How to Clean Memory on Xiaomi Phone: From Cache to Hidden Files

Your Xiaomi (be it Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or flagship Xiaomi 14) suddenly started to slow down, apps crashed, and the system writes “Not enough memory”? The problem is familiar to most smartphone users on MIUI — even with 128 GB on board. The blame is not only your photos and videos, but also hidden system files, app cache and “garbage” that accumulates after updates. In this article, we will discuss 7 working methods of cleaning memory, including little-known tricks for MIUI 14/15.

Before you start, check what exactly takes up space. Go to Settings → About Phone → Memory (or Settings → Storage in new versions). Here you will see the allocation of memory into categories: system data, applications, media files and cache. If the Other partition takes 10+ GB, this is a sure sign that it is time to clean deep system files that are not deleted by standard methods.

Important: Some methods require developer rights or PC connectivity. If you’re a beginner, start with safe ways (sections 1–3), and experienced users can jump straight to manual cleaning via ADB (section 6).

1. Cleaning the application cache and system

Cache is a temporary file that creates applications that work quickly, and over time, it grows to giant sizes (especially Telegram, YouTube, and games), and MIUI has a built-in tool to delete them, but it doesn’t always handle the system cache.

How to clean:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Select the app (start with the heaviest ones – their weight is displayed in the list).
• 🧹 Click Clear Cache (not to be confused with Clear Data – this will remove all settings!).
• 🔄 For mass cleaning: Settings → Warehouse → Clear cache (remove cache of all applications at once).

⚠️ Note: Clearing the cache of Google Play Services or MIUI The system can cause temporary disruptions to Google services or shells. After cleaning, restart your phone.

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If the app started to work slower after cleaning the cache, that's OK. The cache will recover after a few runs, but in an optimized form.

For deep cleaning of the system cache (including update files and backups), use the hidden menu:

1. Enter the dialer code ##4636##.
2. Select “Use statistics” → “Clear data”.
3. Confirm the action (this will delete all temporary system files, but will not affect user data).

2. Delete unnecessary files through the "Files"

MIUI has a built-in file manager called Files, which can find and remove garbage automatically, and it scans the phone for:

• 🗑️ Duplicate photos / videos (especially important after transferring data from another device).
• 📁 Large files (from 10 MB in size).
• 📄 Downloaded files (from browsers, messengers).
• 🎵 Unused audio files (ringtones, voice messages).

Instructions:

1. Open the Files app.
2. Go to the “Cleaning” tab (the broom icon at the bottom).
3. Click Scan and wait until it is completed (may take 1-2 minutes).
4. Browse through categories and mark files for deletion, and pay special attention to the Residual Files section, which are the remnants of deleted applications.

⚠️ Note: Big Files may contain important documents or backups. Always check the content before deleting! For example, files with the.bak or.db extension may belong to games or applications (deleting them will lead to loss of progress).

Outdated. APK-files (installer residues)

Screenshots over 3 months old

Cash cards (Google Maps, Yandex.Maps>)

Downloads from browsers (if files are not needed)

Duplicate low resolution photos-->

3. Disabling and removing pre-installed applications

Xiaomi is famous for its abundance of pre-installed software, from Mi Browser to Mi Video and GetApps. Many of these apps can’t be removed by standard methods, but they can be disabled or removed via ADB (see section 6).

List of safe applications to disable (do not affect system stability):

How to turn it off:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the app you want in the list (use the All Apps filter).
3. Click “Disable” (the button will appear if the application cannot be removed).

⚠️ Warning: Don’t disable system services called com.android., com.qualcomm. or com.miui.home, which will cause critical phone malfunctions. Also, avoid turning off Google Play Services, which will not work without many apps.

Mi Browser

GetApps

Mi Video

Mi Music

4. Transfer data to a memory card or cloud

If you have a microSD slot on your phone, you can transfer some files to a card, but there are limitations in MIUI: not all apps support portability, and some games (Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile) can run slower from an A1 or lower memory card.

How to transfer files:

• 📁 Open the Files» → Select a category (e.g., “Images»).
• 🔄 Press "Select» → tag files → «Move over» → specify the memory card.
• ☁️ For cloud storage: use Google Photos (up to 15GB free) or Mi Cloud (5GB free). In Google Photos, turn on "Backup and Sync" and select "High Quality" (photos are compressed but do not take up space in the cloud).

Important: when transferring applications to SD-Map through Settings → Annexes → Move it to SD Note that once the card is removed, the application will stop working, and this method is only suitable for rarely used programs (for example, for example, for the use of the software, PDF-reader).

To automatically transfer new photos/video to the map:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Click on the gear (settings) → “Save place”.
3. Select "Memory Card."

5. Cleaning through Recovery Mode (for power users)

If the phone is slowing down a lot and standard methods don't work, you can use Recovery Mode, a low-level tool that allows you to clear the partition cache (dalvik-cache) or reset to factory settings (with loss of data).

How to log in to Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons and you will be taken to the Recovery menu (in English or Chinese).

Further action:

• 🧹 To clean the cache, select "Wipe & Reset» → «Wipe Cache» → confirm.
• ⚠️ For a complete reset: "Wipe & Reset» → «Wipe All Data (EVERYTHING, including photos and apps!).
• 🔄 Reboot the phone: "Reboot» → «Reboot to System».

⚠️ Warning: Do not choose options with Format Data or Advanced Wipe names, which will result in loss of all data and can damage the partition with the firmware. Also, do not interrupt the cleaning process (even if the phone freezes for 5-10 minutes - this is normal).

6.Manual cleaning through ADB (for advanced)

If you’re ready to connect your phone to your PC, ADB (Android Debug Bridge) will open up hidden cleanup commands, which allows you to remove undelete applications, clear the update cache, and even delete residual files from past firmware.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 🛠️ Established ADB Tools.
• 🔧 Initiated Debugging Mode USB (How to turn it on - see below).

Steps:

1. Turn on USB debugging: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version (you’ll see a message saying “You’re a developer”). Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers. Activate USB Debugging.
2. Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your trust in the device.
3. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
4. Enter the commands in turn: adb devices (you should have your device name appearing). adb shell pm list packages -f (will show a list of all installed packages). adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.xiaomi.mipicks (example of removing GetApps; replace com.xiaomi.mipicks with the desired package from the table in Section 3).

To clean up the update cache (remains of past MIUI versions):

adb shell rm -rf /cache/*


adb shell rm -rf /data/local/tmp/*

⚠️ Note: Do not delete packages with the names com.android, com.google or com.qualcomm, this will cause your phone to fail. -rf /data/* — It will completely erase all user data.

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ADB allows you to remove even those applications that do not turn off through standard settings, but before removing, check the name of the package on the Internet - some system services masquerade as regular applications.

7.Memory optimization with third-party applications

If standard methods don't work, you can use third-party utilities, but be careful: many Google Play cleaners themselves become a source of garbage.

How to use SD Maid:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Start and grant access to memory.
3. Select the "CorpseFinder" tab (search for residual files of remote applications).
4. Press "Run" and wait for the scan to be completed.
5. Delete the files you find (especially look at the folders with the names of the remote games).

⚠️ Note: Do not use Battery Optimization or Game Acceleration features in such applications – they often close the background processes, which leads to loss of notifications and slow messengers.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi memory cleanup