Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones accumulate huge amounts of system debris, temporary files and app cache over time, inevitably leading to slowdowns in the interface, microfreezes and a lack of free space for new programs. The user may notice that the phone begins to respond to touch longer, and background processes consume more energy than when buying a device.
In this article, we will detail how to clean a phone completely on Android using built-in MIUI and HyperOS tools, as well as more radical reset methods. Deep cleaning requires care, as some actions can lead to irretrievable loss of personal information. We will look at secure ways to delete data and the nuances of working with system partitions.
Before you start taking action, you need to understand the difference between simply cleaning the cache and completely resetting. If your goal is just to make room, you may have enough of the standard Security app. However, if you plan to sell the device or fix critical software bugs, you will need a full reset.
Preparing for complete deletion of data
The process of cleaning your smartphone is irreversible, so the preparation phase is critical to saving important contacts, photos and documents. First, make sure that all your data is synced with Mi Cloud or Google Drive, which will allow you to quickly restore folder structure and call lists after the device is brought to its original state.
Be sure to extract SIM-MicroSD card and memory card before the procedure, if installed in your machine. System reset can affect only internal memory, but human factor or specific settings sometimes lead to the bed of external drives. It must be no less than 50-60%, This process is not interrupted at a critical stage.
Remember to unplug accounts if you plan to transfer your phone to another owner. Modern versions of the MIUI and HyperOS shells offer anti-theft protection, which requires you to enter a password from your Mi Account the first time you activate the dropped phone. If you forget the password, the device will turn into a “brick” for the new user.
☑️ Checklist before reset
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Take screenshots of important Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings before resetting – this will save time for re-pairing devices and entering passwords from networks.
Use of the built-in Security application
The first and most secure way to clean up your Xiaomi Android phone from temporary garbage is to use the regular Security app, which is pre-installed on all the brand devices and has deep access to system partitions, which allows you to delete files that are not available to third-party cliners. Launch the application and select Cleanup.
The system will analyze the contents of the memory and suggest removing the cache of applications, remnants of deleted programs and advertising files. Analysis can take from a few seconds to a minute depending on the amount of data accumulated. After scanning, you will see a list of file categories that can be safely deleted without losing the functionality of the system.
The same section also includes Deep Clean, which helps you find large files, duplicate photos and rarely used apps, and is a great way to free up a few gigabytes of space without deleting personal data, but it’s not enough to clean the system completely, as user settings and accounts remain intact.
| Type of data | Can be removed | Risks of removal | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash app. | Yes. | Applications will be loaded longer at the first launch | Frees up space, does not delete data |
| Residual files | Yes. | Minimum settings for remote games may remain | Increases free space |
| Download folder | Carefully. | High risk of losing important documents | Requires manual inspection of the contents |
| System cache | Yes. | Absent. | Can solve problems with updates |
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Regular cleaning through the regular application "Security" prevents critical memory filling and prolongs the comfortable life of the smartphone.
Reset to factory settings via menu
If the goal is to clean Xiaomi’s phone completely, then a standard reset via the settings menu is the most recommended method for most users.This process returns the software part of the device to the state it was in when it left the assembly line. First, go to Settings, then select About Phone.
At the bottom of the screen, look for Reset (or Factory Reset) and the system will warn you that all data, including photos, contacts and installed applications, will be deleted. Here you can select the option to Clear all data, which guarantees that the contents of internal memory will be deleted.
After confirmation, the phone will request a password to unlock the screen or PIN-code SIM-This is a card to verify the identity of the owner, and then the cleaning process, which can last from 5 to 15 minutes, will start, during which time the device will reboot several times, and the screen can go out - this is normal behavior of the system.
⚠️ Note: If the device is enabled with the function "Find the device" (Mi Cloud or Google Find My Device), after resetting the phone will require you to enter the password from the account that was previously associated.
What do I do if the reset freezes?
Complete cleaning through Recovery mode
When the phone is locked, does not boot to the desktop, or is infected with a virus that prevents you from entering the settings, Recovery mode is used. This is a special diagnostic mode built into the device's memory regardless of the main operating system. To log in, turn off the phone completely.
Press the Up Volume and Power buttons at the same time. Hold them until the Mi or Android logo appears, then release the power button, but keep the volume up until the Recovery menu appears. Navigation is done with volume buttons, and selection is done with the power button (or touch the screen, if supported).
From the menu, select a language (if available), then go to Wipe Data and confirm the choice of Wipe All Data, which is the most radical and often used by service center wizards, and ensures that all user partitions are deleted, including those that may be hidden from the average user.
- 🔹 This method bypasses screen locking, but does not bypass Mi Account protection.
- 🔹 Data is deleted without the possibility of recovery by standard means.
- 🔹 The process takes longer than a software reset via settings.
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Recovery mode is a "heavy artillery" for cleaning, which should only be used when standard methods are unavailable or ineffective.
Cleaning through computer and ADB
For advanced users, there is a way to clean up Xiaomi phone completely with the help of a computer and debugging tools ADB (Android Debug Bridge.This method allows you to remove system debris and cache of specific applications in greater detail than is possible through the smartphone interface. USB on the Developer Menu.
Connect your smartphone to your PC with a cable and open the command line. With the adb shell pm clear command, you can completely clear the data of any application, even the system one, without deleting the apk file itself. This is useful when a particular application (such as the Gallery or the Browser) consumes an abnormally large amount of space due to a bloated cache.
adb shell pm clear com.android.browser
adb shell pm clear com.miui.galleryAlso through ADB You can initiate a full reset with the adb shell recovery command. --wipe_data, It's similar to the Recovery menu, but it's remote. ADB Careful: An error-prone command can cause system instability or the removal of critical components.
⚠️ Attention: Use of teams ADB Deleting system applications or data may disrupt the shell MIUI/HyperOS. Always check the name of the package before cleaning to ensure that you do not remove your Google or Xiaomi system services.
Removal of residual files and debris
Even after you reset or delete applications, you may still have tails in your memory — folders with remote program names, error logs, and temporary files — and to find them, use the Files Explorer built-in and go to the root of internal memory. Look for folders with names of remote applications or services that you no longer use.
Pay special attention to the Android/data and Android/obb folders. They store game cache and application data. If you delete a game but the folder is still there, you can safely delete the corresponding directory manually. This often frees up gigabytes of space after removing heavy games with high-resolution graphics.
Don't forget the folder. MIUI, where the themes, sounds and screenshots are stored. debug_log System error reports can accumulate that take up space but are not useful to the average user, and removing them is safe and useful to free up space.
- 📁 Tencent folder often grows due to the cache of messengers (if installed).
- 📁 XiaomiEU folder is found on custom firmware and contains update logs.
- 📁 Files with the.log and.tmp extensions at the root of the memory can be deleted.