Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO are all known for their performance, but over time, even the most powerful devices are slowing down, a phenomenon that is caused by the accumulation of digital junk — temporary files, app cache and residual data from remote programs — that takes up precious space in internal storage and can cause MIUI or HyperOS to malfunction.
Cleaning temporary files is not just a way to free up a few gigabytes, but a necessary preventive measure. Regular maintenance allows you to extend the life of the memory storage device and ensure stable operation of background processes. In this article, we will discuss all available cleaning methods, from built-in tools to manually managing system folders through the file manager.
You don't have to be a technician to do this. All of the methods below are safe for user data, if you follow the instructions. We'll look at which files can be deleted without risking damage to the system, and which ones can't be touched. The right memory maintenance approach will turn your smartphone into a fast and responsive device.
Analysis of occupied space and search for garbage
Before you start deleting, you need to understand what exactly takes up space. MIUI-based Android provides convenient tools for data visualization. The standard Security app scans the device and detects not only viruses, but also volumetric cached data that can be safely deleted. However, automatic scanners do not always find all hidden temporary files.
For a deeper analysis, you can use the built-in storage analyzer to show the distribution of space between applications, images, videos and system files, and it often turns out that the lion's share of memory is occupied by messenger cache or browser downloads that the user has long forgotten about.
Look at the "Other" section of memory analysis, which often hides temporary update files, error logs, and backups. Manually checking these sections allows you to find large files that have not been flagged as garbage by the system, and this is especially true for models with 64 or 128 GB of memory, where every gigabyte counts.
- 📱 Open the Security app and select Clean up for quick scans.
- 📁 Go to "Settings» → «The phone» → «Storage for detailed analysis.
- ⚙️ Use the Application Manager to find the programs that occupy the most space.
- 🔍 Check the Downloads folder for old installation files APK.
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Before mass cleaning, always check the Recycle Bin folder in the Gallery and File Manager, as deleted files take up space until final erasure.
Use of the built-in "Security" application
The easiest and safest way to clear temporary files is to use a Xiaomi-based application that is pre-installed on all of the brand’s devices and optimized specifically for MIUI. The application’s algorithms know which system files cannot be touched, minimizing the risk of accidental deletion of important data.
To start the cleaning procedure, run the Security app and click on the Cleanup icon. The system will scan and suggest removing the debris found. It's important to note that this is where the app cache and temporary ad files are deleted, a process that can be done regularly, for example once a week, to keep the smartphone in good shape.
☑️ Standard cleaning algorithm
In the advanced cleaner settings, you can select file types to delete, you can exclude photos or music if you're afraid of losing personal data, but check the box against "Cash" and "Temporary Files." Once cleaned, the app will show how much space was freed up, usually from 500 MB to several gigabytes depending on the duration of the last procedure.
⚠️ Note: The built-in cleaner does not remove cache inside apps (such as downloaded stickers in Telegram or offline cards), this requires a separate setup of each application.
Manual cleaning through File Manager
For users who want to gain full control of the file system, the manual method is suitable. The standard Explorer or File Manager on Xiaomi allows you to see the structure of folders. Here you can find and delete temporary files that automatic systems can miss.
First of all, look at the Download folder. Browsers and apps often save installers, documents and images there. Find files with the.apk extension — they are only needed at the time of installation, after which they can be safely deleted. Also check the messenger folders if you do not use cloud media storage.
Hidden folders in Android
Another important directory is Android/data, which stores app data, and inside the folders of specific programs (e.g. com.whatsapp or com.tencent.mm) there can be temporary files, and you need to delete the contents of the application folders wisely: you can clean the cache or temp folders, but you shouldn't touch the files or databases folders if you don't want to lose progress in games or correspondence.
| folder | Description of the contents | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| /Download | Files from the Internet and messengers | Check and delete old files |
| /DCIM/.thumbnails | Miniatures of gallery photos | Can be removed (created again) |
| /MIUI/debug_log | Logs of system debugging | Safe to remove |
| /Android/data | Cash and application data | Clean only Cache/Temp folders |
Clearing the cache of individual applications
Some apps, such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Telegram, can accumulate gigabytes of cache. Built-in cleaning doesn’t always reach these depths efficiently. To maximize efficiency, you need to clear the cache of each “heavy” application individually through system settings.
Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find a memory leader program (usually social media) on the list. Click on it and select Storage. Here you will see two buttons: Clear (or Clear cache) and Clear All (or Reset), the first option only deletes temporary files, the second option resets the application to the “just from the store” state, requiring you to log in again.
- 🗑️ Use the “Cache Clear” function to delete temporary data without losing logins.
- 🔒 The “Clean Everything” feature will require re-authorization in the application.
- 📉 Regular cleaning of the browser cache speeds up the loading of pages.
- 📸 You can clean up the thumbnail cache if it works slowly.
In Telegram, for example, you can clean the cache right inside the app by setting up automatic deletion of media files. Go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory Use. You can set the cache autodelete in, say, 3 days or a week. This is the only reliable way to forget about the space shortage due to messengers on Xiaomi.
⚠️ Note: When you clean up your data (“Clean Everything”) in your banking applications or authenticator, you may lose access to your accounts if you do not save your backup recovery codes.
Delete residual files after deleting applications
When you delete an application in the standard way, you often have tails in your phone's memory -- empty folders or configuration files -- hundreds of folders can accumulate over time, they don't take up much space, but they clog the file system, and the best way to find them is by using specialized utilities or by carefully searching manually in the root directory.
Many users install third-party software, such as Files by Google or SD Maid, which can find residual files from the signatures of remote packets. On Xiaomi, these applications work effectively but require permission to access all files. Once scanned, the climber will offer a list of files that the system no longer needs.
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Regularly deleting residual files after uninstallation of programs prevents version conflicts when re-installing applications.
If you prefer the manual method, go to the file manager and sort folders by name. Look for the names of remote applications. Often folders remain at the root of internal memory or in the Android/obb directory. Delete only those folders whose name exactly matches the already deleted game or program. If you are in doubt, you better leave the file - one extra text configuration file will not affect the speed of work.
Cleaning and maintenance automation in the background
To avoid manual cleaning all the time, MIUI can be set to auto-maintenance. The Security app has a function called Acceleration, which closes the background processes, and setup automatic cleaning when a certain memory filling threshold is reached.
You can also use the Advanced Cleanup feature in the same security application, which allows you to automatically delete large files, duplicate photos and similar images, which is especially useful for users who take many pictures and screenshots, and the system itself will offer to delete blurred photos or the same frames in a serial shoot.
- 🤖 Set up automatic cleaning in the “Security” app» → Settings → Autocleaning.
- ☁️ Enable sync photos with Google Photos and use the function “Free space».
- 📅 Set a weekly reminder to check the Downloads folder».
- 🚫 Turn off autoload media in messengers for group chats.
Remember that even the smartest automation won’t replace periodic manual control. Take 5-10 minutes of storage checks every month to help you identify anomalies, such as when an app suddenly starts to grow uncontrollably because of a code bug.