How to Free Memory on Xiaomi: Proven Ways for MIUI 14/15

Xiaomi MIUI-based smartphones are known for their functionality, but even they face a shortage of internal memory over time, clogged with app cache, temporary files and media duplicates, which leads to slowdowns and constant notifications of overflow storage. The problem is especially acute on budget models with 32-64 GB of memory, where the user is only 10-15 GB after installing the system and basic applications.

In this article, we will discuss 10 effective ways to free up memory on Xiaomi without root rights and loss of important data. The methods are suitable for all current versions of MIUI 14/15 (including HyperOS) and tested on models from Redmi Note 12 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra. You will learn how to properly clean the cache, find and delete junk files, and optimize the system to prevent re-clogging of memory.

1. The analysis of occupied memory: what exactly eats the place?

Before you start cleaning, you need to know which files are the lion's share of memory. MIUI has a built-in tool for this - Settings → Phone → Memory. Here the system automatically categorizes data into categories: applications, media files, documents and other (cache, temporary files).

Pay particular attention to:

📱 Applications – some programs (such as instant messengers or games) can weigh 1-2 GB each, even if you don’t use them.
📸 Media files - photos in original resolution, video in 4K And screenshots quickly fill up the memory.
🗑️ «Other" - here are hidden the remains of remote applications, log files of the system and the cache of Google Play Services.
🔄 Duplicate — MIUI Often creates copies of photos when editing or backing up.

If the built-in analyzer isn’t enough, use third-party utilities like Files by Google or SD Maid. They will show hidden files larger than 100 MB that the system doesn’t normally display (e.g., error dumps or update backups).

⚠️ Note: Do not manually delete folders with names MIUI, Android or com.xiaomi, this can cause a system failure. Use only official tools to clean them.

📊 How often do you clean your memory on your smartphone?

Once a week.

Once a month

Only when the place ends.

Never clean.

2. Cleaning the application cache and system

Cache is a temporary file that creates applications to speed up work, and over time, it accumulates and can take up to 5-10 GB of memory. MIUI has two ways to clean the cache:

Method 1: Clearing the cache for individual applications

Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
Select an app (such as Telegram or YouTube).
Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

Method 2: Mass cleaning of the cache

🧹 Open Security. → Cleaning (icon with broomstick).
🔍 Click Deep Clean and select Cash Apps.
✅ Confirm the removal – it will free up from 1 to 3 GB of space.

MIUI 15 also introduced Autoclean (in the same Security section) which automatically deletes unnecessary files when the free memory level is low.

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After cleaning the cache, some applications (such as cards or messengers) can load longer on the first run — this is normal. After 1-2 use, the speed will return to normal.

3. Removal of unnecessary applications and their residues

Many Xiaomi users are faced with the problem of pre-installed apps (bloatwer) that cannot be removed by standard means, but even these can be deactivated or removed with ADB (no root rights).

How to remove embedded applications:

Turn on Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone).
Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.weather2 (replace com.miui.weather2 with the desired application package).

List of safe packets to remove (for MIUI 14/15):

Annex	Package	Place vacated
Weather.	com.miui.weather2	~150MB
Music.	com.miui.player	~200MB
Camera (duplicate)	com.android.camera2	~80MB
GetApps	com.xiaomi.mipicks	~300MB

To remove remnants of remote applications, use SD Maid (CorseFinder section), which finds the "dead" files that remain after uninstallation of programs.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete packages with the names com.android, com.qualcomm or com.google – this may cause the failure of key functions (calls, mobile Internet or Play Market).

4. Optimization of media files: photos, videos and screenshots

Photos and video are the main memory eaters, with one RAW photo weighing 20 to 30 MB, and a 4K minute video weighing up to 400 MB.

Method 1: Compression of photos

📷 In camera settings (Settings) → Camera. → Photo resolution: Select High (HEIF) Instead of a maximum, it will reduce the weight of the images by 30-50%.
🔍 Use Google Photos to Automatically Compress: Settings → Make room.

Method 2: Removing duplicates and failed images

🔄 Xiaomi Gallery has built-in duplicate search: Albums → Smart albums. → Duplicate.
🗑️ Delete the folder. DCIM/.thumbnails — It stores thumbnails that the system automatically restores.

Method 3: Transfer media to a memory card or cloud

💾 If your Xiaomi supports microSD, transfer your photos and videos to Settings. → Warehouse → Data portability.
☁️ Set up automatic downloads in Google Photos or Mi Cloud (but remember that only 15GB is available for free on Google and 5GB in Mi Cloud).

Change the resolution of the photo in the camera settings|Remove duplicates in the gallery|Clear the.thumbnails folder|Transfer old photos to SD-map|Enable autoboot to the cloud-->

5. Cleanup of downloads and temporary files

The Download folder and temporary system application files often contain gigabytes of unnecessary data, for example, Telegram stores all media files in Telegram/Telegram Images by default, and browsers cache pages and videos.

How to clean:

Open Files (File Manager app) and go to Internal Memory → Download. Delete unnecessary APKs, PDFs and archives.
In Settings → Storage → Files, select Downloads and Temporary Files for mass deletion.
For Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Clear cache.

Pay special attention to the folders:

📁 Android/data — This is where game data is stored (e.g., Genshin Impact cache can weigh in). 10+ GB).
📁 MIUI/backup — backups of the system that are created during updates.
📁 Tencent/MicroMsg — WeChat cache (if you use it).

What to do if your Android/data folder is not cleaned?

This folder is protected by the system. To clean it: 1. Delete the application you want to erase. 2. Reboot your phone. 3. The folder with the data of this application will be deleted automatically. If you want to clear the data without deleting the program, use Settings → Applications → [Title] → Storage → Clear the data (this will reset all the settings of the application!).

6.Use of MIUI functions for automatic cleaning

MIUI 14/15 has built-in tools for automatic memory management, which are often ignored, but they can save up to 2-3 GB per month.

Function 1: "Lite Mode" (Lite Mode)

🔧 Included in Settings → Special facilities → Light mode.
📉 Reduces application background activity and limits caching.

Function 2: Optimization of memory

⚡ B Settings → Battery and productivity → Optimizing memory.
🔄 Automatically closes unused applications and cleans RAM.

Function 3: “Smart cleaning”

🧠 In safety → Cleanup → Settings enable Smart Cleaning.
🗓️ The system will delete unnecessary files once a week without your involvement.

These features are especially useful on budget models (Redmi 10A, Poco M5), where every megabyte counts. They don't replace manual cleaning, but they reduce the frequency of it.

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Enable Smart Cleanup and Light Mode are the only MIUI features that work in the background and don’t require manual control.

7.Reset to factory settings: a last resort

If all of these methods didn't work, and you have less than 1 GB of memory left, you're going to have to reset it completely, which is a radical way, but it's guaranteed to bring the phone back to its original state.

How to do the reset correctly:

Back up important data (contacts, photos, messages) through Settings → About Phone → Backup.
Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
Choose to erase all data and confirm the action.

After discharge:

🔄 Do not restore backup via Mi Cloud – it may contain the same junk files.
📥 Install only the necessary applications and immediately configure their cache (for example, in Telegram, limit the download of media).

⚠️ Warning: On HyperOS models (e.g. Xiaomi 14), the reset takes up to 10 minutes - don't interrupt the process even if the screen is out. MI.

8.Preventing future memory clogging

To avoid recurring problems, follow these rules:

Rule 1: Installation control of annexes

🚫 Remove unused programs immediately after installation.
🔍 Before installation, check the size APK APKMirror – Some games weigh more than 1GB.

Rule 2: Configuring messengers

📥 In Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Autoboot media → Never.
💬 On WhatsApp: Settings → Warehouse → Delete unnecessary files.

Rule 3: Regular memory checks

📅 Start Security once a month → Cleanup → Deep cleaning.
📊 Use the Memory widget on the home screen to monitor.

If you install heavy games frequently (like Call of Duty Mobile or PUBG), consider buying a Xiaomi microSD-enabled model (like Redmi Note 13 Pro+) or a 256GB model.

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Even 128 GB of memory will last a long time if you follow the cache, do not accumulate duplicate photos and limit autoload in messengers.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory release on Xiaomi

Can applications be moved to SD-map?

On most modern Xiaomi (with MIUI 12 and later), the portability of applications to the microSD is blocked by default. However, you can: Use the card as internal memory (formatting in Settings → Storage), but this will slow down the application. Only transfer media files and documents. Except: some models on Android Go (for example, Redmi A1) support application portability.

Why does memory run out quickly after cleaning?

This is because: App Auto Updates - disable them in the Play Market (Settings → Auto Update → Never). Google Play Services cache - manually clean it every 2 weeks. Hidden backups - check the MIUI/backup folder. Also to blame may be viruses or memory optimizers from third-party developers - delete them.

Is it safe to use programs like CCleaner?

No. Cleanup applications (e.g. CCleaner, Clean Master) are often: Delete important system files, causing crashes; consume resources themselves and show false notifications about the “critical state” of memory; may contain advertising software; Use only built-in MIUI tools or proven utilities like SD Maid.

How to clean up memory on Xiaomi without losing data?

Follow this algorithm: Back up contacts and messages via Settings → About Phone → Backup. Move photos and videos to your PC or cloud. Clear cache and unnecessary files as instructed above. Use Google Files to search for large files (>100MB). If you need to free up a lot of space (for example, before upgrading), temporarily remove heavy games - their progress is synchronized with your Google Play or Mi Account.

Why does the settings show that the memory is busy, but no files?

This is a typical MIUI problem related to: Hidden system files — they don't show up in the explorer, but take up space. File system errors — check through Settings → Warehouse → Verification and Correction. Update cache — delete /cache folder via TWRP (root rights required). If the problem remains, reset to factory settings.