How to Free Your Memory on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Secret Chips

Your Xiaomi is showing you again, "Not enough memory" when you haven't installed anything in a while? Or is it starting to slow down when the camera starts up, even though there are enough free gigabytes? The problem isn't the storage capacity, but how the system manages memory. Even on 256GB devices, users are experiencing freezes due to cache cache, duplicate files and junk data from MIUI/HyperOS.

In this article, we're not just going to cover the covert cleaning mechanisms that Xiaomi doesn't advertise, from forcing the system partition to bypassing restrictions on porting apps to the Internet. SD-All methods tested on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Poco X5 Pro and Xiaomi 13T with the latest firmware versions. 2020 For the year, please note the section on “cleaning dalvik-cache”, this saves the devices from the dalvik-cache. 32/64 GB of memory from critical lags.

1. Diagnosis: Why does memory end "on its own"?

Before you clean, you have to figure out what's taking up space. MIUI/HyperOS has a built-in analyzer, but it only shows the tip of the iceberg.

• 📁 System cache (/cache): Temporary update files, log files, recovery data, can grow to 3-5 GB.
• 🤖 Dalvik-cache (/data/dalvik-cache): Optimized versions of installed applications. After a system update or mass installation/deletion of applications, garbage accumulates here.
• 📱 Media Duplicates: Xiaomi automatically creates thumbnails for the gallery (.thumbnail) and copies for cloud backup.
• 🔄 Residual files: After deleting applications, folders often remain in the /Android/data and /Android/obb.
• 📦 Hidden. APK: Installers files that are downloaded via GetApps or Google Play but are not deleted after installation.

To see the full picture, install an analysis app (like Files by Google or SD Maid) that shows:

• 📊 Memory allocation by category (system files, user data, cache).
• 🔍 Large files (>100 MB that can be removed.
• 🗑️ Folders with garbage that can not be seen through a standard conductor.

2.Cache cleaning: what can be removed without risk?

Cache speeds up applications, but eventually becomes a digital dump. Xiaomi has three types of cache, and you need to clean them in different ways:

1. App cache (securely deleted): Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management, select the app and click Clear Cache. For bulk cleaning, use Settings → Memory → Clear (but this will only delete some of the data).
2. System cache (requires caution): Includes update files, logs and temporary data. Clears through Settings → About Phone → Memory → Cleansing. On HyperOS devices, this section may be called Optimization.
3. Dalvik-cache: These files are created when you install/update applications. Recovery is required to clean them. Power + Volume up, select Wipe → Advanced Wipe → Dalvik/ART Cache.

Warning: Do not clear the dalvik-cache if you are not sure of your actions. After this procedure, the first turn on the phone will take 5-10 minutes (the system will reassemble the cache).

Select cache-based applications >500MB|Check the date of last use of the application|Do not clean the cache of messengers (telegrams, votsap)|Make a backup copy of important data-->

⚠️ Note: Do not use the Clear All Data functionality for system applications (e.g. MiuiSystemUI or SecurityCenter) and this may cause the interface to crash and need to be reset to factory settings.

3. Delete duplicates and “invisible” files

Xiaomi automatically creates photos and videos in multiple locations:

• 📸 DCIM/.thumbnails — gallery-piece.
• ☁️ MiCloud/Backup — Backups for the cloud (even if you haven’t used them!).
• 📁 Pictures/Screenshots and Pictures/Weixin — Screenshots and media from WeChat.
• 🎵 Music/.data — music app.

To search for duplicates:

1. Install Files by Google or Duplicate Files Fixer.
2. Run scanning of DCIM, Downloads and Pictures folders.
3. Remove duplicates by leaving the originals (they usually have a higher resolution).

To remove hidden files:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and enable File Transfer Mode (MTP).
2. In Windows Explorer, enable the display of hidden files (View → Hidden Items).
3. Delete folders: /.trash # MIUI Recycle Bin /.estrongs # Remains from ES Explorer /.MIUI # System Logs /.data # Temporary Files of Some Applications

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If after removing duplicates, the gallery shows empty albums, restart the phone or update the media base through Settings → About Phone → Gallery Update.

4. Transfer of applications to SD-Map: Bypassing the limitations of Xiaomi

Starting with MIUI 12, Xiaomi has blocked the ability to port applications to SD-It's a map through the standard settings, but there are workarounds:

Instructions via ADB (without root):

1. Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times), then Settings → Additional → For Developers.
2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm set-install-location 2 This will force the system to install new applications on your PC. SD-default-card.
3. To transfer already installed applications: adb shell pm move-package com.example.app/sdcard (replace com.example.app with the application package).

⚠️ Attention: Don't put it on SD-Map system applications (e.g. com.miui.home) – this will lead to interface errors. Also avoid transferring messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), as they may lose access to media files.

5. Cleaning system logs and dumps

Xiaomi actively collects logs for diagnostics, and these files can take up to 1-2 GB.

• 📜 /data/log — basic logics.
• 🐞 /data/anr — hang-up reports.
• 📊 /data/tombstones — memory dumps when applications crash.

For their removal:

1. Install Root Explorer (if there is root) or connect via ADB.
2. Follow the commands: adb shell su rm -rf /data/log/* rm -rf /data/anr/* rm -rf /data/tombstones/*
3. Reboot the phone.

If root-rights are not available, you can use MIUI Hidden Settings (application for access to hidden functions):

1. Open the app and go to System → Log Settings.
2. Press Clear All Logs.
3. Confirm the action.

6.Storage optimization for games and heavy applications

Games like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile can take 10-15GB on cache only.

• 🎮 Clean up the game cache: In the game settings, find the option to "Clear Cache" or "Optimize Storage". In Genshin Impact, this is done through Settings. → Others → Clearing the cache.
• 🗑️ Removal OBB-Files: After deleting the game, check the folder /Android/obb — There are often files that weigh 1-4 GB, they can be safely removed.
• ☁️ Transfer of games to SD-Map: Use FolderMount (root required) to transfer folders /Android/obb and /Android/data externally.
• 🔄 Turning off Automatic Updates: In Google Play, turn off Auto Update for Heavy Games: Settings → Auto-update of applications → Only via Wi-Fi or Do not update automatically.

PUBG Mobile and Free Fire have special utilities like Game Turbo Cleaner that remove unnecessary resources (e.g. highly detailed textures if you play at low settings).

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Games often cache data to speed up loading, but these files are rarely used.Cleaning the games' cache doesn't delete saves, only temporary data.

7. Factory reset: when is this the only way out?

If after all the manipulations of free memory is less than 10%, and the phone slows down, it's time to do a hard reset.

• 🧹 All user data (photos, videos, documents).
• 📱 System and application settings.
• 🔄 Residual files from remote programs.
• 🗃️ Fragmented data that takes up space but is not displayed in the conductor.

How to do the reset correctly:

1. Create a backup through Settings → About Phone → Backup or Mi Cloud.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose to Erase all data (not “Settings Reset” – this will only delete settings, not files!).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (can take up to 15 minutes).

After discharge:

• 🚫 Do not restore the backup completely – select only contacts, messages and notes.
• 📲 Install applications one by one, checking the free space.
• 🔄 Turn off automatic download of media in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram).

⚠️ Warning: HyperOS devices may need to re-assign Mi Account after reset. If you forget your password, your phone may lock.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory release on Xiaomi