How to Free Memory on Xiaomi Phone: A Complete 2026 Guide

Xiaomi’s internal memory clogs up faster than it seems: high-resolution photos, app cache, MIUI updates and duplicate files eat gigabytes unnoticed. If your Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 starts to slow down, issue a “Not enough memory” notification or refuse to install updates, it’s time to act. In this article, we’ll look at 10 proven ways to free up space, including hidden MIUI features that are not obvious even to experienced users.

Xiaomi phones are particularly aggressive in caching data and duplication of system files after updates. For example, after upgrading to MIUI 14, the device may have up to 3 to 5 GB of garbage from the old firmware version that does not automatically remove, and we will show you how to find and safely clean these files without resorting to resetting, and we will also teach you how to configure the Mi Cloud cloud storage so that it does not eat up excess space.

1.Analysis of busy memory: what exactly eats the place

Before you clean, you need to figure out which files take up the most space. MIUI has a built-in analyzer, but it's hidden in the back of the menu.

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Memory.
2. Slip on the schedule "Occupied" - will open the detail by category.
3. Click on “More details” in the upper right corner for advanced analysis.

Please note the sections:

• 📁 System files – here you can hide the remnants of old updates (up to 2-4 GB).
• 🎵 Media files – often duplicated due to automatic backup in Google Photos or Mi Cloud.
• 📦 Cache apps – especially a lot accumulates TikTok, Instagram and instant messengers.
• 🔄 Another is that temporary files and debris from remote programs get here.

If the System Files section is more than 10 GB, it is a cause for concern, most likely there are.apk files of old versions of applications or undeleted updates, which can be safely removed manually (for this in section 4).

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files from the folder /system or /vendor — It's going to crash the system. /data and /cache.

2.Cleaning App Cache: A Quick Way to Free 1–3 GB

Cache speeds up programs, but it grows to giant sizes over time, for example, Facebook can accumulate up to 1 GB of cache, and YouTube can accumulate up to 500 MB.

Method 1: Through the MIUI settings

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (like Chrome) and tap “Clear Cache.”
3. For mass cleaning, use Settings → Memory → Cleaning (broom icon).

Method 2: Recovery Mode (for experienced)

If the phone is slowing down, you can clear the cache of all applications at once:

1. Turn off the device.
2. Press Volume Up + Power before the Mi logo appears.
3. Select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache (control – volume buttons).
4. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

After this cleaning, MIUI will work faster, and free space will be added to 2-3 GB. But note: the next run applications will be loaded longer (cache will have to be re-accumulated).

3. Removal of duplicates and unnecessary media files

Photos and videos take up the lion's share of memory, and on Xiaomi, duplicates appear because of:

• 📸 Automatic backup in Google Photos and Mi Cloud (files are saved both locally and in the cloud).
• 🔄 Video clippings in the gallery (original) + cropped).
• 📱 File transfers by file Bluetooth/Wi-Fi (The copies remain in the Bluetooth or Download folder).

To find duplicates, use:

1. Built-in MIUI utility: Gallery → Albums → Duplicates (available on MIUI 12+).
2. Third-party applications: Files by Google or CCleaner (scan deeper but require permission to access files).

Pay special attention to the folders:

/storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails – photo thumbnails (can be removed)


/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots – Screenshots (often forgotten to clean)




/storage/emulated/0/Download – downloads from the browser (APK and ZIP accumulate here)

⚠️ Attention: Do not delete the folder MIUI At the root of the storage, it contains system themes and fonts, and avoid touching files with the.nomedia extension (they hide media from the gallery).

4. Removal of residues of old updates and APK-file

After the MIUI update, the phone still has old firmware files that can be safely deleted.

/data/ota_package/ — ZIP- archives with firmware (weigh 1.5–3GB) are stored here

How to clean:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and enable File Transfer Mode (MTP).
2. Open the data folder through the Explorer (you may need a root or file manager with superuser rights, such as Mixplorer).
3. Delete all contents of the folder ota_package (except for the current active firmware).

Also check the folder with the downloaded APKs:

/storage/emulated/0/Download/


/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.xiaomi.market/files/download/ – here are the installers from the Mi Store

If you don’t plan to reinstall apps, you can delete those files. One APK can weigh up to 100-200MB (like games or heavy messengers).

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Before you delete system files, back up your system files via Settings → Additional → Backup. This will save your data if something goes wrong.

5. MIUI Optimization: Disabling Unnecessary Functions

MIUI is overloaded with functions, many of which are running in the background and eating up memory.

Another hidden memory eater is the home screen weather and news widgets, which are constantly updating data in the background, and remove unnecessary widgets with a long tap on the screen. → «Remove the widget».

If you don’t use Mi Video or Mi Music, you can disable them (but not completely remove them as they are system-based):

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the unnecessary application and tap “Disable”.

6. Transfer data to a memory card or cloud

If your phone has a microSD slot, transfer it to:

• 🎵 Music and Podcasts (Music folder).
• 📷 Photo and video (via Gallery) → Select → Move it).
• 🎮 Game data (in the game settings, select "Move to" SD»)

For cloud storage:

• 🌥️ Google Photos: set up automatic download in “High Quality” (unlimited storage).
• ☁️ Mi Cloud: Free gives 5 GB, but synchronizes only contacts and notes (photo - paid option).

⚠️ Note: Not all apps support microSD, for example, WhatsApp does not allow chats to be transferred to a memory card without root rights, and avoid cheap memory cards, which can slow down your phone.

7.Reset to factory settings: a last resort

If nothing works and there is a critically low amount of space (less than 1 GB), you will have to do a hard reset, which will delete everything, including apps and files, so first:

1. Make a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup.
2. Save your photos to your PC or cloud.
3. Write down logins/passwords from accounts (they will be erased).

Resetting instructions:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select “Erase all data” and confirm.
3. After the reboot, the phone will look like new.

After discharge:

• 🔄 Do not restore the backup completely – select only contacts and messages.
• 📥 Install applications gradually so as not to clog up memory immediately.
• 🛡️ Turn off automatic media download in messengers.

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Factory reset is the only way to remove system debris that is not manually cleaned, but only use it as a last resort!

8. Alternative methods: for advanced users

If you’re ready to dive deeper, try these methods (require root rights or ADB):

• 🔧 Removing embedded applications: With the help of ADB You can uninstall unnecessary system programs (e.g. Mi Pay or Mi Credit) command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.payment
• 🗑️ Cleansing Dalvik cache: Deletes temporary files of the Android virtual machine. TWRP Recovery (Advanced section) → Dalvik Cache).
• 📦 Convert applications to custom applications: App Systemizer can transfer system applications to the category of user applications so that they can be removed without root.

To work with ADB you will need:

1. Install Platform Tools on PC.
2. Turn on the phone Settings → About phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times to activate the developer mode).
3. In Settings → Additional → For developers, turn on “Debugging by USB”.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB or deleting system files without knowing the consequences can lead to a phone blink.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi memory cleanup