How to Delete Application Data on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide with 5 Working Methods

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones accumulate gigabytes of unnecessary data over time: app cache, temporary files, residual settings after uninstallation. Even after deleting the program through Settings → Applications, traces of it often remain in the device’s memory, taking up space and potentially slowing down the system. A particularly pressing problem for owners of models with limited internal memory capacity – Redmi 9A, POCO M3 or Mi 10 Lite, where every megabyte is on the account.

In this article, we will look at 5 proven ways to completely clean up applications from standard MIUI tools to advanced ADB and third-party methods. You will learn how cache removal differs from resetting all application data, why some programs recover after cleaning, and how to avoid losing important information. All instructions are relevant to MIUI 12-14 and tested on devices from 2020-2026 release.

1. Standard cleaning through MIUI settings

The easiest and safest way is to use built-in shell tools, which are suitable for decache of individual applications or completely reset their data without uninstallation. Importantly, this method does not delete system applications (such as Mi Video or Mi Browser), but allows you to clear their temporary files.

How to do this:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Select the desired app from the list (use search to speed up).
• 🧹 Click Clear Cache – This will delete temporary files (such as thumbnails of images in the Gallery or cache cards in Google Maps).
• 🗑️ To completely reset, click Clear Data (or Warehouse) → Clear all data in new versions MIUI). Warning: This will result in the account being logged out in the app and all local settings being deleted!

For example, after clearing your Telegram data, you have to log in and download your media files again, and in games like Genshin Impact, this can reset progress if it is not tied to cloud storage. MIUI 14 has a Background Clearup feature that automatically deletes the cache of closed applications after 3 days if you do not include them in the exception list.

2.Use of the "Cleaning" utility

MIUI Cleaner (or "Cleaning" in the Russian version) is a proprietary Xiaomi utility that analyzes the device for unnecessary files. Unlike manual cleaning through settings, it allows you to massively delete the cache of all applications, and also finds:

• 🗃️ Residual files after deleting programs (folders) Android/obb and Android/data).
• 📁 Duplicate photos and screenshots.
• 🎵 Unused. APK-Files (remainders from application installation).
• 📥 Downloads older than 30 days.

Instructions for use:

1. Launch the Cleanup app (icon with broomstick).
2. Press Deep Cleanse → wait for the analysis to be completed.
3. In the Cash Apps section, select the programs to clean (or click Clean All).
4. To delete residual files, go to the Big Files or Residues tab (name depends on the version of MIUI).

Warning: The utility sometimes flags as “unnecessary” files that may be important to some applications, such as removing the Android/obb folder with game data, which will require rebooting several gigabytes.

3. Remove through the recovery menu (Recovery)

If standard methods don't help (e.g., an application freezes during cleaning or the system gives an error), you can use Recovery mode, which is suitable for completely resetting all user applications (but does not affect system programs).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press the button combination: For most models: Volume up + Power. For POCO F1/F2/F3: Volume up + Volume down + Power.

Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache

Wipe Data

Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.

Warning: The Wipe Data option in Recovery performs a full factory reset, removing all user data, including photos and contacts, and only use it if you plan to reinstall the system or sell the device.

4. Advanced cleaning through ADB (for power users)

The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool allows you to delete application data at the system level, including those programs that do not appear in the standard MIUI menu.

• 🔒 Application protected from removal (for example, preinstalled services Xiaomi).
• 🛠️ You need to clear the system application data (for example, com.miui.gallery to reset the Gallery settings).
• 📦 Mass cleaning is required on the list of packages.

Instructions:

1. Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC and execute the commands: adb shell pm list packages | grep 'name packet' # find the exact identifier pm clear com.example.app # clear the application data

Examples of useful commands:

Attention: improper use of ADB may cause system components to fail, such as deleting the com.miui.home package will make it impossible to access the home screen. Always check packet IDs before executing commands.

adb shell dumpsys package | grep "package:"

This will display a list of all packages installed with their names.-->

5. Third-party cleaning applications

If Xiaomi's built-in tools seem inadequate, you can use third-party utilities.

• 🧹 SD Maid removes residual files, duplicates and cache of system applications, has a CorpseFinder function to find "dead" files after uninstallation.
• 🔍 Files by Google – a simple file manager with the function of cleaning the cache and analyzing the space occupied.
• 🛡️ CCleaner is a classic utility adapted for Android. It allows you to clear cache, history and temporary files.

Advantages of third-party applications:

• Deeper file system analysis (e.g., SD Maid finds cache in folders not available for MIUI Cleaner).
• Automatic cleaning on schedule.
• Visualization of the occupied place (diagrams, graphs).

Disadvantages:

• Risk of deleting important files (especially utilities with aggressive cleaning algorithms)
• Some functions require root rights.
• Advertising and offers to buy the premium version (in free versions).

💡

Before using third-party cleaners, always check reviews about a particular version of the app. Some utilities (such as older versions of Clean Master) are known for aggressive data collection.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When cleaning these applications on Xiaomi, users experience typical errors, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

"Data Cleanup" is inactive (grey button color)

Reason: the application is a system or device administrator.

• Check in Settings → Applications → Special Access → Device administrators and disable the rights for the problem application.
• For system programs, use ADB (Section 4).

After cleaning, the application does not start.

Reason: Critical configuration files are deleted.

• Reinstall the app through Google Play.
• For games, check file integrity through the settings menu (for example, Genshin Impact has a File Check option).

Cash clears but recovers quickly

Reason: The app is actively using the Internet (e.g. YouTube or TikTok caching video).

• Limit background activity in Settings → Battery → Battery Consumption Management.
• Turn off autoplay video in the application settings.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions