Slowdown of the smartphone and constant notifications about lack of space are frequent companions of device owners Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO. Over time, the shell MIUI accumulates gigabytes of temporary files, application cache and system garbage, which quietly eats up valuable space. When the internal memory is more than 90% full, the system begins to become unstable, and the camera may refuse to save new pictures altogether.
Many users make the mistake of deleting only photos or videos, ignoring system accumulations. In fact, to free up space efficiently, an integrated approach is required: from using built-in utilities to manually cleaning hidden directories through a file manager. In this article, we will look at all the ways to effectively clear memory on Xiaomi Android without deleting important personal data.
Using the built-in Security application
The simplest and safest method for novice users is to use the standard utility pre-installed in each device. Xiaomi. The application Security (Security) has deep access to system partitions and can identify files that can be deleted without harming the operation of the OS. Launch it and select Cleanup (Cleaner).
The system will analyze the device and offer to remove cache, advertising and residual files. However, you should not blindly trust the “Clear all” button. Carefully review the categories Large files and Recent deletions. Often there are downloaded documents or videos that you planned to save. The scanner algorithm is configured to aggressively free up space, so human control is necessary here.
For deeper work, go to the Memory management section inside the application. Here you will see detailed statistics on the occupied space: how much applications, media files, the system, etc. weigh. By clicking on a category Applications, you can sort them by size and remove the “heaviest” ones that you rarely use. This is especially true for social networks and instant messengers, which tend to grow to gigantic proportions.
⚠️ Attention: The “Deep Cleaning” function may suggest deleting files from the folder DCIM/.thumbnails. This is a cache of thumbnails of your photos. Removing them will free up space, but the next time you open the gallery, the phone will again generate previews for a long time, using up battery power.
Before starting a full cleanup through the Security application, connect your smartphone to a charger. The process of scanning and deleting large amounts of data can significantly increase the load on the processor.
Manual cleaning through Explorer and hidden folders
Built-in cleaners do not always see the specific garbage that individual applications create. To do this, you will need a standard file manager Explorer. Turn on the display of hidden files in the application settings (usually an eye icon or an item in the menu) to see directories starting with a dot.
Pay special attention to the folder Android/data i Android/obb. Game cache and application data are stored here. If you deleted the game, but the files remained, they could take up several gigabytes. Also check the folder MIUI/debug_log —this is where the system dumps error reports that the average user will never need, but which can grow to hundreds of megabytes.
Another “sore spot” of Android-based shells is the folder Thumbnails. It is along the way DCIM/.thumbnails. It stores small copies of all your photos and videos for quick viewing in the gallery. Over time, this file may weigh more than the original photos. You can safely delete it, the system will create it again if necessary, but in a smaller size.
- 🗑️ Folder
MIUI/Gallery/cloud/cacheis a cache of the cloud gallery, which often duplicates already downloaded photos. - 🗑️ Directory
Bluetoothat the root of the internal memory - here all files received via Bluetooth over the years of use are accumulated. - 🗑️ Folder
Downloadis a classic storage for forgotten installation files APK and documents.
☑️ Checking junk folders
Clearing the messenger cache: Telegram and WhatsApp
Messengers are the main memory hogs on modern smartphones. Telegram i WhatsApp by default, they save all received photos, videos and documents to internal memory. Without regular cleaning, correspondence over a couple of months can take up 5–10 GB of free space, which is critical for budget models Redmi.
In Telegram, the situation is solved most elegantly thanks to the built-in auto-deleting cache function. Go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory usage. Set the "Store Media" option to 3 days or 1 week. This will not delete your conversations from the server, but it will clear the local cache on the phone, freeing up gigabytes of space automatically.
In WhatsApp, the mechanism is a little more complicated. The application saves media files to a shared gallery, so simply deleting the cache in Android settings is not enough. You need to go to the settings of the messenger itself: Data and storage → Storage management. Here you will see a list of chats sorted by occupied space, and you can delete sent videos or files selectively.
⚠️ Attention: When clearing messenger data through the Android settings (Section Applications → Storage → Clear data), you will delete all correspondence history without the possibility of recovery. Use only built-in cache cleaning tools inside applications!
Removing duplicate photos and optimizing the gallery
Often users take several identical pictures in a row or download the same picture from the Internet multiple times. Searching for them manually is tedious, but smartphones with the latest versions have a built-in tool for finding duplicates. It is located in the application Xiaomi with the latest versions MIUI There is a built-in tool for finding duplicates. It's in the app Gallery in the tab Recommendations or Albums.
If the standard tool is not enough, you can use third-party ones decisions, but with caution. Many “cleaners” from the Play Market require extra permissions. Your best bet is to use the Free Up Space feature in Google Photos if you have sync set up. The service will find blurry pictures and screenshots that can be safely deleted from the device, leaving a copy in the cloud.
It is also worth checking the folder Screenshots. Screenshots of interfaces, correspondence and maps are often forgotten and lie there for months. Sort them by date and remove anything older than six months. This is an easy way to get back a few hundred megabytes without installing additional software.
Transferring data to a memory card and to the cloud
If the internal memory is physically small (for example, 32 or 64 GB), cleaning will only give a temporary effect. A radical solution is to transfer media files to an external drive. Most models Redmi and POCO support format memory cards microSD. You can configure the camera so that new photos and videos are saved directly to the card.
To transfer existing files, use the file manager. Select the folders DCIM, Pictures, Music and Download, select the “Move” function and specify the path to the SD card. Please note that transferring the applications themselves to the card in modern versions of Android is often impossible or not recommended due to loss of performance.
An alternative to a memory card is cloud storage. Services like Google Drive, Yandex.Disk or Mi Cloud allow you to set up automatic photo uploading. After successful synchronization, files can be deleted from the phone using the Free up space function. This turns the cloud into an endless external hard drive, accessible from anywhere in the world.
| Data type | Recommended storage location | Cleaning frequency | Risk of loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo and Video | Cloud / SD card | Once a month | Low (when synchronized) |
| Documents (PDF, DOC) | Cloud storage | As accumulated | Average |
| Messenger cache | Not stored (deleted) | Once a week | Absent (media in chat) |
| APK installation files | Not needed after installation | Immediately after installation | Absent |
Resetting settings as a last resort optimization measure
When software cleaning does not help and the system continues to slow down, despite free space, errors may have accumulated in the registry or system cache. In this case, a full reset to factory settings helps. This will return the smartphone to its “out of the box” state, deleting absolutely all user data and applications.
Before performing this procedure, it is critical to make a full backup. In Xiaomi there is a built-in application for this Mi Backup. It allows you to save contacts, SMS, call log, home screen layout and system settings to a memory card or computer. Without this step, you risk losing important numbers and correspondence forever.
To perform a reset, go to Settings → About phone → Reset settings. Select item Delete all data. The process will take from 10 to 30 minutes depending on the amount of memory. After turning on, the phone will be clean, fast and free from any digital garbage accumulated over the years of use.
⚠️ Attention: Make sure you remember the password for your Mi account and Google account. After the reset, the phone will require their input to confirm ownership (FRP theft protection). If the password is forgotten, it will be extremely difficult to regain access to the device.
What to do if the phone does not turn on after a reset?
If after resetting your smartphone is stuck on the Mi logo, try performing a hard reboot by holding the Power and Volume Up buttons for 15 seconds. If this does not help, you may need to flash the device via a computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility.
Full reset is the only guarantee of removing viruses and deep system errors that cannot be eliminated by regular cache clearing.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why is the memory fast again after cleaning filling out?
Most likely, you have automatic media downloading active in messengers or photo synchronization in full resolution is working. Check your Telegram and WhatsApp settings by disabling auto-download on mobile networks. Also, Android systems create new cache files immediately after cleaning - this is a normal phenomenon for the operation of applications.
Is it possible to delete the Android folder on Xiaomi?
It is impossible to completely delete the folder Android as it stores the necessary data for the operation of installed apps. However, you can safely clear the contents of subfolders cache inside it. Deleting folders data and obb will reset the settings of games and applications to the state of the first installation.