Modern smartphones of the brand Xiaomi are famous for their price-performance ratio, but over time, even the most powerful models begin to “slow down”. The main reason for this behavior lies not only in the natural wear and tear of hardware, but also in accumulating software garbage. Users often install dozens of utilities, games and services that take up precious space and consume RAM in the background.
Properly cleaning applications is not just about removing icons from the desktop. This is a complex process that includes cache management, disabling system services, and proper resource allocation. In this article, we will look at how to effectively free up space on your device without damaging the performance of the shell MIUI or HyperOS.
Basic removal of user applications
The most obvious way to free up space is by deleting apps that you no longer use. In the ecosystem Xiaomi this process is simplified as much as possible and is accessible directly from the main screen. However, many users make the mistake of simply dragging the icon to the trash without checking whether the application has been completely removed or just a shortcut.
To ensure removal, go to the settings of your gadget. Find the section Applications and select item All applications. Here is a complete list of installed software, sorted by name or date of use. Amount of memory occupied Indicated under each name, which allows you to quickly identify the most "voracious" neighbors.
Select an unnecessary app and press the button Delete at the bottom of the screen. The system will ask you to confirm the action. Be careful: some system components may not have this button, as they are protected from removal by standard means. In this case, you can only disable them, which we will talk about below.
- 🗑️ Delete games that you have not played for more than a month - they take up gigabytes of space.
- 📉 Check for duplicate messengers or browsers, they are often installed “just in case” case."
- ⚙️ Use the search in the list of applications to quickly find specific software.
Clearing the cache and application data
Even after removing unnecessary apps, the remaining software continues to accumulate temporary files. Application cache This is data that speeds up the launch of apps (pictures, scripts, temporary logs), but with Over time, their volume can reach several gigabytes. Clearing the cache is a safe procedure that does not delete your personal logins and passwords.
To clear the cache of a specific application, go to the menu Applications → Manage applications. Select the desired service, for example YouTube or Telegram, and click on the item Memory. Here you will see two buttons: Clear cache and Clear everything. The second button resets the application to the “just installed” state, deleting all settings and accounts.
⚠️ Attention: Do not click the “Clear all” button for instant messengers (WhatsApp, Viber) without first backing up your conversations, otherwise you will lose your entire message history without the possibility of recovery.
For mass clearing in many versions MIUI there is a built-in utility "Safety". Launch it, select the partition Cleaning, and the system will automatically find the cache files. This is a quick way to free up space, but it is less accurate than manual selection for each application.
Owners of smartphones with a small amount of internal memory (32-64 GB) are recommended to clear the cache of social networks and browsers at least once a week.
Managing system applications and Bloatware
Smartphones Xiaomi often come with a pre-installed set of apps called bloatware. These could be games, partner services, or duplicate system utilities. It is difficult to completely remove them without root access, but you can disable them so that they do not consume processor resources and do not hang in RAM.
In the application management menu, find the unnecessary system service. If the button Delete is inactive, try pressing Disable. After this, the icon will disappear from the desktop, and the application will stop launching and updating. This is an effective way system optimization without the risk of damaging the firmware.
There is also an advanced method through the developer menu or ADB commands, but it requires caution. Disabling critical system components (for example System UI or Google services) may cause the phone to stop booting or lose connection to the network.
List of applications safe to disable
Mi Video, Mi Music, Mi Recipient, Documents, Payment services (if not used), Advertising services MSA.
Before disabling a system process unknown to you, it is strongly recommended to find information about its purpose on the Internet. Disabling the Autorun service may result in notifications from instant messengers no longer arriving in a timely manner.
Analysis of memory and battery consumption
Sometimes the problem is not the number of installed applications, but how they work. Some apps may have memory leaks or run incorrectly in the background, draining your battery. Built-in statistics tools will help identify such troublemakers.
Go to the Battery and performance section in settings. This displays a graph of energy consumption and a list of applications that consume the most battery. If you see a app that you haven't used, but it is at the top of the list, this is a reason to check its settings or delete it.
| Application type | Impact on memory | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
| Social networks | High (media cache) | Regular cache clearing |
| Navigators | Medium (offline maps) | Deleting downloaded regional maps |
| Games | Very high (resources) | Deleting when idle |
| Messengers | Increasing (history) | Chat archiving and cleaning |
It is also worth paying attention to the section Advanced settings → Special. features. Sometimes services for applications that you deleted long ago are activated here. Checking this list helps you find the “tails” of old software.
☑️ Memory optimization checklist
Configuring autostart and background restrictions
One of the main reasons for the slowdown of work Android on smartphones Xiaomi is uncontrolled startup of applications. By default, many apps are included in startup to send notifications or update content even when the screen is off.
To manage this process, use the application Security, which is pre-installed on all brand devices. Find the tool Permissions and select item Autostart. Here you will see a list of all apps that start with the phone. Leave only instant messengers and alarm clocks turned on, move the other switches to the “off” position.
⚠️ Attention: Disabling autostart for email clients and work messengers (Slack, Teams) may lead to a delay in receiving important notifications.
Additionally, you can limit background activity for specific applications. In the battery settings, select the application and set the mode No restrictions only for those services that need to work constantly. For the rest, it is better to choose Battery saving, which will force the system to “freeze” their background processes.
Use of third-party cleaning utilities
Although the built-in tools MIUI are quite effective, sometimes deeper cleaning is required. Third-party file managers and cleaners can find residual files that the system does not consider garbage. However, the choice of such apps should be approached responsibly.
Popular solutions like Files by Google or SD Maid allow you to analyze the file system and find “orphan” files - leftovers from deleted applications. They also help duplicate photos and large video files that people often forget to delete.
Avoid using aggressive “RAM Boosters” that promise miracle speedups. In modern versions Android forced unloading of applications from RAM often leads to the opposite effect: the system spends more resources on re-launching them than on holding them in the background.
The best way to speed up your phone is not constantly cleaning RAM, but competently managing autorun and removing heavy unused software.
Questions and answers (FAQ)
Is it possible to remove Xiaomi system applications without root access?
Complete removal of system applications without root access is impossible using standard means. However, you can use your computer and the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) utility to safely remove bloatware via command pm uninstall -k --user 0 package_name. This requires caution and knowledge of package names.
Why does the application run slower after clearing the cache?
This is normal. When loading for the first time after clearing the cache, the application must re-download and process temporary data (images, configs). After a few minutes of operation, the speed will be restored to its previous level.
How to find hidden system applications in the list?
In the “All applications” menu, click on the three dots in the upper corner and select “Show system processes”. Be careful: do not remove components with the names “System”, “Android”, “Google Services” if you are not sure of their purpose.
Does cleaning applications affect the smartphone warranty?
No, software clearing the cache, deleting user applications and disabling built-in software through the settings are not grounds for denial of warranty service. The warranty is lost only upon obtaining root access and unlocking the bootloader.