Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones, which are powered by MIUI shells or the new HyperOS, have powerful functionality but eventually start to require maintenance. The main factor slowing down the device and taking up precious gigabytes of internal memory is the accumulated cache of applications and system services. Cache are temporary files that are created to speed up access to frequently used data, but when they grow too large, they cease to be useful and turn into digital garbage.
Users often notice that the phone takes longer to respond to commands, and games slow down even on flagship models. The solution is to properly clean this temporary data. In this article, we will discuss in detail how Xiaomi can clean the cache manually and automatically, which embedded system tools should be used, and which methods can harm the stability of the Android operating system.
Regular maintenance of stored memory is not just a way to free up space, but also a necessary prevention of software failures. A proper understanding of the file structure avoids deleting important data such as logins, passwords or game progress, while effectively freeing up space for new photos and programs.
Mechanism of cache in the shells MIUI and HyperOS
The Android operating system that Xiaomi smartphones are based on uses caching to optimize performance. When you launch an application, such as a social network or a navigator, the system stores some of the data in fast memory. This allows you to re-start pages instantly without downloading them from the Internet. However, the cleaning algorithms do not always work perfectly, and files can stay on the system for weeks.
In the shell of MIUI and its successor HyperOS, there is a division into the system cache and cache of user applications. The system cache contains temporary data of the operating system itself, updates and Google services. The app cache is data from specific programs: Instagram, TikTok, browsers, and they are most often inflated to giant sizes, occupying several gigabytes on each account.
⚠️ Attention: Automatic accelerator cleaning often only affects surface files. For deep cleaning, you must manually check the settings of each heavy application separately.
It is important to understand that completely deleting the cache is not harmful to the device; on the contrary, it forces the system to re-form fresh, undamaged temporary files, which often solves problems with “departures” of programs. However, it is worth distinguishing between cleaning the cache and cleaning the data: the first deletes temporary files, the second resets the application to the factory settings, deleting your logins and correspondence.
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Periodic cleaning of the messenger cache (Telegram, WhatsApp) can free up up to 5-10 GB of space, since these applications store all the photos and videos viewed in hidden folders.
Use of the built-in "Security" application
The easiest and safest way to clean up your cache on Xiaomi is to use the regular Security app, which is pre-installed on all the brand’s devices and has deep access to system files, allowing you to remove garbage without risking damage to important system partitions.
To start, you need to run the app and select Cleanup, and the system will automatically analyze and suggest removing the garbage. It's important to click on the Analysis button to see the details. In the menu that opens, you'll see not only the amount of files that are being deleted, but you can also choose which cache categories to delete, usually the remnants of deleted applications, temporary files and ad cache.
- 📱 Click on the desktop security application icon.
- 🧹 Select the Cleanup section and wait for the scan to be completed.
- ✅ Click the Clean button to remove the debris found.
- 🔍 For detailed analysis, go to the Deep Clean section at the bottom of the screen.
In the Deep Cleanup section, you can set up the process in more detail, where the system offers to delete large files, duplicate photos and unused applications. Be careful when selecting ticks: sometimes the garbage gets files that you planned to save, such as downloaded documents from messengers.
☑️ Daily prevention
Manually cleaning the cache of individual applications
If automated tools don't free up enough space, manual cleaning is the most effective way to deal with bloated applications, and it's often social media and video services that accumulate gigabytes of temporary data that standard cleaning ignores, considering them important for fast work.
To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. In the list, find a heavy app (like YouTube or Telegram). Inside the app menu, find Memory or Storage. There will be two main buttons: Clear cache and Clear everything (or Reset), and you need the first option.
Clicking Clear cache will delete temporary files, but save your authorization and settings. The app will run a little longer than usual, because it will have to re-download the necessary data, but this will ensure that real disk space is freed up. If you choose Clear All, the application will return to state immediately after installation.
| Type of cleaning | What's removed | Impact on data | Recommended frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash. | Temporary files, thumbnails | Secure, data is stored | Every 1-2 weeks |
| Data (Dumping) | Logins, settings, databases | Complete reset of the annex | When there is a malfunction |
| Deletion of the annex | All files and software | Complete removal | If the application is not needed |
| System cache | Update files, logs | Safe after rebooting | After major updates |
Why is Telegram's cache so big?
Cleaning the system cache through Recovery mode
For advanced users who want to clean up system debris at a deep level, there is a Recovery mode, which allows you to delete temporary files of the operating system itself that are not visible in the normal interface, which is especially useful after major updates to MIUI or HyperOS, when the system remains files of the old version.
To enter this mode, turn off the smartphone completely. Then press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo or the Recovery menu appears. The navigation menu is carried out by volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button. You need to select Wipe Cache (don't confuse with Wipe Data!).
⚠️ Warning: In Recovery mode, be extremely careful. Selecting Wipe Data or Format Data will result in the complete deletion of all your personal files, photos and contacts».
Once the system cache is cleared, the phone will restart, and the first run may take longer than usual — this is normal behavior, as the system re-forms the necessary temporary files — a method that does not require superuser rights (Root) and is safe to guarantee the device if you do not reset user data.
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Cleaning through Recovery is the only way to remove system debris left over after a firmware update without losing personal data.
Storage analysis and deletion of hidden files
Often, not only standard caches, but also forgotten files in download folders or remnants of programs that have been deleted long ago. Xiaomi’s built-in storage analyzer allows you to visualize what exactly occupies space. Go to Settings → About Phone → Memory (or through the Explorer → Analysis tab).
Here you'll see a diagram of the memory distribution. Larger segments often fall on the Download folder, where browsers save the app installers (APK-files), and folder DCIM, It's also worth checking the folder. Android/obb and Android/data. They store caches of games and applications, respectively. Deleting folders inside the data of specific games can reset their progress, so act carefully.
- 📂 Open the Explorer app and select “Storage Analysis».
- 🗑️ Check the Download folder for old ones. APK-installer.
- 🎬 Sort video files by size and remove unnecessary videos.
- 📱 In the "Applications" section, find programs that take more than 1 GB.
The.thumbnails folder in DCIM directory, which stores thumbnails of your gallery photos, can grow to several gigabytes over time, can be safely deleted, and the system will create a new one automatically, but smaller, unless you take thousands of new pictures right away.
Automation and third-party utilities
Xiaomi’s built-in tools are quite efficient, but there are third-party solutions for users who want to have full control. However, installing additional cleaners on Android often does more harm than good, consuming resources in the background, showing ads and creating the appearance of activity.
If you do decide to use third-party software, choose proven tools like Files by Google or SD Maid, which have a good reputation for not embedding ad modules into the system, and allow you to find orphan files, remnants of remote applications that the standard conductor does not see.
You can also set up automatic cleaning in MIUI settings. Go to Security → Settings (three dots or gears) → Memory Cleanup. Here you can activate the automatic freeing up function when less than a certain percentage of free memory remains (for example, 10%).
⚠️ Warning: Do not install multiple cleaning applications at the same time. They can conflict with each other, block access to files and cause unstable system operation.
For maximum efficiency, it is better to develop a habit: manually check the download folder and the cache of heavy applications once a month. This will take no more than 5 minutes, but will ensure stable operation of the smartphone throughout its life. Remember that physical memory (flash memory) has a limit to overwriting cycles, and the constant aggressive work of background cleaners can theoretically reduce its life, although in practice this is rare.