Cache Cleanup on Xiaomi 5: A Complete Memory Freeing Guide

The Xiaomi Mi 5 is still a popular device years later, thanks to its powerful hardware and flexible MIUI firmware. However, over time, users experience slowdowns, hangovers and memory shortages, most often due to clogged cache, these are temporary files that create applications and a system to speed up re-operations, but when too many of them accumulate, they start to slow down the smartphone.

Cache cleaning on Xiaomi Mi 5 can solve many problems, from sudden reboots to bugs in applications. In this article, we will examine all the available methods, from standard MIUI tools to manual cleaning through Recovery. You will also learn which files can be deleted without risk and which should not be touched.

It is important to understand that there are three types of cache: system (created by Android to speed up the OS), application cache (temporary data of each installed software)

Dalvik cache (optimized files for Android virtual machine).

Each of them requires a different approach to cleaning.

If your Xiaomi Mi 5 is slow to work, warm up or give out “Not enough memory” errors, it’s time to clean up.

1. Clear cache through MIUI settings

The most obvious and safe way to do this is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which don't require any super-user rights, and is suitable even for beginners.

Open the Settings → Memory menu, and here you will see a diagram of occupied space and a clear button at the bottom of the screen. Click on it, and the system will automatically delete unnecessary temporary files, including the cache of most applications.

For a deeper cleanup, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Select the app you want (like YouTube or Chrome), open the card and click Clear Cache. Repeat the action for all heavy programs — those that take more than 100-200 MB.

Note that cleaning the app cache does not delete your data (logins, saves, settings), but after this procedure, applications can load a little longer on the first run — this is normal, since they will have to create new temporary files.

⚠️ Warning: Do not cache system applications like com.android.phone or com.miui.home unnecessarily, this can cause interface or mobile network failures.

2.Use of the built-in tool "Optimization"

MIUI has a built-in system optimization tool that, among other things, cleans the cache and residual files to take advantage of:

1. Open the Security app (the shield icon).

2. Go to the Optimization tab (broom icon).

3.Click Check - the system will scan the device for debris.

4. After the scan is completed, click Clear (usually it is suggested to delete 500 MB-1.5 GB of unnecessary files).

This method is good because it automatically detects not only cache, but also:

• 📁 Residual files of remote applications
• 🗑️ Empty folders and broken labels
• 📥 Unused. APK-file
• 🔄 Duplicate photos and documents

Optimize also offers to speed up the system by closing the background, but don’t overuse this feature, because shutting down applications can increase battery consumption because the system will have to restart them.

3 Manual cleaning through Recovery Mode

If standard methods don’t work, or you want to do a deep cleanup, you can use Recovery Mode, which will remove Dalvik cache and other system temporary files that don’t affect conventional MIUI tools.

Warning: Make sure the device has enough charge (at least 50%) before starting and back up important data.The procedure is safe, but if interrupted, it may cause crashes.

Cleaning instructions:

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press the Volume Up + Power buttons at the same time and hold them for 5-10 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons and you will be taken to the Recovery menu (in English or Chinese).
4. Use volume buttons for navigation and power button to select the item.
5. Choose Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
6. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.
7. Restart the device (Reboot) → Reboot to System).

After a reboot, the system can run a little slower for the first 5-10 minutes, which is normal as Android recovers the necessary temporary files.

4.Cache cleanup with third-party applications

If you need more flexible setup or process automation, you can use third-party utilities.The most popular and proven applications for Xiaomi Mi 5:

• 🧹 CCleaner is a classic tool with cache, history and residual files cleanup function. Supports automatic cleaning scheduler.
• 🚀 SD Maid is a powerful utility for power users, able to find and delete dead files, duplicates and cache of system applications.
• 🔍 Files by Google – a lightweight application from Google with the function “Clean up” and recommendations for vacating space.
• 🛡️ AVG Cleaner – combines cache cleaning with antivirus checking and battery optimization.

When choosing an application, pay attention to: rating in Google Play (not lower than 4.0), the number of installations (from 1 million+), user reviews of Xiaomi (sometimes the software does not work well on custom firmware).

Before using third-party utilities, disable the built-in MIUI optimization to avoid conflicts. To do this, go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Optimize and deactivate automatic cleaning.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (such as Clean Master) aggressively delete files and may disrupt the work MIUI. After cleaning, check if your Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or mobile network settings are lost.

5.Cache cleaning for specific applications

Some programs accumulate especially a lot of temporary files. Let’s consider how to properly clean the cache for the most voracious applications on Xiaomi Mi 5:

Telegram and WhatsApp also have a useful way to set up automatic cache cleanup, which is done in the Settings → Data and Memory → Media Autocleaner section of Telegram, setting a limit of 500MB, for example, and the app will delete old files by itself.

If you’re actively using Google Maps, its cache can take up to 1-2 GB. Clean it manually every 1-2 months through Settings → Apps → Maps → Storage → Clear the cache. This won’t delete saved offline maps, but will free up space from temporary navigation files.

6 Advanced Methods: ADB and root access

For advanced users willing to work with the command line, there are more radical ways to clean the cache: They require connecting the smartphone to the PC and using the ADB tool (Android Debug Bridge).

First, turn on the USB debugging:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Press the MIUI version 7 times to activate the developer mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Activate Debugging on USB.

Now connect the Xiaomi Mi 5 to your computer and execute the following commands in the terminal (or Command Prompt):

adb shell


pm clear --user 0 com.android.chrome #Cleaning up Chrome cache




pm clear --user 0 com.facebook.katana # Clearing Facebook cache




rm -rf /data/dalvik-cache/* # Cleaning Dalvik cache (requires root)

To completely clean the cache of all user applications, use:

adb shell pm trim-caches 1000000000

(where 1000,000,000 is the size in bytes, 1 GB is indicated here).

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If you have Magisk or another root manager installed, use the SD Maid app with the System Cleaner option, which will find and remove the cache of system applications that are not normally available without root rights.

⚠️ Attention: Rm teams -rf through ADB They can irreversibly damage the system if you enter it incorrectly. Don't execute them if you're not sure what you're doing. 5 It is especially dangerous to delete files in folders /system or /vendor — This will lead to a blink (breakdown) of the device.

7.When cleaning the cache doesn't help: alternative solutions

If after all the manipulations Xiaomi Mi 5 continues to slow down, the problem may lie not in the cache, and in:

• 🔋 Worn-out battery (at a discharge below 20%, the processor automatically reduces performance).
• 🖥️ Outdated firmware (check the updates in Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system).
• 🦠 Viruses or malware (scan your device through Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light).
• 🗃️ Overcrowded internal storage (leave at least 10% of free space).

In extreme cases, resetting to factory settings will help.

1. Save contacts in your Google Account or on SIM-map.
2. Copy photos and videos to your PC or cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud).
3. Take a picture or record important settings (Wi-Fi passwords, mobile network APN).

To reset, go to Settings → Additional → Restore and Reset → Reset. Once rebooted, the device will be as new as it is, but all data will be erased.

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If the problem persists after reset, the brakes may be caused by physical wear of flash memory (typical for Xiaomi Mi 5 after 3-4 years of use), in which case only replacing the memory chip in the service center will help.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning the cache on Xiaomi Mi 5