How to increase memory on Xiaomi phone: from cleaning cache to system commands

Xiaomi smartphones are known for their excellent value for money, but even models of the medium and high price segment can eventually face a lack of free space. Internal storage is filled with photos, messenger cache, system logs and heavy applications, which leads to a slowdown in the MIUI or HyperOS interface. The user notices that the phone begins to “slow down”, open applications for a long time or completely stops taking pictures, giving an error about the lack of space.

There is a misconception that physically increasing the amount of embedded flash memory is impossible without soldering chips, which is true for hardware. However, software methods can free up gigabytes of space, optimize the file system and redirect data flows to external media or to the cloud. In this article, we will discuss effective and safe ways to solve the problem of overcrowded storage that will help your smartphone work quickly again.

It's important to understand that by "increase," we're going to mean just freeing up the amount of workload and allocating resources correctly. Xiaomi's current Android shells have built-in tools for this, but they're often hidden or require manual adjustment to achieve maximum effect. We'll go from simple cleaning techniques to advanced customization for power users.

Use of the built-in "Security" application

The first and most obvious step that users often ignore is using a regular optimization tool: the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS pre-installed the Security app, which contains a powerful Cleanup module, which analyzes the file system, finding temporary files, remnants of deleted applications and advertising debris that accumulates in the background.

To start a deep cleaning, you need to run the application and click on the "Clean" button, but the system often stops at surface analysis, and to access more detailed data, you need to scroll down after the initial check and find the "Clean up" or "Deep Clean up" section, where you can safely delete files larger than 100 MB that are not used by the system.

Special attention should be paid to the Apps section, where the system shows which programs occupy the most space. Often, the cache of social networks like Telegram or WhatsApp can take up tens of gigabytes. By deleting the cache through the regular menu, you do not lose correspondence or media files if they are important, but you make room for the operating system to work.

⚠️ Note: Do not use third-party accelerators from the Play Market with questionable reputations. Xiaomi's built-in tools have access to system partitions closed to third-party software and work safer without disrupting background processes.

Clearing the cache and data messengers

The main memory eaters in modern smartphones are messengers. Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber by default store all received photos and videos in internal memory. Over time, folders with media files grow to incredible sizes, occupying up to 40-50% of the total available volume.

The best way to manage storage is through the app’s settings, for example, in Telegram you need to go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory Use. Here you can set a limit on the caching of media files (for example, up to 1 GB) and set a period after which old files will be deleted automatically, which will free up space instantly, since the files will remain on the server and will be reloaded only when you need to browse.

For WhatsApp, the situation is similar, but it is important not to delete the database accidentally, and it is recommended to use the built-in storage management function inside the application, rather than simply delete folders through the file manager, which will preserve the structure of correspondence, getting rid of heavy video files that were received a year ago.

• 📱 In Telegram, set up autodelete the cache every 3 days.
• 🗑 On WhatsApp, remove files from the All Media section in storage management.
• 📸 Turn off auto-save photos from chats to the phone gallery in the settings of each messenger.

Working with a memory card and internal storage

Many modern Xiaomi models lack a memory card slot, but in the budget and mid-range (Redmi Note series, Poco M) the expansion is still possible. Using a microSD card is a classic way to increase the available volume. However, just inserting a card is not enough: you need to set up the system correctly.

In newer versions of Android and the MIUI shell, Adaptive Storage (formerly known as Adoptable Storage) is often hidden or missing, meaning you can't just "combine" the card's memory with the internal one. Instead, the card is used as a separate drive. To work effectively, you need to transfer all media to it. Go to Settings → Storage and select the memory card as the default location for the camera and voice recorder.

💡

Use U3 or V30 speed memory cards. Cheap C10 cards can severely slow down your system if you record applications or shoot 4K video on them.

If your model supports formatting the map as internal storage (a rare case, but possible on some global firmware), this will allow you to install applications directly on the map. To do this, select "Use as internal storage" when installing the map. The system will format the map, making it unreadable on other devices without re-formatting, but you will get a real increase in the space for installing programs.

Cloud Services and Virtual Extension

When a physical place runs out, cloud technology comes to the rescue, with Xiaomi Cloud, Google Photos, and Yandex Drive allowing gigabytes of photos and documents to be stored, removing local copies of them from the device, the most modern approach to memory scarcity.

Google Photos offers a Free Place feature that automatically finds copies of photos and videos already uploaded to the cloud on your device and removes them from your phone’s memory. This is secure: photos remain in your account and are available at any time when you have the Internet. Similarly, Xiaomi Cloud works to sync gallery and contacts.

For documents and work files, it is advisable to use specialized cloud storage, such as Google Drive or Dropbox. By setting up automatic uploading of documents from the Downloads folder, you can safely delete local files. It is also worth considering a subscription to extended storage if you are actively shooting high-resolution video.

Removing system debris and hidden files

Even after a standard cleanup, there are still hidden files in the system that take up space, such as error logs, temporary update files, and remnants of remote applications, and you will need a file manager with advanced rights, such as the built-in Explorer from Xiaomi or MI File Manager.

First, check the MIUI/gallery/cloud folder, which may contain thumbnails of deleted photos, and it’s also worth looking at the Android/data folder, where some apps store cache (such as maps for navigation or music for offline listening). Be careful: delete only the contents of folders of specific applications whose names you know, and never delete the folders of system services.

⚠️ Note: When manually cleaning your Android folder, do not delete files with the.obb extension if you plan to play the relevant games.

Another source of garbage is the Thumbnails folder in the DCIM directory, which stores thumbnails of your photos for quick display in the gallery. Over time, this file can grow to 1-2 GB. It can be safely deleted, the system will create a new, smaller size when the gallery opens next.

Advanced Methods: ADB and Disabling Applications

For power users who want to make the most of their device, there is an ADB (Android Debug Bridge) cleaning method that allows you to remove system applications (bloatware) that are preinstalled by the manufacturer and take up space but are not in use, and ADB can force the Dalvik cache to be cleared, which sometimes solves problems with space shortages that the system can’t see.

To connect, you need to turn on the developer mode (clicking 7 times on the build number in Settings → About phone) and allow debugging over USB. Then, by connecting the phone to the PC, you can execute a command to clean the packet manager cache:

adb shell pm trim-caches 999999999

This command forces the system to remove the cache of all applications to release a specified number of bytes (in this case, almost everything possible), a powerful tool that can instantly free up several gigabytes, but once it is used, it can take a little longer to launch some applications at the first start, since the cache will be created again.

💡

Use of the ADB-A syntax error can result in the removal of important system components, so copy the commands accurately from trusted sources.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)