Cleaning up system memory on Xiaomi: a complete guide to MIUI 12-14

Why memory is clogged on Xiaomi smartphones and how to fix it

System memory on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones is one of the most common causes of brakes, sudden reboots and app installation errors. Even on 128GB and 256GB devices, users are faced with a notification “Not enough memory”, although it would seem that there should be enough free space. What is the matter?

The problem lies in the architecture of MIUI, Xiaomi’s proprietary shell, which aggressively caches data, duplicates files to speed up work and creates hidden backups. For example, the Gallery app can store thumbnails of photos in three different folders, and Mi Video can cache previews of videos even after they are deleted, and this is added to temporary update files, system log files and debris from preinstalled services that cannot be deleted by standard means.

In this article, we will discuss 7 From basic (novice-level) to advanced (root-rights required), you will learn how to make room without resetting to factory settings, which files can be deleted without risk and which ones can be touched dangerously. MIUI, pre-existing 5-10 GB on devices with 64 GB of memory and why it is not visible in the standard file manager.

Method 1: Built-in cleaning in MIUI (without third-party software)

So, to start with, the simplest of tools that you already have in your smartphone, Xiaomi has built a few cleaning utilities into MIUI, but they often don't work well unless you know the nuances. Here's how to use them correctly:

1. Clean up garbage via Security: Go to Settings → Applications → Security → Cleanup. Here the system will show the amount of "Junk Files" (app cache, temporary data) and "Unnecessary Files" (duplicates, large files). Click "Clean", but take your time - first check what will be deleted. For example, WhatsApp or Telegram cache is better cleaned manually (more on this below).
2. Delete the cache of individual applications: Go to Settings → Apps → App management, select the right one (for example, Facebook or TikTok) and click “Clear cache”. Attention: do not confuse with the “Clear data” button – this will delete all settings and accounts in the application!
3. Storage optimization: In the same Security section, there is an option called Optimization, where MIUI suggests transferring rarely used applications to a memory card (if any) or archiving old files. The feature works curved on some models (for example, the Redmi Note 10 Pro), so it is better to use it carefully.

⚠️ Attention: Built-in cleaning MIUI Often misses the most "greater" folders - for example, /MIUI/backup (backups of the system) or /Android/data (You'll have to clean them by hand (see method). 3).

Method 2: Manually clean through the file manager (hidden MIUI folders)

If the built-in tools didn't help, it's time to dig deeper. MIUI hides from the user several folders that can take up gigabytes of memory. To see them, you need any file manager with access to the root directory (for example, MiXplorer or Solid Explorer).

Here is a list of folders that can (and should) be cleaned:

• 🗑️ /MIUI/backup — System and application backups: You can delete everything except the last copy (if you need one).
• 🎮 /Android/obb — cache of games (such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile) only if you are not playing these games.
• 📷 /DCIM/.thumbnails — So you can clean it up, and it'll automatically regenerate.
• 📥 /Download/.temp — Temporary download files. Often, there are under-quality files left.
• 🔄 /MIUI/extra — duplicate files created by MIUI For quick access, remove without fear.

⚠️ Attention: Don't touch the folders /system, /vendor or /data/app — Also, don't delete files with the.odex or.vdex extension - they are needed for the applications to work.

If you're not sure what to delete, use Files by Google, which analyzes memory and only offers safe files to be cleared, but it doesn't see some MIUI system folders, so combine both methods.

Method 3: Clean up the update cache and log files (for experienced ones)

Xiaomi is actively updating its devices, but each update leaves behind a "tail" - temporary files that should have been deleted automatically, but were left lying dead weight. /cache can weigh up 1-2 GB, and the log files in /data/log — still.

To clean them up:

1. Open a file manager with root access (such as Root Explorer).
2. Go to /cache and delete all content (this is safe, the system will restore the files you need the next time you turn on).
3. Then go to /data/log and delete files with the.log or.txt extension (these are error logs and system reports).
4. If you have a /data/miui/backup folder, check it out – old backups from Mi Cloud may be there.

⚠️ Note: If you don't have root rights, don't try to get them for this cleanup - the risk of blocking the device is too high. ADB-commands (see Method 5).

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Before cleaning /cache, restart the phone to recovery mode (press Power + Volume up) and select Wipe Cache Partition.This is safer than manual removal.

Method 4: Remove preinstalled applications (bloatwar)

Xiaomi likes to stuff its smartphones with pre-installed apps, from Mi Browser to Mi Pay to GetApps. Many of them can't be removed by standard means, but they take up space and run in the background, wasting memory. Here's how to get rid of them:

No root rights (disconnection):

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Find an unnecessary app (such as Mi Music or Mi Video).
• 🚫 Click "Disable" (this will remove the updates and stop the background work).
• 🗑️ Then clean its cache and data.

With root rights (complete removal):

• 🛠️ Install Titanium Backup or System App Remover.
• 🔍 Find the app in the list and select "Delete".
• ⚠️ Do not remove system services with the names com.android. or com.miui. MIUI!

⚠️ Note: Deleting some applications (such as Mi Security or Mi Account) may result in loss of functionality, such as a fingerprint or push notifications. Before deleting, check if the application is dependent on an important function.

Method 5: Cleaning through ADB (without root but with PC)

If you don't have root rights but you have a computer, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) for deep cleaning, which allows you to remove the cache of system applications and some hidden files that are not available through standard settings.

Instructions:

1. Download ADB Tools and unpack it on PC.
2. On the phone, turn on Developer Mode (7 times click on MIUI Version in Settings → About Phone).
3. Turn on "Debugging by" USB" In Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Connect your phone to your PC and type in the command line: adb shell pm list packages -f | find "miui" This will show a list of Xiaomi system applications.
5. To clear the cache of a particular application (e.g. com.miui.gallery), type: adb shell pm clear com.miui.gallery

⚠️ Note: Do not use the adb shell pm uninstall command for system applications – this can break down MIUI. Limit to cleaning the cache (pm clear).

To clean the cache of all applications, use:

adb shell pm trim-caches 9999G

This command will force the system to release the maximum possible amount of cache.

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ADB is the safest way to clean deep, root-free, and it doesn't require unlocking the bootloader, and it doesn't violate the warranty.

Method 6: Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If all previous methods failed and there is critically little free memory (less than 1 GB), there is a hard reset that will remove all data, apps and settings, returning the phone to the “out of the box” state.

How to do the reset correctly:

1. Save all important data (photos, contacts, messages) on your PC or in the cloud.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select “Erase All Data” (not “Reset” – this will only delete settings, not files!).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

⚠️ Warning: After reset, do not restore data from backup MIUI — It may contain the same junk files that clogged the memory earlier. Better transfer the data selectively (photos, contacts) through a PC or Google Account.

If the memory is quickly exhausted after reset, the problem may be a faulty flash memory (especially on older Redmi 4X, Redmi Note 5 models), in which case only replacing the memory module in the service center will help.

Method 7: Optimize memory to prevent filling

To prevent your memory from getting clogged so quickly, follow these tips:

• 📱 Turn off automatic app updates on Google Play → Settings → Auto-update. Manually update once in a while. 1-2 weekdays.
• 📸 Set up a photo backup in Google Photos with the originals deleted after downloading.
• 🎮 Limit the cache of games in the settings (for example, in Genshin Impact you can reduce the cache size in the game settings menu).
• 🔄 Clean up downloads regularly - folder /Download Often gets clogged with unnecessary files.
• 🚫 Do not use "memory cleaners" from the Play Market (such as Clean Master or CCleaner.

It is also useful to disable the background work of unnecessary applications:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Permissions → Autorun.
2. Turn off auto-runs for social media, games, and other resource-intensive applications.
3. In Settings → Battery → Select the mode to enable "Saving charge" - this will limit background activity.

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Regular optimization (once in a year) 1-2 It prevents the accumulation of garbage. It is enough to clean the application cache and folder. /Download, so that memory is not clogged.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory cleanup on Xiaomi