Cleaning Apps and Their Data on Xiaomi: 5 Proven Ways

Xiaomi smartphones accumulate unnecessary applications and data over time, leading to slowdowns, memory shortages and even crashes. Cache cleaning, uninstalling unnecessary programs and resetting data are key procedures for keeping the device in optimal condition. However, many users are afraid of accidentally deleting system files or losing important information.

In this article, we will analyze all available ways to clean applications on Xiaomi – from standard tools. MIUI You will learn how to properly remove applications, reset their data without consequences, and which programs can be safely deactivated. Particular emphasis is placed on the difference between deleting an application and cleaning its data – this is critical for saving personal files.

The material is relevant for all modern models Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO base MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS. If your device runs on an older firmware version, some menu items may be different, we will warn you about this separately.

1.What is the difference between removing an application from cleaning its data?

Before you start cleaning, it is important to understand the fundamental difference between the two procedures:

• 🗑️ Delete the application - completely erase the program from the device.Together with it disappears all its files, including cache, settings and user data. For example, after removing WhatsApp, all chats will disappear unless a backup was made.
• 🧹 Cleaning up the application data, resetting the program to factory settings, and the app itself stays on the phone, but deletes all user data: accounts, settings, downloaded files, which is useful if the program is not working correctly, but you don't want to reinstall it.

For example, if you clean up Google Chrome data, all bookmarks, history, and saved passwords disappear (if not synced to your account), and if you delete Chrome completely, all of its files, including cache, will be erased along with the program.

Another nuance is system applications, which can’t be removed by standard means, but can be disabled (deactivated) or cleaned up, which is true for pre-installed Xiaomi services that you don’t use (such as Mi Video or Mi Music).

2.How to remove unnecessary apps on Xiaomi

The easiest way to free up memory is to delete programs you don't use, and on Xiaomi, there are a number of ways to do this.

Method 1: Through the Application Menu

The fastest method:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the list, find an unnecessary application and tap it.
3. Click Remove (if the button is active).

If the Remove button is inactive (grey), the application is system, in which case you can only turn it off or clear the data (more on this below).

Method 2: Through the Google Play Store

Alternative:

1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. Go to Profile. → Application and device management.
3. Select the Installed tab and find the desired application.
4. Slip it and press Remove it.

This method is convenient if you want to remove several programs at once – in the Play Store you can mark several applications and remove them in a package.

Method 3: Remove via ADB (for power users)

Some Xiaomi system applications cannot be removed by standard methods, but it can be done through the use of a ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method requires connecting the phone to a computer and basic command line knowledge.

Here's the step-by-step instruction:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on your phone: go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install it. ADB-Drivers and open the command line.
4. Enter the command to view the list of all applications: adb shell pm list packages
5. Find the name of the unwanted app (e.g. com.miui.video for Mi Video) and execute the deletion command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.video

⚠️ Note: Removing system applications through ADB Do not delete programs that you do not know what they are doing, for example, deleting com.android.phone will result in a loss of network connection.

3. How to clean up application data and cache

If an application is not working properly or takes up too much space, but you don't want to delete it, you can clear its data and cache, and that will bring the program back to factory settings, but the app itself will remain on the phone.

Standard method through settings

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the appropriate application.
3. Press Warehouse.
4. Tap Clear cache (delete temporary files) and/or Clear data (reset all settings).

For example, cleaning Instagram data will result in logging out of your account and deleting all uploaded stories and photos from your phone’s memory, while cache can be cleaned without consequences — these are just temporary files to speed up work.

Mass cleaning of cache of all applications

If you need to free up space quickly, you can clear the cache of all applications at once:

1. Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
2. Put it on the cache.
3. Confirm the cleanup.

This procedure is safe – it only deletes temporary files without affecting personal data, but after cleaning some applications can load longer on the first run.

💡

If after cleaning the cache, the application began to work slower, just restart it - the system will restore the necessary temporary files.

Cleaning data through Recovery Mode (for system failures)

If the phone is slowing down or apps are constantly crashing, it can help to clean the cache through Recovery Mode, which is more radical and resets the cache of all system and user applications.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up at the same time and hold them until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select Wipe & Reset. → Wipe Cache (control is carried out by volume and power buttons).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.
5. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse Wipe Cache with Wipe Data! second option will completely reset the phone to factory settings by deleting all your data.Cache clearing is secure and doesn't affect personal files.

4.How to disable Xiaomi system applications

Many Xiaomi apps that are pre-installed cannot be removed, but they can be disabled (deactivated).This hides them from the menu, stops background work and saves battery power. If necessary, the application can always be turned back on.

List of the most frequently disabled system applications on Xiaomi:

To disable the system application:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the appropriate application.
3. Click Disable (if the button is active).

If the Disable button is inactive, the application is critical to the system, and then you can try disabling it through the system. ADB (as described above, but it is risky.

5. How to free up space without removing apps

If you need to free up memory but don’t want to delete programs, there are a few alternative ways to do so.

Transfer applications to memory card

Some Xiaomi models support the portability of applications to microSD.

1. Put the memory card in the phone.
2. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
3. Select the app and click Storage.
4. If the option is available, tap Change and select Memory Card.

Note that not all applications support portability, and once the memory card is removed, the programs will not work on it.

Use of the function "Lite Mode"

V MIUI There's a Lite Mode that optimizes your phone by reducing the application background, which doesn't free up memory directly, but it reduces the load on the system.

To activate:

1. Go to Settings → Special features → Lite Mode.
2. Turn on the switch.
3. Select applications that should work in lightweight mode.

Cleaning up loads and garbage

Often, the memory is not occupied by the applications themselves, but by the downloaded files.

• 📁 Downloads – Delete unnecessary files (APK, images, documents).
• 🗑️ The basket is in MIUI There is a file basket that needs to be cleaned periodically.
• 🎵 Mi Music or Music – duplicate songs can be stored here.

For quick cleaning, use the built-in Cleaner app (unless you have previously disabled it):

1. Open the Cleaner.
2. Slip the Deep Cleanup.
3. Select unnecessary files (cache, temporary data, duplicates) and delete them.

💡

Regularly cleaning up the Download and Recycle Bin folder can free up to 1-3 GB of memory without removing applications.

6.What to do if the application is not removed or cleaned?

Sometimes users find that the Delete or Clear buttons are inactive. Let's look at the possible causes and solutions.

Reason 1: The application is a system

Xiaomi system applications are protected from removal.

• 🔄 Disable the application (as described above).
• 🛠️ Remove through ADB (power-user).
• 📱 Use root rights (not recommended due to the risk of losing the warranty).

Reason 2: The application is the administrator of the device

Some programs (such as antiviruses or password managers) are granted administrator privileges, which blocks their removal, to remove the restriction:

1. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Device Administrators.
2. Find the right application and disable its rights.
3. Now you can remove it.

Reason 3: Application protected MIUI

Some Xiaomi system services (such as Mi Account or Security) cannot be disabled by standard methods.

• 🔍 Check if the app is really not needed (e.g. Mi Account is required for sync).
• 🛡️ If it’s a security service, don’t turn it off – it can weaken your phone’s protection.

Reason 4: A mistake in the job MIUI

If the buttons are inactive for no apparent reason, try:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📱 Update the firmware to the latest version.
• 🧹 Clear the Settings cache (in Settings) → Annexes → Settings → Warehouse → Clear the cache).

⚠️ Note: If you use custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), some Xiaomi system applications may not work properly or at all. In this case, use alternative tools like Titanium Backup to clean up your data).

7. How to recover deleted application data?

If you accidentally cleared your app data or deleted it along with important information, there are ways to recover what you lost.

Recovery through backup

If you have synced with your Google or Xiaomi account:

• 🔄 For Google apps (e.g. Chrome, Gmail): Log in to your account – data will be automatically restored.
• 📱 For MIUI-Applications (e.g. Notes, Calendar): Go to Settings → Xiaomi account → My cloud. → Restore.

Recovery through Third Party Programs

If there is no backup, you can try data recovery programs:

• 🖥️ Dr.Fone (for PC) – Restores deleted files, chats, photos.
• 📱 DiskDigger (for Android) – searches for deleted files directly on your phone.

Note that the more you use your phone after you delete it, the lower your chances of recovery, and it's best to connect the device to your PC and scan the memory using Dr.Fone.

Cache recovery

Some applications (e.g. messengers) store temporary copies of data in cache.

1. Install the app again from the Play Store.
2. Don't open it right away.
3. Use a file manager (such as Mi File Manager) and go to the folder Android/data/[name-packet].
4. Check if temporary files are still there (for example, databases with the.db extension).

This method does not always work, but sometimes it allows you to recover some data.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning apps on Xiaomi