Cleaning up system memory on Xiaomi: a complete guide with instructions

Xiaomi MIUI-based smartphones are known for their functionality, but over time, even the most productive models start to slow down, the main reason is clogged system memory. Application cache, temporary files, remnants of deleted programs and fragmented data take up precious gigabytes, slowing down the device. Memory cleaning is not just a way to free up space, but a necessary procedure to maintain the speed and stability of the system.

Many users mistakenly believe that it is enough to remove a few apps or photos, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. System debris accumulates unnoticed: data from Google Play Services, MIUI log files, and messenger cache that can weigh hundreds of megabytes. Without regular cleaning, even flagship models like Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi Note 12 Pro+ begin to hang when multitasking. In this article, 7 proven cleaning methods, from basic to advanced, taking into account the features of the MIUI 14/15 firmware.

It’s important to understand that memory cleaning is not a one-time action, but a process that needs to be repeated every 1-2 months, especially if you’re actively using social media, streaming services or games. At the same time, on devices with less than 128 GB of internal memory, garbage accumulates 2-3 times faster due to the limited reserve for temporary files. MIUI.

1. Cleaning the app cache manually

Cache is a temporary file that apps save to speed up work, and over time, it grows to giant sizes: for example, a Telegram or YouTube cache can take 1-2 GB. Clearing the cache does not delete important data (logins, messages, settings), but frees up space and eliminates errors.

To clear the cache of individual applications:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (like Facebook or TikTok).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

For mass cleaning:

1. Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
2. Select Application Data → Cash.
3. Confirm the cleanup (the system will show how much space will be vacated).

⚠️ Note: Do not clear the cache of system applications like com.android.systemui or com.miui.home – this can cause shell malfunctions. MIUI.

• 📱 What apps clog the most? social media (Instagram, VK), Messengers (WhatsApp, Viber), navigators (Google Maps, Yandex.Maps) and streaming services (Netflix, YouTube).
• 🔄 How often to clean? Active users once every 2 weeks, the rest once a month.
• ⚡ Bonus: After cleaning the cache, restart the phone – this will speed up the re-creation of temporary files.

2.Use of the built-in MIUI cleaner

MIUI has a built-in Cleanup tool (formerly Security) that analyzes the system and suggests removing unnecessary files. This is the easiest way for beginners, but it doesn't always remove all the debris.

How to start cleaning:

1. Open the Cleanup app (icon with broomstick).
2. Press Deep Clean (at the bottom of the screen).
3. Select file categories to delete: 🗑️ Garbage files – remnants of remote applications. 📁 Large files - videos and documents >100MB. 🔍 Duplicates – Repeated photos and files.

Confirm removal.

In the latest versions of MIUI 14/15, the cleaner can find:

• 📂 Empty folders (remain after uninstallation of applications).
• 🎵 Unused downloads (browser files older than 3 months).
• 📸 Image miniatures (galleries cache).

⚠️ Warning: Built-in cleaner sometimes suggests removing files from folder DCIM/.thumbnails — This is a cache of gallery miniatures. Deleting them won't hurt, but the next time you open the gallery, the miniatures will be recreated, which can slow down the work.

3. Delete unnecessary system files through Storage

In the Warehouse menu (Settings) → Storage) hides little-known areas where gigabytes of garbage accumulate, such as the Others section often takes 5-15 GB for no apparent reason, such as fragmented data, log files, and cache of system processes.

How to clean up hidden files:

1. Go to Settings → Storage → Storage Analysis.
2. Click on the category Other or System Data.
3. Select files to delete: 📄 Log files – system error logs (can be deleted). 🔧 Updates - Firmware residues (unless you plan to roll back). 📦 APK-Files – Installation Packages of Remote Applications.

Pay special attention to the Android/obb folder – it stores game caches (for example, Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile can take up to 10 GB). If you haven’t played in a long time, these files can be safely deleted.

💡

If the Others section is more than 10GB occupied, but the files are not displayed, try restarting the phone. Sometimes MIUI does not update the storage data in real time.

4. Cleaning through ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don't work, you can use ADB, a low-level cleaning tool that's suitable for removing system debris that you can't see in the MIUI.

Step-by-step:

1. Enable Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on MIUI Version. Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate USB Debugging.

cmd

adb shell


pm clear com.miui.cleanmaster #Cache cleaning standard cleaner




pm clear com.android.providers.media #Disposal of media storage




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

Advantages of the method:

• 🔍 Remove garbage that is not available through the graphical interface.
• 🚀 Frees up to 1-3 GB of system memory.
• 🛠️ Fixes errors with "gray" files in the Warehouse.

⚠️ Note: Do not use the rm commands -rf /data/ rm -rf /system/ — This will cause the device to be completely reset or "brickled" and only work on the above-mentioned pathways.

5.Cache reset in Recovery Mode

If the phone is slowing down a lot but you don’t want to lose data, resetting cache through Recovery will help.This method clears dalvik-cache — temporary files of the Android virtual machine that can fragment and slow down the system.

Instructions:

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 device.

What this method does:

• 🔄 Eliminates lags when launching applications.
• 📉 Reduces processor heating (by cleaning the fragmented cache).
• 🔧 Corrects errors such as "The application has stopped".

Resetting the cache in Recovery does not affect user data, but may reset some settings (for example, root rights, if any).

💡

Recovery cache resetting is the only way to clear dalvik-cache without completely resetting, especially after major MIUI updates when the system starts to glitches.

6. Removal of duplicates and optimization of photo/video

Photos and videos are the main memory eaters, and even if you regularly delete unwanted images, the gallery still has:

• 📸 Duplicates (e.g. screenshots with the same content).
• 🎥 Low-resolution video (TikTok cache or Instagram Reels).
• 🖼️ Miniatures and previews (folder.thumbnails).

How to optimize media files:

1. Use the built-in tool Gallery → Albums → Duplicates.
2. To compress video, install Google Files (has the Cleanup → Large files function).
3. Turn off automatic media saving in instant messengers: WhatsApp: Settings → Storage → Media Autoupload. Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Auto-download media.

For advanced users:

• 📁 Use it. FX File Explorer with root permissions to find and delete folders: /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails, /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/.thumbnails.
• 🔍 Annex SD Maid (requires root) can find orphan files – media that are not tied to any application.

7. Full reset settings (last resort)

If all previous methods failed, the last resort is hard reset, which will delete all data, including apps, photos and accounts, but return the phone to factory speed.

• 🐢 Phone's hanging at 10.+ seconds when opening applications.
• 📱 Memory is 90 full%+, But you can't find what takes up space.
• 🔄 After updating MIUI There were critical errors.

How to reset:

1. Create a backup through Settings → About Phone → Backup or Mi Cloud.
2. Go to Settings → Reset settings → Delete all data.
3. Enter the password and confirm the reset.

After discharge:

• ⚡ Do not restore data from backup immediately – check the phone first.
• 📥 Install applications gradually to avoid repeated clogging.
• 🔧 Turn off automatic download of updates for apps on Google Play.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14+ After the reset, you may need to re-assign your Xiaomi account to unlock the bootloader!

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi memory cleanup