How to Free Memory on Xiaomi: Step-by-step instructions for MIUI 14/13

Why does Xiaomi’s memory end so quickly?

Have you noticed that your Xiaomi (whether it’s Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or flagship Xiaomi 14) began to slow down, and the notification “Memory is full” appears almost every day? The problem is not your habits – it’s about the features of the MIUI firmware. Even with 128 GB on board, the system can “eat” up to 30% of memory for office files, cache and duplicates.

Three key factors are to blame: aggressive app caching (especially Google Play Services and social media), automatic backups in MIUI/Backup, and hidden folders like.thumbnails with photo/video thumbnails. For example, after a year of using Redmi 10 with 64 GB of memory, users lose an average of 12-15 GB of system debris that is not visible in a standard file manager.

But the good news is that up to 70 percent of this garbage can be removed without rooting and data loss, and here are the proven methods, sorted by efficiency (from most effective to auxiliary).

Method 1: Deep Cleaning through “Safety” (releases 3-8 GB)

The built-in Security app is your first assistant, and it scans not only the obvious cache, but also the temporary files of system processes that other cleaners miss, and here's how to use it correctly:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Security (or find an icon on your desktop).
2. Go to the Cleanup tab (newer versions of MIUI may call it Optimization).
3. Click on “Deep Clean” (not to be confused with “Quick Clean”!).
4. Wait for the analysis to be completed (it may take 2-5 minutes) and delete everything except the "Journals" item (they are needed for debugging).

⚠️ Note: If less than 1 GB of memory is released after cleaning, then the garbage has accumulated in hidden folders.

Unused. APK-file|Residual application files|Cash of mini-programs (Quick Apps)|Temporary download files-->

Professional life hack: after deep cleaning, restart the phone. MIUI creates some of the cache again at launch, but in an optimized form, this will give an additional 500-800 MB of free space.

Method 2: Manually remove hidden folders (up to 5GB)

MIUI hides folders with the extension.nomedia,.thumbdata and other service data from the user, which you can't see in standard conductor, but they take gigabytes to find.

1. Install a root-supported file manager (such as FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings (the option "Show hidden files").
3. Go to the root folder of internal memory (/storage/emulated/0/) and delete:

• 📁.thumbnails – photo/video thumbnails (can weigh up to 2 GB).
• 📁 MIUI/Backup/AllBackup — Old backups (remove all but the last one).
• 📁 Android/data/ — This is where game caches are stored (e.g. Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile can borrow from the game). 5–10 GB!).
• 📁 DCIM/.thumbnails — miniature.

⚠️ Attention: Before deleting folders Android/data/ Check if there are any game saves (e.g., com.miHoYo.GenshinImpact) If the game is linked to a Mi or Google account, the data will be restored after reinstallation. If not, back up!

Method 3: Transfer applications to SD-card (saves up to 20 GB)

If your Xiaomi supports memory cards (like the Redmi 9A or POCO M4 Pro), porting apps to SD is one of the most effective ways to free up internal memory.

• 📱 Starting with MIUI 12, transfer of applications to SD It's disabled by default. You need to activate it through Settings. → Annexes → Application management → [select] → Warehouse → Change. → SD-map.
• 🚫 Not all apps support portability, such as WhatsApp, Telegram and system utilities will remain in internal memory.
• ⚡ For transferring games (e.g, PUBG Mobile required SD-class A2 or higher, or else there will be lags.

If the transfer option is not available, use the workaround:

1. Download App Cloner from Google Play.
2. Clone the desired application and when installing a clone, select SD-card.

16-32 GB|64–128 GB|256–512 GB|1 TB|I don't use it.-->

Method 4: Cleaning up Google Play cache and system services

Google and Mi Account’s service processes can take up to 3-4GB of cache that is not cleaned by standard methods.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search, type “Google Play Services” and select the app.
3. Click on "Storage" → "Clear Cache" (not data!).
4. Repeat for: Google Play Mi Account (if available) Mi Video / Mi Music (if not used)

⚠️ Note: Do not clear data (Clear Data button) from Google Play Services – this will cause a failure of synchronization of your Google account and loss of access to the app store!

Once cleaned, restart the phone, and the system services will recover the cache, but in compressed form, which will give you an additional 1-1.5 GB of free space.

💡

If after cleaning the cache of Google Play Store stopped updating the applications, go to Settings → Accounts → Google and sync the data manually.

Method 5: Disabling Unnecessary System Applications

MIUI default installs dozens of preloaded apps (bloatware) that can’t be removed but can be disabled.This won’t free up much space (usually 200-500MB), but will reduce background activity and cache generation.

List of safe applications to disable (depending on model):

• 🎵 Mi Music – if you use Spotify or YouTube Music.
• 📺 Mi Video – if you watch videos in other players.
• 📰 Mi Browser – if you use Chrome or Firefox.
• 📡 Mi Remote – if you do not control the equipment on the IR port.
• 🎮 Games/Game Turbo – if you don’t play mobile games.

How to turn it off:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an unnecessary application → "Shut down".
3. Confirm the action (the system will warn you that the application will stop updating).

💡

Disabling system applications doesn't remove them completely, but it stops background processes and frees up RAM. You need root access to remove them completely.

Method 6: Optimizing photos and videos

Photos and videos are the main memory eaters, 1 video-minute 4K@60fps Xiaomi 13 Ultra weighs ~400 MB, ah RAW-photo 50 MB each, here's how to reduce their weight:

• 📸 Use Google Photos in the “High Quality” (non-original) mode – photos are compressed to 3-5 MB without any visible loss of quality.
• 🎥 Video Conversion: Video Compress reduces the size of videos by 2-3 times without loss of clarity.
• ☁️ Cloud Storage: Move the originals to Mi Cloud or Google Drive, and leave only previews on your phone.
• 🗑️ Removing duplicates: Files by Google finds repetitive photos and screenshots.

For automatic compression of new photos:

1. Open the camera → Settings → Photo quality.
2. Select High instead of Original (this will reduce the weight of your images by 40–60%).

Method 7: Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If none of these methods worked and there was less than 1 GB of free memory, it’s time for a hard reset, which will remove everything, including apps, photos and settings, but will put the phone back in its “clean” state.

How to do the reset correctly:

1. Backup: Photos/video in Google Photos or on PC. Contacts sync with Google Account. Messages export via SMS Backup & Restore.

Settings → About the phone → Reset settings → Erase all data

Enter your password (if any) and confirm the reset.

⚠️ Attention: On models with MIUI 14 after reset, you may need to re-assign your Mi Account to unlock the bootloader.Make sure you remember your login and password!

After discharge:

• Don't restore backups through Mi Cloud, it'll return some of the trash. You'd better install the apps manually.
• Turn off automatic app updates in Google Play.
• Use Settings → Storage → Clean up once a week.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory release on Xiaomi