How to Clean Cache on Android Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Xiaomi’s modern smartphones have a powerful hardware, but they tend to slow down over time, often caused by overcrowded system memory, which is filled with temporary files, and accumulated through the use of apps, browsers, and the MIUI or HyperOS system itself.

Cache cleaning is a safe and effective procedure that doesn’t delete your personal photos, contacts or correspondence, but frees up gigabytes of space and restores your device to its previous responsiveness. In this article, we’ll look at all the cleaning methods available, from standard tools to advanced settings.

Understanding where the temporary data is stored will help you monitor the status of the gadget, you will learn to distinguish between system debris and important files, which is critical for proper maintenance of an Android device.

What is cache and why you need to clean it

Cache is a clipboard where apps store temporary data to speed up their work. For example, Google Chrome saves images from visited sites so that they load instantly when they re-enter. Over time, this “fast access” grows to huge sizes, taking up valuable space in internal memory.

The accumulation of redundant data slows down the operating system; the smartphone can start to hang when switching between tasks or open heavy programs for a long time; and corrupted cache files often cause sudden crashes of applications.

⚠️ Caution: Cache clearing does not delete your passwords, game saves or browser history unless you select the "Clear all data" option.

Regular maintenance helps maintain optimal device performance, especially for models with a small amount of internal memory, where every gigabyte counts, and ignoring the issue can lead to the phone not accepting new updates or working properly with the camera.

Use of the built-in Security application

The easiest and most reliable way to clean up Xiaomi’s garbage is to use the regular Security app, which is already pre-installed on all the brand’s devices and optimized for the MIUI shell, which automatically scans the system for temporary files, remnants of remote programs and advertising debris.

To start the procedure, look for an icon on your desktop called Security or Security. Once you open it, click on a large green button that says Clean up. The system will quickly scan and suggest that you delete the files you find. This method is safe for beginners, because the algorithms themselves determine what can be deleted without harming the system.

In deeper cleaner settings, you can choose which file types to clean, and you can manually tick app cache, ads, or APK installer files, giving the user the flexibility to manage the storage.

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Run the built-in cleaner once a week to prevent critical memory filling and keep the interface running smoothly.

Clearing the cache of individual applications

Often, a particular application, like YouTube or Telegram, takes up a disproportionate amount of space, and in such cases, it makes no sense to clean the entire phone, just delete the temporary files from that program, and it solves the problem with departures and makes room point-by-point.

To do this, go to your smartphone's Settings menu. Find the Apps section and select All Apps. From the list that opens, find the program you want and click on it. From the control menu that opens, select Memory or Storage, and then click Clear and select Clear Cache.

This is particularly useful for instant messengers and social networks, which accumulate a huge amount of media files, and you can do this for each heavy program separately, so you can control the memory consumption of the most effective applications.

Deep cleaning through the developer menu

For advanced users, it is possible to clear the cache of all applications directly through a hidden menu, a method that requires caution because it affects system processes, and is useful in situations where the phone is unstable after updating or installing questionable software.

First, activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly press 7 times on the MIUI Version or OS Version. After the notification that you have become a developer, go back to the main settings menu.

Find a new section called Additional or Advanced Settings where the Developer For option appears. Inside the menu, scroll down to the App section, and there you will find the option to Delete Cached Data, and clicking on it will start the process of cleaning temporary files throughout the system.

⚠️ Note: Do not change other settings in the developer menu without understanding their functions.This can lead to malfunctioning of the operating system or data loss.

This method is useful when preparing a device for sale or when there are serious interface failures, and in everyday use it is better to rely on regular cleaning products that are safer for inexperienced users.

Cleaning the cache in Recovery mode

The most radical method is to clean the Wipe Cache Partition through Recovery mode, which cleans the system cache that is not deleted by the usual methods, and often helps solve problems with booting the phone or cyclic reboots.

To enter this mode, you need to turn off your smartphone completely. Then press the Volume Up and Power buttons simultaneously. Hold them until the Mi logo or recovery menu appears. Navigation is done with volume buttons and selection is done with the power button.

Select a language from the menu (if available), then find Wipe Data. In the submenu that opens, it's important to choose Wipe Cache, not Wipe All Data. The latter option will completely delete all your files, as if reset to factory settings. Be extremely careful when choosing.

The sequence of actions in Recovery:


1. Turn off the phone.




2. Clutch Volume Up + Power.




3. Select Wipe Data.




4. Select Wipe Cache (NOT Wipe All Data).




5. Confirm action.

Once the process is complete, select Reboot to restart the system. The first boot may take longer than usual, as the system will recreate the necessary temporary files. This is normal behavior after deep cleaning.

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Cleaning through Recovery is safe for personal data (photos, contacts) if the correct menu item is selected, but requires careful navigation.

Automation and third-party utilities

If manual cleaning seems cumbersome, you can use automation features or third-party apps. Xiaomi Security settings often have a "Schedule Cleanup" option, which allows you to set up an automatic scan start, for example, every night when the phone is not in use.

There are also popular third-party apps like Files by Google or SD Maid. They can find duplicate files, remnants of deleted programs and empty folders that a standard cleaner skips. However, use them with caution, providing only the necessary permissions.

It's important not to install questionable ad accelerators that promise performance wonders. They often consume resources and display intrusive notifications. Android and MIUI are typically as good at doing things as specialized software.

• 📱 Use Security for Daily System Maintenance.
• 🗑️ Use third-party file managers to find hidden debris.
• ⚙️ Set up automatic cleaning at night.
• 🚫 Avoid Apps With Aggressive Advertising.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)