Memory Cleanup on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Freeing Up Place

Your Xiaomi is slowing down, apps are shutting down, and the system is issuing warnings about memory shortages? The problem is familiar to most smartphone users on MIUI - even flagship models are eventually stuffed with unnecessary files. Unlike the iPhone, where cleaning up memory is reduced to removing applications, on Android (and especially on Xiaomi firmware) there are dozens of ways to free up space - from the obvious to the hidden.

In this article, we'll look at all the working methods, from standard MIUI tools to manually cleaning system folders that even the File Manager doesn't show, how to delete the cache of applications without harming their work, which files can be safely erased and which ones can be touched dangerously, and why memory fills up again after a week and how to avoid it.

Important: The instructions are valid for all modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones on MIUI 12-14 (including HyperOS).If you have an older firmware version (e.g. MIUI 10), some menu items may differ - but the cleaning principles remain the same.

1. Built-in MIUI tools: 3-click cleanup

To start with, the standard MIUI features don’t require third-party apps to be installed, which remove temporary files, cache, and debris, but don’t touch user data (photos, videos, documents).

The first step is to start the built-in cleaning utility.

1. Open the settings → About the phone → Memory.
2. Click Clean (or Free in new versions of MIUI).
3. Wait for the analysis and confirm the removal.

This method removes:

• 🗑️ Application cache (temporary files that are created to speed up the operation of programs).
• 📁 Empty folders and residual files after deleting applications.
• 🔄 System logs (error logs and reports on Android operation).

However, the built-in cleanup does not remove deep cache (such as map data in Google Maps or uploaded episodes on YouTube), nor does it optimize the application background.

⚠️ Note: If less than 1 GB of memory is freed after cleaning through Settings, the problem lies in system files or hidden application data.

2. Manual cleaning of the application cache: what can be deleted and what can not

App cache is the main memory eater on Xiaomi, for example, Telegram can take up to 5 GB per media files, and Google Play Services can take up to 1 GB for temporary data, but not all cache can be erased.

How to clean the cache without harming applications:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Choose an app (such as Chrome or Instagram).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

Which apps to clean first:

• 🌍 Browsers (Chrome, Mi Browser) – cache pages can weigh hundreds of megabytes.
• 📷 Social networks (Instagram, TikTok, VKontakte) - store uploaded videos and photos.
• 🗺️ Maps (Google Maps, Yandex.Maps) – cache areas for offline viewing.
• 🎵 Music services (Spotify, Yandex Music) – save tracks for offline listening.

Cache system applications (for example, com.android.systemui or com.miui.home) is not recommended to be deleted, this can lead to malfunctions in the MIUI shell.

Close all background applications

Check if the system is currently being updated.

Backup important data (in case of failure)

Do not clean the cache of system services (Google Play, MIUI Launcher)-->

3. Delete unnecessary files through the File Manager

Xiaomi's file manager (or Google Files) doesn't show all the folders on the phone, but even among the visible files, you can find gigabytes of garbage.

Pay special attention to the Android/obb folder, which stores additional game files (such as graphics packages for Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile), which can be deleted, but you will have to download the games again.

For convenience, use the sorting by size in the File Manager:

1. Open the file manager.
2. Go to the Category section → Large files.
3. Delete unnecessary files (such as old videos or other files) APK-installer).

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If the Android/data folder doesn’t open, connect your phone to your PC and use Windows Explorer – there are no restrictions on accessing system directories.

4.Memory Cleanup through Recovery Mode: A Radical Method

If the smartphone is crammed to the limit and does not respond to standard methods, cleaning the cache in Recovery mode will help.This method deletes all temporary system files, including the update cache, but does not affect user data.

How to start:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the MI logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
4. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

This method is useful if:

• 🔄 The phone is slowing down after the update MIUI.
• 📱 Apps are constantly flying out.
• 🗃️ Memory is filled with unknown (in Settings shows "System Data" or "Other").

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse Wipe Cache with Wipe Data! The second option will completely reset the phone to factory settings, deleting all your files.

5.Memory optimization with ADB: for advanced users

If you’re ready to use the command prompt, ADB (Android Debug Bridge) will help you delete files that aren’t available through standard means, such as clearing the Google Play Services cache or removing residual files after a MIUI update.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver.
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to the Additional Settings → For developers).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Cleanup commands:

adb shell pm clear com.google.android.gms # Google Play Services Cleanup


adb shell pm clear com.miui.home #Dumping of MIUI launcher




adb shell rm -rf /data/local/tmp/* # Delete temporary system files




adb shell rm -rf /cache/* # Cleaning system cache

Warning: Misuse of ADB can lead to data loss or system failure, and if you are not sure, skip this section.

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ADB allows you to delete files that even root access blocks, but make sure you back up your data before using commands!

6. Hidden MIUI functions: background processes cleaning

MIUI has hidden memory management tools that are not visible in the main menu, such as turning off the background activity of applications that eat up not only battery power, but also disk space.

How to limit background processes:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Management.
2. Select the Applications Selection.
3. For each application, set a limit without background activity.

Another hidden tool is memory optimization in developer mode:

1. Activate Developer Mode (as in the ADB section).
2. Go to Settings → Additional settings → For developers.
3. Find the Do Not Save Actions item and turn it on (this will limit the number of background processes).
4. In the same menu, reduce the limit of background processes to 2-3 processes.

These settings do not delete files, but prevent them from accumulating in the future, for example, Facebook or Instagram will not constantly download data in the background.

7. What do you do if your memory is running out anyway?

If after all the manipulations, the memory is refilled in a few days, the problem lies deeper.

• 🔄 Automatic backup (e.g. Google Photos or Mi Cloud create duplicate files).
• 📦 System updates (updates files) MIUI It can weigh up to 3GB and not be removed after installation).
• 🕵️ Malware (some viruses disguise themselves as system files and take up gigabytes).
• 🎮 Games with heavy graphics (such as Genshin Impact or PUBG download additional data packets).

Decisions:

1. Turn off automatic backup in Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud.
2. Delete old update files in /cache/ota (root or ADB required).
3. Check your phone for viruses with Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light.
4. Transfer heavy games to a memory card (if supported).

If nothing works, the last thing you can do is reset to the factory settings, but before that, you have to:

• Save all important files to your PC or cloud.
• Write down the logins / passwords from the accounts (after reset, you will have to log in again).
• Make sure you have a backup of SMS and calls (use Mi Mover or Google Drive).

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The factory reset deletes everything, including the files in the internal memory, but it returns the phone to a "clean" state, like after purchase.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory cleanup on Xiaomi