How to clean Xiaomi phone from garbage: 7 proven ways

Why Xiaomi is “clogged” faster than other smartphones

Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI are famous for their functionality, but many users face one problem: over time, the device begins to “slow down”, although free memory, it would seem, is enough. What is the matter?

This is due to aggressive data caching policies, background work of MIUI system processes, and the features of optimizing Android for budget and mid-budget models. For example, Redmi Note 11 or POCO X4 Pro out of the box installed duplicate services (for example, two file manager: standard and Mi File Manager), which consume resources even in standby mode, adding remnants of remote applications, temporary update files and “junk” from messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp.

But the good news is that up to 70% of Xiaomi’s junk can be manually removed without root rights or special software, if you know where to look, and then you can take a step-by-step guide to MIUI 14 and the latest models from 2023-2026.

1. Cleaning the application cache: what can be deleted and what can not

Cache is a temporary file that apps create to make things faster, like YouTube saving thumbnails of videos and Google Maps storing maps of the terrain, but over time, the cache grows to gigabytes, taking up precious space.

How to Clean Cache on Xiaomi Properly:

• 📱 System cache: go to Settings → Annexes → Manage apps, select an app (like Chrome) and click Clear cache. Don't delete app data - it will reset all settings!
• 🧹 Cash. MIUI: In the same settings, find system applications like com.miui.home or com.android.systemui – their cache can also be cleaned without risk.
• ⚠️ Exceptions: Do not touch the cache of Google Play Services and MIUI Security – This could disrupt Google’s services and fingerprint scanner.

Tip: If the app gets slower after cleaning the cache, that's okay, and it'll restore the files it needs the next time it runs.

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To avoid manually clearing the cache, enable automatic cleaning in Settings → Memory → Autoclean. But note: this can delete useful data, such as offline maps in Google Maps.

2. Removal of Remote Applications: Hidden Folders and Files

When you uninstall an app through Play Market or Settings → Apps, they actually remain:

• 📁 Folders with settings in /Android/data/ and /Android/obb/.
• 🗑️ Log files in /data/log/ (Root rights are required for access).
• 🔗 Symbolic links in system directories (e.g. for game emulators).

How to remove this garbage:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and use a file manager like Total Commander or ES Explorer (with hidden file display mode enabled).
2. Go to /sdcard/Android/data/ and delete folders with the names of remote applications (e.g. com.tencent.ig for PUBG Mobile).
3. To clean /Android/obb/, use the built-in Mi File Manager: Categories → Large files → OBB.

⚠️ Warning: Do not delete folders of existing applications - this will lead to crashes. For example, deleting com.whatsapp erases all WhatsApp chats and media files.

3. Clean up system debris through hidden MIUI menus

MIUI hides a few deep cleaning tools that you can't see in the standard interface, and here's how to activate them:

To access the developer menu: go to Settings → About Phone and click on the MIUI version 7 times.

4.Optimizing the boot: why Xiaomi is running unnecessary apps

MIUI aggressively controls autoboot to speed up the phone, but often it backfires, such as Mi Video or Mi Music, which can run in the background even if you're not using them.

How to turn off autoboot:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Autorun.
2. Turn off auto-run for unnecessary apps (especially Facebook, AliExpress, and other voracious services).
3. In the same menu, go to the Background Limits tab and set a limit for applications that shouldn't work in the background (like games).

⚠️ Warning: Don’t turn off autoplay for Google Play Services, MIUI Security and System UI — This can cause malfunctions in the phone.

Turn off auto-start for social media |

Limit the background work of messengers |

Check the exception list in "Battery and Performance" |

Reboot your phone after the changes-->

5 Manual removal of duplicate files and empty folders

Xiaomi’s file system is overloaded with duplicate photos, screenshots, and empty folders, for example, when transferring files from Galaxy to Xiaomi via ShareIt, copies with names like the ones you’re using are often created. IMG_20230515_123456(1).jpg.

How to find and remove duplicates:

• 🔍 Use the built-in Mi File Manager: Categories → Duplicate files.
• 📂 For empty folders: in the same manager, select Categories → Empty folders and delete them in a package.
• 🖼️ For photos: Google Photos app has a duplicate search tool (menu) → Utilities. → Make room).

Tip: If you often take screenshots, enable automatic deletion of old ones in Settings → Additional → Screenshots → Auto Delete (available on MIUI 14 and later).

6.Reset to factory settings: when it really needs to

If all of these methods fail, the last step is hard reset, which is a radical method that deletes all of the data, including:

• 📱 Applications and their settings.
• 📁 Personal files (photos, videos, documents).
• 🔑 Google and Xiaomi accounts (re-authorization required).

How to do the reset correctly:

1. Create a backup through Settings → About Phone → Backup or Google Drive.
2. Go to Settings → About Phone → Resetting → Erase all data.
3. After reset, don't restore the data from the backup, it will return some of the garbage. Install the applications selectively.

⚠️ Note: on Xiaomi models with bootloader lock (for example, Xiaomi) 13T) Reset may require you to enter a password from your Mi Account, and if you forget it, unlocking it will take up to 72 hours!

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Factory reset is a last resort, and 80% of the time, it's enough to clean the cache, remove the residues of the applications, and optimize the boot.

7.Alternative methods: ADB, root and third-party utilities

For advanced users, there are cleaning methods that give more control, but require caution:

• 🖥️ ADB-commands: allow you to remove system applications without root. For example, to remove Mi Browser, perform: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.browser Complete list of safe packet removal MIUI can be found on the forum XDA Developers.
• 🛠️ Root access: with superuser rights, you can use it SD Maid or Root Cleaner for deep cleaning, but remember, root is insecure and increases the risk of hacking.
• 🔧 Castom firmware: LineageOS or Pixel Experience, for example, are devoid of “junk» MIUI, but require unlocking the loader.

Warning: improper use of ADB can result in a phone blink (total inoperability) for example, deleting the com.miui.securitycenter package will turn off the fingerprint scanner and facial unlock.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's garbage cleanup