How to Free Up Space on Xiaomi Phone: The Complete 2026 Guide

Your Xiaomi is constantly writing “Not enough memory,” slowing down or not updating due to space shortages? This problem is familiar to most owners of Redmi, POCO and Mi smartphones – especially after a year of active use. Even if you bought a model with 128 GB or 256 GB of memory, the MIUI system eventually gets clogged with unnecessary files, app cache and duplicate photos.

In this article, we will look at proven cleanup methods that work on all current versions of MIUI 14/15 (including HyperOS for new models), not only standard system tools, but also hidden features that are not written about in the official instructions, and a unique method for restoring lost space after updates, which works in 80% of cases.

1. Analysis of occupied space: what exactly eats memory?

Before you delete files at random, you need to figure out which data is taking up the most space. MIUI has a built-in storage analyzer -- but it often shows an incomplete picture. Here's how to get accurate data:

Go to Settings → About Phone → Memory. Here you will see a diagram of the memory distribution by category: Apps, Images, Videos, Audio and System Files. Click on any category to see details. For example, in the Apps section, sort the list by size so you find the most voracious culprits.

• 📱 Top.-3 "Xiaomi memory eater: Google Play Services cache (can weigh up to) 5 GB), data TikTok/Instagram (before 3 GB) and offline maps of Google Maps (up to) 2 GB).
• 📸 Photo and video in DCIM/Thumbnail — It's a thumbnail that the system doesn't automatically delete. 1 GB.
• 🗑️ System garbage: log files (/data/log), temporary update files (/cache) and memory dumps (/data/tombstones).

If the built-in analyzer shows that System Files are 10+GB, that's a warning sign.

⚠️ Attention: After update MIUI through OTA (The system may not remove the old firmware. update.zip weight 2-4 GB and lies in /data/ota_package. It can be manually removed through a file manager with root rights or by using the ADB.

2. Clearing cache and unnecessary application data

Cache speeds up programs, but it grows to giant sizes over time, for example, YouTube cache can take up to 500 MB, and Facebook can take up to 1 GB. It needs to be selectively cleared so as not to break the authorization in the applications.

Method 1: Through Xiaomi Settings

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on an app (like Chrome) and select Storage.
3. Click Clear Cache. For complete cleanup (including authorization data), select Clear Data — but be ready to re-enter your account.

Method 2: Mass cleaning (for power users)

Use it. ADB-A command to clear the cache of all applications at once. Connect the phone to the PC, turn on Debugging on USB In Settings → For developers and execute:

adb shell pm trim-caches 1000G

• ⚡ Quick cleaning: Appendix SD Maid finds and removes cache of even system applications that are not visible in the standard manager.
• 🔄 Autocleaning: In Settings → Battery and performance → Clean up: enable the option "Automatic Cleaning" - the system will remove the cache when the screen is locked.

Backup important data |Remember logins/passwords from apps |Check free space (need at least 10% of the total) |Deactivate synchronization of photos in Google Photos during cleaning-->

3. Removing duplicate photos and optimizing the gallery

Photos and videos are the main memory eaters, and Xiaomi is making the problem worse by automatically creating:

• 📷 Duplicates when editing in the standard Gallery (original) + edited).
• 🎥 Mini-video (.mp4 file 3-5 MB), which are created when shooting in the mode "Photos" + Video".
• 🖼️ Sketches in a folder DCIM/.thumbnails — They can be removed without consequences.

How to find and remove duplicates:

1. Open the Gallery, tap three dots in the upper right corner and select Albums → Duplicates.
2. Files by Google (free in Play Market) finds duplicates better than the built-in tool. Run the scan in Cleanup → Duplicate Files.
3. For deep cleaning, use CCleaner (the "Duplicates of photos" section) - it even finds similar pictures with different resolutions.

Preventive tip: in the camera settings (Camera settings → Save) turn off:

• 🔘 "Save video thumbnails"
• 🔘 "Create a duplicate when editing"
• 🔘 "Auto-save screenshots in Google Photos (if you do not use the service).

💡

If you take pictures in RAW format (.dng files) often, transfer them to a PC or cloud – one such photo weighs 20-50 MB versus 3-5 MB in JPEG.

4. Cleaning system files and hidden folders

MIUI creates many hidden folders that are not visible in a standard file manager.

To access these folders:

1. Use a root-enabled file manager (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings.
3. Delete the contents of the folders in the table. Don't delete the folders themselves, just the files inside!

⚠️ Note: Removing files from /data/log It can lead to disruptions in work. MIUI, If the system is recording critical logs at this point, it's best to do so after you restart the phone, when the log activity is minimal.

5. Transfer applications to a memory card (if supported)

Not all Xiaomi models support microSD installation, but if your phone is on the compatible list, it can free up 5-10GB of internal storage.

• 📋 Compatible models: Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro, Mi 10T and older devices on MIUI 12 and below.
• ❌ Incompatible: Redmi Note 12, Xiaomi 13 and all devices on MIUI 13/14 HyperOS – they have a function disabled at the firmware level.

How to move applications (for supported models):

1. Insert microSD (UHS-I U3 class is recommended for speed).
2. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
3. Select an app (like Spotify) and click Storage → Change → SD Card.
4. Confirm the transfer. Some data (cache, updates) will remain in the internal memory.

Important nuances:

• 🔄 After the transfer, the application can run slower – the microSD always loses speed. UFS/eMMC.
• 🚫 Do not transfer system applications (Settings, Phone, Messages) – this will lead to failures.
• 🔄 If you pull out the memory card, the transferred applications will stop working.

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Moving applications to a memory card is a temporary solution, and the best option is to use microSD only for media files (photos, videos, music), and keep applications in internal memory.

6. Factory reset: when is it justified?

If you've tried all of these, but there's still less than 10 percent of the total, it's worth considering hard reset. It's a radical method, but it's:

• 🧹 Deletes all user data, including hidden debris.
• 🔄 Restores the factory structure of memory partitions (useful if root rights were previously used).
• 📱 Solves problems with lost space after failed updates.

How to do the reset correctly:

1. Create a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset or manually copy files to your PC.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select to erase all data (including internal memory).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi Note 11, POCO F4) You can lose up to 5GB of memory after the reset. That's okay, the system reserves space for updates. ADB: adb shell sm set-force-adoptable true Then restart the phone.

After discharge:

• 🔄 Do not restore data from the backup immediately – first check how much free space has appeared.
• 📱 Install applications selectively, avoiding “junk” programs (cleaners, optimizers).
• 🔒 Turn off the automatic download of media files in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram).

7 Hidden MIUI functions for memory release

MIUI has some undocumented memory tools that you can't find in standard settings, but they're effective.

1.Lite Mode (Lite Mode)

Activates a simplified interface and disables background processes, saving up to 1-2 GB of memory.

Settings → Special features → Lite mode

2. Cleaning up memory dumps

If the phone is often rebooted or apps crash, dumps accumulate in the system (tombstones), and you can delete them by command:

adb shell rm -rf /data/tombstones/*

3. Disabling MIUI diagnostics

The system is constantly collecting logs for error reports, which takes up to 500MB.

Settings → Memory → Three dots (top right corner) → Storage settings → Disable Diagnostics and reports

4. Compression of system applications

Some system applications (Theme, Music, Video) can be compressed to free up 300-800 MB.

1. Install ADB AppControl with GitHub.
2. Connect your phone to your PC and do: adb shell pm compact -c io.lassana.adbappcontrol
3. In the application, select system programs and press Compress.

8 Prevention: How to avoid memory loss in the future

To avoid recurring problems, follow these rules:

• 📱 Automatic Cleaning: Include in Settings → Battery. → Cleaning option "Autocleaning when blocking".
• ☁️ Cloud storage: Set up automatic upload of photos in Google Photos (High quality – does not take up space in your account) or Mi Cloud (5 GB free).
• 🔄 Cache Limitation: In Chrome, go to Settings → Confidentiality → Clear the data → Site settings → Site data and set a cache limit of 50 MB.
• 📵 Control messengers: On WhatsApp, turn off auto-download media: Settings → Warehouse → Autoboot media.
• 🗑️ Regular check: Start the built-in memory analyzer once a month (Settings) → Memory) and delete unnecessary files.

For advanced users:

• 🛠️ Install Magisk and Universal Storage Switch – it allows you to reassign storage paths (for example, make applications save files to a memory card).
• 📊 Use Termux to monitor the occupied space in real time by the team: df -h This will show how much space is occupied in each section (/data, /system etc.).

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The most effective way to save space is to not accumulate unnecessary data: regularly transfer photos to your PC, delete unused applications and monitor the cache of messengers.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory release on Xiaomi