Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones sooner or later face the problem of lack of free space or sudden slowdown of the device. Often the reason lies not in hardware malfunction, but in accumulated temporary files that take up precious gigabytes of internal memory. Understanding how to properly and safely clean the cache in Android on Xiaomi is a key skill for keeping the gadget in great shape.
MIUI and the new HyperOS have different memory management features than pure Android. In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can delete temporary data, from built-in tools to advanced methods through an engineering menu, learn to distinguish between cache types and understand when cleaning is really necessary and when it may be redundant.
Many users mistakenly believe that deleting the cache will result in the loss of personal photos or contacts. This is a common misconception that prevents you from effectively serving your smartphone.In fact, the cache is a set of temporary files created by apps to load content faster, and their removal is safe for your personal data.
What is cache and why remove it on Xiaomi
Cache is a buffer memory in which applications store frequently used data, such as a browser that stores thumbnails of visited pages and messengers that receive images so that they load instantly when reopened, but over time this volume grows to gigabytes, occupying space that could be used to install new programs or store photos.
On Xiaomi smartphones, the background cleaning process is aggressive, but sometimes the system does not have time to remove the "tails" from remote applications or malfunctioning programs. Regular cleaning of the cache helps eliminate software failures when the application stops responding or works incorrectly, this is especially true for social networks, which tend to accumulate a huge amount of junk files.
It is important to understand the difference between clearing the cache and resetting data. If you choose the Clear Data option, the application will return to state immediately after installation, and you will lose logins, settings and correspondence. Clearing the cache only affects temporary files, leaving your account and progress intact.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use questionable accelerator apps from third-party stores. MIUI They are much more efficient and safer for the system.
There are several levels of cleaning, from simply deleting temporary files from a particular application to completely clearing the system cache through recovery mode, depending on how deeply you plan to interfere with the operating system.
Clearing the cache of a separate application through settings
The safest and most accurate way to free up space is to delete the temporary files of the particular program that is “swelling” the most, most often the leaders in memory consumption are TikTok, Instagram, Telegram and YouTube, which requires no root rights and is completely secure to guarantee the device.
To do this, go to your smartphone’s settings menu. Find the Apps (or All Apps) section that provides a complete list of installed software. In the list, find the desired application, such as Google Chrome or VK, and click on it to open the detailed menu.
In the window that opens, select Memory or Storage, and you will see two main buttons: Clear Cache and Clear Everything (or Reset), and click on the first button, and the system will alert you that temporary files will be deleted, and the space will be vacated after confirmation.
- 📱 Open Settings and go to the Application section.
- 🔍 Find a “heavy” application that takes up a lot of space.
- 💾 Click on the Clear cache button in the application memory section.
- ✅ Confirm the action in the system pop-up window.
Once the operation is complete, you will notice that the amount of memory you have taken has decreased. If the application has been slow or out, this procedure often solves the problem without the need to reinstall it. This is a basic maintenance skill that every Xiaomi owner should know.
It's worth noting that once the cache is cleared, the app can boot a little longer on its first run, as it will have to re-form temporary files, which is normal system behavior that will quickly bounce back.
☑️ Checking before cleaning
Use of the built-in "Security" application
Xiaomi preinstalles a powerful system tool called Security on its devices, which is not just an antivirus, but a comprehensive service center that includes an effective garbage cleaning tool, preferable to installing third-party tools like Clean Master.
To use this tool, look for an icon on your desktop called Security and a green shield. When you run the app, you will see the Clean Up (or “Junk”) button, clicking on it triggers an automatic scan of the system for temporary files, remnants of remote programs and ad cache.
The system will suggest that you delete the files you found, but unlike automatic cleaning, you can click on "Dumpster Cleanup" or "Files" to see a detailed list. In the "App Cache" section, you can selectively delete data only for those programs that you do not want to touch completely.
The good thing about this method is that it analyzes the system as a whole, not individually, and it finds hidden files that may remain after you delete games or use browsers, and using this tool regularly (once a week) helps keep your phone on track.
| Type of data | Description | Security of removal | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash app. | Temporary programme files | Safe. | Accelerates work, frees up space |
| Advertising files | Cash advertising in games and software | Safe. | Significant memory release |
| Residual files | Files from remote applications | Safe. | Order in the file system |
| Large files | Videos, archives, installers | Requires a check-up. | It frees up a lot of space, but you can remove the necessary space. |
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Use the Deep Clean feature in the Security app only when there is really not enough space, as it can remove the map cache and navigation, which will force them to re-download data the next time you use it.
Cleaning the system cache through Recovery Mode
If your Xiaomi smartphone is unstable, freezes or you plan to flash it, you may need to clean up your system cache (Dalvik/ART Cache), a procedure that is performed through Recovery Mode and affects system temporary files rather than user data.
To enter this mode, you need to turn off your phone completely. Then press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo or the Recovery menu appears. The menu can be in English or Chinese (depending on the firmware version).
In the Recovery menu, you can navigate with volume buttons (up/down), and the power button confirms the choice. You need to find Wipe Data. There's often a Wipe Cache option inside this menu. Be careful not to confuse this with Wipe All Data, which completely erases the phone.
- 🔌 Turn off the Xiaomi smartphone completely.
- 🔘 Hold the volume.+ and feeding at the same time.
- 📂 In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data -> Wipe Cache.
- 🔄 Wait for the process to complete and select Reboot.
After a reboot, the system can boot longer than usual, as it will re-optimize applications, which is a standard situation, and this method is especially useful after updating the version of Android or MIUI, when old system caches may conflict with the new version of the software.
⚠️ Warning: In Recovery mode, do not select "Wipe All Data" or "Format Data" unless you have a backup.
What to do if the Recovery menu is in Chinese?
Cleaning DNS cache and browser to speed up the Internet
Users often complain about slow internet, unaware that the problem lies in the crowded cache. DNS Or the browser itself. On Android, including Xiaomi shells, DNS-The cache stores the addresses of the visited sites, and cleaning it can solve the loading problems of the pages.
For cleaning. DNS-Cache doesn't need third-party software -> Connection and Sharing (or Wi-Fi) Find an active network or settings DNS. In newer versions MIUI HyperOS can be used as a "Private" function. DNS". Switching from “Auto” to a specific server (for example, dns.google) and back often resets the cache.
For browsers (Chrome, Mi Browser), the principle is the same as with regular applications. However, it is worth looking at the settings of the browser itself. In the section "History" or "Privacy" there is a paragraph "Clear History". Make sure you select the tick "Images and other files stored in cache", but if you want, you can leave "Browsing History" so as not to lose the list of sites.
DNS cache cleaning is especially useful if you’ve changed your ISP or router and your phone keeps trying to use old address records.This is an “invisible” cleanup that doesn’t free up much space, but improves network responsiveness.
Automation and frequency of cache cleaning
The question of how often to clean the cache remains open to many users: Modern versions of Android and the MIUI 14/HyperOS shell are smart enough to manage memory on their own. Constant manual cleaning every 5 minutes can even hurt, forcing the processor and disk to constantly work on creating new temporary files.
The optimal frequency is a full check once a week or if there are signs of memory shortage (less than 1-2 GB free).If you are actively using instant messengers and social networks, it makes sense to go to the settings of these applications once a month and clean their cache manually, since they inflate the fastest.
To automate the process, you can set up a schedule in the Security app. Go to the janitor's settings and enable automatic cleaning. The system will decide when to do the procedure, usually when the phone is not in use and is connected to charging.
You don't have to chase a sterile 0-byte memory. You don't have to have a small amount of cache to speed up the interface. If the phone is fast and you have enough space, you don't have to intervene in the file system unnecessarily.
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The golden rule: Clean the cache only if there are performance issues or space shortages, not for prevention every day.