Xiaomi’s MIUI-powered smartphones or the new HyperOS are famous for their rich functionality and affordable price tag. However, one of the common problems with these devices is the rapid filling of internal memory and the appearance of system “junk” that slows down the gadget. Users often face a notification of a shortage of space, even if they have not installed many heavy games or applications.
The reason is the aggressive policy of preinstalled software, the accumulation of messenger cache and duplicate files. To return the device to its former speed, you need to conduct a comprehensive cleaning. Deleting excess data is not just freeing gigabytes, it is extending the life of the drive and improving the stability of the system. In this article, we will discuss proven methods that will help to restore order in the file system of your smartphone.
Analysis of occupied space and work with a standard cleaner
The first step is always to diagnose, so don't blindly delete files without knowing what's taking up space. The built-in Security tool provides the basic but effective functionality to initially evaluate the situation. Launch the application, go to Cleanup and wait for the scan to be completed.
The system will prompt you to delete temporary files, remnants of deleted applications and advertising debris. However, automatic mode often misses large files that the user has forgotten in the download folder, or cache of long-forgotten programs. Manual check of the categories “Large files” and “Recently deleted” allows you to find really large objects that can be safely thrown away.
It is important to understand the difference between cache and application data. Clearing the cache is safe and will only delete temporary files, speeding up the program. Deleting the data will reset the application to a post-installation state, which can lead to loss of correspondence or login settings. Be careful when choosing options in the memory management menu.
💡
Use the built-in storage analyzer in your settings to see a visual diagram of occupied space by category, which will help you quickly find memory eaters.
Removal of system debris and residual files
Even after an application is removed, it may still have its tails — empty folders, error logs, and configuration files — that are best suited to finding them by specialized utilities or manual analysis through a file manager. The standard File Explorer allows you to sort data by date and size, making it easier to find forgotten archives.
Special attention should be paid to the Android/data and Android/obb folder, which stores the game cache and application data, and if you delete a game, but the folder with the name of its package (for example, com.tencent.ig) is left, it can be erased safely, which will free up a significant amount of space that the system will not touch.
⚠️ Note: Do not delete folders with the names of system services or Google services (for example, com.google.android.gms) if you are not sure about their purpose.
For deep cleaning, you can use Cleanup mode in the storage settings, where the system itself will prompt you to remove rarely used applications. Regular audit of installed programs is the best way to prevent memory overflow. If the application has not been used for a month, it is easier to remove and download again if necessary.
☑️ Xiaomi’s Weekly Cleanup
Cleaning the cache of messengers and social networks
The leaders in memory consumption are traditionally Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber messengers, which store every photo, video and document viewed in the memory of the device. Over time, this volume can reach tens of gigabytes, turning the phone into a slow device. Internal settings of these applications allow you to flexibly manage the autoload of media files.
On Telegram, you need to go to Settings → Data and Memory → Memory Use and Clear Cache. You can also set a media storage limit (for example, 3 days or 1 week), after which old files will be deleted automatically, a critical setting for active users.
On WhatsApp, the path is a little different: Settings → Data and Storage → Storage Management. Here you can select the specific chats that occupy the most space and remove attachments selectively. Often users store gigabytes of unnecessary videos from group chats that they don't even know they're having.
Hidden folders of messengers
Work with gallery, duplicates and cloud services
Media files are the most obvious source of memory filling. Modern cameras shoot in high resolution, and one minute video can weigh hundreds of megabytes. Regularly check the album "Screenshots" and "Video", removing unsuccessful footage. The built-in album "Deleted" also requires periodic manual cleaning, since the files are stored there for 30 days.
Use the duplicate search function. Xiaomi has a smart search that can group similar images, and there are third-party apps that find exact copies of files created when data is saved or transferred, removing duplicates is a quick way to return several gigabytes of free space without losing content quality.
To store photos and videos, you can use cloud services like Google Photos or Xiaomi Cloud. Enable the Free Space feature, which will remove photos that have already been successfully uploaded to the cloud, allowing you to store the entire story in original quality without taking up the phone’s internal memory.
| Type of data | Where to find | Security of removal | Recommended method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash app. | Settings → Applications | Tall. | Cleaning through the app menu |
| Downloads (Downloads) | File Manager → Downloads | Medium | Manual sorting and removal |
| MIUI garbage | Security Annex | Tall. | Automatic cleaning |
| Folder.thumbnails. | Hidden system folder | Medium | Removal with root rights or via PC |
Disabling Advertising and System Services (Debloat)
One of the features of MIUI is that it has built-in advertising and a lot of pre-installed applications that the user may not use, which not only take up space, but also consume CPU resources, and removing or disabling such services (a process known as Debloat) makes the system much easier.
The safest way to disable unnecessary system applications is through the Settings menu → Apps → All apps. Find unnecessary services (e.g., Mi Video, Mi Music, Mail, Maps if you don’t use them) and click Disable, which will hide them from the menu and stop background processes.
⚠️ Be very careful when disabling system components called “Services”, “Framework” or “System” that can cause a phone to boot.
For advanced users, it is possible to remove system debris via ADB (Android Debug Bridge) from a computer, which allows you to remove even those applications that do not turn off in the standard way, but using ADB commands requires accuracy and understanding what each package is responsible for.
💡
Disabling unused system applications is the most effective way to reduce the load on RAM and battery without losing warranty.
Hiding folder.thumbnails and fine-tuning
Android has a hidden folder called.thumbnails, located on the DCIM/.thumbnails path, which stores thumbnails of all your photos and videos for quick display in the gallery, and over time, this folder can grow to several gigabytes, although the original photos themselves can already be deleted or transferred.
You can clean this folder through a file manager with the option "Show hidden files" enabled, and after cleaning, the system will create it again, but in a smaller size, and to prevent it from growing uncontrollably, some users create a stub file with the same name in this place, making it impossible for the system to write new data there, but this can slow down the gallery.
It’s also worth checking the folders of specific applications at the root of internal memory. Often photo editing programs, navigators, and browsers create their own folders with a cache of cards or temporary projects. Regularly inspecting the root file system helps find such “surprises”.