How to Clean Memory on Xiaomi Smartphone: A Complete 2026 Guide

Your Xiaomi has slowed down, apps are flying out, and the system constantly warns about memory shortages? These are classic symptoms of clogged storage. Even on top models like Xiaomi 14 Ultra or POCO F6 Pro, garbage accumulates over time: app cache, duplicate photos, residual files after updates and unnecessary APKs. In this article, we will analyze 7 proven methods of cleaning memory — from basic to radical, taking into account the features of the MIUI and HyperOS shell.

The main mistake users make is to manually delete everything, which is not only inefficient, but also dangerous: you can erase system files or disrupt applications, we show you how to safely free up space without having to reset settings, and we also reveal the secrets of hidden MIUI features that are not even mentioned in the official documentation. For example, did you know that Xiaomi has a built-in tool to find “heavy” files from 50 MB?

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

Before you clean, you need to figure out what's taking up space. MIUI/HyperOS has built-in tools for this, but they're often hidden in the back of the menu. Here's how to get the full picture:

Open Settings → About Phone → Memory. Here you will see a diagram of the allocation of memory by category: System, Applications, Multimedia, Files and Cash. Click on each category to see a detailed report. For example, in the Applications section, you can sort programs by size and see which ones are larger than 1 GB.

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If you see com.miui.analytics or com.xiaomi.midrop on the list of applications, these are Xiaomi system services, you can't delete them. They are responsible for analytics and transferring files over Wi-Fi Direct.

Pay special attention to the "Other" section - here are often hidden:

  • 📁 Residual files after updates (.apk,.odex)
  • 🔄 Logs of system errors (/data/log/)
  • 📱 Backup copies MIUI (MIUI/backup/AllBackup/)
  • 🎮 Cache games (e.g. Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile can weigh 10)+ GB)

For in-depth analysis, use third-party utilities like Files by Google or SD Maid. They will even show hidden folders, such as /data/media/0/Android/obb/, where additional game data is stored. Xiaomi on Android 13+ has limited access to this folder - you will need permission through adb or root rights.

2.Cache cleanup: Quick and safe

Cache is a temporary file that creates applications to speed up work, and over time, it grows to gigabytes, especially in instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) and social networks (TikTok, Instagram), and you can clear the cache in three ways:

Method 1. Through application settings

  1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
  2. Select an app (like YouTube) and click Clear Cache.
  3. For mass cleaning, use a filter by size: tap three dots in the upper right corner → Sort → by size.

Method 2. Through the memory menu

In Settings → Memory → Cleanup system will prompt to delete unnecessary files, including cache. Here you can enable autocleaning – the function will remove garbage once a week.

Method 3. Using MIUI Cleaner

Cleaner (or Security in newer versions) can find:

  • 🗑️ Unnecessary APK-files after updates
  • 📥 Unused downloads (folder) Download/)
  • 🎵 Duplicate music and video
  • 📸 Blurred or repetitive photos
📊 How often do you clear the cache on your smartphone?
Once a week.
Once a month
Only when memory ends
Never.

Important! Don't cache system applications like com.android.systemui or com.miui.home. This can cause MIUI to crash.

3. Removal of unnecessary applications and their residues

Even after deleting applications, they often leave behind folders with data in /data/data/ or /Android/obb/.

Step 1: Remove via MIUI

Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management. You can sort programs by installation date or size.

  • 📱 Pre-installed apps (Mi Browser, Mi Music, Mi Video)
  • 🎮 Games you haven’t played in a long time (for example, PUBG Mobile or Free Fire)
  • 🔄 App clones (created through Dual Apps)

Step 2: Search for residual files

Use Files by Google or SD Maid to find folders like com.tencent.ig (PUBG residues) or com.supercell.clashofclans (Clash of Clans).

Check if the data is linked to the account (for example, save in games)

Export important files (e.g., 1Password or Evernote databases)

Cancel subscriptions on Google Play → Subscriptions

Remove widgets from the main screen

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Step 3: Disabling System Applications

Some pre-installed programs (Mi Pay, Mi Roaming) cannot be removed, but you can disable:

  1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
  2. Select an unused app (such as Mi Community).
  3. Click Disable (the button will appear if the application is system).
How to return a disabled system application?
Open Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three dots → Show all applications. Find the application that is disabled and click Enable.

4. Optimization of multimedia: photos, videos and music

Photos and video are the main memory eaters, and Xiaomi has built-in tools to optimize them, but they are often hidden.

Method 1. Compress photos through the Xiaomi Gallery

Open the Gallery, select an album, click three dots → Album Control → Compress the photo. The system will offer to reduce the resolution to 1920×1080 or 1280×720 without critical loss of quality.

Method 2: Automatic cleaning of duplicates

The Gallery has a feature to search for repeated images:

  1. Open the gallery. → Albums. → Duplicate.
  2. The system will show groups of identical photos. Choose the best picture and click Delete the rest.

Method 3: Transfer media files to the cloud

Use Google Photos or Mi Cloud to automatically upload photos and videos. Google Photos can enable compression without limiting the volume:

  • 📸 Open Google Photos → Settings → Backup and synchronization.
  • 🖼️ Choose High Quality (Unlimited Storage) instead of Original Quality.
  • ☁️ After downloading, delete local copies through Free up space.

Method 4: Convert video to HEVC (H.265)

Video in HEVC format takes up 50% less space at the same quality. Use VLC or HandBrake on your PC to convert. Video Compress will do.

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Do not delete the DCIM/.thumbnails folder, which stores thumbnails for quick downloads of the gallery, and cleaning them will slow down the viewing of the photo.

5. Cleanup of downloads and temporary files

Download/ is a real dump, where APKs, PDFs, archives and other files that you've long forgotten accumulate, and so temporary browser files (Chrome, Mi Browser) can take up hundreds of megabytes.

How to clean Download/:

  1. Open Files (File Manager application from Xiaomi)
  2. Go to the Inner Memory → Download.
  3. Sort files by date or size and delete the unnecessary.

Cleaning the browser cache:

  • 🌐 Chrome: Settings → Confidentiality → Clear history → Select cached images and files.
  • 🌐 Mi Browser: Settings → Additionally. → Clear the data.

Delete temporary update files:

After updating MIUI or HyperOS in a folder /data/ota_package/ Firmware files remain weighty 2–4 You can only remove them through File Manager with root rights or a command:

adb shell rm -rf /data/ota_package/*

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If you frequently download files via Telegram, clear the Telegram/Telegram Documents folder – there may be gigabytes of unnecessary PDFs and archives.

6.Reset to factory settings: a last resort

If all previous methods failed, it's a hard reset, which will delete all the data, including apps, photos and settings, so first:

  • ☁️ Backup in Mi Cloud or Google Drive.
  • 📱 Save your contacts in Google Account.
  • 🔐 Write down Wi-Fi passwords (you can export them through Settings) → Wi-Fi → Additionally. → Exports of networks).

How to reset:

  1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
  2. Select Delete all data.
  3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

What to do after the discharge:

  • 🔄 Restore data from backup (but don’t restore system applications – they may be outdated).
  • 📥 Install only the necessary applications.
  • 🛡️ Turn off auto-update apps on Google Play.
What happens if you interrupt the resetting?
If you turn off the smartphone during the reset (for example, the battery has gone down), the device can hang on the MI logo. In this case, you will need firmware through Fastboot or Recovery.

7.Prevention: How to prevent memory filling

To avoid cleaning your memory every week, follow these rules:

MIUI/HyperOS settings:

  • 🔄 Enable auto-cleaning in Settings → Memory. → Cleanup → Autocleaning.

Use habits:

  • 📥 Clean the folder regularly Download/ (monthly).
  • 🎵 Store your music in the cloud (YouTube Music, Spotify) instead of local files.
  • 📱 Remove unused applications immediately after installation.

Third-party utilities:

  • 🛡️ SD Maid – to search for garbage in system folders.
  • 📊 DiskUsage – visualization of occupied space.
  • 🔍 Files by Google – to remove duplicates and unnecessary files.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory cleanup on Xiaomi

❓ Why is it that after cleaning the cache, memory is filled up again quickly?
Cache is a temporary file that applications create anew when used. If memory fills up too quickly, check it out: 📱 Applications with aggressive caching (TikTok, Facebook, Instagram). 🎮 Games with online updates (e.g. Genshin Impact rocks patches in the background). 📥 Automatic Media Download in Messengers Solution: Limit cache for specific applications in Settings → Annexes → [Annex] → Memory.
❓ Can I delete the folder? Android/ manually?
No! The Android/ folder contains critical application data: Android/obb/ for additional game files; Android/data/ for saving and configuring applications; deleting these folders will cause software to crash, and to clean them, use the built-in functions of the applications or uninstall the programs themselves.
❓ How to clear memory if the smartphone is not turned on?
If Xiaomi is stuck on the logo or does not react, connect it to the PC and use it: 🖥️ Mi PC Suite – to view files in mode MTP (If the phone is defined as a storage device). 🛠️ ADB — To delete files via command: adb shell rm -rf /sdcard/Download/* adb shell rm -rf /sdcard/DCIM/.thumbnails/* If the device is not detected, you will need firmware via Fastboot with a complete data cleanup (fastboot erase userdata).
❓ Why? MIUI Cleaner doesn't find garbage?
Possible causes: 🔍 Autocleaning has already removed the garbage. 📱 You're using it. MIUI older 12-The new version (the cleaner is less efficient). 🛡️ The application does not have permission to scan some folders (for example, /Android/data/). Solution: Update MIUI Up to the latest version or use third-party utilities (SD Maid, CCleaner).
❓ How to transfer applications to a memory card?
On Xiaomi with Android 9+ portability SD-This is what you can do: Format the card as internal memory in Settings → Warehouse → Map. SD → Configure it as internal (Warning: After that, the card will not be used on other devices!). Move supported applications to Settings → Annexes → [Annex] → Memory. → Change. → Map. SD. ⚠️ Note: Not all applications support portability. System programs and games with OBB-files cannot be transferred.