Xiaomi’s current smartphones, which run on MIUI shells or the new HyperOS, are famous for their rich functionality, but over time they accumulate a significant number of temporary files. This data, often called “junk”, can take up tens of gigabytes of usable space, which is critical for devices with 64 or 128 GB of memory. The user notices that the phone starts to work slower, applications open longer, and the system periodically slows down when switching between tasks.
The main problem is that standard methods of removing programs do not always clear their "tails."Residual files, error logs, image sketches from messengers and browser cache continue to be stored in deep folders of the file system. Regular cleaning is necessary not only to free up space, but also to extend the life of flash memory, which has a limited resource of overwrite cycles.
In this guide, we will look at all the effective ways, from simple built-in utilities to advanced methods for power users, you will learn which folders can be removed painlessly, and which can not be touched categorically, so as not to disrupt the Android operating system.
Use of the built-in "Security" application
The first and most affordable tool that is already installed on your device is the system application Security, which is designed specifically for the Xiaomi ecosystem and has access to system partitions that third-party programs cannot penetrate. It takes a few seconds to run the cleaner, but the effectiveness depends on the current version of the firmware.
When scanning, the algorithm analyzes the cache of installed applications, remnants of deleted programs and advertising files. However, it is worth noting that smart cleaning can sometimes be too aggressive or, conversely, misses some types of garbage, believing that they are important for the operation of the system.
- 📱 Click on the Cleanup icon to start the primary scan of the system.
- 🗑️ Go to the Deep Cleanup section to analyze large files and duplicates.
- ⚙️ Use the “Acceleration” function to unload processes from RAM.
⚠️ Note: Do not delete files with the.obb or.data extension in the "Big Files" section unless you are sure they are from games you no longer use.
In the Security settings, you can activate automatic cleaning when the amount of garbage reaches a certain threshold. This is a useful feature, but it does not replace manual control over what is removed from your device.
Manual cleaning through Explorer and file management
To remove debris more thoroughly, you need to look into the file system manually. Built-in Explorer allows you to see the folder structure where the extra data is most often accumulated. Particular attention should be paid to the directories of social networks and messengers, which store photos and videos viewed for years.
The most bloated folders are Tencent (for WeChat and QQ), Telegram and WhatsApp, and you can find Images, Video and Document directories inside them. By deleting the contents of these folders, you free up gigabytes of space, but you lose your correspondence history in the form of media files. Before deleting, you better copy important documents to the cloud.
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Before mass deleting files from the Download folder, sort them by date - old installations APK-Program files can be deleted because current versions can always be downloaded again.
It's also worth checking the folder. MIUI → debug_log. In some firmware versions, the system creates debugging logs that can grow to huge sizes. If you're not a developer and you're not debugging applications, you don't need those files. 1 before 5 GB space.
- 📂 Open the “Conductor” and go to the root of the internal drive.
- 🔍 Find the Android folder → Data to search for remnants of remote games.
- 📸 Check the folder. DCIM →.thumbnails is a miniature gallery cache.
Cleaning up the gallery's thumbnail cache is a separate topic. Files in the.thumbnails folder are created to quickly display photos in an album. Over time, this cache can weigh more than the original photos themselves. Deleting the contents of this folder is safe: the system automatically creates new thumbnails the next time you open the gallery, but the space will be freed up instantly.
Cleaning cache and data of specific applications
Every Android app you install creates its own cache, which is temporary data that speeds up the program, but can take up a disproportionate amount of space over time, especially browsers, streaming services like YouTube or Netflix, and navigators.
To clear the cache of a particular application, go to Settings → Applications → All apps. Select the program you want and click Memory. Here you will see two buttons: Clear cache and Clear all (or Reset), the first one deletes temporary files, the second one returns the application to state immediately after installation, removing logins and settings.
| Type of data | What's removed | Security |
|---|---|---|
| Cash. | Temporary files, sketches, clipboard | ✅ Safe, data will not be lost. |
| Application data | Logins, passwords, settings, saves | ⚠️ Complete reset of the annex |
| Cookies | Tracking sites, sessions in the browser | ✅ Re-entry will be required. |
In Chrome or Mi Browser, the cache can reach several gigabytes if you watch videos or visit heavy sites. Regularly cleaning up your history and cache not only frees up space, but also increases privacy by removing traces of your online presence.
In some cases, cleaning the cache can temporarily slow down the application's launch, because it has to re-download the necessary resources. This is normal behavior of the system. After a few minutes of use, the speed will recover, but the disk space will remain free.
Removal of system debris and residual files
Even after deleting applications, the system still has “orphaned” files, which can be configuration files, libraries or folders that the program did not delete when uninstalled, and Xiaomi’s built-in deep cleaning feature helps to combat this, but sometimes requires a manual approach.
There are often folders in the file system that contain names of applications that have been deleted long ago, and you can delete them through Explorer. It's also worth checking the Backup folder. If you're not backing up your phone manually or through Mi Cloud, the old backups of the system and applications are only taking up space. They're on the path of MIUI → backup → AllBackup.
⚠️ Note: Before deleting the AllBackup folder, make sure you have an up-to-date backup of important data in the cloud or on your computer.
Another source of debris is the MIUI → Gallery → cloud folder, which includes photos that have not been completely cleaned up (similar to the cart) and check this section if you need to make room urgently, but remember that files will disappear from there forever.
Using ADB for deep cleaning of the system
For advanced users who want to remove garbage that is not available to conventional methods, there is an Android Debug Bridge tool (ADB). This method allows you to delete system applications and their data that are hidden from the user. ADB requires the connection of the smartphone to the computer through USB-cable.
Before you start, you need to activate the developer mode. To do this, go to Settings → About the phone and quickly click on the MIUI or HyperOS version seven times. Then, in the advanced settings, turn on “Debugging over USB.” When you connect to the PC, a request for debugging permission will appear on the phone screen – you need to confirm it.
adb shell pm list packages | grep "name_of_package"
adb shell pm clear com.android.browserThe pm clear command cleans the data and cache of the specified package completely, which is more powerful than standard cleaning through settings, since it works even with system processes. However, it should be used with extreme caution: cleaning critical system components can lead to unstable operation or cyclical reboot.
List of safe packages to clean through ADB
Also, you can remove pre-installed Xiaomi applications that cannot be removed in the usual way (bloatware) through ADB, which will free up not only space, but also RAM, since these programs often run in the background. To remove the command adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name packet.
Automation and prevention of garbage accumulation
So you don't have to manually clean your phone all the time, you have to set up automation. There's a Planner feature in the MIUI shell that allows you to set a time for automatic cleaning, and it's recommended to set that time for the night when the phone isn't in use.
It is also useful to change the settings of messengers. In Telegram, for example, you can set automatic deletion of the cache after 3 days, 1 week or 1 month, this will prevent the growth of the folder with media files. On WhatsApp, a similar feature is in the section "Data and storage".
- 📅 Set up a weekly cleanup in the Safety app».
- 💬 Set autodelete the cache in the Telegram and Viber settings.
- ☁️ Enable photo sync with Google Photos and set “Free space».
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Regular prevention takes less time than battling overflowing memory. Set up automatic deletion of messenger cache right now.
Using cloud-based photo and document storage is the best way to keep internal memory free. Google Photos automatically deletes copies of photos that are already uploaded to the cloud, leaving only previews, which creates the illusion of having files, but physically they take up space on Google servers.