Cache Cleanup on Xiaomi Mi 10: 5 Ways to Free Memory and Speed Up Your Smartphone

Why should Xiaomi Mi 10 cache be cleaned regularly?

Even the most powerful smartphone will slow down over time, and the Xiaomi Mi 10 with its flagship Snapdragon 865 processor is no exception. One of the main reasons for slowing down is crowded cache. These are temporary files that create apps and a system to speed up re-operations. For example, when you open Instagram, it stores thumbnails in the cache so that it can upload them faster the next time it starts, but over time, these files accumulate, taking up gigabytes of memory and slowing down the phone.

On the Mi 10, there are three types of cache: system (Android files), application cache (data of each software separately) and Dalvik cache (optimized files for fast Java programs). If you do not clean them at least once every 2-3 months, you risk running into lags, spontaneous reboots and even errors when updating MIUI. For example, users often complain that after a major update, the system begins to “glut” – this is precisely because of a conflict between old cache files with new versions of the software.

Another problem is that on the Xiaomi Mi 10, the cache can eat up to 10-15 GB of memory if it is never cleaned, and in the storage settings you will see that the space is occupied, but you will not know where it went. The system hides part of the cache from the user, considering it as “system files.” So simply resetting it through Settings → Storage often does not help.

Method 1: Clearing the cache of individual applications

The safest method is to remove the cache only for the programs that take up the most space, and it won't delete your data (like WhatsApp or saving in games), but it will make space. On the Mi 10, it's done like this:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Sort by size.
3. In the list, look for apps marked “Cash” (usually Facebook, YouTube, Google Play Services, or games).
4. Click on the app → Storage → Clear the cache.

What to look out for:

• 📱 Do not clean the data (Clear Data button) – this will delete all settings and accounts in the application!
• 🔄 After cleaning the cache, the application can run slower at the first start – this is normal, since it recreates temporary files.
• 📊 If the app has a cache that weighs more than 1 GB (like TikTok or Netflix), it’s definitely worth cleaning.

Close all background programs

Connect your phone to charge (if the battery is below 30%)

Check that important data is synced to the cloud

Remember the passwords from the apps (they won’t reset, but you may need to re-enter them)-->

This method is suitable if the phone starts to “brake” after installing a particular application, for example, many Mi 10 users complain about lags after updating the MIUI Gallery - cleaning its cache often solves the problem.

Method 2: Completely clean the cache with Recovery Mode

If the smartphone is slowing down or not updating, cleaning the Dalvik cache and system cache through recovery mode will help. This is a more radical method, but it does not affect user data. Importantly, on the Xiaomi Mi 10, you need to use custom Recovery (for example, TWRP), since the standard MIUI menu does not provide this option.

Instructions for users with TWRP:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the TWRP logo appears.
3. In the menu, select Advanced → Wipe Dalvik/ART Cache.
4. Then go back and select Wipe → Cache.
5. Reboot your phone (Reboot → System)

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Warning: If after cleaning the Dalvik cache, the phone takes a long time to boot (5-10 minutes) - this is normal. the system recovers optimized files. Do not turn off the smartphone and remove the battery at this point!

Method 3: Automatic Cleaning with Security App

The Xiaomi Mi 10 is equipped by default with a Security app that can clean the cache in one click, which is suitable for beginners, as it does not require manual manipulation.

1. Open the Security app (the shield icon).
2. Go to the Optimization tab (or Cleaner in the global version).
3. Click Deep Cleanup → Garbage Files.
4. Check the application cache and the System cache.
5. Put it on the clean.

Advantages of this method:

• 🤖 Automatically finds the heaviest cache files.
• 📊 Shows how much space will be available before cleaning.
• 🔄 You can configure autocleaning according to the schedule (in the application settings).

However, the Security App has its disadvantages:

• 🚫 Does not clear Dalvik cache (only via Recovery).
• 📉 Sometimes it sees garbage where it is not (false positives).
• 🔒 In the global version MIUI Functionality is reduced compared to Chinese firmware.

Method 4: Cleaning the cache through ADB (for advanced)

If standard methods don't work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a PC debugging tool, to clear the cache of all applications at once, including system ones, and it requires command line skills, but it gives you maximum control.

Step-by-step:

1. Download ADB Tools and unpack it into a folder on your PC.
2. On your phone, turn on USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap → return to Additional → For developers).
3. Connect Mi 10 to your PC via USB (select File Transfer Mode).
4. Open the command line in the ADB folder and type in: Adb devices (the name of your device should appear).
5. Run a command to clear the cache of all applications: adb shell pm trim-caches -1 or to clear the cache of a specific package (for example, Facebook): adb shell pm clear com.facebook.katana

adb shell pm list packages | grep "appendix name"

For example, for WhatsApp, it would be com.whatsapp.-->

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Note: pm clear removes all app data (including settings and accounts), not just cache! To clean only cache use: adb shell pm clear --cache-only com.example.app But this option doesn't work on all Android versions.

Method 5: Cache reset via Fastboot (if the phone doesn't turn on)

If the Xiaomi Mi 10 is stuck on the logo or not booting, cleaning the cache through Fastboot can bring it back to life.This method will work even if the system is damaged. USB-cable (preferably from the set).

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone (if it is getting stuck – press Power + Volume up for 10 seconds).
2. Press Power + Volume Down to log into Fastboot Mode.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line in the folder with fastboot.
4. The command is: fastboot erase cache
5. Reboot the phone: fastboot reboot

If this doesn't work, maybe the problem is deeper, like the firmware or the system partition is damaged, and you'll need to flash it through the Mi Flash Tool, but before you do that, try another method.

How often should I clean the cache on Xiaomi Mi 10?

The cleaning frequency depends on how you use your phone. Here are the general guidelines:

• 📱 For ordinary users (social networks, instant messengers, photos): once in a while 1-2 month.
• 🎮 Gamers (heavy games like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile): once in a while 3-4 weekdays.
• 📷 Photographers (many photos in the MIUI Gallery: once a month + Cleaning the gallery cache after importing photos to PC.
• 🛠️ After updating MIUI: Make sure to clean the cache manually (especially if the update weighs more than 1GB).

Signs that it is time to clean the cache:

• 🐢 The phone starts to “suppress” when opening applications.
• 📉 B Settings → Warehouse sees 'System Data' taking up more 5-7 GB.
• 🔄 Applications spontaneously close or issue an error “Application is stopped».
• 📱 After restarting, the phone runs faster, but brakes again a day later.

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On Xiaomi Mi 10, the MIUI Gallery and Google Play Services cache grow the fastest, and they should be cleaned separately every 2-3 weeks, even if other applications do not cause problems.

If you notice that after cleaning the cache, the phone only works faster a day or two, the problem may not be in the cache, but in:

• 🔋 Worn-out battery (at a discharge below 20%, the system begins to brake).
• 🛠️ Processor overheating (check in the Aida64 Snapdragon 865 temperature).
• 📱 Damaged firmware (if the lags appeared after the update) MIUI).

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning the cache on Xiaomi Mi 10