How to properly clear memory on Android Xiaomi: step-by-step guide

Smartphones Xiaomi based on MIUI are known for their performance, but over time even they begin to “slow down” due to full memory. A clogged cache, unnecessary application files, and residual data after uninstalling apps can take up gigabytes of precious space. In this article we will analyze all available methods of clearing memory from standard tools to hidden functions that are not discussed in official instructions.

The peculiarity Xiaomi is that the manufacturer actively uses its own services (for example, Mi Cloud or GetApps), which often leave behind “junk” files. In addition, the proprietary shell has unique memory management mechanisms that are not available on the bare shell. We will show you how MIUI has unique memory management mechanisms that are not available in bare metal Android. We'll show you how safely free up to 30% of memorywithout resorting to radical measures like resetting to factory settings.

It is important to understand: clearing memory is not only deleting unnecessary files, but also optimizing system performance. For example, properly setting up auto-cleaning cache or transferring rarely used applications to a memory card can significantly speed up your phone. In the article you will find step-by-step guide with screenshots (interface descriptions), warnings about possible risks and tips for maintaining a clean system in the long term.

1. Built-in MIUI tools for cleaning memory

The manufacturer Xiaomi has integrated into MIUI several utilities for memory management, which often go unnoticed by users. The main tool is "Cleaning" (Security → Cleaner), but it works superficially. Let's look at all the hidden features:

The first thing to do is run deep cleaning. To do this:

1. Open Settings → About phone → Memory
2. Tap on the item Clear in the upper right corner
3. Select Deep clean (password confirmation may be required)

This function deletes not only the application cache, but also temporary system files that are not affected by normal cleaning. For example, log files MIUI, update remnants and cache WebView (built-in browser engine) are cleared here.

• 📱 Quick Clean: Removes application cache and unnecessary files in a few seconds. Suitable for daily use.
• 🗑️ Junk cleaning: Scans the system for residual files after uninstalling apps (for example, folders /Android/obb/ from deleted games).
• 🔍 Memory analysis: Shows which files take up the most space (videos, APKs, documents). Useful for manual sorting.
• ⚙️ Auto Clean: Configured in Settings → Battery and performance → Clean. You can set the cache to be automatically deleted when the screen is locked.

⚠️ Attention: Function Deep cleaning in MIUI 14+ can delete data some Chinese applications (for example Mi Video or Mi Music), even if you do not use them. Before cleaning, check the list of deleted files!

Tool	What cleans	Recommended frequency
Quick cleaning	Application cache, temporary files	once every 2-3 days
Deep cleaning	System logs, update remnants, WebView cache	1 once a month
Junk cleaning	Residual files after uninstalling apps	After uninstalling applications
Memory analysis	-	When there is not enough space

2. Manual deletion of unnecessary files through a file manager

Built-in tools MIUI do not always cope with hidden folders files that accumulate over time. For example, a folder DCIM/.thumbnails can weigh several gigabytes, although the user never sees it. Let's consider which directories should be checked manually:

First, open the standard one File manager (Mi File Explorer) and activate the display of hidden files:

1. Tap on three dots in the upper right corner
2. Select Settings → Show hidden files
3. Return to the root directory (/)

• 📁 /DCIM/.thumbnails —thumbnails of photos and videos (can be deleted without consequences, they will be restored automatically).
• 🎮 /Android/obb/ — game cache files (delete folders of games that you have not used for a long time).
• 📥 /Download/ — downloads from the browser (unnecessary APKs and archives often accumulate here).
• 📊 /MIUI/debug_log/ — system error logs (can be deleted if there are no problems with the phone).
• 🔄 /Android/data/ — application data (delete folders of deleted apps).

Pay special attention to the folder /Android/data/com.miui.gallery/ - this is where backup copies of the edited ones. photo from the standard gallery are stored. If you have not used the built-in editor for a long time, you can safely delete these files.

Make a backup copy of important files|Checking free space (at least 10% of the total volume)|Disable synchronization with Mi Cloud for the duration of cleaning|Checking the list of installed applications (so as not to delete the data of necessary apps)-->

⚠️ Attention: Do not manually delete files from folders: /system/, /vendor/, /data/dalvik-cache/ - this may lead to to system crash and the need to flash the phone!

If you actively use Mi Cloud, check the folder /MIUI/Backup/AllBackup/. local backups that can duplicate data from the cloud. For example, backups of Notes or Contacts often occupy hundreds of megabytes, although the actual data is already synchronized.

3. Clearing cache and application data

Many applications (especially social networks and instant messengers) accumulate gigabytes of cache. For example, Telegram can store up to 5 GB of media files, and Facebook can cache high-resolution videos. cache does not delete your accounts or messages, but can significantly free up space.

To clear the cache of individual applications:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Manage applications
2. Select the desired application (for example, YouTube)
3. Tap Storage → Clear cache
4. If necessary, tap Clear data (this will delete settings and inputs!)

To mass clear the cache of all applications:

1. Open Settings → Storage
2. Select Others applications
3. Sort by cache size (tap on the "Cache" column)
4. Select unnecessary applications and click Clear cache

• 📸 Gallery and Photos: Clear the cache Google Photos and Mi Gallery —duplicate thumbnails can be stored here.
• 🎵 Music applications: Spotify, Yandex Music and Mi Music caching tracks for offline listening.
• 🗺️ Maps: Google Maps and Yandex Maps store offline cards, which can take up to 1-2 GB.
• 💬 Messengers: Check WhatsApp check Settings → Storage —here you can delete heavy media files.

⚠️ Attention: Clearing data the application (not the cache!) will lead to exit your account and resetting all settings. For example, in Instagram you will have to re-enter your login and password, and in games progress may be reset (if it is not linked to a Google account or Mi Account).

For applications that actively use the cache (for example, TikTok or Kwai), it makes sense to limit its size:

1. Open the application settings in Settings → Applications
2. Select Advanced → Limit cache
3. Set a limit (for example, 500 MB)

4. Memory optimization using hidden MIUI functions

MIUI contains several hidden toolsthat are not advertised in the official documentation, but can significantly free up memory. For example, the function Storage Sense (analogue of Android 12+) in MIUI 14+ automatically deletes unnecessary files, but by default it is disabled.

To activate Storage Sense:

1. Go to Settings → Storage
2. Tap on the three dots in the upper right corner
3. Select Advanced settings → Storage Sense
4. Turn on the switch and set up rules (for example, deleting files from the recycle bin after 30 days)

Another useful feature is "Light mode" (Lite Mode, which reduces memory consumption system:

1. Open Settings → Accessibility
2. Select Lite Mode
3. Activate the mode and restart the phone

• 🔄 Clearing duplicates: In Gallery → Albums → Duplicates you can find and delete duplicate photos/videos.
• 📦 Archiving rarely used applications: MIUI can automatically archive apps that you do not use (configurable in Settings → Applications → Archiving).
• 🔍 Search for large files: In File manager → Categories → Large files files larger than 10 MB are displayed.
• 📱 Background optimization: You can disable wallpaper animation, which will save up to 200 MB of memory. Settings → Display → Wallpaper style You can disable wallpaper animation, which will save up to 200 MB of memory.

How to enable developer mode for additional memory settings

1. Go to Settings → About phone

2. Tap 7 times on the item MIUI version

3. Go back to Settings → Advanced → For developers

4. option Do not save actions (limit system logs) and Limit background processes (reduces RAM consumption).

Function	Where to enable	Effect
Storage Sense	Settings → Storage → ⋮ → Additional settings	Automatic garbage removal
Lite Mode	Settings → Special features	Reducing system memory consumption
Archiving applications	Settings → Applications → Archiving	Free up space without deleting apps
Cache limit	Settings → Applications → [Select] → Advanced	Control over cache size

5. Transferring data to a memory card or cloud

If the built-in memory is sorely lacking, consider the option of transferring data to microSD or to cloud storage. Xiaomi supports memory cards up to 1 TB (depending on the model), but there is nuances:

To transfer applications to a memory card:

1. Insert microSD (formatted as internal storage)
2. Go to Settings → Applications
3. Select an application and tap Storage → Edit → Memory card

Not all applications support transfer to SD. For example, WhatsApp or Google Play Services remain in the internal memory. Also note that after transferring the application may run slower (especially if the memory card is class UHS-I U1 or lower).

• 📁 Transfer of photos/videos: In Google Photos or Mi Gallery you can configure automatic uploading to the cloud and deleting local copies.
• 🎵 Music: Spotify and Yandex Music allow you to save tracks to a memory card.
• 🎮 Games: Some games (for example, Genshin Impact) support installation on SD, but require a high-speed card (UHS-I U3).
• 📄 Documents: Mi File Explorer allows you to move files between internal and external memory manually.

For use Mi Cloud:

1. Open Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud
2. Enable synchronization for Galleries, Notes and Contacts
3. In Gallery select Settings → Backup and activate automatic loading

⚠️ Attention: When formatting the memory card as internal storage it cannot be removed without losing data! If you plan to use SD on other devices, format it as portable storage (but then transferring applications will not be available).

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Transferring applications to a memory card can speed up the system, but slow down the apps themselves. The best option is to store only media files and documents on SD.

6. Radical methods: resetting to factory settings

If all the previous methods did not help, and the phone is still the same. slows down, remains last resort - reset to factory settings (hard resetThis will delete all data, including applications, photos and settings, so before the procedure be sure to make a backup copy.

To reset the phone:

1. Go to Settings → About phone → Reset settings
2. Select Erase all data
3. Enter password (if set)
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot

After resetting, the phone will be like new, but there are several nuances:

• 🔄 Restore from backup: If you used Mi Cloud or Google Account, the data can be restored at the first settings.
• 📱 MIUI update: After the reset, check for updates in Settings → About phone → System update.
• 🔒 Unlocking the bootloader: If you previously unlocked bootloader, you may need to unlock again after the reset.

⚠️ Attention: On some models Xiaomi (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3) after the reset, IMEI or data about the serial number may disappear. This is due to the features of the firmware. If the mobile signal disappears after the reset, contact the service center for restoration. IMEI.

If you do not If you want to do a full reset, but you need to free up a lot of space, you can use partial reset:

1. Go to Settings → Applications
2. Tap on the three dots and select Reset application settings
3. Confirm the action

This will delete the settings of all apps, but will save personal data (photos, videos, documents).

7. Prevention: how to avoid memory clogging in the future

So that you don’t have to regularly clean memory, follow simple rules prevention:

• 📵 Limit background activity: Turn off background work for unnecessary applications. Settings → Battery → Consumption management disable background work for unnecessary applications.
• 🔄 Set up auto-cleaning: Enable Storage Sense and set the recycle bin to be emptied once a week.
• 📥 Control downloads: Regularly clean the folder /Download/ from unnecessary files.
• 🎥 Optimize media files: Turn on photo compression ( Google Photos enable photo compression (High quality instead Original).
• 📦 Use the cloud: Set up automatic uploading of photos and videos to Mi Cloud or Google Drive.
• 🔍 Monitor memory: Once a month, check Settings → Storage for unexpectedly large files.

Pay special attention. Each major update (for example, from MIUI updates. Each major update (for example, with MIUI 13 to MIUI 14) can take up to 3-4 GB of space after installing the update. MIUI always clear the update cache:

1. Go to Settings → Storage
2. Select System data → Update cache
3. Click Clean

If you often install APK files from third-party sources, use package manager (for example, APK Extractor) to remove unnecessary installation files. They often remain in the folder. /Download/ and take up hundreds of megabytes.

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Create a widget on the main screen Storage (long press on the screen → Widgets → Storage This will allow you to monitor free space in real time.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about clearing memory on Xiaomi

Is it possible to clear memory without losing data?

Yes, most methods (clearing the cache, deleting unnecessary files, transferring data to a memory card) do not affect personal data. deep cleaning or reset to factory settings will delete everything, so make a backup copy first.

Why does the memory quickly fill up again after cleaning?

This is due to the fact that many applications (especially social networks and instant messengers) actively cache data. For example, TikTok or Instagram can download videos in the background. Solution:

1. Limit background activity in Settings → Battery.
2. Disable auto-downloading of media in messenger settings.
3. Set Storage Sense for automatic cleaning.

How to clear memory if the phone is very slow and does not respond to commands?

If the interface MIUI freezes, try:

1. Safe Mode: Hold down the power button → long press on Disable → Safe Mode. In this mode, only system applications work, which will clear the memory.
2. ADB commands: Connect the phone to the PC and execute:

   adb shell pm clear --user 0 com.miui.cleanmaster

   This will reset the settings of the standard cleaner.

3. Hard reset: If all else fails, perform a reset via Recovery (press Power + Volume top when turning on).

Which applications are best not to clear?

It is not recommended to clear the cache or data of the following applications:

• Google Play Services - responsible for the operation of Google services.
• Mi Account - may lead to problems with your account Xiaomi.
• Android System WebView - needed for display web content in applications.
• Banking applications (for example, SberBank Online) - cleaning can reset security settings.

Does clearing memory help speed up the phone?

Yes, but not always significantly. Cleaning cache and deleting unnecessary files frees up space, but performance is more affected by:

• Amount of free RAM (RAM).
• Background processes (disable auto-run of unnecessary applications in Settings → Permissions → Autorun).
• Battery status (when worn out more than 50%, the phone starts to slow down).

For noticeable acceleration, combine memory cleaning with RAM optimization and disabling animations (in the developer settings).