How to Clear Cache on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Optimization

Xiaomi’s current smartphones have powerful hardware, but even the top-end models are slowing down over time. One of the main reasons for the system’s slowdown and app bugs is the overflow of a hidden partition of memory known as cache. These are temporary files that Android and the MIUI shell create to quickly load frequently used data, but over time they turn into digital garbage, occupying gigabytes of usable space.

Users often notice that the phone is slowing down, apps are flying out or opening for a long time, and there is critically little space, even though photos and videos have been transferred to the computer for a long time. Cache cleaning is a safe and effective procedure that returns the device to its former friction. Unlike a complete reset, this operation does not delete your personal contacts, correspondence or installed programs, affecting only temporary files.

In this article, we will take a look at all the available ways to delete temporary files, from built-in system tools to advanced methods through the engineering menu. You will learn how cleaning a particular application differs from global cleaning of the system, and understand which files can be deleted without risking the stability of Redmi or Poco. Regular maintenance of memory extends the life of the drive and ensures stable operation of the operating system.

What is cache and why it should be cleaned on MIUI

Cache memory is a buffer between the processor and applications. When you run a heavy game or social network, the system saves some of the downloaded images, scripts and interface elements for quick access, which allows you to re-enter the program instantly, without downloading data from the Internet or slow memory again. However, MIUI algorithms do not always perfectly manage this storage, and old files can conflict with new versions of applications.

The accumulation of junk files leads to the fact that the smartphone begins to waste resources on processing useless data. Overflowing cache can cause spontaneous reboots, heating the case and rapid battery discharge. This is especially true for models with a small amount of internal memory, where every gigabyte is in the account. In addition, some temporary files can contain errors that cause malfunctions in the system services.

⚠️ Warning: Don't fanatically delete cache every hour. Android is designed to use free memory to speed up your work. Clean storage only when there are clear signs of space shortages or software failures.

It is important to understand the difference between an application cache and a system cache: the former take up space in the user partition and are easily deleted through settings; the latter are stored in a hidden partition and affect the boot of the operating system itself; Cleaning the system cache through Recovery Mode is safe for personal data, but requires accurate follow-up of instructions. Understanding these differences will help avoid accidental deletion of important information.

Basic cleaning through the standard Security application

The easiest and safest way to free up space is to use a built-in tool from Xiaomi developers. Security is preinstalled on all devices with a MIUI and HyperOS shell. It automatically scans the device for junk files, remnants of deleted programs and temporary data. To start the procedure, find a green icon with a shield and lightning on your desktop.

Once you open the app, click on the Cleaner button, and the system will quickly analyze and suggest that you delete files that are considered safe to delete, usually image sketches, temporary browser files and remnants of installation packages. Auto-cleaning allows you to free up from 100 MB to several gigabytes of space in a few seconds, which often solves the problem of memory shortage.

For a deeper analysis, you can go to the Memory section in the same app, and it shows you detailed statistics of how much space apps, photos, videos, and system files take up. By clicking on the Garbage category, you'll see a list of files that can be safely deleted, often with error logs and temporary update files that the system doesn't need anymore.

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Set up automatic cleaning in the Security app so that the phone itself makes room when the free space is less than 10%.

It's worth noting that a standard tool doesn't always find deep-hidden debris in social media folders, which requires manual checks, but that the built-in functionality is enough to keep your smartphone sanitized every day, and that regular use of this tool prevents critical memory overflows.

Manually cleaning the cache of specific applications

Sometimes the problem isn't with the system as a whole, but with one particular application that's bloated to an incredible size. Memory consumption leaders are usually messengers like Telegram, WhatsApp and social networks. They save thousands of images and videos that you've seen. To fix this, you need to know how to clean the cache selectively without deleting the program itself.

Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. Search for a problem program like YouTube or Instagram. Inside the app menu, you'll see a Clear data button. It's important not to confuse: you need the Clear Cache option, not Clear Everything or Delete. The first action will only delete temporary files, the second will reset the app to "as after installation" by removing logins and settings.

• 📱 Open your smartphone settings and select the "Apps" section».
• 🔍 Find a program that takes up a lot of space (usually marked with a size icon) in the list).
• 🗑️ Click Clear Cache to delete temporary files without losing account data.
• ✅ Restart the application to check the correctness of the work.

In Telegram, for example, you can clean the cache right inside the settings of the application itself by setting an automatic delete timer (for example, store media for 3 days), which is much more convenient than every time you go into Android settings. WhatsApp cleans through the tab “Data and storage” in the chat settings.

⚠️ Note: When cleaning the browser cache (Chrome, Yandex), you will log out of accounts on the sites, and you will need to re-enter passwords.

If the app continues to malfunction after cleaning the cache, you can try the "Clear Everything" option, which is a radical method that will reset all the program settings. In some cases, this helps to eliminate synchronization errors that could not be fixed otherwise. However, remember that local game or offline maps can be lost.

Deep Cleanup through Recovery Mode

There's a deeper level of cleaning that affects the system partition, which is Recovery Mode, which is used when the phone is unstable, not booting, or after a major system update, and it's a mode that can clear the system cache, which often solves problems with the bootloop.

To enter this mode, you need to turn off your smartphone completely. Then press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power, but keep the volume until the Recovery menu appears. The navigation is done with volume buttons (up and down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button.

The sequence of actions in Recovery:


1. Select the language (English/Chinese).




2. Go to the Wipe Data menu.




3. Select the option Wipe Cache (NOT Wipe All Data).




4. Confirm the action and wait for the end.




5. Select Reboot.

This procedure is safe for your photos and contacts, as it only affects the system partition of temporary files, but you should do it with caution. If you accidentally choose Wipe All Data, the phone will be completely reset to factory settings with loss of all information.

Use of third-party utilities and ADB

For advanced users who don’t have enough standard tools, there are powerful tools like SD Maid, CCleaner, or Files by Google, which are able to find tails of remote programs and duplicate files that a standard MIUI analyzer skips, but install them only from trusted sources so as not to infect the phone with ads.

The most effective method for the experienced is to use ADB debugging (Android Debug Bridge) from a computer, which allows you to clear the cache of system applications that are usually protected from removal, to turn on Developer Mode (7 times click on the build number in About Phone) and activate Debugging via USB.

And if you connect the phone to a PC, you can run a command to clear the cache of all the applications at once, and that requires you to install the ADB drivers on your computer.

adb shell pm trim-caches 999999999

This command forcibly trims the cache of all installed packets, freeing up a huge amount of space, but it should only be used in extreme cases, since after such a cleanup, the applications will load a little longer on the first run until they type a new cache.

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Using ADB is the best thing, but it requires a computer and basic command line knowledge, and for most users, built-in tools are enough.

Typical errors and overflow prevention

Many users make the mistake of installing dubious accelerator apps that consume resources and display ads. In reality, the MIUI shell itself manages memory perfectly. The main task of the user is not to interfere with the system and periodically check the "heavy" applications. You should not strive to have 99% of the memory on the phone; this is not necessary for performance.

A common problem is the MIUI/gallery/cloud folder, where deleted photos awaiting sync or duplicates can accumulate. Periodically check the cart in the gallery and cloud, and also keep an eye on the Download folder, which often gets APK installation files after updating programs.

• 🚫 Do not install more than one antivirus or cliner.
• 📸 Check out the recently deleted album regularly at the gallery.
• 💬 Set up autodelete media in messengers.
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone at least once a week.

Prevention is the habit of keeping track of memory, and if you see a place running out of time, you might want to rethink your habits, like disabling WhatsApp status auto-save, reducing the quality of music streaming, or migrating your photo archive to a cloud server or PC, and digital hygiene is more important than any technical trick.

⚠️ Note: Files with the.obb extension in the Android folder are often the cache of games. their removal will lead to the need to re-download game data (several gigabytes), so delete them only if the game is no longer needed.

Following these simple rules will allow your Xiaomi to stay fast and responsive throughout its life.Remember that memory is a resource that requires management, but don’t make phone care an obsession.

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Turn on the memory extension feature in your settings if your phone is short of RAM.This uses some of the built-in storage as virtual RAM, which indirectly helps with cache work.