Smartphone owners Xiaomi, Redmi i Poco often face a sudden lack of free space. The system MIUI or new HyperOS tends to accumulate a huge number of temporary files, duplicates and residual data from deleted applications. This not only takes up gigabytes, but also significantly slows down the device, causes interface freezes and problems with downloading updates.
In this article we will analyze not only the standard methods that everyone knows, but also delve into system folders hidden from the eyes of the average user. You'll learn how to safely remove digital junk using built-in tools and trusted third-party utilities. The main thing is to do this competently, so as not to damage the operation of the operating system Android and not lose important data.
Before taking radical measures, it is worth understanding the nature of the occurrence of “garbage”. These are not only photos and videos, but also error logs, browser caches, temporary messenger files and empty directories. Storage & Performance is a regular maintenance process that extends the life of your gadget.
⚠️ Attention: Before starting deep cleaning, be sure to create a backup copy of important contacts and documents. Manually deleting system files can lead to unstable operation of the phone.
Using the built-in Security application
The first and most obvious step is to use a standard tool from the developers. The shell MIUI has a pre-installed application Securitythat combines an antivirus and a cleaner. It analyzes the system and offers to delete temporary files that are taking up space.
Launch the application and click on the “Cleanup” button. The system will scan the device and show the amount of garbage. However, automatic analysis is often superficial. For a more in-depth scan, go to the Cleaning section within the app and take a closer look at the Large Files and Duplicates categories. Forgotten videos or screenshots are often hidden here.
You shouldn’t rely on just one “Clear all” button. Manually check the Applications section to see which apps are taking up the most space. Often messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp grow up to several gigabytes due to media files.
Use the “Deep Cleaning” function in the Security application only when the phone is connected to Wi-Fi, as some analysis functions may require updating the databases.
- 🗑️ Click on the broom icon to quickly clear the system cache.
- 📸 Check the “Recently Deleted” album in the gallery, the files there take up space for 30 days.
- 📦 In the “Applications” section, sort the list by size and find the “heavyweights.”
- 🔄 Regularly update the Security application via GetApps for new search algorithms.
Manual cleaning through Explorer and file management
Automatic tools do not always see specific garbage. To do this, you need to go to the standard Explorer (File manager). The main amount of garbage is usually stored in the folder Android/data i Android/obb, but be careful: deleting files from obb may reset your progress in games.
The most “dirty” area is this folder MIUI/Gallery/cloudwhere cloud gallery thumbnails and social network folders are stored. The directory DCIM/.thumbnails (the folder can be hidden) contains thumbnails of your photos. If you deleted the originals, the thumbnails may remain and take up gigabytes.
You should also pay attention to the folder Download. Browsers and instant messengers often save installation files there APKthat are no longer needed after installing the apps. You can safely delete them.
☑️ Checking manual folders
To access hidden folders, such as .thumbnails, you need to activate the display of hidden files in the Explorer settings. This will allow you to see the real amount of space occupied.
⚠️ Attention: Never delete folders with the names of system services (for example,com.android...) insideAndroid/data, unless you are 100% sure that this is the cache of a remote application.
Cleaning cache and data of specific applications
The largest amount of memory is consumed by social networks and instant messengers. Applications Viber, Telegram, Instagram save every viewed picture and video in a cache. Over time, this cache can reach 5-10 GB.
To clear them, go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Select the app you want and tap Storage. There are two buttons here: “Clear cache” and “Clear all” (or “Reset”). The first is safe, the second will delete your logins and settings inside the application.
Pay special attention Telegram. Inside the application itself, in the Settings → Data and memory → Memory usage section there is a convenient “Store media” slider. Set a limit, for example, 1 GB or 3 days. This will prevent garbage from growing in the future.
| Application | Where to clean | Risk of data loss | Recommended frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telegram | Inside the application | No (media will be downloaded again) | Once a month |
| Chrome / Yandex | Browser settings | Reset open tabs | Once a week |
| YouTube | Phone settings | Reset recommendations | Once a month |
| Phone settings | You need to log in again account | Once every 2 weeks |
Deleting duplicates and large files
Often users forget about downloaded movies, TV shows or podcast episodes that are no longer relevant. The file manager Xiaomi has a built-in function for sorting files by size. This is the best way to find “hidden eaters” of space.
Open Explorer, click on the menu (three stripes) and select sorting “By size”. Files larger than 100 MB will immediately rise to the top. Often there are forgotten video files in the format MP4 or archives ZIP.
It is also worth checking the folder Bluetooth. If you've ever transferred files via Bluetooth, they might stay there forever. Duplicate photos often occur when synchronizing with the cloud or accidentally re-downloading.
How to find hidden large files?
Use the search command by extension. In the search bar of Explorer, enter ".mp4" or ".mkv" to see all the video files on the device, regardless of the folder in which they are located.
Don't forget about the recycle bin in the cloud service Google Photos or Xiaomi Cloud. Photos deleted on the phone often continue to hang in the cloud, taking up a quota, or vice versa - they take up space in the cache of a cloud application.
Using third-party tools for deep cleaning
If the built-in tools are not enough, you can turn to time-tested utilities. The leader in this area is considered SD Maid (SE or Corp version). Unlike many “cleaners”, it does not show ads and actually searches for residual files after removing apps.
Another powerful tool is Files by Google. This is not just an explorer, but a smart cleaner that analyzes your smartphone usage and offers to remove old screenshots, blurry photos and rarely used applications. It is safe and does not interfere with system partitions without permission.
However, you should avoid installing “memory boosters” (RAM Boosters), which promise miraculous acceleration. On modern versions Android they often cause harm by constantly unloading the necessary processes from RAM, which forces the processor to work more actively and drains the battery.
- 🚀 SD Maid is the best choice for searching for “orphaned” files.
- 📂 Files by Google is an excellent interface and smart garbage sorting.
- ⚠️ Avoid applications with names like “Super Cleaner 2026” with an abundance of advertising.
- 🔒 Check the permissions that the cleaner asks for - it does not need access to contacts.
⚠️ Attention: MIUI and HyperOS interfaces are always are updated. The location of some menu items may differ depending on the firmware version (CN, Global, EEA). If you don't find the item, use the settings search.
Prevention: how to avoid memory overflow
The best cleaning is prevention. To avoid returning to the question “how to clean Xiaomi from junk” every week, change your usage habits. First of all, set up automatic cache clearing in instant messengers, as described above.
The second step is to transfer media files to the cloud or to a computer. Use Google Photos with the Free Up Space feature, which removes photos from your device that have already been uploaded to the cloud. This instantly frees up gigabytes.
Also keep an eye on system updates. In new versions Android and shells Xiaomi memory management algorithms are often improved. Try not to fill the internal memory to capacity - for normal operation the system needs at least 10-15% of free space.
Regular manual check of the "Downloads" folder and setting up autosave in messengers solve 90% of problems with low memory.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it safe to delete the Android/data folder?
You cannot delete the folder itself - the system will create it again. You can delete the contents of specific application folders inside data, but this will reset their settings. Do this only if the application does not work correctly or takes up an abnormally large amount of space.
Why is the memory not freed up after clearing?
You may have cleared only the cache and not the files. Also check the "Recently Deleted" folder in the Gallery and Recycle Bin of Explorer - files often stay there for 30 days before being permanently deleted.
Is it possible to transfer applications to an SD card on Xiaomi?
In modern versions MIUI and Android this The function has been officially closed by the developers to improve stability. You can only transfer photos, videos and documents. Applications will remain in the internal memory.
What is a .thumbnail file and can it be deleted?
This is a cache of photo thumbnails. You can delete it, but the system will create it again when you open the gallery. It makes sense to clean it only if it has grown to disproportionate volumes (more than 1-2 GB).