Cleaning cache on Xiaomi 8 Pro: 5 ways to speed up the smartphone

Xiaomi 8 Pro is the flagship smartphone of 2018, which is still relevant thanks to powerful hardware and support for custom firmware. However, over time, even this device begins to “brake”, and the fault is clogged. The operating system and applications constantly save temporary files that over time take up gigabytes of memory and slow down the device.

In this article, you will find 5 proven ways to clean the cache on Xiaomi 8 Pro — from standard methods through settings to advanced techniques using recovery and ADB. We will also analyze which cache can be removed without risk and which should not be touched, so as not to disturb the stability of the system. If your smartphone has become slower, applications open for a long time or errors occur — this guide will help to return it to its previous speed.

What is cache and why you need to clean it on Xiaomi 8 Pro

Cache is a temporary file that is created by the MIUI operating system and installed applications, and it's used to speed up the work: instead of downloading the same data from the Internet or recalculating it, the system takes it from the cache, but over time, these files accumulate, take up space and can crash if they are corrupted or conflict with each other.

On Xiaomi 8 Pro, the cache is divided into three types:

• 📱 App cache is the temporary data of individual programs (for example, thumbnails of YouTube videos or cache of maps in Google Maps).
• 🖥️ System cache: MIUI files that are responsible for fast loading of interfaces and services.
• 🔄 Dalvik cache is an optimized version of the Android virtual machine (removed only through recovery).

Why is cache cleaning important for Xiaomi 8 Pro?

• ⚡ Speed up: RAM is freed, applications run faster.
• 📉 Space savings: On devices with 64/128GB of memory, the cache can take up to 5–10GB.
• 🛠️ Error Fixing: A corrupted cache often causes application crashes or crashes MIUI.
• 🔄 Update Preparation: It is recommended to clear Dalvik cache before firmware to avoid conflicts.

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse cache cleaning with factory reset! cache is temporary files, and reset deletes all your data (photos, contacts, messages).

Method 1: Clearing the application cache through MIUI settings

The easiest and safest method is to remove the cache for individual applications, which does not require superuser rights and is suitable for beginners.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want to clear (such as Chrome or Facebook).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
4. For mass cleaning, tap the three-point (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Sort by size to see the most voracious programs.

Which apps take up the most cache on Xiaomi 8 Pro?

⚠️ Warning: Do not clear the cache for Android System, MIUI Daemon or Google Play Services unnecessarily - this can cause malfunctions in the smartphone.

Check the free space in memory (Settings → Memory)

Close all background applications

Connect charging (if the battery level is below 30%)

Backup of important data-->

Method 2: Clean the system cache with Recovery Mode

If the Xiaomi 8 Pro started to slow down or give out errors, it may be damaged system cache, it can not be removed through standard settings, you need to go to Recovery Mode.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up at the same time and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo and the recovery menu appear.
3. Use volume buttons for navigation and power button to select the item.
4. Choose Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
5. Confirm the action and wait until it is completed (usually takes 1-2 minutes).
6. Reboot your device with Reboot → Reboot to System.

What does cleaning the cache through recovery do?

• 🔧 Fixes MIUI errors (e.g., "Application Stopped").
• 🚀 Accelerates system booting after upgrade.
• 🗑️ Frees up to 1–3 GB of space in /cache.

If you have custom recovery (e.g. TWRP), the algorithm is slightly different:

1. Enter TWRP (Nutrition + Volume Up).


2. Stick the "Wipe" → "Advanced Wipe."




3 Mark "Cache" and "Dalvik/ART Cache".




4. Swipe to confirm ("Swipe to Wipe").




5.Reboot ("Reboot System").

⚠️ Warning: Do not confuse Wipe Cache with Wipe Data! The second option will erase all your data, including photos and apps.

Method 3: Removing Dalvik Cache to Optimize Performance

Dalvik cache is an optimized version of the apps that the Android virtual machine creates to speed up their work. On the Xiaomi 8 Pro with a Snapdragon 845 processor, this cache can take up to 1-2 GB and sometimes cause lags.

You can clean it only through recovery (standard or TWRP).

1. Download to recovery (see Method 2).
2. In TWRP: Select Advanced Wipe → Tag Dalvik / ART Cache → Swipe for confirmation.
3. In drain recovery: there is no point for Dalvik cache - you will have to use ADB (see the next method).
4. Once cleaned, restart your smartphone. It can take up to 5-10 minutes to boot up the first time, which is normal as the system recovers the cache again.

When should I clean Dalvik cache?

• 🔄 After updating MIUI or firmware.
• 🐢 If the smartphone has become noticeably slower (especially when opening apps).
• 🚨 For errors such as "Application does not respond" or persistent reboots.

What happens after cleaning?

• ✅ Applications will run longer when they first open (cache reassembles).
• ✅ Some errors related to application version conflicts will disappear.
• ❌ Your data (photos, messages, settings) will not be deleted.

💡

If after cleaning the Dalvik cache, the smartphone boots for a long time, do not panic - this is normal. the main thing is not to turn it off and do not remove the battery (on the Xiaomi 8 Pro it is not removable).

Method 4: Advanced cleaning through ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don't help or you need to clear the cache for system applications, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires a computer and enabled debugging over USB.

Instructions:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on Xiaomi 8 Pro: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version. Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers. Activate USB Debugging.

Connect your smartphone to your PC through USB-cable (original!).

ADB Tools

adb devices


adb shell




su




rm -rf /data/dalvik-cache/*




rm -rf /cache/*




reboot

What are these teams doing?

• Adb devices – checks the connection of the device.
• Adb shell – opens the terminal on the smartphone.
• su – requests the rights of the superuser (root).
• rm -rf /data/dalvik-cache/* - clears Dalvik cache.
• rm -rf /cache/* - clears the system cache.
• Reboot – Reboots the device.

⚠️ Warning: Without root rights, the su command won't work. If you don't have root rights, use instead: adb shell pm clear --user 0 com.android.chrome (replace com.android.chrome with the package of the desired application).

Who is this method suitable for?

• 🔧 For users with root rights or unlocked bootloader.
• 🛠️ If you want to clear the cache of system applications (e.g., com.miui.home).
• 📊 For automation (you can write a script for regular cleaning).

💡

ADB is a powerful tool, but it requires caution. One wrong command can disrupt the system. Always check the syntax before executing it!

Method 5: Automatic cleaning with third-party applications

If you don't want to manually clean the cache, you can use specialized utilities that analyze memory and suggest you delete unnecessary files in one click.

Top-3 applications for Xiaomi 8 Pro:

How to use SD Maid (Step-by-step):

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Start and grant access to memory.
3. Go to the CorpseFinder tab (to remove residues from apps) or AppCleaner (to clear the cache).
4. Check the unnecessary files and press Run.
5. For deep cleaning (with root), select SystemCleaner.

Advantages of Automated Cleaning:

• 🕒 Save time (no need to manually browse each application).
• 🔍 Finds "garbage" that is not visible in standard settings.
• 📊 Shows the statistics of the occupied place.

⚠️ Warning: Some cleaners (such as Clean Master) may show false threats or delete useful files. Use only the verified applications in the table above.

Frequent Cache Cleaning Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even a simple procedure like cleaning the cache may not go according to plan, and here are some of the most common mistakes Xiaomi 8 Pro users make and how to prevent them:

Error 1: Removing the cache of system applications

• 🚫 What happens: After cleaning the cache for Google Play Services or MIUI System, errors begin to crumble.
• ✅ Solution: Don't touch system applications unnecessarily. If you've already deleted, restart your smartphone or reset your cache through recovery.

Mistake 2: Interrupting Cleaning in Recovery

• 🚫 What happens: If you take out the battery or force your smartphone to turn off during Wipe Cache, the /cache partition may be damaged.
• ✅ Solution: Wait until the process is complete (the screen will show the words Cache wipe complete). If the smartphone freezes, hold the power button for 20 seconds for a hard reboot.

Mistake 3: Excessive cleaning of Dalvik cache

• 🚫 What happens: After deleting the Dalvik cache, some applications stop running.
• ✅ Solution: Reinstall problematic applications or reset via Wipe Dalvik Cache again.

Mistake 4: Using questionable "cleaners"

• 🚫 What happens: Apps like DU Speed Booster delete files or display ads.
• ✅ Solution: Use only proven utilities (see table in the previous section).

Error 5: Clearing the cache without backup

• 🚫 What happens: After deleting the cache of some applications (e.g. messengers), unsaved data is lost.
• ✅ Solution: Before mass cleaning, backup through Settings → System → Backup.

💡

If after cleaning the cache, the smartphone began to work even worse, try rolling back the changes through a backup in TWRP or reset the settings to factory (with data saved).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions