Xiaomi smartphones are famous for their performance and functionality of the MIUI or HyperOS shell, but over time, even the most powerful device starts to work slower, due to the accumulation of system debris, app cache, residual files of remote programs and memory fragmentation. Users often face a situation where the phone “slows down”, opens applications for a long time or suddenly discharges.
In these cases, you need to do a deep cleaning, and there are several levels of this process, from safely deleting temporary files through embedded tools to completely resetting to factory settings (Hard Reset), depending on your ultimate goal: whether you want to just speed up the work or prepare the device for sale.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the available ways to clean Android on Xiaomi devices. We will look at the standard optimization tools, manual data deletion, working with Recovery Mode and answer questions about the security of your data after the procedure.
Preparation of the device before complete cleaning
Before you start radical measures, such as a complete reset, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps, which will save your contacts, photos and application settings, ignoring this stage can lead to irretrievable loss of data that can not be recovered by standard methods.
The most reliable way to save information is sync with Mi Cloud or Google account. Make sure you know the passwords from your accounts, as after a reset, the system will require them to confirm the rights of the owner (FRP protection).
- 📱 Backup your contacts in Contacts → Settings → Synchronization.
- 📸 Save photos and videos to Google Photos or to your computer via Google Photos USB-cable.
- 🔐 Write down passwords from important apps and two-factor authentication.
- 💾 Transfer files from the Download folder and DCIM externally.
⚠️ Note: If the phone is installed SD-Remove the card before starting the reset procedure, which will protect your personal files on the card from random formatting if you choose to clean the entire drive.
Once you have created a backup, it is recommended to disable all locking features such as device search and lock screen, although modern versions of Android may require you to enter a password even after reset, unless the account was previously deleted. → Mi Account and log out of the system.
☑️ Checklist before reset
Cleaning of system debris by regular means
Xiaomi doesn’t have to reset completely to maintain a smartphone on a regular basis. The MIUI and HyperOS shells have a powerful Security tool built in to remove cache, residual files and optimize memory, a first step that is worth taking when slowing down.
Launch the Safety app (green zipper icon) and select Clean up. The system will analyze the storage and suggest removing temporary files. However, for a deeper cleaning, click on the Garbage Cleanup or Deep Cleanup tab, where you can find large files, duplicate photos and unused apps.
And you'll pay special attention to the app section, which is where you see what's taking up the most space. Often, messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp accumulate gigabytes of cache by sending media files, and clearing the cache of these apps doesn't delete correspondence, but it frees up a lot of memory.
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Use the “Accelerate” feature in the Security app before launching heavy games – this frees up RAM and can boost FPS.
If standard tools are not enough, you can use the "Extended Cleaning" feature, which allows you to remove installation units. APK-files that are left over after updating programs, and clear the clipboard.
| Type of data | Where to find out. | Can be removed | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash app. | Settings → Applications | Yes. | Speeds up work, resets the settings of the application |
| Residual files | Safety → Cleanup | Yes. | Makes room, safe. |
| Folder.thumbnails | DCIM → .thumbnails | Yes. | Accelerates the opening of the gallery, folder recreated |
| System Logs | folder MIUI → debug_log | Yes. | Safe, takes up a lot of space. |
Manual cleaning through the Conductor and Settings
Automatic cleaners don't always see all the files that are redundant. Sometimes manual intervention is required to remove the "heavy" folders created by specific applications. Use built-in Explorer. Be careful to delete only files that you are sure of.
First of all, check the downloads and messenger folders. Often at the root of internal memory are the social media names folders, where all images and documents ever received are stored. Go to Internal Drive → Android → Media to access data from modern applications.
- 🗑️ Find the Download folder and remove the old installers.
- 📂 Check your Bluetooth folder for unnecessary accepted files.
- 🎵 Clear folders of music services (Spotify, Yandex Music) from offline tracks.
- 📹 Remove screenshots from the Pictures folder → Screenshots.
Another effective method is to clean up specific applications’ data through the settings menu. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, select a heavy program (like a browser or store) and click Clean → Clear Everything. This will return the application to the “just after installation” state.
⚠️ Note: When clearing the application data (“Clear All Data”), you will be logged out and all local settings reset. Make sure to remember the password from the account in this application.
Don't forget the folder. MIUI It's in the internal storage, and it's often the debugging logs that accumulate inside (debug_log) And backups of the recorder. MIUI → gallery → Clouds can also take up space if the synchronization is incorrect.
Full reset to factory settings (Soft Reset)
If cleaning the garbage doesn’t work and the phone continues to work unstable, a more serious approach is required: resetting, which returns the software part of the smartphone to its original state, removing all user data, accounts and installed applications.
Soft Reset can be run through the settings menu if the phone is turned on and reacts to touch. Go to Settings → About Phone → Reset. The system will offer two options: Reset (saves files) and Erase everything (complete cleaning).
The process takes 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the storage capacity and speed of the drive, at which time the Xiaomi logo or download animation can be displayed on the screen, it is strictly forbidden to interrupt the process, remove the battery (if it is not removable), or reboot the device with buttons.
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Once reset, the phone will look like you just took it out of the box, and all your personal data will be destroyed without the possibility of recovery.
Once the procedure is complete, the phone will prompt you to select a language and connect to Wi-Fi, and you will need to enter a password from a Google account that was previously linked, which is a standard FRP (Factory Reset Protection) security measure that protects the device from theft.
Hard Reset via Recovery Mode
And so there are different situations: the phone can freeze on the logo, not respond to the sensor, or go into an endless reboot, and in such cases, a simple reset through the menu is impossible. Recovery Mode comes to the rescue. It's a low-level diagnostic and reset environment.
To log in to Recovery on most Xiaomi smartphones, you need to turn the device off completely. Then press both the Volume Up and Power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, continuing to keep the volume up until the menu appears.
Navigation in this menu is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice of item is done with the power button. You need to find the Wipe Data item and select it. Then the system can suggest you choose Wipe All Data. Confirm the action by selecting Confirm.
- 🔌 Connect your phone to the charger if the battery is drained.
- 🔘 Use volume buttons to move through the menu.
- ✅ Be prepared for the fact that the touch screen in Recovery does not work.
- ⏳ The message reads “Data wiped successfully».
After a successful reset, select Reboot → Reboot to System. The first download after Hard Reset can last longer than usual (up to 10 minutes).
What to do if Recovery requires a password?
Deleting your Mi and Google account before selling
If your goal is to sell the phone or transfer it to another user, a simple reset may not be enough because of the security system: Google and Mi accounts are tied to the hardware of the device. If you don't log out before resetting, the new owner won't be able to activate the phone.
To delete your Mi Account, go to Settings → Mi Account, scroll down and click “Get Out.” The system will ask you to enter your password. Similarly, do Google: Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google, select your address and click “Delete Account.”
Only after manually logging out of all services can you reset, in which case the first activation of the phone will not ask for old passwords, and the new owner will be able to easily customize the device to himself, it is not only a matter of convenience, but also the security of your data.
⚠️ Note: If you sell a phone without deleting your accounts, the customer will not be able to use it.You will have to remotely unlock the device via Mi Cloud or Google Find My Device, which requires access to the Internet and your credentials.
It is also recommended to remove SIM-card and memory card before transferring the device, check if Find Device is included in security settings, full digital hygiene ensures that your personal correspondence and photos do not fall into the wrong hands even when using data recovery software.