Cleaning up your internal drive on Xiaomi: a complete guide for MIUI and HyperOS

Why Xiaomi Phones Are Fulfilled Fast and How to Fix It

Xiaomi's internal memory is one of the most common pains of users. Even on models with 128 GB and 256 GB, after a few months of active use, a notification appears "Memory is almost full," although you seemingly did not install anything extra. What is it?

The problem lies in the features of the MIUI firmware (and the new HyperOS): the system aggressively caches data, applications create hidden backups, and debris from updates and temporary files accumulate for years. For example, the /data/app-lib folder can take up to 5-8 GB on older versions of MIUI, although the user does not even know it exists, to this is added duplicate photos from Google Photos, messenger cache and tails from remote programs.

In this article, 7 proven ways to clean up memory, from basic to advanced, with the nuances of different versions of firmware. No universal cleaners from the Play Market, only built-in tools and secure methods.

Method 1: Built-in utility "Cleaning" - quickly and without risk

The simplest method that suits even beginners is Xiaomi has built into MIUI and HyperOS a tool for automatic garbage cleaning that removes:

• 🗑️ Temporary application files (.tmp,.log)
• 📁 System process cache (up to) 1-3 GB)
• 🔄 Remains from remote programs
• 📥 Unused. APK-Files (remains after updates)

How to start:

1. Open the Settings → Memory.
2. Slip the "Clear" button at the bottom of the screen.
3. Confirm the action and wait until it is completed (may take 1-5 minutes).

⚠️ Note: The utility does not delete personal data (photos, videos, documents), but can reset the cache of some applications (for example, maps in Google Maps or uploaded episodes in YouTube.

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If the Clean button is inactive, restart your phone – sometimes the system incorrectly displays the amount of garbage due to errors in the background processes.

Method 2: Manual removal of the application cache

Cache is the main memory eater, for example, Telegram can accumulate up to 10 GB per year of active use, and TikTok can accumulate up to 5 GB per month, and unlike built-in cleaning, the manual method allows you to control what is deleted.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Sort the list by size (tap on three dots in the upper right corner → "By size").
3. Select an app (like WhatsApp or Instagram) → Storage → Clear cache.

Which apps to clean first:

⚠️ Note: Do not clear the cache of system applications called com.android. or com.xiaomi. - this can cause firmware malfunctions.Exception: com.android.vending (Google Play Market).

Method 3: Remove duplicates and unnecessary files

Xiaomi (especially on the MIUI 12–14) It has a very unpleasant feature: it creates duplicate photos and videos when you edit or send them via instant messengers, for example, if you clipped a photo in a gallery, the original will remain in the folder. DCIM/Camera, and the modified version is in Pictures/.thumbnails.

How to find and remove duplicates:

1. Install Files by Google (pre-installed on most models).
2. Open the tab "Clean up" → "Duplicates of files".
3. View duplicate groups and choose which versions to leave (usually keep the freshest or original version).

Other folders that can be safely cleaned:

• 📂 Download - here they accumulate APK, PDF Other uploaded files that are often forgotten to be deleted.
• 🎵 Music – audio files from instant messengers (for example, voice messages from WhatsApp).
• 📁 MIUI/Extra — template.
• 📱 Android/data — game cache, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact can be used to 10 GB).

folder DCIM/Screenshots — snippet|Bluetooth folder – transferred files|folder MIUI/Sound_recorder — tape-recording|folder Android/obb — Game data (you can delete, but the games will have to be reinstalled)

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Method 4: Transfer files to SD-map

If internal memory is packed with photos, videos, or documents, they can be transferred to a memory card (if the phone supports it) or to cloud storage, and important: not all files can be moved - for example, application data (/Android/data) is only transferred with root rights.

Option 1: Transfer to SD-map

1. Insert a memory card (UHS-I U3 class is recommended for speed).
2. Open Explorer (or Files by Google)
3. Select files (photos, videos, music) → "Move it" → choose SD-map.

Option 2: Automatic booting to the cloud

• 📷 Google Photos: Enable "Backup and Sync" in the settings. Photos will be available via link, and originals can be deleted from your phone.
• ☁️ Mi Cloud: In Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud enable sync for gallery and notes (gives 5GB for free).
• 📎 Yandex.Disk or Mail.ru Cloud: suitable for documents and archives (up to 10–100 GB free of charge for promotions).

⚠️ Note: When transferring applications to SD-Map through Settings → Annexes → Move it to SD They can run slower or they can't start at all, and this is only suitable for light utility systems like a calculator or a flashlight).

Method 5: Cleaning system folders (for advanced ones)

This method requires caution, but allows you to free up 3-10 GB of memory that occupy hidden system files, suitable for users who are ready to work with the file system.

What folders can be cleaned without root rights:

• 📂 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data — cache of games and applications (remove folders of unnecessary programs).
• 🗃️ /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Extra — template.
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Download/rom — Firmware residues after updates.
• 🔄 /storage/emulated/0/.thumbnails — Image miniatures (to be recreated).

How to access:

1. Use Explorer with support for hidden file display (such as FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Turn on the display of hidden folders in the conductor settings.
3. Delete the contents of the listed folders, except files with.db or.xml extensions.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files in folders:

• /system, /vendor – this will lead to a phone bribing.
• /data/app – this is where the installed applications are stored.
• /data/data – user data of applications (deleted from here will not recover!).

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Before cleaning your system folders, back up your important data. Even deleting "safe" files can cause certain functions to fail (e.g., wallpaper or theme settings to disappear).

Method 6: Reset to factory settings (extreme case)

If none of the methods worked, and the memory is still full of unknowns, then there is a hard reset, a complete factory reset, that will delete all data, including apps, photos and accounts, but return the device to the "purity" after the purchase.

How to reset:

1. Backup: Photos/video – in Google Photos or on your computer; Contacts – sync with Google Account; Messages – export via SMS Backup & Restore.

Settings → About the phone → Resetting settings

"Erase all data."

After the reboot, the phone will look like new.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) POCO X3 Pro) after reset, you may need to re-assign your Mi Account. If you forget your password, the phone will turn into a brick"!

How much memory will be freed up? Depends on the model and the number of applications installed, but on average:

• 📱 On the Redmi. 9A (32 GB – up to 8-12 GB;
• 📱 Nana POCO F3 (128 GB – up to 15–20 GB;
• 📱 Xiaomi 13 Pro (256 GB) – up to 25-30 GB (due to the cache of games and multimedia).

Method 7: Optimize memory to prevent filling

To prevent the problem from recurring, set your phone to auto-optimize:

1. Limit cache for individual applications

• In Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy → Clear history when you exit.
• On Instagram: Settings → Storage → Clean the cache when you exit.
• In Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Limit memory usage (set 500 MB).

2.Tune automatic cleaning

1. Open Settings → Memory → Auto Clean.
2. Turn on the option and set a schedule (for example, once a week).

3. Turn off unnecessary synchronization

• 🚫 Mi Cloud: disable backup of unnecessary data (Settings) → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud).
• 🚫 Google Photos: If you are not using the cloud, turn off autoboot in the app settings.

4.Install lightweight alternatives to "heavy" applications

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Regularly cleaning the cache and deleting unnecessary files every 2-3 months prevents garbage from accumulating. Use reminders in Google Calendar or Xiaomi Notes to remember.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi memory cleanup