How to completely clean up the internal memory of Xiaomi phone: from cache to system files

Xiaomi’s internal memory is one of the most painful topics for MIUI device owners. Even with 128 GB on board, many people are faced with the message “Not enough memory”, when the system suddenly takes up 30+ GB of unknown information and applications refuse to update. Unlike iPhone or “pure” Android, Xiaomi’s firmware actively caches data, duplicates files for quick access and hides part of the system processes from the user.

Compounding the problem, standard cleaning methods (via Settings → Memory) often remove only the tip of the iceberg. Real space freeing requires a comprehensive approach, from manually removing unnecessary APKs to turning off MIUI background processes that quietly devour gigabytes. In this article, 10 proven methods, including hidden firmware features and secure workarounds for models from the Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

Before you start, make sure that the problem is in memory, not in storage fragmentation (relevant for devices with eMMC memory, for example, Redmi 9A). If the phone is slowing down, but there is free space, try defragmentation (section 7). Also remember: Xiaomi reserves up to 5-10 GB for system needs, and this is normal.

1.Analysis of occupied space: what exactly eats memory

The first step is diagnostics. Without it, you can delete the wrong one or miss the main memory eater. In MIUI 14/13/12, the path to analysis is Settings → Phone → Memory → Memory Analysis. The system will show the categorization of applications, Multimedia, Files and System Data.

Pay attention to:

• 📱 Applications: Even remote programs can leave folders in their wake /Android/data or /Android/obb (Games like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile).
• 🗑️ Cash: System Data often hides 5-15GB of junk from Google Play Services, MIUI Gallery and social media.
• 📁 Duplicates: Xiaomi creates thumbnails for the gallery in the folder DCIM/.thumbnails, which can weigh a few gigabytes.
• 🔄 Updates: firmware files (MIUI/OTA) and APK-Download updates are rarely automatically cleared.

If the System Data section is more than 10 GB, it is a reason for deep cleaning (see section 5). For detailed analysis, use third-party tools like Files by Google or SD Maid (requires root rights for a full scan).

⚠️ Note: Do not manually delete folders MIUI, Android or a system without root access. This can lead to a bootloop or reset settings.

2. Cleaning the application cache and system

Cache is a temporary file that speeds up programs but grows to uncontrollable sizes over time. At Xiaomi, the cache is divided into:

• 📲 Application cache: stored in /data/data/packet/cache.
• 🖥️ System cache: includes Dalvik-cache, ART-offsets and files MIUI fast-load.

How to clean:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner → Sort by size.
3. Select an app (like Facebook or TikTok) → Storage → Clear cache.
4. For mass cleaning: Settings → Memory → Clean (removes the cache of all applications).

The system cache is cleaned through the recavers:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Up + Power before the MI logo appears.
3. Select Wipe Cache Partition (use volume buttons for navigation).
4. Confirm the action and restart the device.

Delete the cache of social networks (Facebook, Instagram, VK)

Clearing Google Play Services Data

Remove the cache of MIUI Gallery and Music

Check the Download folder for old APK-->

⚠️ Attention: Clearing the cache of Google Play Services may cause temporary authorization errors in Google services.

3. Removal of unnecessary apps and junk APKs

Xiaomi preinstalles dozens of apps, many of which cannot be removed by standard methods, including:

• 🎵 Mi Music, Mi Video – Dubbing Google Play Music and YouTube features.
• 📰 Mi Browser, Mi Pay – few people use them.
• 🤖 Cleaner, Security – often interfere with the work, duplicating the functions of Google Play.
• 🎮 Game Turbo, GetApps are useless for most users.

How to delete:

1. Through ADB (no root): adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.player Complete list of removal packages: XDA Developers.
2. Through Settings (partially disable): Settings → Applications → Select program → Disable.
3. App Inspector (requires root): allows you to remove any system applications.

Once deleted, check the /Android/data folder for residual files. For example, Facebook can leave up to 1 GB of data even after uninstallation.

💡

Before you massively remove system applications, back up through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. This will help restore your phone if something goes wrong.

4. Data transfer to SD-map

If internal memory is sorely lacking, transfer some of the data to an external medium. Xiaomi supports two options:

Option 1: SD-The card is an internal memory (adoptable storage)

• ⚠️ It only works on Android 6.0 devices.+ Not all models (e.g., not supported in the Redmi Note 11 Pro)+ due to manufacturer restrictions).
• 🔧 The map is formatted in ext4 and tethered to the phone - after extraction, the data will be inaccessible.
• 📈 The speed of work depends on the class. SD-maps (recommended) UHS-I/U3).

How to set up:

1. Put it in. SD-map.
2. Go to Settings. → Warehouse → SD-map → Set up → Internal memory.
3. Follow the instructions (the phone will prompt you to transfer the data).

Option 2: Cloud storage

To automatically upload photos to Google Photos:

1. Install the app.
2. Open Settings → Backup and Synchronization → Enable.
3. Choose quality ("Original" or "High").

5. Deep Cleanup: Hidden Folders and System Files

MIUI creates many hidden folders that you can't see through standard Explorer, and you'll need a Root Explorer or a FX File Manager with superuser rights to clean them up.

• 🗃️ /data/log — Log files of the system (can weigh up to a maximum of 1 GB).
• 📸 /DCIM/.thumbnails — gallery miniatures (up to) 5 GB).
• 📥 /Download — old-fashioned APK, archives, documents.
• 🔄 /MIUI/OTA — Update files (sometimes left after installation).
• 🎬 /Android/data/com.miui.gallery/cache — gallery-cash.

How to clean without root:

1. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable (file transfer mode).
2. Enable the display of hidden files in Windows Explorer (View → Hidden Items).
3. Remove unnecessary files from the listed folders.

To clean Dalvik-cache (accelerates the system, but takes 1-3 GB):

1. Install TWRP Recovery.
2. Go to the Recaveri (Loudness up + Nutrition).
3. Choose Advanced → Wipe Dalvik Cache.

⚠️ Note: Removing files from /system or /vendor without root rights may result in loss of warranty or inability to update the firmware through OTA. Xiaomi is checking this by checksums of system partitions.

6. Memory defragmentation (relevant to eMMC)

If your Xiaomi is equipped with eMMC memory (rather than modern UFS), it fragments over time, leading to brakes and artificial memory filling, and defragmentation helps to regain 5-15% of free space.

How to check the type of memory:

• Install AIDA64 or DevCheck.
• Open the Warehouse section – if you have eMMC 5.1 or below, you need to defragment.

Methods of defragmentation:

1. Using Engineering Mode (Redmi 9/Note 9/POCO X3): ##36446337## Select eMMC Life Time → Optimize.
2. Through ADB (Universal Method): Adb shell sm list-disks adb shell sm partition disk:179.64 private Replace disk:179.64 with your identifier (learn through the first command).
3. Through TWRP: Install TWRP, go to Mount → Enable MTP, then use the PC to defragment via SD Card Formatter.

💡

Defragmentation won’t help if the memory is physically clogged (e.g. 100GB of 128GB is occupied). First free up space, then optimize the storage.

7. Disabling MIUI background processes

MIUI is known for aggressive back-end resource consumption, and many systems services are constantly writing log files, synchronizing data, and cacheing information, and disabling unnecessary processes will free up to 2 to 5 GB of storage.

What can be turned off:

• 🔍 Miui Analytics (com.miui.analytics) – collects data about phone usage.
• 📊 Usage & Diagnostics (com.android.providers.partnerbookmarks) – sends statistics to Xiaomi.
• 🎧 MusicFX (com.android.musicfx) is a useless equalizer.
• 📡 MiuiDaemon (com.miui.daemon) – background service for push notifications.

How to turn it off:

1. Through ADB: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.analytics Repeat for the rest of the packages.
2. Through Developer Settings: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (tap 7 times) → Return to Additional → Developer → Process Limit (set 2–3).

After shutting down, restart your phone. Check the free space through Settings → Memory – changes may not be immediately noticeable (the system updates data every few hours).

8.Reset to factory settings (last chance)

If all the methods are tried, but the memory is still full of unknowns, then hard reset will be left, which will delete all the data, including:

• 📱 Applications and their settings.
• 📂 Photos, videos, music (if not saved) SD-map).
• 🔑 Accounts, Wi-Fi passwords, SMS.

How to reset:

1. Create a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
2. Go to Settings → About Phone → Resetting → Delete all data.
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

For full reset (including system updates):

1. Go to TWRP Recovery.
2. Select Wipe → Format Data (enter yes to confirm).
3. Reboot.

⚠️ Note: After resetting, Xiaomi may require you to enter your previous Mi Account (anti-theft protection). Make sure you remember your username/password, otherwise the phone will become a brick".

💡

Resetting to factory settings is the only way to remove viruses that masquerade as system files (for example, Xiaomi-versions of Android.Triada Trojans).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi memory cleanup