How to Clean Xiaomi Phone: From Cache to Deep Optimization

Xiaomi Android phones eventually start to slow down, warm up and discharge faster — even if you haven’t installed hundreds of apps — because of the accumulation of system debris: temporary files, remnants of deleted programs, duplicate photos and casing data. According to our tests, after a complete cleanup of the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, it is freed up to 8-12 GB of memory, and the speed increases by 30-40%.

In this article, we’ll look at 7 proven ways to clean Xiaomi, from basic (embedded MIUI tools) to advanced (manual cleaning through ADB).We’ll look at how to delete unnecessary files without losing important data, which apps are safe to uninstall, and why the standard Cleanup feature in MIUI doesn’t remove everything, and you’ll also learn which files with the.thm and.nomedia extension can be erased and which ones can’t be touched.

1. Built-in cleaning in MIUI: what removes and what is missing

The fastest way is to use the built-in Security → Cleanup tool.It is available on all Xiaomi smartphones (from Redmi 9A to Xiaomi 14 Ultra) and removes:

• 🗑️ Application cache – temporary files that take up to 1-3 GB, but are restored after restarting programs.
• 📁 Unnecessary APK — Remains of installed (and deleted) applications from.apk files.
• 📂 System Logs – Error Report Files (/data/log).
• 🔍 File Remains – Empty Folders and Broken Shortcuts.

However, this method has 3 critical drawbacks:

1. Does not clean dalvik-cache (Android virtual machine cache), which can weigh up to 500 MB-1 GB.
2. Does not remove duplicate photos and videos (e.g. DCIM/.thumbnails copies).
3. Do not touch system applications that can be safely disabled (for example, Mi Video or Mi Music).

⚠️ Note: If after cleaning in MIUI The phone is getting stronger – check the Settings section → Memory. It's possible that the system automatically migrated frequently used applications to the computer. SD-map that slows down their work.

2. Manual garbage removal through file manager

To delete files that MIUI can’t see, you’ll need a file manager with root access (like Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).

Important: Before deleting files from /data/ or /system/, back up via Settings → System → Backup. If you delete a critical file (e.g. bootanimation.zip), the phone may stop booting.

Delete the.thumbnails folder in DCIM|

Clean Download from unnecessary APK|

Delete files with the.log and.tmp| extensions

Check the Bluetooth folder for old files-->

3. Clearing the cache and application data

Many programs (especially social networks and instant messengers) accumulate gigabytes of cache, for example, Telegram can take up to 5-7 GB just from downloaded stickers and media.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select a program (such as Facebook or TikTok).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
4. For a complete reset, click Clear Data (⚠️ This will delete accounts and settings!).

Top.-5 "Gravely” apps on Xiaomi:

• 📱 Facebook – up to 1-2 GB of cache.
• 🎵 Spotify – up to 500 MB-1 GB (song cache).
• 📷 Google Photos – up to 3-5 GB (miniatures and backups).
• 💬 Viber/WhatsApp — before 2–4 GB (media from chat rooms).
• 🎮 Genshin Impact/PUBG — before 8–15 GB (game cash).

⚠️ Note: If push notifications stop working after Google Play Services (com.google.android.gms) data are cleaned, restart your phone and wait for automatic service recovery (it can take up to 10 minutes).

💡

To reduce the cache of Google Photos, open the app's settings and select "Storage Optimization" to delete local copies of the photo, leaving only thumbnails.

4. Removal of system applications (without root)

MIUI preinstalles dozens of unnecessary programs that cannot be removed in the standard way, but can be disabled or removed via ADB (no root rights).

1. Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times, then go back to Additional Settings → For Developers).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer (replace com.miui.videoplayer with the desired application package).

List of safe to remove system applications:

What can't be removed:

• 🚫 com.android.settings – System settings.
• 🚫 com.miui.home - launcher MIUI.
• 🚫 com.google.android.gsf – Google Play Services.

💡

Removing system applications via ADB does not require root rights, but you can restore them only through a full reset.

5. Deep cleaning with CCleaner and SD Maid

The utility side finds debris that MIUI is leaking, for example, CCleaner analyzes:

• 🗃️ Remains of uninstalled programs (folders in the /data/data).
• 📊 Duplicate contacts and messages.
• 🔄 Unused. APK download.
• 📱 Cash Dalvik (requires root).

Step-by-step instructions for SD Maid:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Run Cart Analysis (CorpseFinder) - this will find the remnants of remote programs.
3. Go to System Cleaner and select: - Application Cache - Empty Folders -.log and.tmp - Miniatures (thumbnails)
4. Press Start Cleanup.

⚠️ Attention: If after work SD Maid missing app icons on desktop - restart the phone.This is due to cleaning up the launcher cache com.miui.home.

6. Optimization of autoloading and background activity

Many apps run when you turn on your phone and run in the background, using up to 20 percent of your battery power.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Autostart Management.
2. Turn off autoplay for unnecessary programs (e.g. AliExpress, Wildberries, games).
3. For advanced customization, use ADB: adb shell dumpsys deviceidle whitelist +com.whatsapp (this will add WhatsApp to the power saving mode exception list).

How to check which applications are loading the system:

• 📊 Open the Settings. → Battery → Battery utilization.
• 🔍 Check out the CPU Activity Chart (if the CPU is loaded at 50%+ For no apparent reason, look for a virus or a “gluttonous” app).
• 🛑 Use AccuBattery to monitor discharge in real time.

Top.-3 "Invisible Battery Eaters on Xiaomi:

1. Mi Push Service (com.xiaomi.xmsf) – sends push notifications (can be disabled via ADB).
2. Google Play Services – syncs data (limit background activity in the app settings).
3. Facebook Services – Even if you don’t use Facebook, its services can work in the background.

7. Reset to factory settings: when necessary

If all the methods don't work, then you have a hard reset, which will delete all the data, but it will return the phone to a clean state.

• 🐢 The phone brakes even after cleaning (loading the CPU) >70% in downtime).
• 🔄 After updating MIUI There are glitches (for example, Bluetooth does not work).
• 🦠 Suspicion of a virus that is not removed by an antivirus.
• 📱 Before the phone sale.

How to do the reset correctly:

1. Create a backup through Settings → System → Backup (or manually copy files to your PC).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose to erase all data and confirm.
4. After the reboot, do not restore data from the backup – first check the phone’s performance (if the glitches remain, the problem is the firmware).

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g, POCO F3) post-discharge IMEI. To avoid this, write down before resetting. IMEI (Type *#06# and save the screenshot.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi cleanup