How to remove cache on Xiaomi phone: all the ways to MIUI 14/13/12

Your Xiaomi smartphone is slowing down, apps are crashing out, and less than 1GB of free memory is left? The problem is probably overcrowded cache. Cache is temporary files that create apps and a system to speed up work. But when too many of them accumulate, they get in the way of slowing down the device, taking up precious space, and even causing errors.

In this article, we will look at all the ways to clean the cache on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, from standard MIUI tools to hidden features and third-party utilities. You will learn how to properly remove cache for individual applications, the system as a whole, and what to do if cleaning does not help. The instructions are relevant for MIUI 14/13/12 and work on models from Xiaomi Mi 11 to Redmi Note 12.

Before you start, remember: cleaning the cache is not a panacea. If the phone is slowing down because of a weak processor or a lack of RAM, deleting temporary files will only have a temporary effect, but in 70% of cases, it is the cache that is clogged that is to blame for the hangings and errors of applications.

Why you should clean the cache on Xiaomi

Cache is not garbage, it's useful files that make apps faster, like when you open Instagram, it caches thumbnails of photos so it can show them faster the next time it runs, but over time, these files accumulate, and instead of being useful, they cause harm:

• 🐢 Slowdown – the system spends time processing thousands of unnecessary files.
• 📱 Lack of memory – cache can take up to 5-10 GB on devices with 64/128 GB storage.
• 🔄 Application errors – damaged cache files cause crashes and freezes.
• 🔋 Increased battery consumption – background cache cleaning wastes charge.

On Xiaomi, the cache is divided into three types:

1. App cache – temporary data of each installed software (for example, maps in Google Maps or videos in TikTok).
2. System cache – MIUI files that are responsible for fast loading of the interface.
3. Dalvik cache – optimized data for Java applications (relevant to older versions of Android).

Cleaning the cache regularly, but not fanatically, for example, if you are actively using the navigator, do not clean its cache daily, this will lead to reloading of cards and increase traffic consumption.

How to Clear a Cache of a Single Application

If a particular application (such as WhatsApp or VKontakte) is slowing down, it is enough to clear the cache only for it. This will not delete your data (messages, photos, settings), but can solve work problems.

Instructions for MIUI 14/13/12:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want (such as Chrome).
3. Slip on the Warehouse (or Memory on some firmware).
4. Click Clear Cache (not to be confused with Clear Data!).

For convenience, you can sort applications by cache size:

• 🔍 In the Application Management section, click on three dots in the upper right corner.
• 📊 Select Sort. → By size.
• 🗑️ Flick through the list and clear the cache for the most “heavy” applications.

Check if the application is currently in use.

Close the application through the multitasking menu

Make sure you have enough free memory (minimum 500MB)

Backup important data (if in doubt)

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Some apps (like Google Play Services) can automatically recover cache after cleaning. That's okay - just don't clean them too often.

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If the app is slower after cleaning the cache, restart the phone. MIUI sometimes doesn't immediately apply the changes.

Cleaning the cache of all applications at the same time

If you want to free up space quickly, you can delete the cache of all applications at a time.

• 📉 Free memory is less than 1 GB.
• 🐌 The phone is severely inhibited when switching between applications.
• 🔄 You are preparing the device for sale or dumping.

Method 1: Through the MIUI settings

1. Go to Settings. → Memory.
2. Slip on Clean in the Cash section of the applications.
3. Confirm the action (a password may be required).

Method 2: Through Security (for older versions of MIUI)

1. Open the Security app (the shield icon).
2. Choose Cleanup or Acceleration.
3. Check only the box against Cash (do not delete Garbage or Unnecessary Files unless you are sure!).
4. Press Clear.

Important: After the cache is cleaned, the first launches of the applications will be slower than usual - this is normal. 1-2 days.

How to Clean System Cache on Xiaomi

System cache is a file that MIUI creates to speed up the interface, animations and services, and cleansing it helps when:

• 🎨 The interface begins to "swipe" when scrolling.
• 🔄 The phone spontaneously reboots.
• 📱 After updating MIUI glitched.

Clean the system cache can be in two ways:

Method 1: Recovery Mode (without data loss)

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select the language (if required).
4. Go to Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
5. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.
6. Restart the device (Reboot) → Reboot to System).

Method 2: Fastboot (for power users)

fastboot erase cache

This command must be executed via Fastboot on your computer, which is suitable if Recovery Mode is not available.

After cleaning the system cache, the phone can boot longer than usual (up to 5 minutes).

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Cleaning the system cache doesn't delete your files, photos or settings; it only resets temporary MIUI data.

Automatic Cache Cleanup: Configuring MIUI

So you can set up automatic cleaning to avoid manually cleaning the cache, and MIUI has built-in tools for this.

1. "Memory Cleanup" function in settings

1. Go to Settings. → Memory.
2. Activate the Autoclean switch.
3. Set up a schedule (e.g., every week).

2. Optimization in the application "Security"

1. Open Security. → Cleanup.
2. Put it on the gear in the top corner.
3. Turn on Auto Cleanup and select the frequency.

3. Restriction of background activity

To make apps less clogged cache:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Application Launch Management.
2. Select an app (such as Facebook).
3. Set a Manual Start or Auto Run limitation.

Automated cleaning is not a panacea, it only removes the most obvious temporary files, and you still have to use manual methods to clean deep.

Third-party cache cleanup applications

If the built-in MIUI tools aren't enough, you can use third-party utilities, but be careful: many cleaners collect data and display false virus warnings.

Safe options:

• 🧹 SD Maid – removes cache, duplicates and garbage without advertising (there is a free version).
• 🛡️ Files by Google – the official application from Google with the function of cleaning cache.
• 🔍 CCleaner is a popular tool, but there are a lot of ads in the latest versions.

How to use SD Maid:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Run analysis (CorpseFinder for system garbage, AppCleaner for application cache).
3. Select files to delete (do not touch System and Lib!).
4. Confirm the cleanup.

Warning: Don't use "cleaners" that promise to "speed up your phone by 300%" is often a scam, and some programs (like Clean Master) can delete important files.

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Before using third-party cleaners, back up your data through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.

What to do if cleaning the cache does not help

If the phone still brakes after cleaning the cache, the problem could be deeper.

• 🔋 Lack of RAM – Close background apps through the Multitasking Menu (swipe up).
• 📱 Outdated firmware - update MIUI In Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🦠 Viruses or malware – scan your phone through Google Play Protect or Malwarebytes.
• 🔄 Damaged system files – reset settings (Settings) → Additionally. → Backup and reset → Resetting settings).

If nothing helps, try:

1. Disable animations: Settings → Special features → Remove animations This will speed up the interface, even if the problem is not in the cache.
2. Move apps to a memory card (if supported): Settings → Apps → Select an app → Storage → Change → Memory card
3. Reset the settings to factory (last option).

On Xiaomi models with 6/8GB of RAM and 128GB of memory, performance issues are usually not cache-related, but background processes. Check which apps consume the most resources in Settings → Battery and Performance → CPU usage.

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If the phone is only slowing in games (like Genshin Impact or PUBG), the problem isn't with the cache, but with the graphics settings. Try lowering the resolution or FPS in the game settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up cache on Xiaomi