Xiaomi Mi9 Even a few years after its release, it remains a popular smartphone, but over time, its memory is clogged with unnecessary files, app cache, remnants of deleted programs, duplicate photos and system debris take up gigabytes of space, slowing down the device. However, not all files can be deleted without risk – some are critical for stability. MIUI.
In this article, we will analyze what files are on Xiaomi. Mi9 You can safely delete and which ones you shouldn't touch, learn how to clear the cache, delete app residues, get rid of duplicate media files, and optimize storage without resetting to factory settings. MIUI and third-party utilities.
Why Xiaomi? Mi9 It’s a quick memory loss and what to do about it.
The main problem Mi9 — confined (64/128 GB depending on version) and aggressive caching MIUI. The system saves temporary files to speed up work, but often does not clean them automatically. For example, the cache of Google Play Services can take up to three hours. 1–2 GB, and the remnants of remote applications — a few hundred megabytes.
Other memory eaters:
- 📸 Photo and video duplicates – created by editing in the Gallery or synchronizing with the clouds.
- 🗑️ Garbage files – system logs (.log,.tmp), error dumps (.dmp).
- 🎮 Cash games, for example, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact can take up to 3-5 GB.
- 📥 Downloads — APK-files, archives, documents that have not been used for a long time.
Before you start cleaning, check what exactly takes up the place:
- Go to Settings → About the phone → Storage.
- Click on the category (such as “Apps” or “Media Files”) for detail.
- Pay attention to the “Other” section – there is often garbage hiding there.
⚠️ Note: If the System section is more than 10-15 GB occupied, do not try to manually clean it. MIUI Android.
What files can be deleted from Xiaomi Mi9 risklessly
Securely deleted files fall into several categories, and cleaning them will not affect the performance of the smartphone, but will free up from 1 to 10 GB of memory.
1.App cache and system cache
Caches are temporary files that create applications to speed up work, and they can be deleted without consequences, but they will be restored the next time a program is run.
- 🧹 Cache of individual applications: Cleared in Settings → Annexes → Select an application → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
- 🔄 System cache: To clean it, go to Settings → Additionally. → Clean and press "Clean the cache».
- 🗃️ Dalvik cache: Removed only via Recovery (Wipe Dalvik Cache item) Requires a reboot.
Nana Mi9 Google Play Services cache and MIUI The system can take up to 3 GB. Clean it every 1-2 months.
2 Remains of Remote Applications
When you uninstall software, you often have folders with settings, cache, and data that you can find manually or with utilities like this. SD Maid.
The way to the remnants:
/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/[Application folder]or
/storage/emulated/0/Android/obb/[app folder]Only delete folders that match the names of the apps you have removed, for example, if you delete Facebook, you can delete the folder com.facebook.katana.
Duplicate photos and videos
MIUI automatically creates copies of media files when editing in the Gallery or synchronizing with Google Photos:
- 🔍 Built-in function: Gallery → Albums. → Duplicates (available in MIUI 12+).
- 🤖 Third-party applications: Files by Google, Duplicate Files Fixer.
Before deleting, check if the duplicates are the best quality originals, for example, Google Photos can save the compressed and original version.
4. Downloads and unnecessary files
Download folder is the most obvious place to clean.
- 📄 APK-file.
- 📦 Archives (.zip,.rar) that have already been unpacked.
- 📑 Documents (PDF, DOCX), long-awaited.
To open the Download folder, use any file manager (such as embedded Files or Solid Explorer) Sort files by date and delete those that haven't been used for more than 6 months.
App cache in Settings → Annexes
Remote application folders in /Android/data/
Duplicate photos in the Gallery → Duplicate
Old ones. APK-files in the Download folder
Logs and dumps (.log,.tmp) in the root folder-->
What files cannot be deleted (risk to the system)
Some files and folders are critical to Android and MIUI. Their removal may lead to:
- 🔄 The looped inclusion of the smartphone (bootloop).
- 📵 Loss of communication (mobile network or Wi-Fi will not work).
- 🔧 Failure of camera, speakers or other modules.
Below is a list of prohibited files and folders:
| File/folder type | Way | Effects of removal |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI folder | /system/priv-app/MIUI | Complete failure of the interface, inability to load the system. |
| Files. boot.img, recovery.img | /dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/ | The smartphone will not turn on (brick). |
| folder EFS | /efs | Loss of loss IMEI, networking. |
| Files build.prop | /system/build.prop | Violation of system services. |
| folder Android/secure | /storage/emulated/0/Android/secure | Problems with installing applications on SD-map. |
Critical information: On Xiaomi Mi9 folder /system It is mounted in read-only mode, and even with root rights, changing it can cause permanent damage to the system.
⚠️ Warning: If you see folders or files called omc, persist, firmware, don't touch them. They contain calibration data from the camera, modem, and other hardware components.
How to Clean up Xiaomi Mi9 built-in MIUI
MIUI It has a few built-in memory cleanup utilities that are secure and do not require root rights.
1. The "Cleaning" function in the settings
The easiest way is:
- Open the Settings. → Additionally. → Cleanup.
- Press "Scan."
- Select the categories to clean: “Junk files”, “App cache”, “Large files”.
- Press "Clear."
This method removes up to 1-3 GB of unnecessary data, but does not address duplicate media files or application residues.
2.Storage optimization in "Security"
V MIUI There is a separate Security app (shield icon) where you can:
- 🧹 Remove cache and debris.
- 🔍 Find big files (>100MB).
- 📦 Clear the Download folder.
To open:
Settings → Security → Cleaning → Deep cleaning3. Automatic cleaning in the "Gallery"
The Gallery app has a tool for removing:
- 🖼️ Duplicate photo.
- 🎥 Unsuccessful images (blurred, dark).
- 📁 Screenshots over 30 days.
Path:
Gallery → Albums → Smart cleaning💡
If the memory is still running out quickly after cleaning through the built-in tools, check the Google Photos (Mi Cloud) settings, and photos and videos are automatically uploaded in their original quality, taking up space.
Third-party applications for deep cleaning Xiaomi Mi9
Built-in tools MIUI They don't always do deep cleaning. Third-party utilities will do the trick for the advanced users.
1. SD Maid (requires root for full functionality)
SD Maid is one of the best Android cleaning apps. It finds:
- 🗑️ Remnants of Remote Applications.
- 🔍 Empty folders.
- 📁 Duplicate files (including music and documents).
- 🗃️ System logs and dumps.
No root rights. SD Maid only cleans user files. From root, it accesses system folders (but be careful!).
2. Files by Google
The official app from Google that:
- 📸 Finds duplicate photos and videos.
- 📄 Offers to delete old files (>1 year).
- 🗃️ Clears cache and downloads.
The advantage is that it's simple and there's no advertising, and the downside is that there's no deep scanning of system files.
3. CCleaner (with caution!)
CCleaner is popular on PCs, but it works less efficiently on Android.
- 🧹 Cleaning up the app cache.
- 🗑️ Delete call and message history.
⚠️ Do not use the function “Optimize autoload” – on MIUI It can disrupt the system services.
What to do if after cleaning the smartphone began to slow down?
Manual cleaning: step-by-step instructions for experienced users
If you are ready for manual cleaning, follow this instruction and it is recommended to back up the data before starting.
Step 1: Access the file system
Use a file manager with access to root folders, such as:
- Solid Explorer (you need to enable root access in the settings).
- FX File Explorer.
- MiXplorer (requires manual setting of rights).
Step 2: Clean the Download folder
Path:
/storage/emulated/0/DownloadDelete everything except the current files.
- 📄 Files with.apk extension (installation packages).
- 📦 Archives (.zip,.rar) that have already been unpacked.
- 📑 Documents over 6 months old.
Step 3: Remove the app cache manually
The cache is stored in two ways:
- /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/[application folder]/cache
- /storage/emulated/0/Android/obb/[folder applications] (game cache)
Delete the contents of the cache folders, but not the folders themselves. For WhatsApp, for example, the path would be:
/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.whatsapp/cacheStep 4: Clean the folder DCIM (photo)
In a file. DCIM They store media files. They often accumulate:
- 📸 Photo in the folder.thumbnails (miniatures, you can delete).
- 🎥 Video from messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp).
- 🖼️ Screenshots in Screenshots folder.
Path:
/storage/emulated/0/DCIM⚠️ Attention: Do not delete the folder DCIM It'll recover completely, but it could disrupt the Gallery.
💡
Always check file extensions before manually cleaning, for example, deleting files with the.nomedia extension won’t hurt, and deleting.db (databases) can knock down application settings.
What to do if important files are missing after cleaning
If you accidentally delete the data you want, try to restore it:
1. Check the basket.
V MIUI There is a basket for files and photos:
- 🗑️ Files: Open the Files app → Basket.
- 📸 Photo: Gallery → Albums. → Basket.
The storage period in the cart is 30 days, and then the files are deleted irrevocably.
2.Use recovery programs
If the files are not in the cart, try:
- DiskDigger – Restores photos and videos.
- Recuva (requires a smartphone to connect to a PC).
- EaseUS MobiSaver is a paid but effective solution.
⚠️ Important: Do not write new files to your smartphone after deleting – this reduces the chances of recovery.
3. Restore from backup
If you use:
- 🔄 Mi Cloud: Recover data through Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Restore.
- ☁️ Google Drive: Go to Settings → System system → Backup → Restore.
If you don’t have backups, contact the service center – sometimes data can be recovered with specialized hardware (but it’s expensive and doesn’t guarantee 100% results).