Xiaomi’s line of smartphones, which run on the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS, are famous for their functionality, but can slow down over time. The main reason for the decline in performance is often accumulated app cache and system debris, which takes up precious space in internal storage. Users often wonder how to safely delete these temporary files without losing important data or account settings.
Unlike a full factory reset, cache cleaning is a gentle procedure that removes only temporary data created by programs to quickly download content, such as gallery images, temporary browser files or update remnants in Google Play. Regularly conducting such prevention allows you to keep the device fast and avoid errors in the software.
In this guide, we’ll look at all the cleanup options available, from built-in system tools to manually deleting data through settings, and learn which folders you can touch and which ones you should not touch so as not to disrupt the stability of the Android operating system.
What is cache and why to remove it on a smartphone
Cache is a memory area reserved for storing temporary files that speed up applications. When you open a program for the first time, it downloads resources from the Internet or from a disk, storing copies of them in the cache. The next time you run, the system accesses these local files, which makes the interface more smooth and responsive.
However, the endless accumulation of such data has negative consequences: overflowing cache can cause file version conflicts, especially after application updates, and temporary files often take up gigabytes of space that is not enough to install new programs or save photos.
There are several types of cached data that require periodic attention:
- 📱 Application cache – temporary files of specific programs (social networks, instant messengers, games).
- 🌐 Browser cache – download history, cookies and saved pages.
- ⚙️ System cache - data necessary for the shell to work MIUI and Google services.
⚠️ Note: Clearing the cache does not delete your personal files, logins and passwords, but some accounts may need to be logged in again as session data will be erased.
Regular cleaning is especially important for models with a small amount of internal memory, such as the entry-level Redmi or Poco series, and even releasing 1-2 GB of space can significantly improve the speed of writing new data and the operation of the system as a whole.
Use of the built-in "Security" application
The easiest and safest way to clean your phone of garbage is to use the standard tool from Xiaomi developers.Security app is preinstalled on all devices of the brand and optimized to work with the MIUI file system.
To get started, you need to find a green shield icon on your desktop, run the program and wait for the automatic scan, and the system will analyze the installed applications, check for malware and assess the amount of debris occupied.
Once the analysis is complete, a "Clean up" button will appear on the screen, click on it to delete the temporary files found, which takes a few seconds and does not require an Internet connection.
☑️ Memory status check
It is important to note that a standard scanner is sometimes too conservative to remove the deep cache of heavy applications. For more thorough cleaning, you should go to the Cleanup section inside the application, where you can choose in detail which categories of files to delete.
Manual cleaning of the cache through system settings
If the built-in tool didn’t free up enough space, you can use a deeper method – manual cleaning through the Android settings menu – that allows you to control the process for each particular application, which is especially useful for “gluttonous” programs like TikTok, Instagram or Telegram.
Go to the Settings menu, then select the App and click All Apps. In the list that opens, find the program you want. Pay attention to the memory indicator, which will show how much space the application takes up and how much space is allocated for data and cache.
Inside the app menu, you'll see a "Clean" or "Storage" button, and you click on it, and you'll get two options:
- 🗑️ Clear cache – only deletes temporary files, secure operation.
- 💥 Clean everything – completely resets the application to the “just installed” state, removing logins and settings.
⚠️ Be very careful with the “Clear Everything” button for instant messengers, which will delete all your correspondence history if it was not saved to the cloud or server.
For system applications such as Gallery or Music, cleaning the cache is safe and often solves problems with the interface freeze. After the procedure, it is recommended to restart the device so that the system reassembles the necessary temporary files again.
Clearing cache in Google Play and other services
The Google Play app store also accumulates a huge amount of temporary data during the updates and installation of programs. If you encounter errors when downloading applications or the store is not working correctly, cleaning its cache is the first step of diagnosis.
The procedure is similar to manually cleaning any other application. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, search the Google Play Store list. Go to the Storage section and select Clear Cache.
And you also have to look at Google Play, which is a system component that handles account and sync, and can also be cleared, but you should only do this if you have problems syncing or logging in.
| Component | What it keeps. | Is it safe to clean? | Effects of consequences |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play Store | Update data, store cache | Yes. | Resetting store settings |
| Google Play Services | Geolocation data, accounts | Carefully. | Temporary synchronization failures |
| Google Chrome | Cache pages, cookies | Yes. | Exit from sites, fast loading of the first pages |
| Android system | Temporary OS files | Only through Recovery. | Resetting system settings |
Once the Google cache is cleared, the device can spend some time actively using battery power and traffic to restore background processes, a normal behavior that stabilizes within hours.
Removing garbage in the browser and social networks
Social networks and browsers are the leaders in memory consumption on Xiaomi smartphones. The mechanism of VK, Telegram or YouTube involves saving the videos and images you watched so as not to re-upload them, over time, this “collection” can grow to several gigabytes.
In most modern applications, you can clean up inside the program settings themselves. For example, in Telegram you need to go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory Use. There you will see the Clear Cache button and even be able to set up autodelete files after a certain period of time.
For browsers like Chrome or Mi Browser, the path is through a three-point menu. Select History → Clear History. Here you can select the time range (e.g. All the time) and data types (images, cookies).