How to completely clear the cache on Xiaomi smartphones: 7 proven ways

Xiaomi’s MIUI or HyperOS-based smartphones eventually slow down due to crowded cache — temporary files that the system and apps accumulate to speed up work. But when those files become too many, they take up precious memory space and slow down the device. Clearing the cache can bring the phone back to its previous speed, free up gigabytes of memory and even solve overheating problems.

In this article, you'll find 7 ways to clean up cache, from standard MIUI tools to hidden features for power users, how to remove individual applications' cache, system debris, and the dangerous but effective method of resetting Dalvik-cache. Importantly, some operations require super-user rights, but most are available without them.

Before you start, check how much cache your Xiaomi has. Go to Settings → About Phone → Memory. If the cache partition takes up more than 1-2 GB, it’s time to act. And if the phone starts spontaneously restarting or apps crash, cleaning the cache can be a temporary solution before flashing.

1. Standard cache cleaning via MIUI/HyperOS settings

The easiest and safest way to do this is to use the built-in MIUI or HyperOS tools, which do not require root rights and is suitable for beginners, and automatically detects unnecessary files, including the residual cache of remote applications, image thumbnails and temporary data.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Memory (on some firmware, the path may differ: Settings) → Additionally. → Memory).
• 🔍 Click on “Clean” or “Free” (in HyperOS, it can be called “Optimization»).
• ✅ Confirm the action. The system will show how much space has been vacated.

This method only removes secure temporary files without affecting application data or system settings, but it doesn't clear the entire cache — for example, Dalvik-cache (optimized files to speed up application launch) remains intact.

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If the Clean button is inactive, restart the phone, and sometimes the system blocks cleaning due to background processes.

2 Manually cleansing the cache of individual applications

Some apps (especially social networks, instant messengers and games) accumulate gigabytes of cache. For example, Telegram can store up to 5 GB of temporary files, and TikTok can store up to 3 GB. Clearing the cache of a particular application will not delete your accounts or saves, but can reset some settings (for example, cached videos on YouTube).

How to clean:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want (like Facebook or Google Chrome).
3. Click on "Memory" (or "Storage").
4. Tap "Clear Cache." Don't click "Clear Data" - it will delete all the app settings!

For convenience, sort apps by cache size: in the upper right corner, click three dots → “Sort by size.” So you quickly find the main memory eaters. For example, Redmi Note 12 Pro+ can take up to 800 MB of cache after six months of use.

3.Cache clearing through Recovery Mode (no root)

If the phone is slowing down or not responding to commands, you can use Recovery Mode, which removes Dalvik-cache and other system temporary files that are not cleared through standard settings. On some Xiaomi models (such as the POCO F5 or Redmi K60), this method can reset MIUI regional settings, but does not delete personal data.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the button combination to enter Recovery: For most Xiaomi: Volume up + Power. For POCO: Volume up + Power (hold 10 seconds). For older models (until 2019): Volume up + Volume down + Power.

Recovery

Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache

Confirm the action and wait until the completion (it will take 1-3 minutes).

Reboot → Reboot to System

⚠️ Note: Some firmware may call the Wipe Cache item Wipe Dalvik/Cache. Don’t confuse it with Wipe Data – it’s a complete phone reset!

4.Use of ADB for deep cleaning (for advanced)

If standard methods don’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a debugging tool that lets you control your phone through a computer, which removes Dalvik-cache and other hidden temporary files that are not available through normal settings.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 🛠️ Installed drivers Xiaomi and ADB (You can download from the official Android website).
• ⚙️ Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap to unlock the developer options, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).

Cleanup commands:

adb shell


su




rm -r /data/dalvik-cache/*




rm -r /cache/*




exit




exit

After completing the commands, restart the phone. The first start may take up to 5 It's okay to recover Dalvik-cache, which is especially effective for Xiaomi on Android. 12+, where standard cleaning often leaves garbage in the folder /data/system/package_cache.

⚠️ Note: If after cleaning through ADB phone hangs on the logo MI, Don't panic. 10-15 If you keep hanging out longer, you'll have to go through the Fastboot.

5. Automatic cleaning with third-party applications

For those who don't want to dig into the settings, there are third-party utilities that analyze and clear the cache in one click. However, beware: many Google Play cleaners clog the system with ads or collect data themselves. We tested several apps and selected the safest ones.

Recommendation: Xiaomi is best suited to SD Maid (especially if there is root) because it can clean folders that ignore other utilities, such as finding and deleting residual files after uninstalling applications in the /data/app-lib folder.

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The application side is not a substitute for manual cleaning; they can skip the cache of system processes (e.g. com.miui.home) that takes hundreds of megabytes.

6.Cache cleansing via TWRP (root only)

If your Xiaomi has custom TWRP recovery installed, you can clean the cache as deeply as possible — including ART-cache (the analogue of Dalvik-cache for newer versions of Android), which is suitable for power users, as it requires an unlocked bootloader and superuser rights.

How to clean:

1. Boot in TWRP (usually Volume Up + Power).
2. Go to Advanced → File Manager.
3. Delete the contents of the following folders: /data/dalvik-cache /cache /data/system/package_cache

Wipe → Advanced Wipe

Dalvik / ART Cache

Cache

Reboot the phone.

After this cleaning, it takes longer to start the system first, but you get a clean cache, like after you have firmware, which is especially useful before installing custom firmware or after you change the MIUI version.

7.Cache reset via service codes (hidden functions)

Xiaomi hides some of the cleaning features behind service codes — combinations of numbers that are entered in the phone app. These codes allow diagnostic tools, including cache cleaning. Importantly, not all codes work on new models (such as the Xiaomi 14 or the POCO X6 Pro), but on devices before 2023 they usually work.

Verified codes for cleaning:

• 📞 ##4636## → «Warehouse» → «Clear cache" (works on Android) 9-11).
• 📞 ##284## → Cache test (shows volume and allows you to clean).
• 📞 ##7780## → Resetting (does not delete data, but clears the cache of system applications).

On new firmware (HyperOS), these codes can be blocked. If nothing happens after you enter the code, then the function is disabled for your model.

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Service codes may vary depending on the firmware region, for example, on the global version of MIUI, code ##4636## works, while in Chinese it doesn't.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up cache on Xiaomi