Cleaning up the browser cache on Xiaomi: a complete guide with pictures

Why is it important to clean your browser cache on Xiaomi regularly?

On the one hand, it’s a useful feature: sites open faster because the browser doesn’t load the same items (pictures, scripts, styles) repeatedly. But on the other hand, the cache grows to giant sizes over time, taking up precious space in the device’s memory. On the Xiaomi Mi 11 or POCO X5 Pro with 128 GB of storage, this may not be as critical, but for budget models like Redmi 10A with 32 GB, every megabyte counts.

It's not just memory. Cache overflows often cause browser freezes, slow page loading, or even page-out errors, especially in Mi Browser, Xiaomi's standard browser, which doesn't always manage temporary files optimally. For example, after upgrading to MIUI 14, many users complain that the browser is slowing down when scrolling pages -- and clearing the cache solves the problem 80 percent of the time.

Another thing is, the cache may contain outdated data, so let's say you go to an online store where prices are updated daily, and if the cache hasn't been cleared for a long time, the browser may show an old version of a page with irrelevant prices or promotions, and this also applies to social networks, sometimes Instagram or VK are displayed incorrectly because of cached data.

How to check how much space is taken up by the browser cache?

Before you start cleaning up, it’s helpful to assess the scale of the problem, and on Xiaomi, you can do it in two ways: through browser settings or MIUI system tools.

Here’s how to check the cache volume in Google Chrome:

1. Open your browser and tap on the three dots in the upper right corner.
2. Go to Settings → Privacy and Security.
3. Select the item Clear History.
4. At the top of the screen, information will appear about how much space the cached images and files take up.

For Mi Browser, the path is a little different:

• 📱 Open the browser and click on the icon ⚙️ Settings at the bottom of the screen.
• 🔍 Go to the Supplementary → Confidentiality.
• 📊 The total amount of temporary files, including cache, will be indicated here.

If you want to see how the browser cache affects the overall memory of the device, go to Settings of the phone → Memory. Here MIUI shows the allocation of memory into categories, including “Other applications” – this is where the sprawling cache often hides.

Step-by-step: cleaning the cache in Mi Browser

Mi Browser is the standard browser on all Xiaomi smartphones, so let's start with it. The cache cleaning procedure here is easier than in Chrome, but there are some nuances. For example, in some versions of MIUI, the menu item may be called differently, depending on the firmware.

Follow this instruction:

Open Mi Browser and click on three dots at the bottom of the screen

Select "Settings" (cog icon)

Go to the "Confidentiality" section

Click "Clear Data" and select "Cash"

Confirm the action with the "OK" button"-->

Important: If you want to clear the cache for a specific site only, do this:

1. Open the right site in Mi Browser.
2. Click on the icon. 🔒 (lock) next to the address bar.
3. Select Site Settings → Clear the data.

After cleaning, the browser can "sweep" a little when you first open the pages, which is normal. It caches the data again, and after 5-10 minutes, the work is stabilized.

⚠️ Note: Mi Browser version 13.5.4 and later (for the first time) MIUI 14) there is a bug: after cleaning the cache, sometimes saved passwords are reset. Before the procedure, make sure that you have backups of important logins.

Cleaning up cache in Google Chrome on Xiaomi

Google Chrome is the most popular browser among Xiaomi users, but its cache is not cleared as clearly as in Mi Browser. The main difference is that you can selectively delete the cache in a certain period (for example, in the last hour or week), which is convenient if you do not want to lose the entire story.

Instructions for Chrome:

1. Open your browser and tap on the three dots in the upper right corner.
2. Go to History. → Clear history.
3. At the top of the screen, select the time range (recommended "All the time" for full cleaning).
4. Check only the item Cached images and files (the rest of the options do not need to touch).
5. Click Delete Data.

If you use Incognito mode, the cache is cleared automatically after you close the tabs, but some temporary files may remain in the device's memory to delete them completely:

• 🔄 Close all Incognito tabs.
• 📱 Go to your phone settings → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Find Google Chrome and select Storage. → Clear the cache.

On POCO F5 and other Android 13 models, Chrome has introduced a Traffic Saving feature that aggressively caches data. If you use it, clear the cache more often - once every 1-2 weeks.

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After cleaning the cache in Chrome, try entering the address bar chrome://flags and disable the #enable-android-web-contents-dark-mode option, which will speed up the loading of pages on the site. 10-15% Xiaomi AMOLED-screen.

Cleaning cache through system settings Xiaomi

Not everyone knows, but the browser cache can be cleared not only from the application itself, but also through the system tools MIUI. This method is useful if the browser has started to slow down or does not open at all. For example, after upgrading to MIUI 14.0.5, some Redmi Note 12 users have encountered that Mi Browser dyes on startup - the system clearing of the cache helped solve the problem.

How to do this:

1. Open the phone settings.
2. Go to the Apps → Application management.
3. In the search bar, type the browser name (e.g. Chrome or Mi Browser).
4. Slip on the name of the application, then select Warehouse.
5. Click Clear Cache (not to be confused with Clear Data – this will delete all browser settings!).

This method has one advantage: it deletes all temporary files, including those that the browser may not show in its settings, but there is a disadvantage - system cleaning does not allow selectively remove cache for specific sites.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi) 10T s MIUI 12.5) After the system clears the cache, the browser may request the re-entry of passwords from saved accounts. MIUI Sometimes links the cache to authentication data. To avoid a problem, export your passwords through Chrome Settings before clearing. → Passwords. → Exports.

Automatic Cache Cleanup: Configuring in MIUI Security

If you're too lazy to manually clean your cache regularly, Xiaomi offers an automatic solution, the "Clean Up" feature in the Security app (or "Security" in Russian firmware), which not only deletes unnecessary files, but also optimizes the system, but it does have its own features that are important to know.

How to set up automatic cleaning:

1. Open the Security app (the shield icon).
2. Go to the Cleanup tab (or Accelerate in some versions).
3. Press Deep Cleanup.
4. Enable the Auto Clean option and set a schedule (e.g. once a week).
5. Make sure that the list for cleaning marked browsers (Chrome, Mi Browser, etc.).

The advantages of automatic cleaning:

• 🤖 No need to remember about the procedure - everything is done on schedule.
• 📉 Frees up memory without your involvement.
• 🛡️ Optimize the work of other applications at the same time.

Cons:

• ⚠️ Can remove cache too aggressively, causing sites to load more slowly.
• 🔄 Sometimes resets browser settings (such as homepage).
• 📱 On older models (Redmi) 9A) It can slow down your phone during cleaning.

On smartphones with a Snapdragon 7xx series processor (such as the POCO X3 Pro), automatic cache clearing via Security may conflict with the Game Turbo function. If you notice lags in games after automatic cleaning, turn it off or add games to exceptions.

What to do if the cache is not cleared?

Sometimes Xiaomi users are faced with a situation where the browser cache is not deleted either through the application settings or through system tools, this can occur for several reasons, from bugs in the firmware to conflicts with other applications.

Reason 1: The browser is running in the background

If the browser is not closed completely, it can block the cache cleanup to fix:

1. Open Recent Apps (square button or swipe up).
2. Close the browser with a swipe up.
3. Try clearing the cache again.

Reason 2: Damaged cache files

If the cache is damaged (for example, due to a sudden power outage), standard cleaning methods may not work.

• 🛠️ Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔧 Select a browser and click Storage → Clear the data (this will delete everything, including bookmarks!).
• 🔄 Reboot the phone.

Reason 3: MIUI restrictions

Some versions of MIUI (especially Chinese ones) have restrictions on clearing the cache for system applications.

If none of the methods worked, try resetting your browser settings:

1. In Chrome: Settings → Resetting settings.
2. In Mi Browser: delete and install the browser again (sets will be reset to factory).

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up cache on Xiaomi