Previous articleMemory is clogged on Xiaomi phone: 7 proven ways to clean Android

Xiaomi smartphones are some of the most popular on the market because of the price-quality ratio, but even they suffer from the eternal problem: clogged memory. You notice that the phone slows down, apps fly out, and the system writes "Not enough space", although it seems nothing extra installed? The reason lies not only in your actions, but also in the peculiarities of MIUI, Xiaomi's proprietary shell, which actively caches data and creates duplicate files.

In this article, we will look at all possible ways to clean up memory, from basic (removal of garbage and cache) to radical (reset to factory settings), you will learn which files can be safely deleted and which should not be touched so as not to break the system.

Before you start cleaning, check how much memory is occupied and what is taking up. Go to Settings → About Phone → Memory. Here you will see a diagram of the allocation of space by category: System, Applications, Media Files, Cache, etc. If the System partition is more than 15-20 GB, this is a reason to be alarmed: MIUI may have backed up updates or accumulated error logs.

Note that on some Xiaomi models (like the Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pro), some of the memory is reserved for the system, which is normal, but if less than 10% of the free space is left, the phone will slow down, in which case cleaning is not a luxury, but a necessity.

1.Cache and debris removal through built-in MIUI tools

App cache is the main memory eater at Xiaomi, which is temporary files that are created to speed up programs but eventually turn into digital junk, and you can clean them in two ways: for individual applications or globally for the entire system.

To remove the cache for a specific application:

For mass cleaning, use the built-in optimizer:

1. Open the Security app (the shield icon).
2. Go to the Cleanup or Optimization section.
3. Press the garbage. → Clean up.

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Warning: Don't confuse "Clear Cache" and "Clear Data": The first deletes temporary files, the second resets all application settings (including logins and saves), for example, clearing data on WhatsApp will lead to the deletion of all correspondence!

MIUI also has a hidden deep cleaning function:

Settings → Additional → Special features → Cleaning the storage

Here you can delete residual files of remote applications that often remain in the system and take up space.

2. Cleaning of "Other Files" - hidden MIUI garbage

One of the most mysterious parts of Xiaomi's storage is "Other Files," which can take anywhere from 5 GB to 30 GB, but what it stores is not explained by the system.

• 📁 System and application logs (files with.log or.txt extension).
• 🔄 Remains of updates MIUI (folder MIUI or OTA root-catalog).
• 🗑️ Temporary bootloader files (for example, after installing themes or fonts).
• 📎 Cache of mini-programs (if you use Xiaomi Quick Apps).

To clear this section:

1. Install a file manager with root permissions (such as FX Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to the root folder (/) and find the folders: /MIUI/backup/AllBackup – backups of the system. /cache – recovery cache (can be cleared). /data/log – error logs.

Don't delete the folders yourself.

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Warning: If you're not sure what you're doing, don't manually delete files, you risk breaking the system. SD Maid (requires root rights).

/MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder (unless you plan to roll back)

Content /cache (except recovery files)

Logs in /data/log (except the current boot log)

Files with.tmp and.temp extensions-->

3. Optimization of media files: photos, videos and music

Media files are the second largest memory eater after the system, and Xiaomi has a few chips that help save space:

• 📸 Photo compression: Xiaomi camera defaults to high-resolution (up to 48 MP) saving. If you don't need photos to print, switch to 12 MP in camera settings.
• 🎥 Video optimization: video in 4K borrower ~400 MB/min and in Full HD — ~130 MB/min Choose a reasonable balance in Camera Settings → Video resolution.
• 🔍 Search for duplicates: the Gallery app in MIUI He can look for similar photos. Open the album, click. ⋮ → Management → Similar photos.

For deep cleaning of media files:

1. Transfer all photos and videos to your computer or cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud).
2. Use utilities like Files by Google to search for: Blurred photos; Screenshots over 30 days; Large videos (over 500 MB).

Galleries

Settings → Applications → Gallery → Storage → Clean the cache

Important: if you use Google Photos in High Quality mode, photos are compressed to 16 MP and videos up to 1080p. This allows you to save up to 70% of space without noticeable loss of quality.

4. Removal of unnecessary applications and their residues

Even after the apps are removed, Xiaomi often has its tails: folders in /Android/data, cache in /Android/obb and registry entries, to clear them completely:

Step 1: Removal in a standard manner

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Sort by size and remove the most "heavy" programs.
3. Pay attention to the pre-installed apps (Mi Browser, Mi Music, Mi Video) – they can be disabled, but not removed without root rights.

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Note: Some Xiaomi system applications (such as MiuiDaemon or SecurityCenter) cannot be turned off, causing your phone to crash. A full list of secure apps to disable can be found on the 4PDA or XDA Developers forums for your model.

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Before you delete the app, check if it is used for system functions, for example, Mi Share is used for fast file transfer, and Mi Roaming is used for mobile Internet roaming.

5. Transfer data to a memory card or cloud

If you don't have enough internal memory and you don't want to delete anything, you can transfer some of the data to a microSD or to the cloud. On Xiaomi, you can do this in a number of ways:

Option 1: Transfer of annexes to SD-map

Not all apps support this feature, but it’s worth trying:

1. Insert a memory card (class 10 or UHS-I is recommended).
2. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
3. Select the application and click Move to SD-Card (if the option is active).

⚠️ Restrictions: System applications and secure games (e.g. banking) cannot be moved.

Option 2: Use SD-maps as internal memory

This feature allows you to "expand" internal memory at the expense of the card, but has nuances:

1. Put it in. SD-map and wait for identification.
2. In the notification, click Set up → Internal memory.
3. Follow the instructions (the map will be formatted!).

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Warning: After that, the card can't be retrieved without losing data, and it'll also run slower than internal memory, which can slow down applications, optimal for photos, music and documents, but not for games.

Option 3: Cloud storage

• 🖥️ Mi Cloud (5GB free) – integrated with MIUI, Automatically sync photos and contacts.
• ☁️ Google Drive (15GB free) – easy to use for documents and backups.
• 📁 Yandex Disk or Mega – give more free space (up to 50 GB).

6. Resetting to factory settings is a last resort

If all the previous methods didn't work, and the phone still says "Memory is full," it's a complete reset, and it's a radical way of erasing all the data, including:

• 📱 Applications and their settings;
• 📂 Photos, videos, music;
• 📝 Contacts, SMS, call-up;
• 🔑 Wi-Fi passwords and accounts.

How to do the reset correctly:

1. Backup: Use Mi Cloud or Google Account to sync contacts and apps. Copy photos and videos to your computer or external drive. Write down Wi-Fi passwords (e.g., taking photos in your computer or external drive). QR-router codes).
2. Reset: Go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset. Select Delete All Data. Confirm action (password may be required).

Set up the phone again

• After the reboot, follow the instructions of the setup wizard.
• Restore data from the backup (but not all at once – it will clog up memory again!).

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Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi 9A or POCO M3) may require re-activation of your Mi Account after reset. If you forget your password, the phone will turn into a brick!

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Factory reset is a last resort. Before the procedure, check if cleaning the cache or transferring files to the factory will help. SD-Once reset, the phone will run faster, but you'll have to configure it from scratch.

7.Prevention: How to prevent memory filling

To avoid having to deal with memory loss every month, follow these simple rules:

• 📅 Clean the cache once every 2 weeks (via Settings) → Warehouse → Cleanup).
• 🚫 Do not install apps just in case – remove unused programs.
• 🔄 Update. MIUI — In new versions optimized work with memory.
• 📥 Set up an automatic upload to the cloud (e.g. Google Photos).
• 🎮 Limit the cache size for games (in the game settings or through Game Turbo).

It is also useful to disable autoloading of media files in messengers:

• On WhatsApp: Settings → Storage → Media Autoboot → Disable for Mobile Data.
• In Telegram: Settings → Data and Memory → Autoboot Media → Select “Never”.

Hidden MIUI function: To optimize memory on your own, turn on Adaptive Cleaning in Settings → Battery and Performance → Optimization. The phone will automatically close the background processes and clean the cache when the charge or memory level is low.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory cleanup on Xiaomi

Connect to the PC

• Use the Mi PC Suite to access files.
• Delete large files manually through Windows Explorer.

If nothing works, you will have to reset completely through Recovery (Wipe All Data).