Cache Cleanup on Xiaomi: All Ways to Speed Up Your Phone

Your Xiaomi smartphone is slowing down, apps are loading for a long time, and there is less than 1 GB of free memory? Most likely, the problem lies in a crowded cache. Cache data is temporary files that create applications for fast work, but over time they take up gigabytes of memory and slow down the system. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to clean the cache on Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and Black Shark devices – from standard MIUI tools to hidden functions for power users.

Cache cleaning doesn't require root rights, and even beginners can do it, and it's important to understand which files can be deleted without risk to the system and which ones are better left behind, and we'll also explain why some applications can temporarily run slower after cleaning the cache (this is normal!) and how to avoid the typical errors that cause phone malfunctions.

What is cache and why you need to clean it

Cache is a buffer memory that stores temporary application data: image thumbnails, web pages, configuration files, etc. For example, when you open Instagram, the app uploads photos to cache so that the next time you open them, they show them instantly. Over time, these files accumulate and take up space:

• 📱 System cache - files MIUI Google Play Services (Mi Account) is only cleaned through recovery.
• 📦 Application cache – temporary data of each installed application (can be manually cleaned).
• 🗑️ Garbage files – remnants of remote programs, log files, empty folders.

According to Xiaomi, devices with 64 GB of memory accumulate an average of 3-7 GB of cache for 6 months of active use.

• 🔋 Cache does not affect battery power, but can slow down the processor.
• 🚀 After cleaning, applications can run for 1-2 seconds longer (they restore the cache again).
• ⚠️ Cache deletion does not delete your personal data (photos, messages, passwords).

It is important to distinguish between cache and application data (settings, game saves, chat history). For example, clearing Telegram cache will only delete temporary files, and cleaning up data will delete all correspondence.

Method 1: Clearing the cache of individual applications

The safest method is to delete the cache only for the applications that take up the most space. It doesn't affect system files and doesn't require rebooting. MIUI 12–14 (including HyperOS):

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Sort by size.
3. Select an app (such as Facebook or TikTok) and tap Storage.
4. Click Clear Cache (not to be confused with Clear Data!).

For convenience, we have collected TOP-5 applications that most often clog memory:

Close all background applications

Connect your phone to charge (in case of long cleaning)

Check the memory space (less than 10% critical)

Backup important data (just in case)-->

If the Clear Cache button is inactive, the application has not created temporary files (or they have already been deleted).Some system applications (for example, Mi Security) do not allow you to manually clean the cache - they need a different method (see the next section).

Method 2: Automatic cleaning through “Safety”

MIUI has a built-in Security tool (or Security on global versions) that analyzes junk files and suggests that they be deleted, a method that is suitable for beginners, since the system itself determines what can be cleaned without risk:

1. Open the Security app (the shield icon).
2. Go to the Cleanup or Boost Speed section.
3. Press the Check and wait for the analysis (it will take 10–30 seconds).
4. Select file categories to delete: 🧹 Application cache - temporary files. 🗑️ Garbage files – remnants of deleted programs. 📁 Large files - video and APK (cautiously!).

Clean up

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If files with the.apk or.zip extension appear in the cleanup list, do not delete them - these can be backups of updates or firmware.

In recent versions of MIUI 14 and HyperOS, the cleaning algorithm has become “smarter”: it stores the cache of frequently used applications (such as WhatsApp or Mi Fit) and deletes only unnecessary data. However, sometimes the system makes a mistake and suggests clearing the cache of system applications – in this case, it is better to refuse.

⚠️ Warning: If your phone is running slower after automatic cleaning, check Settings → Battery. → Performance mode. It's possible that the system has moved into energy saving mode.

Method 3: Cleaning the system cache through Recovery

The cache partition stores temporary firmware, updates, and Android kernel files, and cleansing it helps if:

• 🔄 phone is stuck on startup logo after update.
• 🐢 The system brakes for no reason (even after resetting applications).
• 📱 Artifacts appeared on the screen or errors such as "System" UI stop».

To clean the system cache, you need to go to Recovery mode. The instructions are suitable for all Xiaomi models, except for the Black Shark (they have their own method):

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up for 5-10 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select the language (if you have a choice) and tap Wipe & Reset.
4. Choose Wipe Cache (not to be confused with Wipe Data – it’s a factory reset!).
5. Confirm the action and wait for the completion (it will take 1-2 minutes).
6. Reboot your phone with Reboot → Reboot to System.

After cleaning the system cache, it can take up to 5 minutes for the first start of the phone — that's OK. Don't interrupt the process, even if the screen is stuck for a long time on the boot. If after the reboot, the notification "Android optimizes", wait for the completion (this is restored by the app cache).

Method 4: Using ADB for deep cleaning

For power users, there is a method of clearing the cache through Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which allows you to remove the cache of all applications at once, including system ones that are not available through standard settings.

• 🔧 You need to clear the cache of Google Play Services or Mi Account without resetting.
• 📊 The phone gives an error “Not enough memory”, but in the settings there is free space.
• 🔍 You suspect the virus has hidden in the cache of system applications.

The work will require:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 🛠️ Installed drivers Xiaomi and ADB Tools.

Step-by-step:

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

Connect the phone to the computer and confirm access to debugging.

adb devices

The name of your device (e.g., 1234abcd device) should appear.

adb shell pm trim-caches -1

Or to clear the cache of a particular application (like Google Chrome):

adb shell pm clear com.android.chrome

adb reboot

⚠️ Note: pm clear removes all application data (including settings and saves), not just the cache. Use adb shell pm clear-cache com.android.chrome to clean only the cache).

List of packages of popular applications:

• 📷 Instagram: com.instagram.android
• 💬 WhatsApp: com.whatsapp
• 🎵 Spotify: com.spotify.music
• 📺 YouTube: com.google.android.youtube

Method 5: Clearing cache via TWRP (for advanced)

If your Xiaomi has custom recovery TWRP installed, you can clear the cache more flexibly.

• 🔧 You install custom firmware and need to clean Dalvik Cache.
• 🗃️ Standard methods do not help (for example, after a failed update).
• 🛡️ You want to do a selective cleaning (cache only, no data).

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone and press Power + Volume up to log into TWRP.
2. In the main menu, select Wipe.
3. Slip the Advanced Wipe.
4. Check the boxes: Cache - temporary files of the system. Dalvik / ART Cache - cache of the Android compiler (cleared when you change firmware).

Don't celebrate.

Data

System

Swipe to Wipe

Reboot System

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Cleaning Dalvik Cache in TWRP is mandatory when you upgrade to a new version of Android (for example, from 12 to 13).

If the phone is stuck on boot after cleaning through TWRP, don’t panic: the first start after cleaning the Dalvik Cache can take up to 10 minutes.If the screen does not respond more than 15 minutes, try repeating the procedure or restoring the backup.

How to Clear Cache in Games (without Losing Progress)

Mobile games (such as Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty) actively use cache to store textures, sounds and maps.

• 🎮 Regular cache (in Settings) → Applications) can be cleaned without risk - only textures will be loaded.
• 💾 These games (in the same menu) contain progress – cleaning them will reset all the achievements!
• ☁️ If the game is linked to an account (Google Play Games, Mi Account, Facebook), progress will recover after logging in.

To clear the game's cache without losing saves:

1. Open the Settings → Applications → [game name].
2. Select Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
3. If the game offers to download additional files at the next launch, agree.

For games with large cache (more than 1 GB), there is an alternative way:

• 📂 Go to the File Manager. → Internal memory. → Android → data → [game-filler].
• 🗑️ Remove the cache folders or files/cache (Don't touch it. shared_prefs — settings!).

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In games like Genshin Impact or Honkai: Star Rail, the cache textures can be cleared directly in the game settings -look for the "Clear Cache" option in the game's settings.

If the game starts to lag after cleaning, check the graphics settings: they may have reset to the minimum, restore them manually or wait for the game to cache the textures again (usually takes 1-2 runs).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Clearing the cache seems like a simple procedure, but many users make mistakes that lead to data loss or phone malfunctions. We have collected TOP-5 errors and ways to avoid them:

Another common problem is that after cleaning the cache, some applications (such as Banking apps or Mi Fit) require re-entering the password. This is normal: the cache often stores authorization tokens. Just log in again.

⚠️ Attention: If after cleaning the cache, the phone began to overheat or discharge quickly, check the background processes in Settings → Battery. → Battery usage. Apps may be actively recovering cache in the background. Limit their performance through Battery Optimization.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions