How to clean the memory on the Xiaomi phone: step-by-step instructions

Xiaomi’s current smartphones are packed with huge amounts of memory, but even 256 or 512 gigabytes can run out at the wrong time. MIUI and HyperOS’s shell eventually become overgrown with temporary files, app cache and logs that quietly occupy precious space. When internal storage is filled, the device starts to run slower, and new photos or updates stop being saved.

In this article, we will explore not only standard cleaning methods, but also the hidden features of the system that will help return the phone to performance. You will learn to distinguish system debris from important data and understand which folders can be deleted without risking the operation of the gadget.

Use of the built-in "Security" application

The easiest and safest way to start cleaning is to use a regular developer tool, and every Xiaomi smartphone has a Security app that combines antivirus and cleaner functions, which automatically scans the device for temporary files, residual debris, and large, unnecessary objects.

To start the procedure, you need to open the application and select the Cleanup item, the system will analyze and suggest removing files that do not affect the operation of the operating system. Importantly, the built-in scanner often finds from 100 MB to 2 GB of garbage, which accumulates literally in a week of active use.

But be careful when using deep cleaning, and sometimes algorithms may find cached data useful to speed up the launch of commonly used programs, and blindly removing everything in a row can cause favorite apps to open a little longer than usual after cleaning.

• 🧹 Open the Security app on the home screen.
• 📊 Click the Scan button to analyze the current state.
• ✅ Select file categories to delete and confirm the action.
• 🔄 Repeat the procedure once in a while. 1-2 weeks of maintenance.

💡

Don’t rely on automatic cleaning alone. check the Large Files section manually once a month, as automation can skip forgotten videos or archives.

Manual cleaning of cache and application data

Social media and instant messengers are often the main consumers of free space. Telegram, WhatsApp, VK and Instagram store every photo and video viewed in the device’s memory, which can take up tens of gigabytes over time, turning into digital ballast.

To make space without deleting the application, you need to go to the settings. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Here you will see a list of all installed programs, sorted by size, select the "heavy" application and click on Memory.

In the menu that opens, you'll see two buttons: Clear cache and Clear all data. The first option is secure and only deletes temporary files. The second option will reset the app to post-installed state by removing logins, correspondence and settings within the program, so use it with caution.

⚠️ Note: Clearing messenger data (WhatsApp, Telegram) will delete all correspondence history if it wasn't previously saved to the cloud.

Special attention should be paid to the gallery and video editors. Apps like TikTok or CapCut create many drafts and temporary rendering files that are not automatically deleted, and regular monitoring of these programs allows you to keep the system on track.

Storage analysis and removal of duplicates

The file system of a smartphone is designed so that the user often does not even know that copies are available. Browser-loaded images, saved statuses, screenshots are all duplicated in different folders. The standard MIUI conductor has a built-in analyzer that visualizes the disk.

Go to Explorer and select a folder icon or Analyzer section. The system will show a memory distribution diagram. Often you will find that the Download folder contains APK installation files that have been installed for a long time, or the DCIM folder has lost 4K video taken by mistake.

It's also worth checking the Bluetooth folder. Many users forget that blue tooth files are saved automatically and can take up gigabytes. Deleting old documents and game installers is a quick way to get a few hundred megabytes of free space.

Cleaning up garbage on social media

Social media is a champion of memory consumption, and the way it works is by saving every post you see, so that when you reopen the feed, it loads instantly, and this cache grows to giant sizes if you don't control it.

Inside the apps themselves, such as Telegram or VK, there are their own memory management tools. Telegram needs to go to Settings → Data and Memory → Memory Use. Here you can set up automatic cache cleanup, for example, delete files older than 3 days or 1 week.

This is the most effective method, because it doesn't require manual intervention. You still see all the messages, but the media files are reloaded from the Internet only when you open a particular chat, which saves space, but requires an Internet connection.

• 📱 Open the settings of a specific social network application.
• 💾 Find the Data, Memory or Storage section».
• ⏱ Set up auto-deleting the cache (for example, after 3 days).
• 🗑 Manually clean the current cache if it is too large.

Remember YouTube. If you download videos for offline viewing, they take up space on the internal drive, check the Downloads section of the app regularly, and delete the content you've viewed.

Working with cloud services and Google Photos

In the era of cloud technology, it makes no sense to store terabytes of photos locally, and Google Photos offers a “Free Space” feature that removes from your device those photos and videos that have already been successfully uploaded to your cloud account.

To use this feature, open the Google Photos app, click on your profile avatar, and select Free Space. The system will check sync and securely delete local copies, leaving your phone virtually empty in terms of media files, having access to the full gallery over the Internet.

The alternative is Xiaomi Cloud or other services like Yandex.Disk, which is similar: set up autosynchronization of the DCIM/Camera folder and enable space saving, especially for models with a small amount of internal memory, such as 64 GB.

Special features and mode of the developer

For advanced users, there are deeper cleaning methods, and in the Developer menu you can find options that affect how the system works, but be very careful: incorrect settings can lead to unstable interfaces.

One of the useful features is to limit background processes, and while it doesn't directly clean up memory, it prevents it from being filled up quickly by active applications, and it's also worth turning off unnecessary system services if you're not using them through the app menu.

Sometimes users encounter a file. misc_data, It's a system partition, and you can't touch it with standard methods, and in such cases, it only helps to completely reset the settings or flash the device, because this often indicates file system errors.

⚠️ Warning: Don't try to delete files from Android system folders through third-party root file managers unless you're sure of their purpose.This can lead to a phone "bricking" or endless reboot.

If standard methods don't work and the memory fills up on its own, there may be a problem in a particular application that creates the error log. Try analyzing which program started to actively fill the disk after you installed it, and delete it.

💡

Regular cleaning of messenger cache and use of cloud storage for photos allow you to forget about the lack of memory for 90% of users.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)