Cache cleanup on Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro: 5 proven ways to speed up your smartphone

Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro (codenamed UD) is the flagship of 2018, which is still relevant today thanks to the powerful hardware (Snapdragon 845 processor, 8 GB of RAM) and support for custom firmware. However, over time, even such a device begins to “brake”, and the reason for this is a crowded cache. These are temporary files that the system and applications create to speed up work, but over time they turn into digital garbage, occupying precious space and reducing productivity.

In this article, you will find 5 ways to clean the cache on the Mi 8 Pro, from basic (via Android settings) to advanced (via TWRP Recovery and ADB). We will analyze which cache can be deleted without risk and which should not be touched, and also explain why after cleaning the smartphone can work faster. If your device becomes slower to download applications, bask for no reason or give out errors “No memory” – this is the guide for you.

1.What is cache and why should it be cleaned on Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro

Cache (from English cache - "cache") are temporary files that are created:

• 📱 Android system – to speed up the loading of the interface (system cache).
• 📦 Applications – to avoid re-downloading the same data (e.g. thumbnails in a gallery or a map cache in Google Maps).
• 🤖 Dalvik/ART — Android virtual machine that optimizes the launch of programs.

On the Mi 8 Pro with MIUI, the cache can take up to 5-10 GB (depending on user activity), the problem is that over time these files:

• 🐢 Slow down work – the system spends time searching for the necessary data among the garbage.
• 🔥 Cause overheating – the processor processes excess files longer.
• ⚠️ Lead to failures – a damaged cache can “break” applications (for example, crashes in games or errors in messengers).

But cleaning up the cache is not a panacea, for example, deleting the Google Play Services cache can lead to push notification problems, and cleaning the WhatsApp cache can lead to the loss of media files in chat rooms, so it is important to understand which files can be deleted without consequences, and which ones only as a last resort.

⚠️ Warning: Don’t confuse cache with user data! Clearing the cache of an app (like Instagram) will only delete temporary files, not your photos or messages.

Method 2: Clearing the cache of individual applications through MIUI settings

The safest and easiest method is to remove the cache of specific programs, which does not affect system files and does not require superuser rights, but is suitable if you slow down one or two applications (for example, Facebook or TikTok).

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want (such as Chrome).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
4. For complete cleanup (including data), select Clear all data, but remember: this will delete accounts, settings, and downloaded files within the application.

To speed up the process, use the filter by cache size:

1. In Application Management, click on three dots (⋮) top-right.
2. Select Sort. → By size.
3. Remove the cache from the applications that occupy the most space (usually social networks, instant messengers and games).

📸 Cash galleries (photos and videos will remain)

🌍 Browser cache (history and bookmarks will be saved)

🎮 Cash games (saves not affected)

📱 Cache of system applications (for example, MIUI Launcher)

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On the Mi 8 Pro, cache is especially quickly accumulated at:

• 📷 Gallery (miniatures and previews)
• 🗺️ Google Maps (Maps and Routes)
• 🎵 Musical applications (album covers, stream buffer)
• 🎮 Games (textures, shaders)

⚠️ Note: Do not clear the cache of Google Play Services, MIUI System and Android System WebView are not absolutely necessary. This can lead to failures in notifications, web browsing and system functions.

3. Method 2: Clean the entire application cache at once

If you don't want to clear each application's cache individually, MIUI has a mass-cleaning feature that deletes the temporary files of all user programs, but doesn't touch the system cache.

How to do this:

1. Go to Settings. → Memory.
2. Click Clean in the section "Junk files".
3. Select the app cache and confirm the action.

This method removes:

• 🗑️ Cache of all installed applications (except system applications).
• 📂 Temporary download files (e.g., under-quality files) APK).
• 🧹 Logs and memory dumps (if any).

After cleaning:

• ✅ Applications will be loaded longer when first run (cache is created again).
• ✅ Free from 500 MB to 2-3 GB of memory (depending on the number of installed programs).
• ⚠️ Some applications may request reauthorization (e.g., banking programs).

4. Method 3: Clean Dalvik cache and system cache via Recovery

If the Mi 8 Pro is slowing down or there are glitches after the MIUI update, cleaning the Dalvik cache and system cache through Recovery will help. This method is more radical, but also more effective - it deletes files that can not be erased through normal settings.

Important: This method requires an unlocked bootloader and a custom or stock Recovery (such as TWRP) installed. If you have a standard MI Recovery, only cache cleaning (Wipe Cache) is available, but not Dalvik.

Instructions for TWRP:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Up + Power to enter Recovery.
3. Select Wipe → Advanced Wipe.
4. Check the boxes: Dalvik / ART Cache Cache

Swipe to Wipe

Reboot System

What this cleanup does:

• 🚀 Accelerates application launch (Dalvik cache reassembles).
• 🔄 Fixes errors after updates (for example, if you MIUI «hanging).
• 📉 Reduces the load on the processor (removes unnecessary optimized files).

⚠️ Note: Do not clean Data or Internal Storage in the TWRP — It's gonna cause a total reset of your phone, and don't touch the System section unless you're sure you're doing it.

5. Method 4: Clearing the cache through ADB (for advanced users)

If you have experience with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can clear the cache of specific applications or system cache through the command line.

• 🔧 You need to clear the cache of the system application (for example, com.miui.home), which does not appear in the settings.
• 📊 Automation of the process (for example, through a script).
• 🛠️ You need to remove the cache on the locked phone (if debugging is enabled by USB).

Instructions:

1. Install ADB and Fastboot on PC.
2. Enable USB Debugging on Mi 8 Pro (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then go back to Additional Settings → For Developers).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the commands: adb devices (you should display your device) adb shell pm clear --user 0 com.android.chrome (replace com.android.chrome with the desired application package)

Useful cleaning commands:

• 📱 Clear cache of all user applications: adb shell pm trim-caches 1000000000 (numbers - size limit in bytes, here is 1 GB)
• 🗑️ Cleaning the system cache: adb shell su -c "rm -rf /cache/*" (Root rights are required)
• 🔍 See all packages: adb shell pm list packages

💡

To find the batch name of the application, use the command adb shell pm list packages | grep "name." For example, for WhatsApp, type adb shell pm list packages | grep whatsapp, the system will show com.whatsapp

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ Faster than manual cleaning through settings.
• 🎯 Point deletion of cache (you can select a specific application).
• 🔄 Ability to automate (for example, via batch script).

⚠️ Attention: Rm teams -rf They can permanently delete data if you specify the wrong path. -rf /data/* Delete all user files! Use only verified commands from trusted sources.

6. Method 5: Automatically cleans the cache using applications

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

• 🧹 SD Maid – Deep Cleanup, including residual files after deleting programs.
• 🗑️ CCleaner – Simple interface, cache cleanup and history.
• 🔍 Files by Google – Google’s built-in cleaner with garbage file analysis.
• 📊 MIUI Cleaner is a standard app from Xiaomi (less aggressive but safe).

How to use SD Maid:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Start and provide root rights (if any).
3. Go to CorpseFinder (search for residual files) or AppCleaner (clear app cache).
4. Select files to delete and confirm the action.

Warnings when using cleaners:

• ❌ Do not manually delete files from folders /system or /vendor — It could break the system.
• ❌ Avoid “optimizers” that promise to “speed up your phone by 300%” – they often contain ads or malicious code.
• ❌ Don’t clean the cache too often (once a day) – this can backfire (apps will constantly reassemble the cache).

💡

It is better to use SD Maid or Files by Google than universal "boosters," the latter often deleting useful files and showing false warnings about "critical errors."

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Cache cleaning seems like a simple procedure, but many Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro users make mistakes that lead to problems.

A few more nuances:

• 🔋 After cleaning the cache, the battery can discharge faster in the first 1-2 days – this is normal, as the system reassembles optimized files.
• 📶 If the Internet is lost after cleaning, restart the phone or reset the network settings (Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting settings).
• 🎯 If cleaning the cache didn’t help speed up the Mi 8 Pro, check the processor boot in Settings. → Battery → Battery use – maybe a particular app is to blame.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions