “Junk Files” section – the system will scan the phone for unnecessary data.
• 🔍 Check the “Deep Cleanup” tab: here you can delete the cache of specific applications (for example, TikTok or VKontakte often take 1-2 GB).
• ⚡ Turn on the Auto Clean option (in the cleaning settings) so that the system removes garbage once a week.

⚠️ Note: Built-in cleaning does not remove duplicate photos, videos or documents. → Memory. → Files where you can sort content by size and type.

2. Manual deletion of cache and application data

Cache speeds up programs, but over time it grows to giant sizes, for example, the cache of Google Play Services can take up to 500 MB, and Instagram can take up to 1 GB.

• 🐢 The app has become slow to work (for example, YouTube hangs when scrolling).
• 📉 The phone's memory is 90 full%+ (checks in the settings → The phone. → Memory).
• 🔄 After the update, glitches appeared (the cache of the old version may conflict with the new version).

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select a program (such as Telegram) and click on “Storage”.
3. Tap "Clear Cache." To reset completely (Warning - delete settings and logins!) select "Clear Data."

💡 Tip: Do not clear the cache of system applications (e.g. com.miui.home or android.process.media) – this can cause malfunctions MIUI.

Clear the cache of messengers (Viber, WhatsApp)

Delete game data (if you are not afraid to lose progress)

Clear the browser cache (Chrome, Mi Browser)

Remove downloads from the Download folder-->

3. Cleanup of duplicates and unnecessary files

Photos, screenshots and documents are often duplicated — especially if you use cloud services (Google Photos, Mi Cloud) or send files through instant messengers. MIUI has a built-in tool for finding duplicates, but it does not work on all models.

How to find duplicates through MIUI:

1. Open Gallery → Albums → Duplicates (or Files → Categories → Duplicates).
2. The system will show pairs of the same photos / videos - choose which to delete.
3. For deep cleaning, use a size filter: Files → Categories → Large files.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete Android folders, MIUI or DCIM/.thumbnails manually, this can disrupt the system. Use only built-in tools to clean them.

4. Reset to factory settings: when and how to do

If Xiaomi’s phone is slowing down even after clearing the cache and files, the last chance is Hard Reset, which will delete all data, including accounts, photos and settings, so first:

• 🔄 Make a backup copy through Settings → Additionally. → Backup or Mi Cloud Backup.
• 📝 Write down usernames/passwords from accounts (especially Mi Accounts linked to your phone).
• 🔋 Charge your phone at least 50% – reset at low charge can be interrupted.

Resetting methods:

1. Through Settings: Settings → About Phone → Resetting → Delete all data.
2. With Recovery: Turn off your phone, press Volume Up + Power, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) After reset, you may need to re-activate through Mi Account. If you forget the password, the phone will be locked!

💡

Factory resets even remove hidden system files that can slow down the phone, the only way to get rid of viruses if they have penetrated system folders.

5. Cleaning system logs and dumps (for advanced)

MIUI keeps logs, memory dumps, and debugging information, which take hundreds of megabytes, but manually deleting them is dangerous, and you can disrupt your phone. If you're confident in what you're doing, follow the instructions:

Method 1: Through ADB (without root):

adb shell pm clear com.miui.analytics


adb shell rm -rf /sdcard/MIUI/debug_log/*




adb shell rm -rf /sdcard/log/*

Method 2: Through the file manager (requires superuser rights):

• Install Root Explorer or Solid Explorer.
• Go to the folders: /data/log /sdcard/MIUI/debug_log /sdcard/bugreport
• Delete all files with the.log,.dump or.txt extension.

⚠️ Attention: Deleting logs can hide the causes of system failures.If the phone reboots frequently or crashes into Fastboot, save the logs for diagnosis first (for example, via the Logcat Extreme app).

6. Optimization of autoloading and background activity

Many applications run when the phone is turned on and run in the background, consuming memory and battery power. In MIUI, you can turn off autoboot for unnecessary programs:

How to limit background activity:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (like Facebook) and click AutoStart.
3. Turn off the “Autostart” and “Background Activity” options.
4. For full control, use Settings → Battery → Energy Saving Mode.

📊 Effect: After disabling the autoboot for 10-15 applications, battery life can increase by 15-20%, and free RAM by 300-500 MB.

💡

To see which apps consume the most resources, go to Settings → About Phone → Memory → Memory Use. This shows the programs that take up the most cache and data.

7. Alternative methods: from formatting to firmware

If the standard methods did not help, radical measures remain:

• 🔧 Fastboot Reflash: Complete Reinstallation MIUI Remove all system errors, but require unlocking the bootloader.
• 💾 Formatting internal memory: B TWRP Recovery can be formatted in the partition /data, But it will lead to the loss of all data.
• 🛠️ Cleaning through PC: Programs like Mi PC Suite or Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools allow you to clean your phone deeply by connecting it to your computer.

⚠️ Warning: Firmware and formatting void warranty on new models (Xiaomi 14, Redmi Note 13 Pro)+). Before the procedure, check the status of the bootloader with the team:

fastboot oem device-info

If Device unlocked: false is the answer, unlocking will require a 7-15-day wait (depending on Xiaomi’s policy).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi cleanup