How to completely clean internal memory on Xiaomi phone: from cache to system files

Xiaomi’s internal memory is one of the most common causes of brakes, app install errors, and sudden reboots. Even on the new Redmi Note 13 Pro+ or POCO F6, users are faced with a message that says “Not enough memory,” even though they seem to have stored nothing, and the problem lies not only in your files, but also in system debris, app cache, and hidden MIUI processes.

This article is not just a list of standard tips like "remove unnecessary photos." 7 Proven methods, including little-known functions MIUI 14/15, who help to free up 15-20 GB of memory without losing important data, you will learn how to clean the cache correctly (and why you should not use “optimizers” from the Play Market), which system files can be deleted without risk, and how to transfer applications to the Internet. SD-The card is blocked even if the manufacturer has blocked it.

1. Diagnostics: what exactly takes up memory on Xiaomi

Before you can clear a memory, you need to understand which files are clogging it. MIUI has a built-in analyzer, but it often hides some of the data. Here's how to get the whole picture:

Open Settings → About Phone → Memory. Here you will see a diagram of the allocation of memory by category: System, Applications, Media Files, Cash and Other. Click on each category to see the details:

• 📱 System (usually) 10-15 GB: This includes firmware, Android kernel and preinstalled apps. You can't remove them, but you can compress some components (more on that below).
• 📦 Appendices: Shows the amount of each installed APK + And you can look at games, and they often weigh in on their data. 1-3 GB only cache.
• 🎵 Media files: photos, videos, music, and the most common ones are dead files, like duplicate photos from Google Photos or undeleted videos from TikTok.
• 🗑️ Others: the most insidious category. This includes temporary files, system logs, remnants of remote applications. 5-8 GB!

If you have more than 3 GB in the Others section, it's time to clean up the deep trash. №4 of this article. And if the memory is mostly about applications, move on to the method. №2.

2.Cleaning App Cache: What Can Be Removed Without Risk

Cache is a temporary file that apps create to speed up work, and over time it grows to giant sizes: for example, Facebook can accumulate 1-2 GB of cache, and Instagram can accumulate up to 500 MB.

• ⚠️ After clearing the cache, the app will load longer when it first launches (e.g. YouTube will buffer the video again).
• 🎮 In the Games (Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile) cache can weigh several gigabytes, and cleaning it will lead to the reloading of textures.
• 📱 System applications (Mi Browser, Security) also accumulate cache. They are allowed to be cleaned, but no more than 1 time per month.

How to clean the cache correctly:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as Telegram) and click Storage.
3. Tap Clear Cache. Don't click Clear Data - it will delete all your settings and accounts in the app!
4. For mass cleaning, use Settings → Memory → Clean (but this method is less accurate).

Backup important data |Do not clear the cache of banking applications | Skip system applications marked "Do not delete" |Reboot the phone after cleaning-->

If the memory is not free for long after cleaning the cache, the problem lies deeper in the system debris or the remnants of remote applications.

3. Delete “dead” files and application residues

When you uninstall an app through the Play Market or a standard uninstaller, the phone will remain:

• 🗃️ Folders with settings (/Android/data/ and /Android/obb/).
• 📄 Configuration files in /data/data/ (Available only with root rights).
• 🔍 Cache and logs that are not deleted by standard means.

To delete these files:

1. Install a file manager with access to system folders, such as MiXplorer or Solid Explorer.
2. Go to Internal Memory → Android → Data and Android → Obb.
3. Delete folders with the names of remote applications (for example, com.tencent.ig for PUBG Mobile).
4. For complete cleaning, use the command via ADB (PC required): adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 title.package

If you don't want to mess with ADB, use SD Maid, which requires root rights for deep cleaning, and it will find and remove:

• 🧹 Remains of uninstalled programs.
• 📂 Empty folders.
• 🗑️ Duplicate files (e.g. screenshots with the same content).

⚠️ Warning: Do not delete the folders of current applications, this will lead to their collapse. /system, unless they are sure of their appointment.

4. Hidden MIUI functions for memory release

Xiaomi has built into MIUI some hidden tools that few people know about, which help free up memory without third-party software:

The most effective of these functions is deep cleaning. It removes:

• 📜 Error logs and memory dumps (/data/tombstones).
• 🗂️ Temporary update files (/cache).
• 🔄 Remains from old versions MIUI.

To run it manually:

1. Open the Settings → Memory.
2. Slip on a Deep Cleanup (could be called “Dumpster Cleanup”).
3. Confirm the action. It'll take 2-5 minutes.

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If you've cleaned it down a lot, you can restart it, and that's because of the system cache rewiring.

5. Transfer applications and files to SD-Card (including blocked card)

Many Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi 10 or Xiaomi) POCO X3) They do not officially support the transfer of applications to SD-But there are workarounds:

Method 1: Standard transfer (for supported models)

1. Put it in. SD-map (preferably class) UHS-I or A2 speed).
2. Format it as internal memory in Settings → Warehouse → SD-map → Set up.
3. Go to Settings. → Apps, select the program and click Move to SD-map.

Method 2: Transfer over ADB (for all models)

If the Move button is inactive, use ADB:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and enable USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap, then Additional → For Developers).
2. Enter the command: adb shell pm set-install-location 2 This will force the system to install new applications on the site. SD-default-card.
3. To transfer already installed applications, use: adb shell pm move-package name.package

Important: some apps (like WhatsApp or banking) can't be moved, they won't work. SD-The card must be fast, otherwise applications will slow down.

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Formatting SD-The card as internal memory makes it tethered to the phone, and once it's retrieved, it can't be read on another device without formatting!

6. Optimization of media files: photos, videos and music

Photos and videos are the main memory eaters, and even if you delete them regularly, you still have:

• 📸 Duplicate photos (created when editing in Google Photos or Gallery).
• 🎥 Undeleted Stories Videos Instagram/TikTok (stored /DCIM/.thumbnails).
• 🎵 Cash music (Spotify, Yandex Music download tracks in the /Android/media/).

How to clean up your media without losing important things:

1. Use the built-in analyzer: Gallery → Albums → Smart cleaning. It will find blurry photos, screenshots and duplicates.
2. Delete the media cache: Go to Settings → Storage → Other → Media and clear the cache.
3. Compress Photos and Videos: The Google Photos app can compress media without any visible quality loss (Settings → Free up space).
4. Move your media to the cloud: Upload your photos to Google Photos or Mi Cloud, then delete local copies.

For deep cleaning, use Files by Google, it will find:

• 📁 Large files (>100MB).
• 🗃️ Unused files (not opened) >30 days).
• 🔍 Files from messengers (Telegram, Viber).

⚠️ Attention: Do not delete the folder DCIM/Camera completely, it can reset the camera settings, and don't touch the.nomedia files, because they hide the folders from the gallery.

7.Extreme measures: reset to factory settings

If none of these things worked, and the phone still shows "Memory is full" (although it's free of charge 5-10GB), it's time for a hard reset that will delete all the data, including:

• 📱 Applications and their settings.
• 📁 Photos, videos, music (if not on the list) SD-map).
• 🔑 Accounts and passwords (except those synced to Google).
• 📋 Messages and calls.

How to do the reset correctly:

1. Backup: Use Mi Cloud (Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup) or Google Drive.
2. Remember important data: Copy it on a PC or SD-folder-card DCIM, Downloads, WhatsApp/Databases (if you need to keep chats).
3. Perform reset: Go to Settings → About Phone → Resetting → Delete all data.
4. After reset: Do not restore all data at once – first check if the memory error has reappeared.

If the problem persists after the reset, it may indicate:

• 🛠️ Damage to the file system (refreshing or repair required).
• 🔋 Memory wear (relevant to older Redmi models) 4/5).
• 📦 Firmware defect (try to update) MIUI last-minute).

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Reset to factory settings does not delete files from SD-It formats the card if it was used as internal memory.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi memory cleanup