Xiaomi Cache Cleaning: 5 Ways for All Models (including Redmi and POCO)

Cache on Xiaomi smartphones are temporary files that speed up applications but eventually turn into digital garbage. If your Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 slows down, warms up for no reason or produces “Not enough memory” errors, the problem lies in the cache clogged. Automated cleaning through standard settings only removes some of the data, leaving system files and remnants of remote applications.

In this article, 5 proven ways to manually clean the cache on any Xiaomi smartphone, including hidden methods through Recovery and ADB. We will discuss how to clean the cache of individual applications, the system partition /cache, and what to do if after cleaning the phone began to work even worse. All instructions are relevant for MIUI 12/13/14 and adapted for the models of 2020-2026.

1.Why Xiaomi Cache Needs to Be Hand-cleaned

Unlike iPhones or smartphones on pure Android, Xiaomi devices aggressively cache data from behind the MIUI shell. Even after standard cleaning through Settings → Memory remains:

• 📁 System cache (/cache and /data/dalvik-cache) — takes 1–3 GB, but not displayed in the storage menu.
• 🗑️ Residual files from remote applications (e.g., Google Play Services cache or Mi Video).
• 🔄 Damaged data that causes errors such as “App Stopped” or interface freezes.
• 📱 Cash. MIUI-The ones that are added after each change.

According to XDA Developers’ tests, manually cleaning Xiaomi’s cache increases speed by 15 to 25 percent (depending on the model), but improperly cleaning it can cause network settings to reset or data to be lost in some applications (such as WhatsApp or banking services).

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi.eu or custom firmware, clearing the cache through Recovery can cause bootloop (logo looping). → The phone. → Version. MIUI.

2. Method 1: Clearing the cache of individual applications

The safest method is to delete the cache for specific programs, which does not affect system files and does not require superuser rights.

• 🎮 Games (Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile), which after the updates take up to 5-10 GB.
• 📷 Social networks (TikTok, Instagram), the cache of which can weigh up to 2-3 GB.
• 📺 Streaming services (YouTube, Netflix) that save video fragments.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Sort by size.
3. Select an app (like Facebook) → Storage → Clear the cache.
4. For complete cleaning, click Delete Data (⚠️ This will reset the application settings!).

Backup important data (e.g. chats in Telegram)

Close the application in the multitasking menu

Check the space in the "Memory" section

Restart the phone after cleaning-->

If the Clear Cache button is inactive, the app uses secure storage (e.g., banking software), and only reinstallation will help.

3. Method 2: Cleaning the system cache through Recovery

This method removes temporary system files, including the MIUI update cache and firmware residues, and does not delete user data, but requires a reboot to restore mode.

Important: Newer models (Xiaomi 13, Redmi Note 12 Pro+) instead of the classic Recovery use Mi Recovery 5.0, where the option of cleaning the cache is hidden deeper.

Instructions for MIUI Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. Select the language (English/whale) from the menu.) → Wipe & Reset.
4. Tap Wipe Cache → confirm the choice.
5. After cleaning, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

⚠️ Note: If after cleaning the cache through Recovery, the phone is stuck on boot (bootloop), try to repeat the procedure and additionally select Wipe Dalvik Cache. If this does not help - you need to flash it through Fastboot.

Method 3: Using ADB for deep cleaning

For experienced users who want to delete the cache of all applications at once, including system ones, the ADB command is suitable. This method does not require root rights, but you need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB Tools.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to tap according to the version → return to → For developers → Debugging by USB).

Cleanup commands:

adb shell pm list packages -f | grep cache | cut -d= -f1 | xargs -n1 adb shell pm clear

This command clears the cache of all user applications. To clean the system cache, use:

adb shell su -c 'rm -rf /data/dalvik-cache/*'


adb shell su -c 'rm -rf /cache/*'

⚠️ Warning: The second set of commands requires root rights. Without them, you will get permission denied error. On models with a locked bootloader (Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi) K60) root can only be obtained through unlocking and installing Magisk.

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If so, ADB-cleaning applications began to fly out, try resetting their settings through Settings → Annexes → [name] → Reset preferences. It will return standard permissions without losing data.

5. Method 4: Cleaning the cache MIUI-themes and widgets

The MIUI shell actively caches interface elements: themes, icons, animations. Over time, this cache takes up to 500-800 MB and can cause lags when changing wallpaper or applying themes.

How to remove cache MIUI-then:

1. Open the Topic app.
2. Go to Profile → Settings → Clear the cache.
3. To reset completely, delete /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/theme/.cache through any file manager (e.g. Mi File Explorer).

If the themes are not displayed correctly after cleaning, do:

adb shell pm clear com.android.themes

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Cache cleaning doesn’t remove the wallpaper and styles you upload — they’re stored in /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/theme/.download.

6. Method 5: Automatic cleaning through hidden MIUI settings

Xiaomi hides advanced cleaning options in the Security menu, where you can configure automatic deletion of cache on a schedule or at a low memory level.

How to turn on:

1. Open the Settings. → Security.
2. Choose Optimization. → Cleanup.
3. Slip the gear icon in the top corner.
4. Activate options: 🔄 Autocleaning when blocking the screen 📉 Clear cache if there is a lack of memory (threshold - 500 MB) 🗑️ Deep Cleanup (Deletes Residual Files)

In the same menu, you can manually run a deep cleaning, which removes:

• 📂 Cash of mini-programs (Mi Apps).
• 🔍 Logs of system errors.
• 📊 Data analytics MIUI (If the statistics are turned off).

7.What to do if after cleaning the cache the phone began to work worse

In 10-15% of cases, users experience the opposite effect: after cleaning the cache, Xiaomi begins to slow down even more.

⚠️ Note: If photos or files are missing after cleaning the cache, check the folder /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Backup/AllBackup. Xiaomi sometimes automatically backs up before resetting, but doesn’t notify the user.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up cache on Xiaomi