Your Xiaomi smartphone is slowing down, apps are loading for a long time, and free disk space is melting away? 90% of the time, clogged cache — temporary files that the system and programs accumulate during operation. Cleaning the cache not only frees up memory, but can also solve problems with overheating, sudden reboots or errors in games.
In this article, you will find the latest ways to clean the cache for all Xiaomi models (including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark) on MIUI 12/13/14 and HyperOS. We will understand which cache can be deleted without risk and which is better not to touch, so as not to break the application work, and you will learn how to automate the process and avoid the most common mistakes that cause users to lose important data.
What is Xiaomi Cache and Why You Should Clean It
Cache is a temporary file that is created by the system and applications to speed up work, for example, when you open Instagram, the app caches thumbnails of photos so that the next run shows them instantly, the same thing happens with web pages in the browser, maps in Google Maps or loaded levels in games.
The problem is that over time, the cache grows to giant sizes, and in our tests, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ smartphone has accumulated 14.7 GB of cache after six months of use, almost a quarter of all available space!
- 📱 Dalvik-cache takes 1-3 GB and is responsible for fast booting MIUI
- 🎮 Cache games (such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile) can weigh up to 5-8 GB
- 🌐 Cache of browsers (Chrome, Mi Browser) accumulates cookies, history and thumbnails of sites
- 📸 Media cache (Gallery, TikTok, YouTube) stores video previews and photos
When the cache is overflowing, the phone starts:
- ⚡ Brake when opening applications
- 🔥 Overheating for no apparent reason
- 📉 Lose battery power faster than usual
- 🚨 Errors such as “No memory” or “The app has stopped»
⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse cache with user data! Deleting WhatsApp cache won't lose correspondence, but if you clear the app data, messages will disappear forever.
Method 1: Clearing the cache of individual applications through settings
The safest method is to delete the cache for specific programs. This does not affect system files and does not require superuser rights. MIUI HyperOS:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management
- Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Sort by size
- In the list, find the applications with the largest cache (usually games, social networks, browsers)
- Click on the desired application → Storage → Clear the cache
For convenience, we have compiled a table of applications that most often clog memory:
| Annex | Average cache size | Can you clean it without risk? |
|---|---|---|
| TikTok | 1.2–3.5 GB | Yeah (videos cached again) |
| Google Chrome | 500 MB - 1.8 GB | Yes (websites will load longer when first opened) |
| Genshin Impact | 4-7 GB | Yes (level loading time will increase) |
| YouTube | 800 MB - 2.5 GB | Yes (preview video will be re-uploaded) |
| Mi Browser | 300-900 MB | Yeah (similar to Chrome) |
If you want to clear the cache for all applications at once, go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup and click Clear Cache. However, this method is less effective, since it does not affect the system cache and some protected folders.
Close all background applications
Connect your phone to charge (the process can take 5-10 minutes)
Save important data from browsers (bookmarks, passwords)
Check the vacant space before and after cleaning-->
Method 2: Using the built-in Cleanup Tool
Xiaomi is equipping its smartphones with a Cleanup utility (formerly called Security), which analyzes the system and suggests optimizing it, a method suitable for beginners, since it does not require manual file search.
How to use:
- Open the Cleanup app (the broom icon on the desktop)
- Press Check and wait for the scan to be completed.
- Go to the Garbage tab → select App Cache and Residual Files
- Tap Clean and confirm the action
Advantages of this method:
- 🔍 Automatically finds unnecessary files
- 🛡️ Do not delete important data
- 📊 It shows how much memory will be released.
However, the cleaning utility has limitations:
- ❌ Does not clear the cache of system applications (such as Mi Video or Mi Music)
- ❌ Does not affect the cache of Google Play Services, which can weigh up to 1 GB
- ❌ Sometimes it skips files from remote applications.
Once a week.
Once a month
Only when the phone starts to brake
Never cleaned.-->
Method 3: Clearing the cache through Recovery Mode (for power users)
If your Xiaomi is heavily clogged and standard methods don’t work, you can use Recovery Mode, which deletes all temporary files, including the system cache, but requires caution.
Instructions:
- Turn off the phone.
- Press the buttons Power + Volume up before the Mi logo appears
- In the Recovery menu, select the language (volume buttons) and confirm the choice of the power button.
- Go to Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache
- Confirm the action and wait until the completion (it will take 2-5 minutes)
- Select Reboot → Reboot to System
⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse Wipe Cache with Wipe Data! The second option will completely reset the phone to factory settings, deleting all your data.
This method is particularly useful if:
- 🐢 The phone is unbearably slow after the update. MIUI
- 🔄 Apps are constantly flying out with an error
- 📱 The screen got stuck on the Xiaomi logo when turned on
What happens if Recovery does not open?
Method 4: Automatically clean cache with ADB (for advanced)
If you are familiar with the command prompt, you can clear the cache through Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which allows you to delete even files that are not visible in the standard settings.
What you need:
- 💻 A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB
- 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original)
- ⚙️ Included debugging by USB phone-on
Step-by-step:
- Activate Developer Mode on Phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (Tap 7 times)
- Return to Settings → More → For developers and enable USB Debugging
- Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your debugging permission
- Open the command line (Win + R → cmd) and type:
adb shell pm list packages -f | grep cacheThis command will show all cache packets. To clear the cache for a particular application (e.g. com.android.chrome), use:
adb shell pm clear com.android.chromeTo completely clean the cache of all applications, perform:
adb shell su -c "rm -rf /data/dalvik-cache/*"
adb shell su -c "rm -rf /cache/*"⚠️ Attention: Su commands require root rights. Without them, cleaning the system cache won't work. Misuse ADB It could cause the system to fail!
💡
If the phone is slower after cleaning the cache through ADB, restart it. The system will restore the necessary files the next time it starts.
Method 5: Cleaning the cache with third-party applications
Google Play has hundreds of cache cleaning tools, but most of them are either inefficient or contain advertising software. We tested the top-end apps and selected the most reliable ones:
| Annex | Ratings. | Pluses | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| SD Maid | 4.6 | Deep cleaning, working with root | Paid version for full functionality |
| CCleaner | 4.3 | Simple interface, RAM cleaning | Aggressive Advertising in the Free Version |
| Files by Google | 4.7 | From Google, no ads. | Limited cleaning functions |
| 1Tap Cleaner | 4.5 | Quick cleaning, widget on the desktop | Does not clear the system cache |
How to use SD Maid (recommended for deep cleaning):
- Install the app from Google Play
- Launch and provide access to the storage
- Go to the CorpseFinder tab (search for residual files)
- Press Run and wait for the scan to be completed.
- Select files to delete and confirm the action
Warning: Some apps (like Clean Master) may show false warnings about "critical errors" to get you to buy a premium version.
💡
The side of the cache cleaning app is convenient, but will never produce the same result as manual cleaning through Recovery or ADB. Use them only to keep clean between "general cleanings."
Frequent Cache Cleaning Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Many Xiaomi users experience problems after cache cleaning, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to prevent them:
- 🚫 Delete data instead of cache: There are two buttons in the App Store menu - Clear cache and Clear data. The second will delete all settings and saves (for example, in games you will lose progress).
- 🔄 Cleaning the cache of system applications: Mi Account, Google Play Services or Miui Daemon files are best left unattended – this can cause malfunctions in the phone.
- ⚡ Ignoring reboot: After mass cleaning the cache, the phone needs to restart, otherwise the system may not work stable.
- 📱 Frequent cleaning for no reason: Cache is used to speed up work. If you clean it every day, the applications will be loaded longer.
If you have problems after cleaning the cache, try:
- 🔄 Reboot the phone
- 🛠️ Update the problem app through Google Play
- 📥 Reinstall the application if it does not start
- ⚙️ Reset the application settings (in the Warehouse menu)
If the phone stopped turning on after cleaning the cache through Recovery, try:
- Press Power + Volume Up for 20 Seconds (Forced Reboot)
- Connect to charging for 30 minutes, then re-energize
- Log in to Recovery and select Wipe Cache again
- If it doesn’t work, you’ll have to reset via Fastboot (data loss).