Modern Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with high-quality cameras that can create images with huge resolution, which inevitably leads to a rapid filling of internal memory of the device. Users often face a situation when the system notifies about the lack of space, blocking the ability to install new applications or receive messages in instant messengers.
Deleting thousands of images may seem daunting if done by manually selecting each file individually. However, MIUI and HyperOS have powerful tools for mass media management that free up gigabytes of space in minutes. It's important to understand that simply removing from a gallery does not always mean completely erasing data, since copies can remain in the cloud services or in the shopping cart.
In this article, we will take a look at all the cleaning options available, from standard system functions to third-party software and full resetting. You will learn to distinguish between local copies and cloud syncs so you don't accidentally lose important moments of life. Proper file management is the key to a high-speed smartphone.
Standard removal through the Gallery app
The most obvious and affordable way to free up space is through the Gallery app, which is pre-installed on every Xiaomi device, and the interface allows you to highlight not only individual images, but also entire albums or time slots, which greatly speeds up the process. First, you need to open the app and go to the Photo tab, where all images are sorted by date of shooting.
To delete all photos at once, click and hold your finger on any shot until the highlight mode appears, and then select the "Select All" option in the top or bottom menu of the screen. After that, just click the button with the image of the basket, and the system will request confirmation of operation. If you want to clear only certain folders, such as screenshots or downloads, go to the "Albums" tab and perform similar actions within a specific directory.
☑️ Quick cleaning algorithm
It's worth noting that when you delete a lot of data, the device's processor can experience an increased load, which will temporarily reduce the response speed of the interface. The file system must redistribute the free blocks, so you shouldn't panic if the phone starts to "think" a couple of seconds after confirmation.
⚠️ Note: When mass-deleting photos, make sure that sync with the Mi Cloud or Google Photos cloud is temporarily disabled if you plan to save copies online. Otherwise, deleting a local copy can erase the photo from the cloud storage as well.
Cleaning up cloud storage Mi Cloud and Google Photos
Many Xiaomi users default to activate gallery sync with the Mi Cloud service, which creates a mirror image of all the images on the company's servers. If your goal is to make room not only in your phone but also in your cloud account, you need to clean directly in the cloud settings. Simply removing files from your device when synced is enabled often leads to them disappearing everywhere.
To manage the content of the cloud, go to your smartphone settings, select "Mi Account", then "Mi Cloud", and click on the Gallery icon. Here you will see a list of all uploaded photos. Using the "Select All" function or highlighting specific albums, you can delete unnecessary photos forever. The same principle applies to Google Photos, where you need to open the application, go to the library and clear the cart after deleting.
Difference Between Device and Cloud Deletion
It's important to distinguish between local storage and remote server, and when you delete a photo from cloud storage via a web interface or account settings, the changes apply to all connected devices, meaning that the images will disappear from both the tablet and the other phone if they use the same Mi ID.
| Parameter | Mi Cloud | Google Photo | Local memory. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free seat limit | 5GB | 15 GB (shared with mail) | Depends on the phone model. |
| Speed of access | Demands the Internet. | Demands the Internet. | Instant. |
| Recovery | Up to 30 days in the basket | Up to 60 days in the basket | Up to 30 days in the Gallery basket |
| Impact on phone memory | Does not take place (in optimization) | Does not take place (in optimization) | It takes up the bulk of the volume. |
If you decide to completely abandon the use of cloud services, it is recommended to pre-download the archive with important data to your computer. Backup to an external hard drive will be a reliable insurance against accidental loss of information in case of failures in network services.
Using the Cleanup Tool is Safe
MIUI and HyperOS have a built-in security tool that includes deep-cleaning junk files, which can find similar images, blurred images and screenshots that users often forget to delete, and can quickly identify large folders with graphical content.
To access the tool, find an app with a shield or green lightning icon on your desktop, launch it and select Clean up. The system will analyze the contents of the memory and suggest removing temporary files, app cache and large files. Particular attention should be paid to the Large Files section, where high-resolution videos and series of photos occupying gigabytes of space are often hidden.
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Use the Deep Clean feature in the Security app once a month to automatically find duplicate photos and similar ones that can be safely removed.
The cleaner functionality allows you to sort files by size and date, which makes it easier to find "heavy" series of images taken in burst mode. The system analyzer works quite aggressively, so before confirming the deletion of all proposed files, it is recommended to visually check the list so as not to erase important documents or rare frames.
⚠️ Note: The cleaning tool may suggest removing files from WhatsApp folders, which are technically photos. Make sure that they are not important images from colleagues or loved ones.
Physical Deletion through File Manager
For users who prefer full control of the file system, the standard Explorer or third-party file managers like MIXplorer or Solid Explorer will be an indispensable tool. Direct access to directories allows you to delete photos in batch, ignoring the limitations of the gallery. The main folders with the camera are usually located along the Internal path. Storage/DCIM/Camera.
Opening the file manager, go to the root directory of the internal drive and find the DCIM folder. Inside it is the Camera subfolder, where all the pictures taken by the main camera are stored. By highlighting the entire folder or its contents and selecting the Delete command, you will instantly free up space. It is also worth checking the Screenshots and Download folders, where graphical debris often accumulates.
The main ways to photo on Xiaomi:
/storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Camera
/storage/emulated/0/Pictures
/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Gallery/cloud/cacheUsing a file manager is particularly effective at removing the gallery's system cache, which can grow to unimaginable sizes. In some cases, cleaning the.thumbnails folder (a hidden folder in DCIM) allows you to free up several gigabytes if the thumbnails of images have been corrupted or duplicated.
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Direct deletion through the file manager is the fastest way to free up space, but it requires care not to delete system files or data from other applications.
Radical method: Reset to factory settings
If the goal is to delete all of your data, including photos, contacts, messages and app settings, the only guaranteed solution is to completely reset your device, which puts your smartphone back out of the box, completely erasing the user’s memory. Before you start, it’s critical to back up all the data you plan to save.
To perform the reset, go to the Settings menu, select About Phone and click Reset. From the menu that appears, select Erase All Data. The system will warn you that all files will be permanently deleted. Once you enter the unlock and confirmation password, the formatting process will begin, which can take from 5 to 15 minutes.
An alternative way to enter Recovery Mode is useful if the phone is not loading or locked. Turn off the device completely, then press the Volume+ and Power combination before the Mi logo appears. In the Recovery menu, select the language, then "Wipe Data" and confirm the action "Wipe All Data".
⚠️ Warning: After resetting to factory settings, recovering deleted photos without prior backup will not be possible even in specialized services.