Your Xiaomi has started to slow down, applications are loading for a long time, and memory is filled with incomprehensible files? Most likely, the overflow cache is the fault of the temporary data that the system and programs accumulate during operation. Clearing the cache not only frees up space on the drive, but can also solve performance problems, errors in games or “outputs” of messengers.
In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to clean up cache on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, from standard MIUI tools to hidden features and third-party utilities. You’ll learn how to clean up cache for individual applications, system partitions, and even Dalvik cache (which many users miss), and the dangers of completely cleaning the cache and when it’s best not to use it.
Important: The instructions are suitable for all modern versions of MIUI (including MIUI 14 and HyperOS), but some menu items may differ slightly on older models (for example, Redmi Note 4 or Mi A1). If your smartphone runs on pure Android (Mi A series or POCO F1), use the special section at the end of the article.
1.Cache cleanup for individual applications
The safest way to do this is to delete cache only for programs that take up too much space or are unstable, which will not affect your data (saved games, correspondence, photos), but can eliminate errors such as “app does not respond”.
How to do this:
- 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management
- 🔍 Enter the name of the program in the search bar (for example, Telegram or Google Play Store)
- 🗑️ Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache
- 🔄 For a complete reset (if the app is buggy), select Clear Data, but remember: this will remove all settings and inputs!
Tip: Start with the heaviest apps, and most of the time, the cache is:
- 🎮 Games (Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty - before 5-10 GB!)
- 📷 Social networks (TikTok, Instagram, Facebook)
- 🗺️ Maps (Google Maps, Yandex.Maps, 2GIS)
- 🎥 Media Players (YouTube, MX Player, VLC)
💡
If the application has become slower after cleaning the cache, it is normal! for the first 1-2 runs it will download the data again. Do not clear the cache more than 1 time a month for frequently used programs.
2. Automatic cleaning of the cache through "Security"
MIUI has an integrated Optimization tool that can find and delete unnecessary files, including cache, which is suitable if you do not want to dig into the settings of each application separately.
Instructions:
- Launch the Security app (Icon with shield)
- Go to the Optimization tab (or Acceleration on older versions)
- Click Deep Cleanup → Garbage Files
- Check the Cash Apps and other unnecessary categories
- Confirm the cleaning button Remove
The advantage of this method is that the system itself finds hidden cache files that are not visible in the standard application manager, such as remnants from remote programs or temporary data from system services.
Residual application files|Cash of mini-programs (Quick Apps)|Logs of system errors|Empty folders|Temporary update files-->
⚠️ Warning: Do not use the “Switch Off Cleanup” feature in your optimization settings. It can remove cache too aggressively, which will cause some apps to load longer after each phone turn on.
3. Cleaning Dalvik cache (for advanced users)
Dalvik cache is a special file that Android creates to speed up applications, which is usually managed by the system itself, but sometimes they get corrupted (for example, after a failed update) and start taking up gigabytes of memory.
- 📉 The phone has become very slow after the update. MIUI
- 🔄 Applications are constantly restarted
- 📱 In the storage settings, you can see a strange section "Other" a few GB in size.
How to clear Dalvik cache:
- Turn off the phone.
- Press the Power button + Volume up before the Mi logo appears (this is the launch of Recovery Mode)
- Choose a language (if required)
- Go to Advanced. → Wipe Dalvik Cache
- Confirm the action and restart the phone
What happens if you delete the Dalvik cache?
⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse the Wipe Dalvik Cache with Wipe Data! The second item will completely reset the phone to factory settings, deleting all your data.
4. Manually clear cache through file manager
If you prefer to control the process manually, you can remove the cache directly through the explorer.This method is useful when standard methods do not help (for example, if the application does not appear in the Application Management list).
Step-by-step:
- Open any file manager (embedded Files or Solid Explorer)
- Go to the folder. /Android/data/
- Find a folder with the name of the problem app (e.g. com.whatsapp for WhatsApp)
- Remove the cache folder inside it
- For system applications, look at /data/data/ (root rights required)
| Cache folder. | What it keeps. | Can I remove it? |
|---|---|---|
| /Android/data/<app>/cache | Temporary application files (pictures, videos, web browsing cache) | ✅ Yes, it's safe. |
| /data/dalvik-cache/ | Optimized code for fast program operation | ⚠️ Only through Recovery. |
| /cache/ | System cache (updates, logs) | ✅ Yeah, but it needs a reboot. |
| /Android/obb/ | Additional game data (not cache!) | ❌ No, it's a conservation. |
⚠️ Note: Do not delete files in obb or media folders - it stores game saves and user data! /data/dalvik-cache/ — This can lead to the collapse of applications.
Once a week | Once a month | Only when the phone is slow | Never cleaned | I don't know what a cache is-->
5.Cache clearing via ADB (for power users)
If you know how to work with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can clear the cache for all applications with one command at a time, which is useful when the phone is heavily clogged and standard methods do not help.
What you need:
- 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver
- 📱 Included Debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to unlock the developer mode, then enable debugging)
- 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original)
Cleanup commands:
adb shell pm list packages -f | grep "/data/" | sed 's/package://g' | awk '{print $2}' | xargs -I '{}' adb shell pm clear '{}'This command will clear the cache of all custom apps (but not system!) to clear the cache of a particular app (e.g. Chrome):
adb shell pm clear com.android.chrome💡
ADB-Cleaning removes not only the cache, but all application data (like the Clear Data button in the settings) and only use this method if you are ready to reconfigure the programs!
6.Cache reset via Recovery Mode (last chance)
If the phone is so slow that it doesn't respond to touch, or if you keep getting bugs out after you update MIUI, it's going to help you reset your cache through recovery mode, and it doesn't affect your personal data, but it resets all the temporary files in the system.
Instructions:
- Turn off the phone.
- Press Power + Volume Up for 10 Seconds
- In the Recovery menu, select the language (if there is such a item)
- Go to Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache
- Confirm the action and wait for the completion
- Select Reboot → Reboot to System
This method often helps after "curve" updates, when the phone loads but is unstable, for example, if after installing a new version of MIUI:
- 🔄 Applications are closed spontaneously
- 📱 The screen twitches periodically.
- 🔊 The sound is lost or distorted
- 📶 Mobile networks appear and disappear.
⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse Wipe Cache with Wipe All Data! The second option will completely reset your phone by deleting all photos, contacts and apps. If you accidentally chose the wrong item, read how to recover data.
7.Cache cleanup on Xiaomi with “clean” Android (Mi A, POCO F1)
Xiaomi Mi A1/A2/A3 and POCO F1 smartphones run on naked Android without a MIUI shell. There is no Security app, but there are standard Android tools for cache management.
How to clean the cache on these models:
- 📱 Go to Settings. → Memory. → Cache data.
- 🗑️ Click Clear cache (the system will show how much space will be freed up)
- 🔄 For individual applications: Settings → Annexes → Select a program → Memory. → Clear the cache
Features of "pure" Android:
- 🔍 No Deep Clean – you will have to remove the cache manually
- 📁 No access to the folder. /data/dalvik-cache/ rootless
- 🔄 Updates come directly from Google, so cache issues after updates are less common
💡
On POCO F1, you can turn on developer mode and activate the Do Not Save Action option (Settings → System → Developer) which will cause Android to clear the cache automatically when you close applications, but can increase battery consumption.
Frequent errors in cleaning cache on Xiaomi
Many users make the same mistakes when trying to make room on their phone, and here's what you can't do and why:
- Clearing the cache daily is essential for fast application operation, and if you delete it too often, the phone will spend more time and battery to reload the data.
- Applications like Clean Master or CCleaner often delete not only cache, but also useful files, and also show false warnings about “critical errors”.
- Delete the folder Android/obb/ It stores additional game data (such as graphics packages for Genshin Impact) and removes the games and causes them to have to be downloaded again.
- Files from /system/cache/ are required for stable operation of MIUI. their removal can lead to errors during updating or failures in the operation of the interface.
If after cleaning the cache problems remain, check:
- 📊 Free space in the section System memory (should be at least) 1-2 GB)
- 🔋 Battery condition (if worn out, phone can brake even with clean cache)
- 🔄 Version MIUI (Older versions may conflict with newer applications)