How to Clean Cache on Android Xiaomi: A Complete Guide for All Models

Xiaomi MIUI-based smartphones eventually start to slow down due to cache cache, temporary files that accumulate when applications and systems are running. If your Redmi, POCO or Black Shark is slower to respond to commands, often overheats, or gives a notification "Memory is almost full," the problem is likely to lie in the cache. Unlike regular files, it can not be simply deleted through the conductor - you need special tools.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to clean up Xiaomi’s cache, including hidden MIUI features that not everyone knows, how to remove individual applications’ cache, system cache, and how to automate the process so you don’t have to go back to it every week, and focus on hybrid memory models (like the Redmi Note 12 Pro+), where the cache can eat up to 30% of total storage.

Why Xiaomi Cache Should Be Cleaned Regularly

Cache is a temporary file that creates applications and a system to speed up re-operations, for example, when you open Instagram, it stores thumbnails of photos in the cache so that it can upload them faster the next time you run them, and the problem is that over time, these files:

• 📉 Take up gigabytes of memory – on some models Xiaomi cache can weigh up to 5-8 GB.
• 🐢 Slow down work – the system spends resources on processing outdated data.
• 🔥 Cause overheating - background cache cleaning process loads processor.
• 🔄 Lead to failures – a damaged cache can “break” applications (for example, the Google Play Store does not open).

In MIUI 14 and later, the developers added automatic cache cleaning, but it doesn't work perfectly: it only deletes a portion of files and doesn't affect system data, so manual cleaning remains relevant.

Method 1: Clearing the cache of individual applications through settings

The safest method is to remove the cache for specific programs. This will not affect their work (unlike deleting data), but will free up space. The instructions are relevant for all models, from the Redmi 9A to the Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as Telegram or YouTube).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
4. For complete cleaning (including temporary files) click Space Management → Clear all data (⚠️ Attention: This will reset the application settings!).

To speed up the process, use sorting by cache size:

1. In the list of applications, tap on the icon ⚙️ (setting).
2. Select Sort. → By size.
3. Remove the cache from applications that occupy more than 500 MB (usually social networks, instant messengers and games).

Remember the username/password from the accounts (if you clean the data)

Close the application in multitasking

Check the space in the memory (should be ≥10%)

Backup important chats (for instant messengers)

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Example: POCO X5 Pro after cleaning the cache TikTok (1.2 GB) and Facebook (800 MB) freed up 2 GB of memory, and the startup time of applications decreased by 30%.

Method 2: Automatic Cache Cleanup in MIUI

MIUI has a built-in tool for automatic optimization, Security (or Global Firmware Security), which removes unnecessary files, including cache, on schedule or manually.

How to turn on:

1. Go to Settings → Security → Cleanup.
2. Press Deep Clean (cache scans, residual files, duplicates).
3. Select categories to delete (we recommend to note the application cache and Residual files).
4. Tap Clean (can take 1-3 minutes).

To set up the auto-cleaning:

1. In the same section, click ⚙️ (setting).
2. Activate Automatic Cleaning.
3. Select frequency: Daily, When screen locks or When memory is low.

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If the cache accumulates again quickly after automatic cleaning, check the applications in the background. Some (such as AliExpress or Wildberries) aggressively cache data even when folded. Limit their activity to Settings → Battery → Background Limitation.

Method 3: Cleaning the system cache (for power users)

System cache (/cache) Stores update data, temporary files MIUI And the Android cores. Cleaning it up can solve the problem:

• 🔄 Loading boots (bootloop).
• 📱 Failures after firmware update.
• 🛑 Errors like “Settings app stopped».

Attention: Incorrect actions may cause some settings (such as fingerprints) to be reset.

Steps for cleaning:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo (Recovery mode) appears.
3. Select the language (volume buttons) and confirm Power.
4. Go to Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
5. Confirm the action and wait for the completion (it will take 2-5 minutes).
6. Choose Reboot. → Reboot to System.

On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T) The path may be different: Advanced → Wipe Dalvik/ART Cache. Once you restart, the system will recover the cache automatically, which is normal.

Method 4: Using ADB for deep cleaning (without root)

If standard methods don't work, you can delete the cache through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a debugging tool. This is safe, but it requires a connection to a computer.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📥 ADB Tools by Google.

Instructions:

1. Enable Developer Mode on Xiaomi: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version. Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers. Activate Debugging on USB.
2. Connect your phone to your PC and select File Transfer mode.
3. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the adb folder.
4. Enter the commands in turn: adb devices (should appear the device with the serial number) adb shell pm trim-caches 1000G (clears the cache of all applications)

To clean the cache of a particular application (e.g. Chrome):

adb shell pm clear com.android.chrome

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ADB-Cleaning removes the cache deeper than standard methods but does not affect system files.This is safe for user data but can reset the settings of some applications (for example, WhatsApp will require re-authorization).

Method 5: Resetting cache through the engineering menu (hidden function)

MIUI has a hidden engineering menu where you can reset your cache without losing data, which works on most models, but the interface may be different.

How to open it:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the code ##4636##
3. Select Battery Information (or Usage Statistics).
4. Put it on the icon. ⋮ (menu) in upper right corner.
5. Choose Clear Cache (or Clear Cache).

Note: on some firmware (Xiaomi.eu, custom ROMs), this code may not work.

1. Enter the phone: ##284###
2. Select Test → Clear Cache.

This method clears the Dalvik cache (the Android virtual machine), which can speed up the system after updates.

What NOT to do when cleaning cache on Xiaomi

Some "tips" from the Internet can hurt your phone.

• ❌ Delete cache through file manager manually – you can accidentally erase system files in folders /data or /system.
• ❌ Use Google Play cleaners – most of them load the system and collect user data.
• ❌ Clearing the cache too often will force applications to upload data again each time, increasing traffic consumption and waiting time.
• ❌ Resetting your phone to factory settings is an extreme measure that removes ALL, including photos and contacts.

Also not worth it:

• 🔧 Disable caching in the developer settings - this will lead to constant slowdowns.
• 📲 Delete the Android folder on the memory card – there is stored application data (for example, downloaded maps in Google Maps).

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If after cleaning the cache, the phone began to work even worse, check the free space in the section /data. On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note) 10 Pro) when filling in this section more than on 90% The system is starting to slow down. The solution is to move the files to the computer. SD-map.

Comparison of Cache Cleaning Methods on Xiaomi

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up cache on Xiaomi