Unpacking the cache of games on Xiaomi: 5 working methods for Android 12-14

Installing mobile games on Xiaomi often requires more than just a few things. APK-file, but also an additional cache in format OBB These files contain graphics, levels and other resources without which the game will either not start or will work with errors (ZIP, RAR, 7z), It needs to be properly unpacked and placed on the system, and the wrong actions can lead to crashes, loss of data or even blocking the game.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to unpack cache on Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark models) running Android 12-14. Particular attention will be paid to the nuances of the MIUI file system, access rights and typical errors such as “Failed to extract” or “mounting error”, and you will learn how to circumvent the limitations of Scoped Storage in new versions of Android and what to do if the game does not see unpacked files.

1 Preparation: What to Know Before Unpacking the Cache

Before you start extracting files, make sure that the following key conditions are met:

• 📱 Free space on the device: cache can take from 100 MB to 5+ GB. Check for free space in Settings → Memory.
• 🔍 Proper archive: download cache only from trusted sources (e.g. APKMirror, XDA Files from torrent trackers may contain viruses.
• 🔧 File Manager with root rights (optional): to decompress into system folders may require MiXplorer or FX File Explorer with root access.
• 📂 The way to unpack: standard folders for OBB — /Android/obb/[package.name], data — /Android/data/[package.name].

Mistake MIUI 14+: In newer firmware versions, Xiaomi blocks access to /Android folder through standard Explorer. Use adb or third-party managers with SAF (Storage Access Framework) permissions to bypass restrictions.

⚠️ Note: if the game requires a cache in.zip or.pak format, do not unpack it manually - some engines (such as Unity or Unreal Engine) mount archives directly!

2. Method 1: Unpacking through a standard MIUI conductor

The simplest method, but it doesn’t work on all models due to the limitations of Scoped Storage.It’s suitable for games that don’t require cache placement in system folders (e.g. Among Us, Brawl Stars).

1. Download the archive with a cache (for example, com.game.name.obb.zip) to the Downloads folder.
2. Open the File Manager and find the downloaded file.
3. Click on archive → select Extract → specify the destination folder: For OBB: /Save Games/Android/obb/[game pack name] (create a folder manually if it is not available). For Data: /Save Games/Android/data/[game pack name].

Restart the device and start the game.

If the folder /Android not displayed, enable the display of hidden files in the Explorer settings (⋮ → Settings → Show hidden files).

⚠️ Attention: Xiaomi with Android 13+ The standard conductor may not be able to access the /Android/obb Even after unpacking. In this case, use the method of ADB.

Download the archive with the cache to the Downloads folder |

Check the vacant space (minimum 2x archive size)|

Create a folder with the name of the game package in /Android/obb or /Android/data|

Enable the display of hidden files in the Explorer-->

3. Method 2: Using ZArchiver or RAR for Android

Third-party archivers (such as ZArchiver or RAR) bypass some of the limitations of MIUI and allow files to be unpacked directly into the target folder, a method that is suitable for archives with a password or non-standard formats (.7z,.rar).

Instructions:

1. Install ZArchiver from Google Play.
2. Open the application and find the downloaded archive in the Download folder.
3. Click on the file → select “Unpack here” (if you want to retrieve to the current folder) or “Unpack in...” (to specify the path /Android/obb/[package.name]).
4. If the archive is password-free, enter the key (often indicated on the site where the cache was downloaded).
5. After unpacking, move the files manually (if ZArchiver couldn't unpack directly to /Android/obb).

💡

If ZArchiver gives you an error “Not enough space”, try unpacking the archive on your PC and then transfer the files to your phone via the phone. USB-This is especially true for large games (such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile).

Method 3: Unpacking through ADB (for power users)

The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) method is the most reliable, as it bypasses all the limitations of MIUI and Scoped Storage. It is suitable for games that require cache placement in protected folders (for example, PUBG Mobile, Free Fire).

Steps:

1. Enable USB Debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging on USB
2. Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your trust in your computer.
3. Download ADB Tools and unpack it on PC.
4. Open the command line in the folder with adb.exe and do: adb push C:\path/archive\game.obb.zip /sdcard/Download/ adb shell su mkdir -p /sdcard/Android/obb/com.game.package unzip /sdcard/Download/game.obb.zip -d /sdcard/Android/obb/com.game.package chmod 777 /sdcard/Android/obb/com.game.package -R Replace com.game.package with the real name of the game package (you can find out through adb shell pm list packages). | grep "game").
5. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Note: if after unpacking through ADB The game gives you a file corrupt error, check the permissions to the folder, sometimes you need to manually set 777 permissions for all files in the cache.

5. Method 4: Scoped Storage bypasses Shizuku + AppOps

In Android 11+, Google has tightened control over folder access, making it difficult to unpack the cache. You can use a combination of Shizuku (ADB over Wi-Fi) and AppOps (permissions manager) to bypass restrictions.

Instructions:

1. Install Shizuku from Google Play.
2. Connect via ADB and execute: adb shell sh /sdcard/Android/data/moe.shizuku.privileged.api/start.sh
3. Install AppOps (Shizuku with Adb rights is required).
4. In AppOps, find your file manager (such as MiXplorer) and enable permission. MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE.
5. The manager can now unpack files directly to /Android/obb.

💡

Shizuku works without root, but requires a constant connection to ADB (via USB or Wi-Fi). Once the phone is restarted, access may be lost - you have to repeat steps 2-3.

Method 5: Unpacking to a PC followed by transfer

If none of these methods worked, unpack the cache on your computer and transfer the files to your phone manually, which guarantees the integrity of the data and avoids access rights issues.

Step-by-step:

1. Download the archive to your PC and unpack it with WinRAR or 7-Zip.
2. Connect your phone to your PC via USB in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
3. Copy unpacked files (e.g. main.1.com.game.obb) into the folder: For OBB: Internal Memory → Android → obb → [package.name]. For Data: Internal Memory → Android → data → [package.name].

Turn off the phone and restart it.

If the Android folder is not displayed on your PC, turn on the hidden file displays in Windows Explorer (View → Hidden Items).

7.Typical errors and their solutions

Even after you decatch the cache properly, the games may not start, and let's look at some of the most common problems and how to fix them:

💡

If a game after uncacheing a cache gives a license error (for example, in NBA 2K Mobile), delete the license.lic file from the cache folder and restart the game.

8. FAQ: Frequent questions about unpacking cache on Xiaomi