Many Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the question of how to install cache, implying by this action either forced cleaning of temporary files or changing the system memory limits. In the Android operating system, and in particular in the shell of MIUI, the term "set cache" is not technically correct, since cache memory is a dynamic buffer created automatically to speed up applications. However, users often look for ways to influence this process to free up space or, conversely, reserve more resources for heavy games.
In this article, we will discuss all aspects of working with temporary files on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices. You will learn how to properly manage memory, why the system limits its volume and what hidden settings exist for advanced users. Understanding these mechanisms will help to avoid errors associated with overflowing storage or unstable interface operation.
It’s worth noting that automatic memory management in modern versions of Android works quite efficiently, but manual memory management is sometimes required, especially for models with a small amount of built-in storage, where every megabyte counts.
What is Cache Memory and Why to Manage It
Cache is a region in a device’s storage where apps save temporary data to load faster when they re-start. For example, Google Chrome stores thumbnails of visited pages, and social networks store avatars of friends and previews of photos, which allows you to speed up the response and reduce the load on the processor, since the device does not need to re-download or compute the same data every time.
However, uncontrolled cache growth can lead to negative consequences. Over time, temporary files can reach several gigabytes, which is critical for budget models with 32 or 64 GB of memory. In such cases, users often wonder how to “set” a limit or forcibly reset this data. It is important to understand that cleaning the cache does not delete your personal photos, contacts or correspondence, it affects only temporary debris.
There is a common misconception that constantly cleaning the cache is always useful. In fact, after each cleaning, applications require the time and resources of the processor to regenerate the buffer data, which can temporarily slow down the smartphone, so "install" regular cleaning only makes sense when there is a clear shortage of free space.
Standard methods of cleaning cache in MIUI
The MIUI shell offers built-in and secure tools for managing temporary files. The easiest way is to use the standard Security app. It automatically scans the system and suggests removing the accumulated garbage. To do this, you open the application, wait for the analysis to be completed, and click Clean.
More detailed control is available through the settings of a particular application. If you want to free up space occupied by the cache of a particular program (for example, YouTube or Instagram), follow the following steps:
- 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → All applications.
- 🔍 Find the desired application in the list and open its properties.
- 🗑️ Click on Memory or Storage.
- ⚡ Select the option Clear cache (not to be confused with “Clear everything” that will delete authorization data).
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Use the Deep Clean feature in the Security app to find forgotten installations APK-files and large videos in garbage folders.
MIUI also has an Advanced Cleanup feature that allows you to remove the cache of all installed programs at once with a single click, but this method is less selective and can remove useful temporary data that would speed up the launch of applications after a reboot.
Setting the Dalvik and ART cache size through the engineering menu
For advanced users who want to manually “set” the cache size of the Android Virtual Machine (Dalvik/ART), there is a possibility to change system settings, which can be useful for optimizing the performance of heavy games or specific tasks where you need quick access to application code.
First, activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on MIUI Version seven times. Once the notification of successful activation appears, go back to the main settings menu and open the Additional → For Developers section.
☑️ Preparing for System Settings Change
In the developer menu, find the section related to optimization or cache size (the name may vary on different versions of Android, sometimes requiring command input via ADB).
- Find the Cache Size of Background Processes or the Background Process Limit.
- Select a value that suits your needs (e.g., “No more than 4 processes”).
- Changing the size of a Dalvik cache often requires the use of the ADB command line.
⚠️ Warning: Changing the parameters of the Dalvik cache without understanding the consequences can lead to unstable system operation, constant restarts or "boot loop" (cyclical inclusion.
If you decide to use ADB to force settings, the command will look something like this (requires a connected PC and debugging enabled):
adb shell pm trim-caches 999999999This command forcibly trims the cache of applications, freeing up space, but does not change the system limit permanently. Deep reconfiguration of memory often requires root rights, obtaining which deprives of warranties and carries security risks.
Using DNS to speed up Internet cache
Often, the query "how to install cache" means users want to speed up the loading of web pages and content in applications. DNS-Cache. Change. DNS-servers to a faster server (e.g. Google) DNS Cloudflare can significantly improve network response on Xiaomi smartphones.
MIUI has a built-in Private DNS feature that doesn’t require third-party apps to be installed. To set it up, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. Select DNS Host Name and enter one of the following addresses:
- 🚀 dns.google (Google servers)
- ⚡ 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com (Cloudflare servers)
- 🛡️ dns.adguard.com (for blocking ads and trackers)
The impact of DNS on speed
Once you enter the address, click Save. The system will check the availability of the server. If the address is entered correctly, the connection will establish, and your smartphone will begin to use a more efficient mechanism for resolving domain names, which indirectly affects the rate of formation of the network cache.
Comparison of Memory Management Methods
To make it easier for you to choose the right optimization method, we have prepared a comparative table of the main ways to work with memory on Xiaomi.
| Method | Security | Efficiency | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard cleaning (Safety) | Tall. | Medium | Low. |
| Cleaning up the app cache | Tall. | High (for a specific application) | Low. |
| Setting up the DNS | Tall. | Medium (network only) | Low. |
| Change of Dalvik cache (ADB/Root) | Low (risk of failure) | High (for games and heavy tasks) | Tall. |
As you can see from the table, for most users, the optimal solution is to use standard MIUI tools. Manual setting of system parameters is justified only in rare cases when standard methods do not give results, and the device is used for specific tasks.
Remember that modern Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with artificial intelligence algorithms that regulate the work of background processes, and intervention in these processes unnecessarily can upset the balance between performance and power consumption.
Common mistakes and myths about cache
There's a lot of myths surrounding cache, and one of the most popular ones is that the cache needs to be cleaned every day. It's wrong. Constant cleaning makes the CPU run idle, re-creating temporary files, which leads to increased battery consumption.
Another myth is that there are magic applications that install virtual memory, which actually mimic cleaning or aggressively shut down processes that the system will immediately start again, and the only way to actually increase the amount of memory available is to physically replace the device with a large storage model or use cloud services to store photos and videos.
⚠️ Warning: Avoid installing questionable accelerators and cleaners from unverified sources.They often contain ads, miners or malicious code that will slow down your Xiaomi.
It's also a mistake to think that full cache slows down a phone as much as a full drive. When 95-98% of internal memory is full, the system starts to work slowly because of fragmentation and no space for swaps. Cache, taking up space, just prevents you from writing new files, but does not necessarily cause interface lags if at least 1 GB is free.
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The optimal strategy is to clean the cache only if there is a lack of space or malfunctions in the work of a particular application, and not on a schedule.