Xiaomi smartphones that run on MIUI shells or the new HyperOS are famous for their functionality, but even they are not immune to the accumulation of digital garbage. Over time, the built-in memory is filled with app cache, residual files of remote programs and duplicate photos, which inevitably leads to a slowdown. The user notices that the interface begins to slow down, and notifications of space shortage appear at the most inopportune moment.
In this article, we will discuss how to safely and efficiently remove unnecessary files from Xiaomi’s phone using both built-in tools and third-party methods. Memory cleaning is not just about deleting photos, it’s a comprehensive approach to file system maintenance. You will learn which folders you can touch without fear of damaging the system, and where the heaviest “hidden” files, taking up gigabytes of space, are hidden.
Ignoring a crowded storage can lead to critical operating system errors, such as messengers stopping downloading new media files and app updates becoming impossible, so regular maintenance of the drive is a must for every Android device owner who wants to extend the life of his gadget.
Analysis of storage occupancy through standard means
Before you start taking any drastic measures, you need to understand what exactly is taking up space on your device. MIUI And HyperOS has a great built-in analyzer that visualizes the distribution of data. → Memory or use the "Security" application».
The system automatically scans all partitions and sorts files into categories: apps, images, videos, documents, etc. The visual scale helps you instantly assess the criticality of a situation. If the "Other" partition takes up a disproportionate amount of space, this often indicates the accumulation of cache of streaming services or messengers.
⚠️ Note: Do not delete files from system folders that you do not know the purpose of, even if the analyzer marks them as “large.
The app section is worth a special attention, and it often happens that one long-forgotten photo editing game or program takes several gigabytes, and removing such software frees up space more effectively than cleaning hundreds of small text documents.
Using the “Security” app and cleaning the cache
The fastest way to remove surface debris is to use the regular Cleanup tool, which is located in the Security app, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones, and this module scans the device for temporary files, advertising debris and uninstall residues.
When you click on the Clean button, the system will only delete secure data without affecting your personal information. However, for a deeper work, you need to go to the Memory Cleanup section inside the same application, where you will see details by type of garbage: browser cache, YouTube cache, temporary APK installation files.
It's important to understand the difference between cache and application data. Cache is a temporary file that speeds up programs, it's safe to delete them. Data is your logins, save games and settings, and deleting it will reset the application to a factory state.
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Perform a deep cache cleanup every 1-2 weeks, which will prevent the growth of temporary files to giant sizes, especially after active use of social networks.
Regular use of the built-in scanner allows you to keep the system in good shape. You should not rely only on automatic notifications, it is better to make it a rule to check the memory status manually before installing major system updates.
Manual cleaning through Explorer: search for duplicates and heavy files
Automatic tools don't always find specific debris, like forgotten downloads or duplicate photos, and that's what the built-in Explorer is for. Go to Files and sort content by size. Often, you can find installation files in the Download folder that are already installed and no longer needed.
Multimedia files deserve special attention. 4K photos and videos take up a huge amount of space. Xiaomi Gallery has a take search feature, but it can miss similar shots taken in serial mode. Manually walking through the album "Recent", you can delete the marriage and replays.
☑️ Weekly memory cleaning
Also worth checking is the messenger folders. In the structure of Android files, they are often located on the path of Android → media → com.whatsapp (or the name of another messenger). Inside the Media folder, all the images and videos you received are stored, even those you have already viewed and forgotten. Deleting them will free up a significant amount of volume.
| Type of file | Location (path) | Can I remove it? | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary files | /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/debug_log | Yes. | Remove boldly, it's debugging logs |
| Cash browser | Settings → Applications | Yes. | Safe, but logging into the sites will reset |
| Update files | /storage/emulated/0/downloaded_rom | Yes (if the OS is working) | Only leave if you plan to re-flash. |
| Tumbnails (miniatures) | /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails | Yes. | The folder will be restored automatically |
Cleaning messengers: Telegram and WhatsApp
Memory consumption leaders are traditionally messengers. Telegram and WhatsApp store every photo and video you view in your phone’s memory unless you set up automatic deletion. Telegram solves this problem elegantly through built-in settings: Settings → Data and memory → Memory Use → Clear cache.
WhatsApp is more complicated because there is no single “clean all” button that doesn’t affect important communications. Go to Settings → Data and Storage → Storage Management, and you can sort files by size and delete heavy videos that have been sent to group chats.
⚠️ Warning: When cleaning the messenger cache, make sure that important documents and photos are stored in the cloud or on your computer.
It is recommended to enable the Auto-Delete feature for media files. For example, set Telegram to automatically delete the channel cache if it has not been used for 3 days, this will automate the process and eliminate the need for manual cleaning in the future.
Where is the hidden YouTube cache stored?
Delete residual files after deleting applications
When you uninstall an app in the standard way, the phone often has its tails — folders with settings, maps loaded or offline content — found through Explorer, but it’s easier to use specialized utilities or a careful manual search in the Android root folder.
Note folders with names of remote games or programs at the root of internal memory. For example, after removing the navigator, a folder with cards weighing 2-3 GB may remain. It is also worth checking the folder MIUI → Gallery → cloud, if you used cloud sync, there may be temporary copies.
For advanced users, the debugging mode is available USB use ADB-commands to search for empty or orphaned folders, but this requires caution. The average user only needs to check the list of all folders in the root directory once a month and delete those that belong to the already deleted software.
Working with cloud services and data transfer
If internal memory is physically limited, the best solution is to transfer media files to the cloud. Xiaomi Cloud, Google Photos or Yandex.Disk allow you to free up space on the device, saving access to photos and videos over the Internet. The “Free space” function in Google Photos automatically removes from the device those pictures that are already uploaded to the cloud.
You can also transfer files to a microSD card if your Xiaomi model supports this feature, and in the camera settings, you can immediately set the photo and video saving to an external card, which will prevent the system partition from filling up.
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Using cloud storage with the function of “smart cleaning” is the most effective way to forget about the problem of memory shortage on a smartphone.
Remember to check the Recycle Bin folder in the cloud services and in the phone gallery itself. Deleted files are often stored there for another 30 days, continuing to take up space until they are permanently deleted.