Xiaomi Phone Cleanup – What It Is and Why You Need It: The Complete 2026 Guide

If your Xiaomi smartphone is starting to slow down, run out quickly, or report a memory shortage, it's probably time to clean up the system. But what exactly is that term? Many users mistakenly think that cleaning is limited to removing photos or apps. In fact, MIUI has several types of cleaning, each of which solves its own problems, from freeing up space to speeding up the processor.

In this article, we’ll break down all kinds of cleaning in Xiaomi phones (including Redmi models, POCO And Black Shark, we'll explain which data can be deleted without risk, and which can only be deleted as a last resort, and we'll also teach you how to avoid common errors that lead to the loss of important files or system failures. MIUI 14/15 and new firmware 2026 year-end.

Let me warn you right away: not all cleaning methods are equally useful. For example, cleaning the cache of applications can speed up the phone, but if you do this wrong, some programs will take longer to load or require reauthorization, but factory resetting is already a radical measure that should be resorted to only in case of serious problems.

1.What is cleaning in Xiaomi: the main types and their purpose

In the MIUI ecosystem, the term "cleanup" combines several different processes.

Cache cleaning is removing temporary files that create apps to speed up their work. For example, when you open Instagram, it saves thumbnails of photos to cache so that it can upload them faster the next time it runs. Over time, the cache grows to several gigabytes, taking up space on the drive. Cleaning it doesn't delete personal data (photos, messages, accounts), but it can cause apps to load longer on the first run after cleaning.

Cleaning up the app data is a more radical method, which removes not only temporary files, but also settings, saved games, chat history (in some instant messengers) and other user information, such as when you clean up Google Maps data, you have to re-download maps and configure routes, which is used when the application is not working correctly (flying out, not opening).

Discarding (system junk) – Deleting residual files after uninstalling programs, system logs, empty folders and other unnecessary items. In MIUI, the built-in Security app (or Security in global firmware) is responsible for this. It automatically scans the phone and suggests that up to 30-40% of unnecessary files be deleted without affecting user data.

Factory reset is a complete cleanup of the phone, which removes all apps, settings, accounts and files, a last resort when selling a device, major crashes or getting infected with viruses, and when it is reset, it returns to the “out of the box” state.

• 🧹 Cache – temporary files, do not affect personal data, but take up space.
• 📱 Application data – settings and saves, are deleted selectively.
• 🗑️ Garbage – system residues, logs, empty folders (Security will be removed).
• ⚠️ Factory reset – complete cleaning, requires backup.

It's important to understand that not all types of cleaning are equally safe, for example, cleaning WhatsApp cache won't delete your messages, but cleaning the data of the same application erases all correspondence, so you should make a backup before any manipulation.

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MIUI 15 has a Smart Cleanup feature that analyzes which files can be deleted without harming your phone. It is available in the Settings menu → Memory → Cleanup

2.How to clear cache on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

Cache cleaning is the safest and most useful procedure to free up space, and it doesn't delete personal data, but it can speed up the phone, and let's look at two ways: for individual applications and for the entire system.

Method 1: Clearing the cache of a particular application

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Select the app you want (like YouTube or TikTok).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

This method is useful if an app is slowing down or taking up too much space, for example, the cache of Google Chrome can grow to 1-2 GB if you often surf the Internet.

Method 2: Mass cleaning the cache of all applications

1. Go to Settings. → Memory.
2. Click Clear Cache (or Clean Up in older versions of MIUI).
3. Confirm the action.

The system will show how much space will be vacated, usually between 500MB and 3-4GB, depending on the number of applications installed.

Close all active applications

Connect your phone to charge (if the battery level is below 20%)

Check that important files are synced to the cloud

Do not interrupt the cleaning process.-->

After clearing the cache, some apps can take longer to load — which is normal, as they will have to recreate temporary files, for example, Instagram or Facebook can upload photos more slowly in the first few minutes after cleaning.

⚠️ Warning: Do not clear the cache of system applications (such as Settings or Phone) unnecessarily.This can cause interface failures MIUI.

3. Data Cleaning Applications: When to Do It and How to Do It

If an application is not working properly (flying, not opening, showing errors), cleaning its data can help, but this method removes all settings and saves associated with the program.

• Games will reset progress and purchases (unless they are tied to an account).
• In messengers (Telegram, Viber) can be missing the history of chats.
• In the navigators (Google Maps, Yandex.Maps) downloaded maps are deleted.

How to clean the application data:

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Select the problem app.
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the data.
4. Confirm the action.

Once cleaned, the app will return to a post-installer state, such as if you clean up Spotify data, you will have to log in again and download songs for offline listening.

Some applications (e.g. banking) may block access after data is cleared, in which case you will have to restore access through support or re-authorization.

4. Cleaning up garbage through the “Safety” app

MIUI has a built-in tool to clean up unnecessary files, the Security app (or Global Firmware Security), which automatically scans the phone and suggests that you delete:

• 🗑️ Residual files after deleting applications.
• 📄 Logs of system and errors.
• 📁 Empty folders and duplicate files.
• 🎵 Unused. APK-files (installation packages).

How to start cleaning:

1. Open the Security app (the shield icon on the desktop).
2. Press Cleanup or Boost (depending on the MIUI version).
3. Wait for the scan to be completed.
4. Select files to delete and click Clear.

The app will show you how much space you can free up, which is usually between 200MB and 1-2GB. In MIUI 15, a Deep Clean feature has been introduced, which finds hidden files that are not available for standard scanning.

It is recommended to clean up garbage every 1-2 months, especially if you install and remove applications often, which helps to avoid the accumulation of unnecessary files that slow down the phone over time.

⚠️ Warning: If the Security app offers to delete files from folders DCIM (Photos or Downloads, check their contents carefully, sometimes the system mistakenly labels personal files as "junk».

5. Factory reset: when needed and how to do without data loss

Factory reset is a complete cleaning of the phone, after which it returns to the state "out of the box", which is used in extreme cases:

• 🔄 The phone brakes heavily and other cleaning methods don't help.
• 🦠 The device is infected with a virus that is not removed by the antivirus.
• 💰 Selling or transferring your phone to another person.
• 🔧 After updating MIUI critical errors have been made.

How to make a reset to factory settings:

1. Create a backup of important data (photos, contacts, messages).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose to erase all data.
4. Enter the password (if installed) and confirm the action.

The process will take 5-10 minutes. After the reboot, the phone will suggest you set it up as new. If you make a reset before selling, remember to log out of your Mi Account, otherwise the new owner will not be able to use the device (because of Xiaomi’s protection from theft).

In some cases, the reset can be done through the recovery mode (if the phone is not turned on):

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The factory reset deletes ALL data, including files on internal memory. The microSD is not affected, but it is better to remove it before resetting.

6.Automatic cleaning: how to set up in MIUI

MIUI has features that allow you to automate the cleaning process so you don't do it manually, which saves time and keeps the phone in optimal condition.

1. Autocleaning the cache

1. Open the Settings → Memory.
2. Activate the Auto Cleanup option.
3. Choose the frequency (weekly or monthly).

The system will delete unnecessary temporary files without affecting personal data.

2. Optimization of memory in standby mode

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance.
2. Choose Memory Optimization.
3. Turn on the option to Clear Memory when you lock the screen.

This feature closes the background apps when you lock the screen, freeing up RAM.

3.Smart cleaning in the Security app

1. Open Security. → Cleanup.
2. Click on the icon. ⚙️ (setting).
3. Turn on the Auto-Cleanup and set a schedule.

Automatic cleaning is useful, but do not rely on it completely. periodically (every 1-2 months) it is recommended to carry out manual check, as the system may miss some unnecessary files.

7. Frequent Xiaomi Cleanup Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many users make mistakes that cause data loss or phone deterioration, and consider the most common ones:

Error 1: Cleaning the cache of system applications

Deleting the cache of system programs (e.g. Settings, Launcher) can cause interface failures, for example, after cleaning the MIUI Launcher cache, application icons from the desktop may disappear.

Error 2: Clearing Data Without Backup

If you clear your messaging app (WhatsApp, Viber) or game data without saving it, you will lose correspondence or progress. Always check if the data is linked to your account.

Mistake 3: Using third-party cleaners

Applications like Clean Master or CCleaner often delete useful files and show false warnings about “critical errors.” MIUI has all the necessary cleaning tools — no additional programs are needed.

Mistake 4: Frequent factory dumps

Resetting to factory settings is stressful for the phone, and if done too often (e.g. once a month), it can cause wear and tear on the flash memory and slow down the device.

Mistake 5: Ignoring updates before cleaning

If the phone is slowing down, check for MIUI updates first. Often, problems are solved by installing the latest firmware version and no cleaning is required.

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi with custom firmware (unofficial), cleaning the system data can lead to a “brick” (breakdown) of the phone.

8. FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi Cleanup