How to Clean Camera Cache on Android Xiaomi: 5 Proven Ways

Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi and POCO series) are known for their powerful cameras, but over time users face slowdowns, “failed to connect to the camera” errors or sudden app closures. 80% of cases are to blame for the crowded camera cache — temporary files that accumulate after each use. Clearing this cache not only speeds up work, but also frees up to 1-3 GB of memory on devices with MIUI 12-14.

In this article, you will find the latest ways to clean up cache for all modern Xiaomi models (from Redmi Note 12 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra), including hidden methods through ADB and safe alternatives for beginners. We will also discuss why standard deletion through Settings often does not help, and what to do if the camera after cleaning stopped working.

Why you should clean up the camera cache on Xiaomi

Camera cache is a temporary file that is created to speed up the processing of photos and videos.

• 📸 Previews (miniatures for the gallery)
• ⚙️ Configuration files (exposure settings, white balance)
• 🎞️ Video buffer (fragments for stabilization)
• 🔍 Error logs (data for diagnosis)

On Xiaomi devices with MIUI firmware, the camera cache is stored in two places: /data/data/com.android.camera (system partition) and /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails (user memory).

🔹 Important: On devices with MIUI 14 and later, the camera cache can take up to 500 MB per month when you actively use Pro, Night Mode or video recording modes. 4K. The system automatically clears the cache only if there is a critical memory deficit (less than 500 MB free of charge).

Method 1: Standard cleaning through MIUI settings

The easiest method that works on all Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi 10C, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T):

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Slip on Application Management → find the Camera (or Camera on global firmware).
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
4. For complete cleaning, click Clear Data (⚠️ This will reset all the camera settings!).

🔹 Features:

• 🔄 Nana MIUI 13+ After cleaning the cache, the camera can open for the first time longer (up to 5 seconds) – this is normal.
• 📱 Some models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro)+) You need to first click Additional in the app menu.
• 🚫 If the Clear cache button is inactive, the cache is empty or the application is running in the background (close it through multitasking).

Close the Camera app in multitasking

Check the vacant space (minimum 1 GB)

Connect the charger (recommended)

Backup of important photos-->

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 12.5 and older, some filters may be lost after cleaning the cache (e.g, VLOG They'll recover from the first camera launch and the first Internet connection.

Method 2: Manually cleansing through file manager

If the standard method didn't work, try removing the cache manually.

1. Open Files (the standard file manager of Xiaomi).
2. Go to the Inner Memory → DCIM →.thumbnails.
3. Delete all files in this folder (they have the.thumb extension).
4. Return to DCIM and delete the.camera folder (if any).

🔹 Hidden folders: If the.thumbnails folder is not visible, turn on the display of hidden files:

1. In the file manager, tap on ⋮ (three-point) → Settings.
2. Activate Showing Hidden Files.

📌 In addition: Some of the cache is stored in /Android/data/com.android.camera/cache. Access to this folder will require root rights or a file manager with support for system partitions (for example, FX File Explorer).

Method 3: Cleaning through Recovery Mode (for advanced)

If the camera has stopped working altogether and standard methods don't work, cleaning the cache through recovery mode may be a solution, a method that is suitable for devices with unlocked bootloader or custom firmware.

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
4. Confirm the action and restart the device.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi) 12S Ultra, Redmi K50 Gaming) Clearing the cache via Recovery can reset Widevine settings L1 (reviewer HD-content Netflix/Disney+). Recovery will require re-flashing.

🔹 Alternative: If you have an option TWRP, Choose Advanced Wipe → Mark Cache and Dalvik Cache → Swipe it out for confirmation.

Method 4: Use of ADB (for technical users)

The method via Android Debug Bridge (ADB) allows you to clear the camera cache without root rights, but requires a connection to a computer.

📌 Preparation:

1. Download ADB Tools and unpack into any folder.
2. On your smartphone, activate Developer Mode (7 taps according to the MIUI version in Settings → About the phone).
3. Enable USB debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.

🔹 Cleanup commands:

adb shell pm clear com.android.camera

This command will completely reset the settings and cache of the camera.

adb shell run-as com.android.camera rm -rf /data/data/com.android.camera/cache/*


adb shell run-as com.android.camera rm -rf /data/data/com.android.camera/files/.*

🔹 Challenges and solutions:

• 🛑 error: device unauthorized → Confirm the debugging on the smartphone screen.
• 🔌 Device not defined → Install Mi drivers PC Suite.
• 📵 Teams are down. → Check if it's off. MIUI Optimization in the Developer Settings.

💡

If the camera is cleared through ADB and it produces an error, “Can’t connect to the camera,” restart the device in Safe Mode (press the power button → hold off “Switch off” → confirm the transition) and this will disable third-party modules that may be blocking the camera.

Method 5: Third-party applications for cleaning the cache

If you are uncomfortable with system tools, you can use specialized utilities.

🔹 Recommendations for use:

• 🛡️ Before cleaning, create a recovery point in MIUI Backup (Settings) → The phone. → Backup).
• 📊 V SD Maid Use CorpseFinder to Find Residual Files After Deleting Applications.
• ⚠️ Avoid “optimizers” that promise to “accelerate the camera 2 times” – they often contain advertising software.

⚠️ Note: Applications such as Clean Master or DU Speed Booster can delete camera calibration files (.xml and.bin in) /system/etc/camera), You can only use the Google Play utilities that are rated higher. 4.5.

What to do if the camera does not work after cleaning the cache

In rare cases, cleaning the cache can cause failures.

1. Reboot: Turn off the smartphone for 1 minute and turn it on again.
2. Reset camera settings: In the camera app tap on ⋮ → Settings → Restore the default settings.
3. Permissions Check: Go to Settings → Apps → Camera → Permissions and turn on all the switches.
4. Software Update: Install the latest camera updates through Settings → About Phone → System Update.
5. Installation APK Download the latest version of the Mi Camera from Xiaomi’s official website (for example, for the Redmi Note 12 here).

🔹 Diagnostics of hardware problems:

• 🔦 If the camera produces a Camera hardware error, check if the plume is damaged (relevant after falls).
• 📡 Xiaomi. 13 Pro and 14 Ultra error may occur due to overheating of the Leica module - let the device cool down 10-15 minute.
• 🔋 On models with ultrafast charging (120W+) The camera can turn off when the charger is connected - that's normal.

💡

If none of the methods worked and the camera still doesn’t work, reset to factory settings via Settings → About Phone → Reset. Pre-save data, as this process will delete all files from the device.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up the camera cache on Xiaomi