How to remove folder on Xiaomi phone completely: from simple deletion to hidden system directories

Removing unnecessary folders on Xiaomi smartphones is a challenge that every user sooner or later faces. To free up memory, get rid of debris from deleted applications or hide sensitive data, you need to know how to work correctly with the MIUI file system. But there are nuances: some directories are protected by the system, others can be restored after a reboot, and others are not visible at all in the standard Explorer.

In this article, we will analyze all possible ways to remove folders - from basic (via built-in Explorer) to advanced (using the use of folders). ADB We'll focus on system folders that can't be deleted without consequences, and we'll tell you how to turn off automatic re-creation, POCO and Black Shark on base MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS.

1. Delete the folder through the standard MIUI Explorer

The easiest way is to use the built-in Files app (or Explorer in older versions of MIUI), which allows you to work with custom folders, but has limitations for system directories.

To delete the folder:

• 📂 Open the Files app (the folder icon on the desktop).
• 🔍 Go to the internal memory section or SD-card (if the folder is on an external drive).
• 📁 Find the folder you want, click on it and hold your finger for 1-2 seconds until the tick appears.
• 🗑️ Click on the basket icon at the bottom of the screen or select Delete from the menu.

If the Remove button is inactive or not, it means that the folder is protected by the system, in which case alternative methods will be required (see the following sections).

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Before deleting, check the contents of the folder – sometimes directories with names like Android or MIUI store important data for the operation of applications.

2.Why are some folders not deleted?

MIUI blocks the deletion of certain directories for several reasons:

• 🔒 System folders – contain files that are critical to Android (e.g, /system, /data). Deleting them will cause a failure.
• 🔄 Auto-Recovery Folders – Some Directories (e.g, DCIM/.thumbnails or Android/obb) Re-created after rebooting.
• 📱 Application folders – if the directory belongs to the installed software (for example, com.whatsapp), it can be deleted only after the program is uninstalled.
• 🛡️ Protection MIUI — some folders (e.g, MIUI Xiaomi or Blocked at the firmware level.

If you need to remove a folder from the second or third type, read on – consider ways to use ADB, Root rights, and third-party file managers.

3. Removal via ADB (no Root Rights)

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is a debugging tool that allows you to execute commands on a smartphone from a computer, and it can remove some protected folders without getting Root access.

This will require:

1. Enable USB Debugging on your phone (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) → Additional settings → For developers → Debugging over USB).
2. Install Platform Tools on your computer (Windows/macOS/Linux).
3. Connect the phone to the PC via USB and confirm access in the dialog window on the smartphone screen.

Next, open the command prompt (or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and type:

adb shell


rm -rf /sdcard/Folder name

Replace the Folder Name with a real path (e.g., rm -rf /sdcard/DCIM/.thumbnails). If the command doesn't work, try:

adb shell "run-as com.android.providers.media rm -rf /sdcard/DCIM/.thumbnails"

USB debugging enabled

Installed Platform Tools on PC

The phone is connected via the original cable

Allowed access to debugging on the screen of the smartphone

The visibility of the device by the adb device team is checked

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⚠️ Attention: Rm teams -rf If you're not going to be able to get the data back, you're going to delete it permanently. -rf /sdcard/ without the folder name, you can erase all the user files. Always double-check the way before execution!

4.Use of Root Rights to Delete System Folders

If the folder is system-owned or protected by MIUI, the only reliable way to delete it is to get Root access.

• 🔓 Cancels the warranty on the device.
• 🛡️ Banking applications (SberBank, Tinkoff, etc.) may stop working due to SafetyNet.
• 🔄 After updating MIUI Root can fly.

If you are prepared for these consequences, act as follows:

1. Get Root with Magisk (see instructions for your model on XDA Developers).
2. Install a file manager with Root support, such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer.
3. In the app menu, activate Root mode (usually in settings).
4. Go to the folder you want to delete, hold it and select Delete.

System folders (e.g. /system/app) may require mounting the partition to write mode:

su


mount -o rw,remount /system

5. How to disable automatic folder recreate?

Some folders (e.g, DCIM/.thumbnails, Android/obb or MIUI/sound_recorder) They reappear after they're deleted, and that's because they're created by system processes or applications to prevent them from being re-emerged:

• 📱 For.thumbnails: Turn off the creation of thumbnails in the gallery (Gallery settings) → Additionally. → Turn off the thumbnails).
• 🎮 For Android/obb: Remove the game that creates the folder, or use Lucky Patcher to block the creation. OBB-file.
• 🔕 For system folders: Replace the folder with a symbolic link (symlink) with a non-existent path (Root required): ln -s /dev/null /sdcard/MIUI/sound_recorder

For folders created by specific applications (such as WhatsApp or Telegram), you can use AppOps (Hidden Android Menu) to restrict the program's access to storage.

1. Install AppOps from Google Play.
2. Find the right app in the list.
3. Turn off Warehouse permission or File Management.

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Symlink is the only reliable way to trick the system into preventing folder re-creation, but it only works with Root rights and can disrupt some functions.

6. Alternative methods: third-party applications and cloud services

If standard methods do not help, you can use third-party tools:

• 📁 File managers: FX File Explorer, Total Commander or Amaze support hidden folders and Root (if any).
• ☁️ Cloud Services: Move files to Google Drive or Mi Cloud, then delete the local folder.
• 🔧 Cleaning applications: SD Maid or Files by Google can find and delete unnecessary folders (such as cache or duplicates).

To work with cloud services:

1. Install an app (like Google Files).
2. Select the Cleanup or Storage Analysis section.
3. Click on the category Large Files or Unused Folders.
4. Check out unnecessary directories and delete them.

The advantage of this method is that applications often find folders that are not visible in standard Explorer, for example, Files by Google can detect:

• 🗑️ Cache of remote applications.
• 📁 Empty folders.
• 📂 Duplicate files.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When working with folders on Xiaomi, users often make mistakes that lead to data loss or system failures.

⚠️ Note: If after removing the folder, the phone starts to brake or overheat, check the use of the phone. CPU In Settings → Battery → Battery use. It's possible that the system process is trying to recover deleted data and loading the processor, in which case it will help to reboot or reset the cache (Settings). → Memory. → Clear the cache).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions