How to completely remove video from Xiaomi Mi TV: all possible methods

Xiaomi Mi TVs and media players allow you not only to view content, but also to save it on the built-in drive or connected media. However, over time, many unnecessary video files accumulate, which take up space and slow down the system. Unlike smartphones, where deleting files is intuitive, in PatchWall or Google TV interfaces Mi TV, this process can cause questions.

In this article, we will look at all possible ways to delete video, from standard methods through the file manager to cleaning the cache of applications and working with cloud services. Particular attention will be paid to hidden folders with temporary files, which often go unnoticed, but can take up to 30% of the device’s memory. If you encounter errors when deleting or want to free up the maximum amount of space, here you will find solutions for all scenarios.

1. Delete video through the built-in file manager

The most obvious way is to use the standard File Manager, which is preinstalled on all Mi models. TV (including the Mi series TV 4A/4S/5X/Q1/Q2). This method is suitable for removing files from internal memory, USB-storage (SMB/NAS).

To open the File Manager:

• 📺 Press the Home button on the remote (home)
• 🔍 Go to the Appendix section → File Manager (or Media Center on old firmware)
• 📁 Select the Local Storage section or the name of the connected one USB-disk
• 🗑️ Find a folder with videos (usually Movies, Videos or Download)

For removal:

1. Select a file or folder (on remotes with a touch panel, use a long press).
2. Press the Menu button (or three dots in the upper right corner of the screen).
3. Choose Delete and confirm the action.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g. Mi) TV Stick) file manager does not support mass deletion. You have to delete files one at a time or connect the drive to the computer.

2. Cleaning up the video app cache

Many users don’t know that apps like YouTube, Netflix, or Prime Video store temporary files (cache) on an internal drive, which can take anywhere from 500 MB to 5 GB and don’t show up in a standard file manager. Clearing the cache will not only free up space, but can also eliminate lags when played.

Cleaning instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Installed Applications.
2. Select an app (such as YouTube or WPS Office if you’ve watched videos through it).
3. Click Clear cache (on some firmware - Warehouse → Clear data).
4. For a complete cleanup, also click Clear Data, but note that this will reset the app settings.

If the app is unstable after cleaning the cache, try reinstalling it through the Google Play Market or Mi App Store.

3. video removal via ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don’t help (for example, a file is not deleted due to a file is occupied or no rights error), you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting the TV to your computer, but allows you to delete even system files.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on Mi TV: Go to Settings → About TV. Tap 7 times on MIUI TV Version (or Google TV Build Number). Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate USB Debugging.

USB 3.0

ADB Tools

Win + R → cmd

adb devices

If the device appears in the list, enter:

adb shell


rm -rf /sdcard/Download/your video.mp4

(Replace the path with the current one).

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB It can cause data loss or system failure.Do not delete files from folders /system or /data/data, unless they are sure of their appointment.

4. Removal of video from cloud services (Mi Cloud, Google Drive)

If you use cloud storage, such as Mi Cloud or Google Drive, to sync videos, deleting files directly from the TV may not free up space on the internal drive, in which case you need to delete files through the web interface or mobile application.

For Mi Cloud:

• 🌐 Go to i.mi.com and log in.
• 📁 Open the Files section → Video.
• 🗑️ Select unnecessary files and click Delete (they will fall into the basket, which must be cleaned separately).

For Google Drive:

• 📱 Open the Google Drive app on your TV or smartphone.
• 🔍 Find the video through search or in the My Files section.
• 🗑️ Click on three dots next to the file → Delete.
• 🧹 Clean the cart in the Recycle Bin section (files are stored there for 30 days).

If the videos were uploaded to the cloud from the TV, but the originals are still on the device, they also need to be manually deleted through the file manager.

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To avoid duplicate files, check your application sync settings before uploading to the cloud. For example, in Google Photos, turn off the autoload and sync option for video folders if you don’t want to store copies in the cloud.

5. Resetting the TV to factory settings (last resort)

If none of these things worked, or you want to completely clean the TV before selling, you can do a factory reset, which will delete all the data, including videos, apps, accounts, and settings.

How to reset Mi TV:

1. Go to Settings → About TV → Reset settings.
2. Select Erase all data (on some models – Recover and Reset → Reset settings).
3. Enter. PIN-code (default 1234, 0000 or password from the Mi Account).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

⚠️ Warning: After the reset, the TV will require re-setting, including connecting to Wi-Fi and logging in to your account Google/Xiaomi. If you forget data from an account associated with the device, you may need to unlock through Mi Account.

If the reset is not complete (the TV is getting stuck on the Mi logo), try the hardware reset:

• 🔌 Turn off the TV.
• 🖱️ Press the Menu button on the remote (or Volume - + Power on the body).
• 🔌 Connect the power by holding the buttons for 10-15 seconds until the recovery menu appears.
• 📛 Choose Wipe. data/factory reset using volume buttons and confirm the choice.

6 How to avoid the accumulation of unnecessary videos in the future

To avoid having to clean your memory regularly, set up your TV so that it doesn’t save any extra files:

• 📥 Turn off autoloads: In apps (YouTube, Browser) disable the option "Download video automatically" or "Save cache".
• 🗃️ Use external media: Save the video on USB-disk SSD, not in the internal memory.
• 🔄 Set up cache cleanup: In Settings → Storage enable the option "Automatic cleaning" (available on the MIUI TV 3.0+).
• 🚫 Block Advertising Downloads: C Settings → Security disable "Content download in the background".

It is also useful to regularly (every 1-2 months) check the occupied space:

1. Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
2. View the memory usage chart.
3. Click on Other or System Data to find hidden files.

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Regularly cleaning the cache and turning off autoloads will save up to 40% of the TV’s internal memory without losing functionality.

FAQ: Frequent questions about deleting videos on Mi TV