How to Clean Xiaomi Phone Memory: From Cache to Factory Reset

Modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones have huge amounts of internal memory, but even 256 or 512 GB can fill up quickly. The MIUI operating system or the new HyperOS eventually overgrow temporary files that are not visible to the average user, which leads to the device starting to work slower, applications fly out, and new photos simply have nowhere to save.

Device owners often wonder why the phone was flying when they bought it and then a year later, barely turning the menu. The answer lies in the accumulated digital garbage. In this article, we will examine not only standard cleaning methods, but also the hidden tools available to developers that will help restore the device to its former friction.

Don't go to the store to get a new gadget or delete your favorite photos. Proper file management allows you to free up tens of gigabytes. We'll look at safe optimizations that won't hurt your data, if you take care.

Analysis of storage occupancy through standard means

Before we start taking any drastic measures, we need to understand what eats precious gigabytes. The MIUI shell has a powerful analysis tool that is often ignored, which allows you to visualize space and find the heaviest folders. Go to Settings → Memory to see a detailed diagram.

The system automatically categorizes files into categories: apps, images, videos, documents, etc. By clicking on any sector of the chart, you'll be placed in a file list sorted by size, which is the fastest way to find forgotten movies or series of TV shows you watched six months ago.

⚠️ Note: Be careful when removing files from system folders, even if the analyzer suggests clearing them.

The other section is a special focus. Often it hides messenger files, streaming cache and remnants of remote applications. The Android/data folder contains a cache of games and applications, deleting the content of which will reset the progress in games and program settings. Do not clear this section blindly if you are not sure about the purpose of the files.

Cleaning through the "Safety" application

The regular Security tool is the first line of defense against digital garbage. Unlike other third-party tools, it has deep permissions to access the system and knows which files can be removed painlessly. Launch the application and press the Cleanup button.

After scanning, the system will prompt you to delete temporary files, advertising debris and uninstall residues. However, if you click on the "Clean" button right away, you will miss the opportunity to deep-tube.

• 🗑️ Application cache: temporary data that speeds up programs but inflates to giant sizes.
• 📦 Residual files: folders left over after deleting games and software.
• 📸 Similar photos: the algorithm will find duplicates of images taken in the serial shooting mode.
• 📱 Large files: Search for videos and archives that take up more than 100MB.

Using this tool regularly, at least once a week, will help keep the phone on top. Automatic garbage cleanup can be set to schedule, saving you from having to do it manually.

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Turn on the “Clear Cache When Unlocked” function in the Security app settings so that your phone cleans automatically every time you remove it from the lock screen.

Working with the cache of messengers and social networks

The leaders in memory consumption are traditionally Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber, which store every photo and video you see in the memory of the device, and over time, the folder with media files can grow to 10-20 GB, although this information is no longer available in chat rooms.

Cleaning is best done through the settings of the applications themselves, rather than through the file manager, so as not to disrupt the structure of the database. On Telegram, go to Settings → Data and Memory → Memory Use. Here you can clear the cache and configure autodeletion of media files, for example, delete videos older than 3 days.

On WhatsApp, the situation is similar: Settings → Data and Storage → Storage Management. The system will show the chats that occupy the most space. You can selectively remove media from specific dialogues without touching text correspondence.

Social networks like VK or Instagram also cache the feeds and stories they've viewed, and these apps often don't have a "Clear Cache" button in their settings, so you have to go a little bit tricky. You can clean the app data in your Android settings (Applications → Find App → Storage → Clear Cache), but that will require re-authorization.

Removing duplicates and large files manually

Standard cleaners don't always see all duplicates, especially if files have different names but the same content. For this task, it's better to use specialized applications or built-in gallery features. The Xiaomi gallery has an album "Similar Photos", where you can quickly select the best shots and remove the blurred ones.

Xiaomi's File Manager can sort files by size. Go to Files and select size. Download often contains installations. APK-Files that are no longer needed after installing programs.

When working with files manually, it is important to understand the difference between system and user data. Deleting files from the root directories can lead to unstable system operation. Always check the date of creation of the file: if it is older than a year and you do not remember that it is likely to be garbage.

Hidden opportunities of the developer and ADB

For advanced users who are not afraid of the command line, there is a method of cleaning through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to remove the system cache and application data that are not available through the interface, this will require a PC and enabled debugging over USB on the phone.

The adb shell pm clear com.package.name command completely clears the data of the specified application, similar to reinstalling, but without removing the APK itself. This is useful for Xiaomi system applications that inflate and do not give the cleaning option in the menu.

adb shell pm trim-caches 999999999999

This command tries to free a specified number of bytes (in this case, almost the volume) from the cache of all applications at once, the system decides which temporary files to delete first, and this is safer than manual deletion, since it does not affect the user's personal data.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB Incorrect commands can lead to the removal of important system components. Make sure you understand each command before it is executed.

Radical measures: Resetting to factory settings

If no methods help and the memory fills up on its own, it may be that the file system is damaged or that the system has crashed, leaving the last argument, a full reset, that will put the phone back out of the box.

Before the procedure, make sure to back up all important data. Reset will delete absolutely everything: contacts, photos, apps and settings. Go to Settings → About phone → Reset → Erase all data.

Once reset, the phone will work as fast as possible, but if you restore a full copy of the system from the backup, the problem may come back with the garbage, and it is recommended that you reset the phone as new, installing the apps again.

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A complete reset is not a cure-all, but a last resort, and if the memory problem returns immediately after you reset and install a pair of applications, it may be the physical wear and tear of the device’s flash memory.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)