Where to save applications on Xiaomi Poco X3: full-guide

Introduction: Why it’s important to know where apps are stored

Xiaomi Poco Smartphone X3 (model M2007J20CG and M2007J20CI) base-work MIUI — Xiaomi’s proprietary shell, which significantly modifies standard Android, sometimes gets lost in trying to find exactly where the applications are installed and where their data is stored. The answer to this question is important not only for freeing up memory, but also for backup, transferring to another device or manually removing junk files.

Unlike “pure” Android, where apps are saved by default. /data/app, POCO X3 The paths may differ depending on the version MIUI, root rights and even the installation method (via Google Play, APK-In addition, the system actively uses virtual partitions and symbolic links, which complicates the search. In this article, we will analyze all possible scenarios, from standard paths to hidden folders, and explain how to safely manage installed programs.

We will pay special attention to the unique feature of Poco. X3: It's about dividing memory into system and user areas, where some applications can be stored in encrypted form. MIUI 12.5+ Xiaomi has implemented additional data protection mechanisms.

Standard ways to install applications on Poco X3

By default, all apps installed through Google Play or manually (via Google Play) APK), They're stored in the internal memory of the device:

• 📁 /data/app — stored APK-Application files and basic data (available only with root rights).
• 📁 /data/data — folder with user data (settings, cache, databases).
• 📁 /data/app-lib — Libraries and dependencies (old for newer versions of Android, but may be found).
• 📁 /system/app and /system/priv-app — System applications preinstalled by Xiaomi.

It is important to understand that the folder /data By default, hidden and unavailable without root or special tools (for example, ADB It's a file manager with superuser rights, but some of the data can be seen through a standard explorer. MIUI, If you enable the display of hidden files:

1. Open the File Manager application.
2. Go to the Category section → Local storage.
3. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings → Show hidden files.
4. Now you will see an Android folder where some apps’ data is stored (such as game cache or downloads).

⚠️ Attention: Delete files from the folder /data/data without root permissions, the system automatically recovers some of the data, but the settings and saves may be lost.

How to check where a particular application is installed

If you need to know the exact location of files in a particular application (for example, for backup or portability), use one of the following methods:

Method 1: Through the MIUI settings

The easiest way is to use the built-in system tools:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the desired application from the list.
3. Slip to the storage – here will be the total amount of occupied memory (including: APK, data).
4. Click Clear cache or Delete data if you need to free up space.

Unfortunately, MIUI It doesn’t show the exact path to the application files, but you can see how much space it takes up in each category (APK, data, cache).

Method 2: Through ADB (without root)

For more information, connect Poco X3 Use the Android Debug Bridge to your computer (ADB):

adb shell pm list packages -f

This command will display a list of all installed packages with paths to their APK-For example, files:

package:/data/app/com.whatsapp-1/base.apk=com.whatsapp

Where com.whatsapp is the application identifier and /data/app/com.whatsapp-1/base.apk — path APK.

⚠️ Note: If you see the path of the species /data/app/~~random-chars==/com.app-1, This means that the application is installed in encrypted form (feature) MIUI 12.5+). These files cannot be simply copied – they are tied to the device.

Method 3: Through Third Party File Managers

Applications like Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer (with root access enabled) allows you to view system folders, such as Solid Explorer:

1. Activate root access in the application settings.
2. Move to the /data/app — Here you will see folders with packet names (e.g. com.facebook.katana for Facebook).
3. Inside every folder there will be a file. base.apk (the application itself) and the lib folder (libraries).

Can applications be moved to SD-map?

One of the most frequent questions from Poco users X3 — Whether internal memory can be freed up by transferring applications to a microSD card depends on the version. MIUI type of application:

To check if the application supports the transfer to SD:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app and tap it on the Warehouse.
3. If you have the option to change or move to SD-map, it can be used.

In practice, most of today’s apps (especially those from Google Play) don’t support portability due to Android 10 security limitations.+. But there are workarounds:

• 🔧 Use forced transfer through ADB: adb shell pm set-install-location 2 (where 2 is forced installation on the SD). Risk: Some applications may not work.
• 📱 Install Link2SD (requires root – this application creates symbolic links, “deceiving” the system.
• ☁️ Transfer only media files (photos, videos) manually to SD, leave APK inner-memory.

⚠️ Note: Forced transfer of system applications to SD This can lead to bootloop looping. Before experimenting, back up through the bootloop. TWRP Mi Cloud.

💡

If you often install heavy games, consider buying Poco. X3 Pro 128/256 GB memory is cheaper and more reliable than the fight against space shortage on the base model.

Where is the cache and application data stored?

Except for themselves. APK-And each application creates cache and user data that can take up a lot more space. X3 They are stored in the following folders:

• 🗃️ /data/data/<package_name> — Basic data (game saving, settings, databases).
• 🧹 /data/data/<package_name>/cache — cache (temporary files).
• 🎮 /Android/obb/<package_name> — Additional game files (e.g. graphics packages).
• 📷 /Android/media/<package_name> — Media files (photos, videos, downloads).

For example, for WhatsApp, the path to message databases would be:

/data/data/com.whatsapp/databases/msgstore.db

A Instagram cache is stored here:

/data/data/com.instagram.android/cache/

To clear the cache without deleting the data:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as YouTube).
3. Slip the vault. → Clear the cache.

For deep cleaning (delete all data, including saves), use the Delete Data option, but remember that this will result in the application resetting before factory settings.

⚠️ Attention: Folder /Android/obb often contains files of a size 1–5 GB (for example, for games like Call of Duty Mobile or for mobile games) PUBG). They can be safely transferred to SD-The card will work manually, but not all games will work after that.

How to find and delete the remaining files after uninstallation

Even after uninstalling the app through Settings or Google Play on Poco X3 Often there are “tails” – unnecessary files in folders /Android, /data or SD-To find them:

Step. 1: File check. /Android

Open the file manager and go to:

/storage/emulated/0/Android/

There may be folders with the name of the remote application (for example, /Android/obb/com.gameloft.* They can be removed manually for Gameloft games.

Step 2: Search for the name of the package

If you know the packet ID (e.g., com.facebook.orca for Messenger), search the file manager for that name.

• 📂 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/
• 📂 /storage/emulated/0/Android/obb/
• 📂 /storage/emulated/0/Android/media/

Step 3: Use of ADB deep-clean

If the application is removed incorrectly (for example, the uninstallation is interrupted), do:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 <package_name>

Flag. -k It stores cache and data, and --user 0 It indicates the current user. Use it to delete completely:

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 <package_name>

⚠️ Note: Removing files from /data/data without root, the error may result in the "Application not installed for the user" error 0". In this case, only resetting or flashing will help.

💡

On Poco. X3 s MIUI 12.5+ Some of the applications are stored in encrypted form, and you can't just copy them or delete them without root permission, and that's going to cause the software to crash.

How to back up applications with Poco X3

If you want to save apps and their data (for example, before resetting your phone), use the following methods:

Method 1: Through MIUI Backup

Built-in tool MIUI Backup allows you to back up applications and their data:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Select Backup and tick the Applications.
3. Click Start – the copy will be saved in /MIUI/backup/AllBackup.

Cons: Data recovery is possible only on Xiaomi devices.

Method 2: Titanium Backup (requires root)

The most powerful backup solution is Titanium Backup.

• 🔄 Makes complete copies APK + data.
• 📤 Could save the backups on SD-map.
• 🔧 Supports freezing of system applications.

Instructions:

1. Install Titanium Backup from Google Play.
2. Give root access.
3. Select backup apps and click Save.
4. Backup files will be in /sdcard/TitaniumBackup.

Method 3: Through ADB (rootless)

For the backup. APK and data of the individual application:

adb backup -f backup.ab -apk -obb -shared -all

Where:

• -apk — include APK-file.
• -obb — includes files /Android/obb.
• -shared — includes /Android/media.

You can restore the backup by the team:

adb restore backup.ab

⚠️ Attention: Backup through ADB It does not include data from some system applications (e.g. Mi Account or Security) and requires root.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When working with applications on Poco X3 Users often face the following problems:

Problem 1: “Insufficient memory” when installing an application

Even if there is a free space on the phone, MIUI It can show that error:

• 🛠️ Clear the cache through Settings → Warehouse → Clean up.
• 🗑️ Remove unnecessary APK from /Download or /Android/data.
• 🔄 Restart your phone - sometimes MIUI wrongly counts the vacant space.
• 📱 If nothing helps, try installing it. APK through ADB: adb install path/to/app.apk

Problem 2: The app is not updated on Google Play

Frequent error on Poco X3 s MIUI — Floating updates. Causes and solutions:

Problem 3: App icons disappear after update MIUI

Once the firmware update is in place, some applications may be "hidden" to return them:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Turn on display of all applications (including those disabled).
3. Find the missing app and click Enable.
4. If the icon does not appear, restart the phone.

⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI System applications (e.g. Mi Video or Mi Music) are missing and can only be restored through a full reset or flashing.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions