Cache Cleanup on Xiaomi 10S: 5 Ways to Free Memory and Speed Up Your Phone

Xiaomi 10S is a powerful smartphone with a Snapdragon 870 processor and 8/12 GB of RAM, but even it eventually begins to “slow down.” The main reason is crowded cache: temporary application files, update remnants and system debris take up precious space. If your Mi 10S is slower to respond to commands, bask for no reason or give out “Not enough memory” errors, it’s time to clear the cache.

In this article – 5 proven ways to clean up cache on Xiaomi 10S (relevant MIUI 12, 13 and 14), including hidden features that are not covered in the standard instructions, you will learn how to delete unnecessary data without risking user files, what types of cache exist, and when cleaning it will actually help, and when it will only temporarily mask the problem. We also will understand a unique bug. MIUI 14 on Xiaomi 10S, which can cause the application cache to self-heal after cleaning.

1.What is cache and why should it be cleaned on Xiaomi 10S

Cache is a temporary file that creates apps and a system to speed things up. For example, when you first open Instagram, it uploads avatars of friends, thumbnails of stories and other items to the cache, and the next time you run, it's not downloaded from the Internet, but from your phone's memory, saving traffic and time.

But over time, the cache grows to giant sizes. On Xiaomi 10S with 128/256 GB of memory, this is less critical, but even here, garbage files can take 5-15 GB!

• 🐢 Slowing down the interface (delays when swiping, opening menus).
• 🔥 Overheating of the processor due to the constant overwriting of temporary files.
• 📱 Application departures (especially Google Play Store, Gallery, Camera).
• 🚫 Errors like “Lack of memory” despite empty space.

When does cleaning the cache really help? If the phone is slower after updating MIUI, installing new apps or using it for a long time without rebooting, if the lags are after falling or getting moisture, the problem is the hardware, and cleaning the cache is powerless.

2. Method 1: Clearing the cache of individual applications

The safest method is to remove the cache for specific programs. This does not affect user data (logins, save in games), but frees up space. On Xiaomi 10S, you can do this in two ways.

2.1. Through the application settings

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Tap on the desired application (for example, Facebook or Telegram).
3. Choose Warehouse.
4. Click Clear Cache (not to be confused with Clear Data!).

What apps are cache-eating? Social networks (TikTok, VKontakte), instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram), games (PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact) and browsers (Chrome, Mi Browser). For example, the cache of Google Chrome on Xiaomi 10S can reach 1-2 GB!

📱 Social networks (Instagram, TikTok, VKontakte)

💬 Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram)

🎮 Games (especially with 3D-graphic)

🌐 Browsers (Chrome, Mi Browser, Firefox)

📷 Applications for processing photos/video (CapCut, Snapseed)

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Through the "Storage" menu (mass cleaning)

If you are too lazy to clean each application individually, use the built-in MIUI tool:

1. Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
2. Tap the App Data section.
3. Check the unneeded programs or click Select All.
4. Click Clean at the bottom of the screen.

⚠️ Note: This method does not clear the cache of system applications (e.g. Camera or Phone) and will have to use the first method.

Method 2: Cleaning the system cache (Dalvik-cache)

Dalvik-cache is a hidden file created by the Android virtual machine to speed up the launch of applications. On Xiaomi 10S, they are stored in the /data/dalvik-cache folder and can take up to 500 MB-1 GB. Cleaning Dalvik cache is useful if:

• 🔄 The phone has become slower since the update. MIUI.
• 📱 Apps are constantly crashing with the Android.process.acore error.
• 🔧 You plan to flash your phone or make a reset.

To clean the Dalvik cache on Xiaomi 10S, you need access to recovery.

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the recovery menu, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache (use volume buttons for navigation, power button for selection).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.
5. Reboot your phone (Reboot → System)

Important for Xiaomi 10S on MIUI 14: After cleaning the Dalvik cache, the first launch of the phone can take up to 5-10 minutes - that's OK! Don't interrupt the process, otherwise you risk getting a brick.

4. Method 3: Using a built-in MIUI cleaner

MIUI has its own optimization tool, Cleaner (formerly called Security), which removes not only cache, but also residual files, duplicate photos and unnecessary APKs. However, it does not work perfectly: it often skips large cache files or, conversely, offers to delete the necessary data.

How to use:

1. Open the Cleaner app (icon with brush).
2. Press Deep Cleanup.
3. Wait for the scan (may take 1-3 minutes).
4. View the list of found files and uncheck important data (for example, downloads from the browser).
5. Press Clear.

⚠️ Attention: “Purifier» MIUI frequently suggests removing files from the Download folder (downloads) and DCIM/Camera (Before cleaning, make sure that there are no important documents!

5. Method 4: Manually clean the cache through the file manager

For power users, there is a method of manual cleaning through a file manager with access to system folders, which allows you to remove the cache of even those applications that do not appear in the settings (for example, preinstalled Xiaomi services).

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings.
3. Go to /data/data/<name packet app>/cache For example, for WhatsApp, the path will be /data/data/com.whatsapp/cache.
4. Delete all files in this folder.

How do you find out the name of the application package? Use the App Inspector app or look at Settings → Apps → App Management → [app name] → More.

⚠️ Attention: Delete files from folders /system or /vendor root-free can cause a warranty loss or phone inoperability.Do not experiment unless you are sure!

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Before manually clearing the cache, back up your important data. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup and save a copy to a memory card or cloud.

6. Method 5: Cache reset via ADB (for advanced)

If standard methods don't work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a tool for debugging Android devices, which is suitable if:

• 🔧 You need to clear the cache of all applications at once.
• 📱 The phone is glitchy and does not respond to commands in the interface.
• 🔒 You want to automate the process (for example, through a script).

Instructions:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on PC.
2. On your phone, turn on Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times to activate the developer mode).
3. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
4. Connect Xiaomi 10S to your PC and type in the command line: adb shell pm clear --user 0 <name packet> For example, to clear the cache of Google Play Services: adb shell pm clear --user 0 com.google.android.gms

To clear the cache of all user applications, use the command:

adb shell pm trim-caches 1000000000

(where 1000,000,000 is the size in bytes, 1 GB is indicated here).

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ADB-commands allow you to clear the cache even those applications that do not appear in the standard menu MIUI (Xiaomi's system services, for example. ADB It can cause disruptions – be careful!

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Cache cleaning seems like a simple procedure, but many Xiaomi 10S users make mistakes that only make things worse.

Cleaning the cache instead of the data

There are two buttons in the app menu: Clear cache and Clear data. The second one removes all user settings, including:

• 🔑 Logins and passwords (in Chrome, Instagram, etc.).
• 🎮 Progress in games (unless linked to an account).
• ⚙️ Individual settings (themes, notifications).

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi 10S s MIUI 14 Clear Data button sometimes hidden under the Warehouse menu → Management of space → Clear all the data!

Excessive cleaning

Cache exists for a reason, it speeds up applications, and if you clean it every day,

• 🐢 Applications will be running longer (they will have to re-cache).
• 📱 Increased battery consumption (constant overwriting of files).
• 🌐 Mobile traffic consumption will increase (data will be downloaded from the network, not from cache).

Optimal cleaning frequency:

• 📅 For social networks and instant messengers – once every 1-2 weeks.
• 📅 For games – once a month (or after major updates).
• 📅 System cache (Dalvik) – every 3-6 months.

Ignoring updates after cleaning

After mass cleaning of the cache (especially through recovery or ADB) it is necessary to:

1. Reboot the phone.
2. Update all apps in the Google Play Store.
3. Check for MIUI updates in Settings → About Phone → System Update.

If this is not done, some programs may not work properly due to the incompatibility of the old cached data with the new version of the application.

8. FAQ: Answers to frequent questions