Cache cleanup on Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite: all ways to speed up the smartphone

Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite

cache

Cache cleaning is first aid for the tired Mi 8 Lite. But it’s important not to overdo it: removing some types of cache (like Dalvik cache) requires superuser rights, and cleaning the app cache can reset your settings in games or instant messengers. In this article, we’ll discuss all the safe and effective ways, including hidden MIUI features that Xiaomi doesn’t advertise.

If your Mi 8 Lite is slower after upgrading to MIUI 14 or HyperOS, cleaning the cache can bring back speed without rolling back the firmware. The key is to follow the instructions and not delete system files at random. Let's start with the simplest and move on to advanced methods.

What is cache and why you need to clean it on Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite

Cache is a temporary file that creates apps and a system to speed things up. For example, when you open Instagram, it stores thumbnails of photos in the cache so that it can show them faster the next time it runs, and the problem is that over time, these files accumulate, take up gigabytes of memory, and start to fragment the drive, which causes the smartphone to slow down.

There are three types of cache on the Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite that can be cleaned:

• 📱 App cache – temporary data of each installed application (for example, YouTube or Telegram cache).
• 🖥️ System cache – files that create MIUI/HyperOS speed up the interface.
• 🔧 Dalvik cache – optimized files for the Android virtual machine (requires root or TWRP).

Why does the cache accumulate faster on the Mi 8 Lite? It's hardware-related: the model is equipped with 64 GB of memory (of which ~55 GB is available), and when used actively, free space ends in a few months. In addition, MIUI aggressively caches data to "predict" user actions - this is convenient, but over time leads to lags.

⚠️ Warning: Don’t confuse cache with app data! Cache clearing won’t delete your accounts or saves, but data reset (Clear all data) erases everything, including logins and settings.

Method 1: Clearing the cache of individual applications through settings

The safest method is to remove the cache of specific applications that eat the most memory, which will not require superuser rights and will not affect the operation of the system.

How to check which apps are taking up the most cache:

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 from above will be the most “voracious” programs – usually it is messengers, social networks and games.

Now we clear the cache for the selected application:

1. Click on the name of the app (such as Facebook).
2. Choose Warehouse.
3. Tap Clear Cache (not to be confused with Clear Data!).

Write logins and passwords (if the application does not save them in the cloud)

Close the application in multitasking

Check the free space in the "Storage" section

Backup important data (for games with local saves)

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Once cleaned, the application can run a little longer when it first opens, which is normal, because it recreates the cache, and after 1-2 uses, the speed will return to normal.

Method 2: Mass cleaning the cache of all applications

If you don't want to clear each application's cache individually, MIUI has a mass-cleaning feature that deletes the temporary files of all user applications, but doesn't touch the system data.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
2. Click Clean in the Cash section of the applications.
3. Confirm the action by tapping Clean in the pop-up window.

This method removes from 500 MB to 2-3 GB of garbage, depending on how long you have been cleaning the cache, after the procedure, it is recommended to restart the smartphone - this will help the system recalculate the free space and avoid glitches.

⚠️ Note: Mass cache cleaning does not affect system applications (for example, Mi Video or Mi Music) and their cache will have to be manually cleaned through Settings. → Annexes.

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If some applications become unstable after a mass cache clearing (for example, they fly out or take a long time to load), try reinstalling them, which will help restore corrupted temporary files.

Method 3: Cleaning the system cache with Recovery Mode

System cache (/cache) is a temporary file that MIUI creates to speed up the interface, and cleaning it helps if the smartphone starts to “glut” after updating or installing custom firmware. On the Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite, this method only works through stock Recovery, since the model does not support official unlocking of the bootloader to install TWRP without the risk of blocking the device.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up at the same time and hold them for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo and Recovery menu appear.
3. Use volume buttons to navigate and select Wipe & Reset (on some versions of Wipe Cache).
4. Confirm the action by selecting Wipe Cache (not Wipe Data!).
5. Once completed, select Reboot to reboot.

This method does not delete user data, but resets some system settings (for example, regional parameters or background processes). After a reboot, the smartphone can run a little slower for the first 5-10 minutes - this is normal, since the system recovers the cache again.

Method 4: Cleaning Dalvik cache (for advanced users)

Dalvik cache is an optimized file that the Android virtual machine creates to speed up the launch of applications. Cleaning it can help if the smartphone has become very slow after updating MIUI or installing a large number of applications. However, it requires access to TWRP or root rights, which on the Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite is fraught with risks.

Why is it dangerous?

• 🔓 Unlocking the bootloader on the Mi 8 Lite can lead to the blocking of the Mi Account if you do not follow the official instructions of Xiaomi.
• 🛠️ Improper cleaning of Dalvik cache without backup can cause bootloop (locking on the download).
• ⚠️ Xiaomi may cancel warranty if found traces of root or custom Recovery.

If you do, here’s how to do it with TWRP:

1. Install TWRP for Mi 8 Lite (see instructions on 4PDA or XDA Developers).
2. Download to TWRP (Power buttons + Volume up).
3. Go to the Advanced section → Wipe Dalvik Cache.
4. Confirm the swipe.
5. Reboot. The first download can take up to 10 minutes.

Method 5: Automatically cleans the cache with applications

If you don't want to dig into the settings, you can use third-party tools to clean the cache, they automatically find and delete unnecessary files, saving you time, but be careful: some cleaners themselves pile up advertising or collect data.

Top.-3 Proven applications for Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite:

• 🧹 SD Maid – deep cleaning of cache and debris, there is a function of searching for duplicate files.
• 🗑️ Files by Google – Google’s official app with a simple interface and no ads.
• 🛠️ CCleaner is a classic utility, but in the free version it is limited in functionality.

How to use SD Maid:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Start and grant access rights to the storage.
3. Go to CorpseFinder (search for remnants of remote applications) and SystemCleaner (clean system cache).
4. Press Run and wait for the scan to be completed.
5. Select files to delete and confirm the action.

⚠️ Warning: Don't use "accelerator" or "radiation optimizer" features in apps like this. On the Mi 8 Lite with 4GB of RAM, they'll only impair performance by killing background processes that Android automatically optimizes.

What to do if cleaning the cache does not help

If after all the manipulations Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite continues to slow down, the problem may be deeper:

• 🔋 Worn battery - at a discharge below 20%, the processor begins to trott (lower performance). → Battery → Battery status.
• 📉 Lack of RAM – on the Mi 8 Lite only 4 GB of RAM, and if you are using 10 at the same time+ The system starts to “hang».
• 🦠 Viruses or malware – some applications in the background mine cryptocurrency or show hidden advertising, loading the processor.

Diagnostic recommendations:

1. Check CPU boot in Settings → About Phone → System Status (or through the CPU Monitor app). If the download is consistently above 50% for no apparent reason, look for a virus.
2. Install AccuBattery to monitor battery status, and if the capacity has dropped below 70%, it's time to change the battery.
3. Try booting into Safe Mode (hold the shutdown button → Reboot in Safe Mode) if your phone is working properly, it's a problem in one of the apps installed.

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If the Mi 8 Lite only slows down in games or heavy applications (such as Genshin Impact), the problem is not the cache, but the hardware limitations. Lower the graphical settings or use performance modes in Settings → Special Features → Game Mode.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning the cache on Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite