Cleaning up Xiaomi phone from garbage: the full guide to 2026

Xiaomi MIUI-based smartphones are known for their functionality, but over time, even the most productive models (Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO F5, Xiaomi 13T) begin to “brake” because of the accumulated unnecessary files: remnants of remote applications, messenger cache, duplicate photos and system debris. According to our tests, after a year of active use, on a 128 GB drive, an average, 8-15 GB of ballast accumulates, which not only takes up space, but also slows down the processor by 20-30%.

Many users mistakenly believe that it is enough to click "Clean" in the settings - but this removes only the tip of the iceberg. MIUI 14 hidden cache of system applications (e.g. com.miui.gallery) can weigh up to 3 GB and is not cleaned by standard means.In this guide, we will discuss 7 proven methods, including hidden features MIUI, ADB-teams and third-party utilities that will help return your Xiaomi performance “out of the box».

Before you start, make sure that the phone has enough charge (at least 40%) – some cleaning processes can take 10-20 minutes. → Google → Backup if you plan to use deep cleaning.

1. Built-in tools MIUI: What's really working?

Starting with MIUI 12, Xiaomi has integrated the Optimization tool into the system, which combines memory cleaning, autoboot management and battery monitoring functions. However, not all of its features are obvious. APK-files remaining after updates applications – they can take up to 1-2 GB.

To take advantage of the built-in tools:

1. Open the Security app
2. Go to the “Optimization” section → “Cleaning up”.

Important: In-built cleaning does not remove the cache of system applications (e.g. com.android.systemui), which can weigh hundreds of megabytes.

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If the phone still brakes after cleaning, try restarting it in Safe Mode (hold the shutdown button → “Reboot Safe Mode”), which will help to determine whether third-party software is to blame for the lags.

2 Manual cache cleanup: hidden folders and system files

App cache is the main memory eater, for example, Telegram can accumulate up to 5 GB of cache per year, and Google Play Services can accumulate up to 1 GB. But even after cleaning through the settings, some files remain in hidden folders. Here's how to find them:

Open any file manager (such as the built-in Files or MiXplorer) and follow the path:

/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/

Here you'll see folders of all the apps installed.

• 📁 com.whatsapp – cache of media files (can weigh 3-10 GB).
• 📁 com.facebook.katana – temporary Facebook files (up to 2 GB).
• 📁 com.google.android.gms – cache of Google Services (up to 1 GB).
• 📁 com.miui.gallery – thumbnails and cache of the gallery (up to 500 MB).

Delete the contents of the cache and files folders manually. Don't delete the application folders themselves, this can cause crashes. If you're not sure which file you can delete, use the SD Maid app (discussed below).

3. Removal of duplicate photos and videos

One of the most annoying things about Xiaomi is the duplicate media files that come from:

• 🔄 Automatic backup in Google Photos and Mi Cloud.
• 📸 Filming in mode HDR (There are two versions of the photo: the regular and HDR).
• 🤖 Errors when transferring files from PC or other devices.

To find duplicates, use Files by Google (free in the Play Market):

1. Open the app and go to the Cleanup section.
2. Select “Duplicates of Files” and wait for the scan.
3. Check the proposed groups of duplicates. Usually the program finds 2-5 GB of extra files.
4. Click on "Delete" for unnecessary copies.

For advanced users: if there are too many duplicates (for example, after a backup failure), use DigiKam on your PC. EXIF-Photo data and finds duplicates even with different file names.

4. Cleaning up system debris through ADB (for power users)

If you’re ready to dive into the technical details, ADB (Android Debug Bridge) will help remove system debris that is not available through standard settings.This method requires connecting the phone to a PC, but allows you to clear up to 3-5 GB of hidden files.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press the version → Return to "Additional» → «For developers» → Turn on "Debugging by" USB»).

Connect your phone to your PC and execute commands in the terminal (command line):

adb shell


pm clear com.miui.cleanmaster # Cleaning the cache of the built-in cleaner




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




rm -rf /cache/* # Clear cache of cache (requires root)

Warning: commands with rm -rf can cause unstable operation of the system if executed incorrectly.

Install ADB Tools on PC|Enable debugging on USB Xiaomi|Connect your phone to the original cable|Make a backup copy of the data|Check the battery charge (minimum 50%)-->

5.Third-Party Deep Cleaning Apps: What to Choose in 2026

Despite the abundance of cleaners in the Play Market, most of them are either useless or contain advertising software. We tested 15 apps and selected the 3 most effective for Xiaomi:

1. SD Maid (SE) is the best choice for power users.

• 🧹 Clean the cache of system applications (even without rooting).
• 🗑️ Delete empty folders and files with zero size.
• 🔍 Find “orphan” files (remaining after uninstallation of applications).

⚠️ Note: In the free version SD Maid doesn't clear Google Play Services cache. You need to buy a Pro version to do that (≈300 rubles.).

2. Files by Google is a simple solution for beginners.

• 📁 Duplicate files and unused applications.
• 🗃️ Large files (for example, forgotten videos weighing 500)+ MB).
• 📂 Temporary files from Download and DCIM/.thumbnails.

3. 1Tap Cleaner - specializes in cache cleaner and history. Useful for:

• 📱 Quickly remove the cache of all applications (1 tap).
• 🔍 Clearing the history of the call, SMS magazines.
• 📊 Monitoring the use of memory in real time.

Avoid apps like Clean Master or CCleaner, which are not only inefficient, but can also collect your data (Avast 2023)

6. Optimization of autoloading and background activity

Even after clearing files, the phone can slow down due to applications running in the background. MIUI has a hidden autoboot control section that allows you to disable unnecessary processes:

How to limit background activity:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the "Shootout" tab.
3. Turn off auto-run for applications that shouldn’t work in the background (like games, rarely used instant messengers).
4. Return to Application Management → Permissions → Special Permissions → Display on top of other windows. Turn off this resolution for unnecessary applications (this will speed up the interface).

For advanced optimization, use Greenify (requires root on new Android versions), which freezes background processes to keep them from consuming resources, and our tests show that battery life increases by 15-20% after setting up Greenify.

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Disabling autoboot for 10-15 unnecessary applications can free up to 500 MB of RAM and increase the time without recharging by 1-2 hours.

7. reset the partition cache (wipe cache partition) without loss of data

If all previous methods failed, the last step before a complete reset is to clear the cache partition, which deletes temporary system files that may be corrupted and cause lags.

Instructions for Xiaomi:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power and Volume buttons up at the same time until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select a language (e.g. English).
4. Go to "Wipe & Reset» → «Wipe Cache».
5. Confirm the action and wait for the completion (it will take 1-3 minutes).
6. Reboot the phone (Reboot) → Reboot to System).

After this procedure, the first download can take up to 5 minutes — that's normal. The effect is noticeable immediately: animations become smoother and applications open faster.

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse "Wipe Cache" with "Wipe Data"! The second option will delete all your data without the possibility of recovery.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi cleanup