Xiaomi’s current smartphones, which run the MIUI 12 shell, have powerful functionality but eventually start to accumulate temporary files, which are created to speed up applications, but when over-accumulation can cause failures. Users often face a situation where the device starts to work slower or suddenly closes programs.
Cache cleaning is a safe and effective system maintenance procedure that doesn’t delete your personal photos, contacts, or instant messenger correspondence. In this article, we’ll look at a few proven ways to delete temporary data, from standard system tools to more advanced methods for power users.
The concept of cache and its impact on MIUI 12
Cache is a buffer memory that stores temporary files for quick access. When you launch an application, MIUI 12 loads the necessary interface elements and data into this buffer, which allows you to open programs instantly, without loading all the resources again from the internal drive.
However, over time, the cache can grow to gigabytes. Old files are no longer relevant, but continue to take up space. There is an automatic cleanup mechanism in Xiaomi’s shell, but it does not always work perfectly. Cache overflow can lead to file version conflicts, which causes applications to malfunction.
It's important to understand the difference between cache and application data. If you delete the data, the program will return to state immediately after installation, and you will lose logins and settings. Cache cleaning only affects temporary files, leaving your authorization and progress intact. This is a key difference that you need to know before you start maintenance.
⚠️ Warning: Before performing any manipulation of system files, make sure you have a backup of important data, although standard cache cleaning is safe.
Cleaning through the built-in Security app
The easiest and recommended way for Xiaomi developers is to use the standard Security tool, which is optimized for MIUI 12 and can find hidden temporary files that are not visible to the user during normal browsing.
To start the procedure, open the application menu and find the green shield icon. In the main window, you will see a round Clean button. Pressing it will start scanning the system, which takes 10 to 30 seconds depending on the number of programs installed.
Once you've done the analysis, the system will suggest that you remove the debris, and it's important to be careful, because sometimes you'll want to save files, and automatic cleaning is usually safe, but manual checking won't be unnecessary.
☑️ Checking before cleaning
The Security app also has a Deep Clean feature that analyzes large files, duplicate photos, and remnants of deleted applications, and allows you to free up significantly more space than a simple quick cleanup.
Manually cleaning the cache of specific applications
Sometimes the problem isn't with the system as a whole, but with a particular application that doesn't work properly with memory. In MIUI 12, you can force the cache of any program to be cleared through settings, which is especially useful for heavy applications like social media or navigators.
To do this, go to Settings and select Apps. Then click All Apps. In the list that opens, find the program you want, like YouTube or Telegram.
Inside the app menu, find the Memory or Storage section, and there are two buttons, "Clean" and "Delete." You need the first one. You click on it will only reset temporary files. If you click "Delete," the program will erase completely.
| Type of data | What's removed | Impact on the account | Recommended frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash. | Temporary files, thumbnails | No. | Once a week. |
| Data data | Settings, logins, databases | Total reset | Only when it fails. |
| Files. | Uploaded content | Depends on the app. | If necessary, |
| Residues | Fragments of remote programs | No. | Once a month |
In MIUI 12, messengers can accumulate gigabytes of media cache; cleaning through system settings sometimes doesn’t delete all temporary media files; and for complete cleaning, it’s better to use the built-in tools of the applications themselves, if they are provided by the developers.
Hidden folders in Android 11/12
Using the Developer Mode to Clean
For advanced users, the MIUI shell offers access to hidden functions through the developer menu, which allows for more flexibility in cache management, but requires caution.
To activate Developer Mode, go to Settings → About Phone. Find the MIUI Version string and quickly click on it 7 times in a row. The system will tell you that you have become a developer.
Next, a new section will appear in the settings menu, Additional → For developers, and you can find options related to background processes and memory limits, and although there is no direct “clear all cache” button here, you can limit the number of background processes, which will indirectly reduce the amount of cache you create.
⚠️ Note: Do not change the settings in the Developer Menu unless you are sure of their purpose.
The same menu also has Do Not Save Action, which, if activated, will destroy the activity of the application as soon as you leave it, a radical method that eliminates the accumulation of active window cache completely, but makes the applications load longer each time you run.
Cleaning through Recovery Mode (Recovery Mode)
The deepest level of cleanup is available through the Recovery menu, a method that allows you to clear the partition cache without affecting the user’s personal data, which often helps after major firmware updates to MIUI 12 when the system is unstable.
To enter this mode, you need to turn off your smartphone. Then press the power button and the volume button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo or recovery menu appears, the navigation is done with the volume buttons, and the selection is done with the power button.
Wipe Data -> Wipe Cache -> ConfirmIn some versions of Recovery, the item may simply be called Wipe Cache. It's important not to confuse it with Wipe All Data, which will completely reset the phone to factory settings. Be extremely careful when choosing a menu item.
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If the phone does not respond to presses in Recovery Mode, try connecting it to your computer via USB-On some Xiaomi models, this activates touch input in the recovery menu.
Once the cleaning process is complete, the system will suggest restarting, and the first run may take longer than usual, as MIUI 12 will re-form the system caches, which is normal behavior that requires no intervention.
Automation and third-party utilities
There are many cleaning apps in the Android ecosystem, but Xiaomi smartphones often use them excessively, and the built-in system aggressively manages memory and can force them to close down, considering them pests.
However, some users prefer third-party solutions, and popular programs like Files by Google or SD Maid can find remnants of remote applications that a standard cleaner misses, and they work within the permissions provided by the system.
- 🚀 Files by Google – a secure application from the search giant, integrates well with the search engine. MIUI.
- 🛡️ CCleaner is a classic utility, but on new versions of Android its functionality is severely limited by the system.
When you install these programs, MIUI 12 will be constantly asking for auto-run and background permissions, and without those permissions, automatic cleaning on schedule won't work, and if installing additional software is worth it, it's up to you, but standard tools are usually enough.
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The built-in MIUI 12 tools are more efficient than third-party analogues, as they have system access rights and are not blocked by energy saving mechanisms.