How to completely clean cache memory on Xiaomi Android smartphones: 5 proven ways

Why Xiaomi Cache Should Be Cleaned Regularly – and When It’s Really Needed

Cache memory on Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi lines) are temporary files that create applications to speed up their work. They store recent actions, uploaded images, cached pages and even video fragments. In theory, this should save traffic and speed up the opening of programs. But in practice, many users face the opposite effect: the phone begins to slow down, applications fly out, and free space on the disk melts in front of their eyes.

The problem is compounded by the fact that MIUI aggressively caches system process data, for example, after a firmware update or prolonged use without rebooting, the cache can reach 5-10 GB — and this is despite the fact that the user has not run half of the installed applications for a long time! This is especially noticeable on budget models with 32-64 GB of memory, where every gigabyte is on the account.

When is it time to clean the cache?

• 📉 The phone has become noticeably slower (hangs when opening applications, long loading menus).
• 🚨 Errors such as “Missing memory” or “App has stopped” appear".
• 📱 In the storage settings, it is clear that the "Cached Data" takes up more 1-2 GB.
• 🔄 After updating MIUI Some features are not working properly (for example, camera settings are not opened).

But there is a downside: a complete cache cleanup indiscriminately can cause some applications (such as banking or instant messengers) to fail if they store critical authorization data in the cache, so it is important to understand which cache and when to delete it.

Method 1: Clearing the cache of individual applications through MIUI settings

The safest method is to selectively remove the cache, only for those programs that cause problems, and it will not affect system files or affect the operation of other applications. MIUI (including MIUI 14 and HyperOS).

How to do this:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
3. Select the app from the list (or use the search at the top).
4. Press Warehouse.
5. Slip the Clear Cache button (not to be confused with Clear Data – it will remove all the app settings!).

For convenience, you can sort applications by cache size:

• 🔍 In the Application Management section, click on three dots in the upper right corner.
• 📊 Choose Sort by size → Cash.
• 🎯 Now at the top of the list will be programs with the largest cache (most often it is messengers, social networks and browsers).

Remember the username / password from the application (if it requires authorization)

Check if the application is currently in use (e.g. downloading files)

Close the application through the multitasking menu (swipe up)

Make sure you have a stable internet connection (cache will recover faster)-->

⚠️ Note: Do not clear the cache for system applications with names like com.android... or miui... unless absolutely necessary. This can cause shell malfunctions. Except if you know exactly what a particular application is responsible for (e.g. com.miui.gallery is a standard gallery).

Method 2: Mass cleaning the cache of all applications at once

If you want to make room quickly without digging into each app separately, MIUI provides a tool for mass cleaning. This method removes the cache of all user applications, but does not touch the system data. Suitable for cases where the phone has become noticeably slower, but you do not know which application is to blame.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap a few times on the MIUI version until the notification “You’ve become a developer!” appears (this unlocks hidden settings).
3. Go back to the main Settings menu and select a new Developer section (usually at the bottom of the list).
4. Scroll down and find the option to Clear the app cache (in some versions of MIUI it may be called Clear Cache Data).
5. Confirm the action – the system will show how much space will be vacated.

⚠️ Note: After a mass cache clearing, some applications may be slower on their first run, they will have to re-upload data, and some services may need to re-enter the username/password (e.g., Google Play or banking apps).

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If the phone still brakes after mass cleaning the cache, try restarting it in safe mode (press the power button → “Reboot in safe mode”), which will help to determine whether any particular application is to blame for the lags.

Method 3: Clearing /cache and /dalvik-cache partition cache via Recovery

This is a method that's designed for power users, and it's used when standard methods don't work, and it clears the system cache that MIUI creates to speed up the shell, most often after a failed firmware update or if the phone starts to spontaneously reboot.

Important: This method requires an unlocked bootloader (it is unlocked by default on most Xiaomi) and access to a recovery (recovery mode). Newer models (Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12) may require official recovery from Xiaomi or custom (for example, TWRP).

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up at the same time and hold them for 10-15 seconds until the MI logo and the Recovery menu appear.
3. From the Recavatorie menu, select Wipe & Reset (or Advanced Wipe in TWRP).
4. Check the Cache and Dalvik/ART Cache sections (don’t touch Data or System!).
5. Confirm the action of swipe (in TWRP) or select Yes (in standard Recovery).
6. Once completed, select Reboot System to restart.

⚠️ Warning: Do not clean the Data partition in the recavator - this will lead to a complete reset of the phone to the factory settings! 2-3 months, as frequent cleaning of the system cache can, on the contrary, slow down the phone.

Method 4: Automatically clean the cache with built-in MIUI tools

Xiaomi has built several tools into its shell to automatically optimize memory, which are less efficient than manual cleaning, but don't require your intervention, and these tools are useful if you don't want to keep your phone on track.

Where to find and how to set up:

1. Memory Optimization: Go to Settings → About Phone → Memory. Slip on the Clean button at the bottom of the screen – the system will automatically delete unnecessary files, including cache. Enable the Auto Clean option (if available in your version of MIUI).
2. Security and Optimization: Open the Security app (the shield icon on the home screen). Go to the Optimization or Acceleration tab. Click Clean — the utility will scan the phone and prompt you to delete the cache, temporary files and residues of deleted applications.

Advantages of this method:

• ✅ It does not require manual control – the phone monitors the memory filling itself.
• ✅ Less risk of removing something important (the system analyzes which files can be safely cleaned).
• ✅ Works in the background without interfering with the main tasks.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Cleans not as deep as manual methods – can skip large cache files.
• ❌ Sometimes deletes data that you have to re-upload (for example, maps in the navigator).

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Built-in MIUI tools are best used for regular cleaning, and manual cleaning is best used to solve specific problems (hangs, application errors).

Method 5: Cleaning the cache through ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don't help or you want to clear the cache as thoroughly as possible, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This is a debugging tool that allows you to control your phone through a computer. The method is suitable for users who have already dealt with ADB, or those who are ready to figure it out.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and package ADB Tools.
• 📱 Initiated Debugging Mode USB on the phone (in the settings for developers).
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (preferably original).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the phone to your computer and allow debugging (a request will appear on the phone screen).
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
4. To clear the cache of all applications, run: adb shell pm trim-caches -1 This command removes the cache of all user applications except system ones.
5. To clear the cache of a particular application (e.g. Google Chrome): adb shell pm clear com.android.chrome Replace com.android.chrome with the package of the desired application.

⚠️ Attention: pm clear removes all application data, not just the cache! This is equivalent to clicking "Clear Data" in the settings:

adb shell pm clear --cache-only package applications

But this option doesn’t work on all versions of Android.

What if after cleaning the cache problems remain?

Sometimes, cleaning the cache doesn't work as expected, and here are the possible causes and solutions.

If none of these methods worked, the problem may be deeper:

• 🛠️ Memory Fragmentation: On phones with an eMMC drive (instead of a phone with an eMMC drive) UFS) Over time, the read/write speed drops. The solution is to back up and complete the reset (Settings) → Resetting settings).
• 🦠 Viruses or malware: Some programs create hidden cache files that are not visible in standard settings. Check the phone with antivirus (such as Dr.Web or Malwarebytes).
• 🔄 Outdated Firmware: In Older Versions MIUI There were cache management bugs. Update the system through Settings. → Update of the PO.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up cache on Xiaomi