Smartphones Xiaomi based on MIUI are known for their functionality, but over time even the most productive models - Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO F5 or Mi 11 Ultra —they begin to “slow down.” This is due not only to the natural aging of hardware, but also clogged memory: temporary files, remnants of deleted applications, duplicate photos and system process caches. If your Xiaomi became slower to respond to touches, applications suddenly close, and the notification “Memory is 90% full+ - free up space" appears every day, it’s time to act.

B In this article you will find proven methods of cleaningthat work on all brand devices - from budget Redmi A2 to flagships Xiaomi 14. We will analyze both standard tools MIUIand hidden functions that are not written about in official instructions. Important: the methods do not require root access and are suitable even for inexperienced users.

Before you begin, check the actual state of the memory: go to Settings → About phone → Memory. If the graph shows that most of the content is occupied by category "System" or "Other" , this is a signal about the need for deep cleaning. And if the main volume is eaten "Media files" or "Applications", superficial measures will be enough.

📊 How often do you clear the memory on your smartphone?
Once a week
Once a month
Only when it runs out place
Never cleared

1. Built-in tools MIUI: fast and risk-free

MIUI offers several built-in cleaning utilities that are often ignored. Let's start with the simplest thing - "Optimizations":

Open the application "Security" (icon with a shield) and go to the tab "Optimization". Here the system will automatically scan the device for the presence of:

  • 🗑️ Junk files (application cache, temporary data)
  • 📁 Duplicate photos and screenshots
  • 🔄 Background processesthat slow down work
  • 📱 Unused applications

Click “Clear” - this will free up from 500 MB to 2-3 GB memory, depending on the degree of contamination. But be careful: do not delete the system application cache (for example, com.miui.home or com.android.systemui) - this can lead to malfunctions of the shell.

The second useful tool is "Deep cleaning". It is hidden in the menu Settings → Applications → Manage applications → Three dots (⋮) → Deep cleaning. Here you can manually delete the cache for specific apps, including system ones. For example, clearing the cache Google Play Services often solves problems with geolocation and notifications.

⚠️ Attention: If, after deep cleaning, some applications (for example, banking) require re-authorization, this is normal. Don't be alarmed: this is how protection against unauthorized access works.

2. Manual deletion of unnecessary files: what you can safely erase

Even after using the built-in tools, “invisible” files remain in the memory. They can be found and deleted manually via Explorer. Open the standard application "Files" (or install Solid Explorer from Google Play) and check the following folders:

  • 📂 /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails —thumbnails photos and videos (can be deleted without consequences)
  • 📂 /storage/emulated/0/Download — downloads from browsers (outdated APK files are often accumulated here)
  • 📂 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data — cache of games and applications (delete folders of apps that have already been deleted)
  • 📂 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Backup — backup copies of settings (if you do not plan to restore)

Pay special attention to the folder Android/obb —additional game data is stored here (for example, graphics packages for Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile). If the game has been deleted a long time ago, but the folder remains, feel free to delete it. For example, a folder com.miHoYo.GenshinImpact can weigh 10+ GB!

For convenience, use sorting by size: in Explorer, click on three dots (⋮) → "Sort" → "By size (descending)". This way you will immediately see the heaviest files.

Check the Download folder for outdated files

Delete thumbnails from DCIM/.thumbnails

Clear cache deleted applications in Android/data

Delete backups in MIUI/Backup if they are not needed

Check the obb folder for remains of deleted games-->

3. Clearing cache and application data: when standard methods do not help

If your smartphone becomes slower after updating MIUI or installing a new application, the culprit is often bloated cacheYou can clear it in two ways:

Method 1: Through application settings

  1. Go to Settings → Applications → Manage applications.
  2. Select a app (for example, Facebook or TikTok).
  3. Click "Storage" → "Clear cache".
  4. If the application is buggy, click "Clear data" (⚠️ this will reset all app settings!).

Method 2: Using ADB (for advanced users)

If you need to clear the cache all applications immediately, connect the phone to the PC and run the command: 

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

Replace com.miui.home with the package of the desired application. Do not use this command for system processes (for example, android.process.media) - this may cause a crash!

After clearing the cache, restart the device. If some applications (for example, WhatsApp or VKontakte) begin to work slower, do not be alarmed: they will restore the cache in a few minutes of active use.

⚠️ Attention: Clearing application data Google Play Market or Google Play Services can lead to problems with updates and push notifications. Do this only as a last resort!

4. Removing system garbage: MIUI hidden files

MIUI creates many service files that are not visible to the user, but take up space. Here's how to find and delete them:

1. data-i="165">The folder

Folder /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/debug_log contains error logs that can weigh 1-2 GB. They can be deleted without consequences. If the folder is not there, then the logs are disabled (which is good for saving space).

2. MIUI

After updating the firmware, a file with the extension /storage/emulated/0/Download/rom the file with the extension remains .zip weight remains in the folder 2-3 GB. It can be deleted if the update was successful.

3. Cache of themes and wallpapers

MIUI caches themes and wallpapers in the folder /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/themeIf you have not changed the design for a long time, feel free to clear its contents.

4. Debug files for developers

If you ever turned on "Developer mode", unnecessary files may remain in the folder /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.debug Delete them if you are not debugging.

How to enable the display of hidden folders

In Explorer (for example, Solid Explorer), click on the three dots (⋮) → “Settings” → “Show hidden files.” Now you will see folders whose names begin with a dot (for example, .thumbnails).

5. Storage optimization: transferring data to a memory card

If your Xiaomi has a slot for microSD, you can transfer some of the data to a memory card. However, please note: MIUI does not support transferring applications to SD (unlike some custom firmware). But you can transfer:

  • 📸 Photos and videos (via the app "Gallery" → select files → "Move")
  • 🎵 Music and podcasts (in the player settings, specify the path to SD)
  • 📄 Documents (through explorer manually)
  • 🎮 Data of some games (for example, Minecraft allows you to select the path for storing worlds)

To automatically save new files to the memory card:

  1. Open "Files" → "Settings" (⚙️).
  2. Select "Default save location".
  3. Specify SD card for photos, videos and downloads.

Important: class memory cards A1 or A2 (for example, SanDisk Ultra) are suitable for storing applications, but MIUI does not allow you to transfer them there. If you need this function, consider installing custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), but this will require unlocking the bootloader and will void the warranty.

⚠️ Attention: Not all applications work correctly with cards memory exFAT. For compatibility, format SD to FAT32 (but note the 4 GB file size limit).
💡

If you often shoot video in 4K, set up automatic saving to the SD card. application "Camera" go to settings → "Save location" → select the memory card.

6. Reset to factory settings: extreme. measure

If all the previous methods did not help, and the smartphone is still slow, it remains hard reset (hard reset). This will delete all data, including photos, messages and installed applications, so first make a backup:

Step 1: Save important data

  • 📱 Synchronize contacts with Google Account (Settings → Accounts → Google → Contact synchronization)
  • 📸 Transfer photos to Google Photos or PC
  • 🔐 Export SMS through the app SMS Backup & Restore
  • 🎮 Save progress in games via accounts Google Play Games or social networks

Step 2: Reset

  1. Go to Settings → About phone → Reset settings.
  2. Select "Erase all data".
  3. Enter the password (if set) and confirm the action.
  4. Wait for the reboot (takes 5-10 minutes).

After resetting, the smartphone will be like new. Do not restore data from a MIUI backup — this will bring back old problems! Install applications selectively (selectively) and monitor free space.

💡

Resetting to factory settings is the only way to completely remove viruses and system junk, but it erases all user data.

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

To avoid having to repeat cleaning every week, follow simple rules:

  • 🚫 Delete unused applications (especially “heavy” games and social networks)
  • 📥 Clean downloads once a month (the folder Download often contains unnecessary APKs)
  • 🔄 Disable auto-update of applications to Google Play (or limit updates to Wi-Fi only)
  • 📷 Set up automatic cache clearing in **"Security" → "Optimization" → "Auto-cleaning"
  • 📊 Use cloud storage (Google Photos, Mi Cloud) for backing up media files

It is also useful to disable background activity for unnecessary applications:

  1. Go to Settings → Applications → Manage applications.
  2. Select a app (for example, Facebook).
  3. Click "Battery" → "Manage background activity".
  4. Select "Limit".

This will not only save battery power, but also reduce the number of temporary files created.

Action Save memory Impact on performance
Clearing application cache 200–500 MB May open more slowly after cleaning
Removing duplicate photos 500 MB - 2 GB No impact
Transferring media to SD card 1-10 GB May slow down file access
Limit background activity 100–300 MB Reduces battery consumption
Reset to factory settings 5–15 GB Restores original speed

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about clearing memory on Xiaomi

Is it possible to clear the cache of system applications (for example, com.android.systemui)?

You can clear the cache of system applications, but with caution. For example, clearing the cache com.miui.home (launcher) will reset wallpapers and widgets, and clearing com.android.systemui may cause short-term graphical glitches. Do not delete data system applications - this will lead to a crash!

Why does the memory quickly fill up again after cleaning?

This happens due to:

  • Automatic restoration of application caches (especially social networks and instant messengers).
  • Hidden creation of backup copies (check Settings → Accounts → Mi Account → Backup).
  • Background downloads of updates or media files (for example, in Telegram or VKontakte).

Solution: disable auto-updates and limit the background activity of unnecessary applications.

How to clear memory if the smartphone does not turn on or constantly reboots?

If the device does not boot, try:

  1. Boot into Safe Mode: hold down the power button → long tap on “Turn off” → “Reboot into Safe Mode”. In this mode, remove problematic applications.
  2. Use Recovery: turn off the phone → press Power + Volume up → select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
  3. Connect to PC and manually delete files via ADB (skills required).

If all else fails, take it to a service center.

Is it safe to use cleaning applications (for example, CCleaner or Clean Master)?

Not recommended. Such applications often:

  • Delete useful files, disrupting the system.
  • Themselves consume resources and show false warnings.
  • May contain advertising or malicious code.

Use only built-in tools MIUI or proven file managers (Solid Explorer, FX File Explorer).

How to clear memory on Xiaomi without losing photos?

Methods:

  • Transfer photos to SD card or PC.
  • Upload them to the cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud, Yandex.Disk).
  • Use the function "Free up space" v Google Photos (it deletes local copies, leaving the files in the cloud).
  • Delete duplicates using the application Files by Google (Cleaning tab).