Cache Cleanup on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to All Models (2026)

Cache on Xiaomi smartphones are temporary files that create applications to speed up their work. Over time, they accumulate, taking up gigabytes of memory and slowing down the device. If your Redmi or POCO began to slow down, overheat or discharge quickly, the problem may lie in the cache clogged.

In this article you will find 5 Proven methods of cleaning cache - from standard tools MIUI We'll take you to the hidden features for power users, and we'll look at how to remove the cache of individual applications, the system cache, and what to do if the phone starts to work even worse after cleaning. MIUI 14/15 and the newest Xiaomi 14/Redmi Note 13, wherein the process has its nuances.

Why you should clean the cache on Xiaomi

Cache is not just garbage. It does an important function: it speeds up the loading of frequently used data, like when you open Instagram, the app uploads photos from the cache, not downloads them again.

• 📉 They're up. 30% internal memory (on some devices, the cache of Google Play Services may weigh in on the device) 1-2 GB)
• 🐢 Slow down the system, especially on budget models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3)
• 🔥 Causes overheating due to the constant overwriting of temporary files
• 🔋 Increase battery consumption (the system spends resources on managing clogged cache)

According to Xiaomi Community, users who clear cache once every 1-2 months report a 15-40% increase in free space and up to 25% increase in performance (tests were conducted on the Xiaomi 12T and Redmi Note 11 Pro+). However, it is important to understand that a complete cache clearing can lead to a temporary slowdown - applications will have to cache data again.

Method 1: Clearing the cache of individual applications through settings

The safest method is to remove the cache for specific programs.This does not affect system files and does not require superuser rights. The instructions are relevant for all devices on MIUI 12-15, including Xiaomi 13 Ultra and POCO F5.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management
2. Select an app (such as Telegram or Chrome)
3. Click Warehouse → Clear the cache
4. For a complete application data reset, use Clear all data (⚠️ This will delete accounts and settings)

To speed up the process, you can sort applications by cache size:

1. In Application Management, click on three dots in the upper right corner.
2. Select Sort. → By size.
3. Clear cache from applications that are larger than 100-200 MB

📱 Social media (VK, Instagram, TikTok)

🌐 Browser (Chrome, Mi Browser)

🎮 Games (PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact)

📺 Streaming services (YouTube, Netflix)

📷 Photo/video applications (CapCut, Snapseed)-->

⚠️ Warning: Do not clear the cache of system applications (MIUI System, Security, Google Play Services, all of which are not absolutely necessary. MIUI.

Method 2: Automatic cleaning through “Safety”

Xiaomi has built a tool for automatic optimization into the firmware, the Security app (or Security on global versions), which not only cleans the cache, but also removes residual files, duplicate photos, and optimizes autoload.

How to use:

1. Open the Security app (Icon with shield)
2. Go to the Optimization or Cleaner tab
3. Click Check and wait for the analysis to be completed.
4. Select the Garbage Files → Clean up
5. For deep cleaning, click Deep Cleaning (remove the cache of system processes)

On the new models (Xiaomi 14, Redmi Note 13 Pro+), the interface may differ:

💡

If the phone starts to slow down after cleaning through Security, reboot it. MIUI sometimes does not have time to re-index files after mass deletion of the cache.

Method 3: Cleaning the system cache with Recovery Mode

When standard methods fail and the phone keeps laying, it’s worth clearing the Dalvik-cache, which is a temporary file that Android creates to speed up system processes, and deleting it is safe but requires rebooting it to recovery mode.

Instructions for all Xiaomi models (including the POCO X5 Pro and Redmi K60):

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power Button + Volume up 5-10 seconds until the MI logo appears
3. In the Recovery Mode menu, select the language (if you have a choice).
4. Go to Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache
5. Confirm the action and wait for the completion
6. 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.

On some models (Xiaomi 11T, POCO F4 GT), the path may look like Advanced → Wipe Dalvik Cache. If you're not sure, take a picture of the Recovery menu screen before action.

💡

Cleaning the system cache helps solve problems with application crashes, Application Stopped errors and slow MIUI loading.

Method 4: Using ADB for deep cleaning (for advanced)

If you’re familiar with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can clear the cache more thoroughly, including hidden system files.This method is suitable for Xiaomi with an unlocked bootloader or root rights, but works on standard devices as well.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB driver
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to Additional → For developers)
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original)

Cleanup commands:

adb shell pm list packages -f | grep "/data/" | sed 's/.*=//' | xargs -n1 adb shell pm clear

This command will clear the cache of all user applications. Use:

adb shell pm clear com.example.app

(Replace com.example.app with a batch name for the app, such as com.android.chrome for Chrome)

⚠️ Attention: Clearing the cache through ADB for system applications (com.miui., com.android.) may result in loss of functionality MIUI, You can only do this if you understand the risks.

Method 5: Third-party applications for cleaning the cache

If you don't want to mess with the settings, you can use third-party utilities.

• 🧹 SD Maid is a deep cleanup, including residual files after deleting applications. There is a feature CorpseFinder to find "dead" files.
• 🛠️ Files by Google – a simple interface, shows cache by category (social networks, games, instant messengers).
• 🔍 CCleaner is a classic of the genre, but on MIUI Sometimes it is in conflict with system optimization.
• 📊 Storage Analyzer & Disk Usage – Visualizes which files occupy the most space.

How to use it correctly:

1. Download the app from Google Play (avoid APK from unknown sources)
2. Run storage analysis
3. In the Cash or Junk Files section, select files to delete.
4. Confirm the cleanup and restart the phone

On Xiaomi with MIUI 14+, some applications (such as SD Maid) may request additional permissions.

💡

Before using third-party cleaners, back up important data. Some programs (such as Clean Master) aggressively delete files, which can cause applications to crash.

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

In some cases, users face the opposite effect: after cleaning the cache, Xiaomi begins to slow down even more.

If the problems have not gone away, try:

1. Clear cache only problematic applications (not system)
2. Reverse the latest MIUI update (if the brakes appeared after the update)
3. Reset the settings to factory (Settings → About the phone → Resetting)

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up cache on Xiaomi