Modern smartphones Xiaomirunning MIUI or HyperOS shells may slow down over time. This often happens due to the accumulation of temporary files, which are necessary for quickly loading data, but when they grow, they begin to take up gigabytes of usable space. Users notice that the interface begins to slow down, and applications take longer to open than usual, even if the physical memory is not formally full.
The main reason for the decrease in performance lies in the operating system mechanism Android. Applications save data so they don't have to be reloaded every time you launch them. However, developers do not always optimize this process correctly, and “garbage” can take up to 10-15 GB of disk space. Clearing the cache is a safe procedure that does not delete your personal photos, contacts or passwords, but returns the system “fresh”.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the available methods for freeing up memory. You will learn to distinguish between types of temporary files and understand when to use standard system tools and when more in-depth intervention is required. Proper maintenance of your smartphone will extend its active service life without purchasing a new device.
Why and when you need to clear the cache on your smartphone
The cache is a buffer zone where frequently used data is stored. For example, Google Chrome saves thumbnails of sites visited, and instant messengers keep the images you sent in memory so you can quickly scroll through your correspondence history. The problem arises when the size of this storage becomes disproportionate to the usefulness of the data.
There are several telltale signs that your Xiaomi needs some spring cleaning. If you notice that your phone gets warm even in standby mode or that background processes are using up battery power faster than usual, this is a good sign. It is also worth thinking about cleaning if the free disk space has decreased critically without installing new heavy games.
⚠️ Attention: Clearing the cache will not solve the problem if the phone is running slowly due to hardware faults or critical wear of the flash memory.
Regular maintenance helps to avoid errors in the operation of applications. It often happens that the app crashes immediately after launch or freezes on the splash screen. In 80% of cases, the culprit is a corrupted file in temporary storage. By deleting it, you force the application to create a new, correct configuration file.
Clearing the cache through a standard application “Security”
The simplest and safest method available to every owner Xiaomiis the use of a built-in system tool. The MIUI shell already contains an optimizer that scans the device for unnecessary files. To start the procedure, find a shortcut on your desktop with a name Security and a green shield.
After opening the application, click on the button Cleanup. The system will automatically scan and show the amount of garbage that can be removed. Here you will see not only the application cache, but also the remains of uninstalled apps, advertising files and unused APK installation packages.
- 🗑️ Click the "Clean" button to delete all found temporary files in one action.
- ⚙️ Select "Junk Cleanup" in the bottom menu for a more detailed analysis by category.
- 📱 Use the "Accelerate" function to forcefully close background processes.
It is important to understand the difference between cleaning up garbage and resetting settings. The standard utility acts delicately, affecting only what can be deleted without consequences for the operation of the system. However, for deep cleaning of the cache of specific apps, this may not be enough, and manual intervention will be required in the settings of each application separately.
☑️ Check before cleaning
Manually clearing the cache of individual applications
Sometimes the problem lies in one specific application, which has ballooned to gigantic proportions. For example, Telegram or TikTok can occupy several gigabytes of memory due to saved videos and stickers. In such cases, global cleaning may not help, you need to act selectively through the app management menu.
Go to the menu Settings, then select the item Applications and press All applications. In the list that opens, find the app that consumes the most resources. Typically, the system sorts them by the amount of space they occupy, which makes it easier to find the “culprit.”
Inside the menu of the selected application, find the section Memory or Storage. There you will see two buttons: “Clear” and “Clear all”. The first deletes only temporary files, the second resets the application to the state immediately after installation, deleting logins and settings.
| Cleaning type | What is being deleted | Impact on data | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clear cache | Temporary files, thumbnails | Safe, data saved | Daily or as needed |
| Clearing data | Accounts, settings, databases | Full application reset | Only in case of malfunctions |
| Deleting the application | All files and itself app | The app disappears from the phone | If the application is not needed |
After clearing the cache, heavy applications, such as Instagram or YouTubemay run a little slower when first launched. This is normal, as the system needs time to rebuild a basic set of temporary files to display content correctly.
Why does the cache quickly fill up again?
Many applications, especially social networks and instant messengers, are programmed to aggressively cache media files to save traffic. If you actively use the news feed, the cache will grow in proportion to the time spent in the application. Disable auto-loading of media in the settings of the applications themselves to slow down this process.
Clearing the cache in Recovery mode (for advanced)
For owners Xiaomiwho want to deep clean system temporary files, there is a mode Recovery. This method allows you to delete files that are inaccessible during normal operation of the operating system. This is especially useful if the phone is unstable or after a firmware update.
To get into recovery mode, you must completely turn off the smartphone. Then press the Volume up and Powerbuttons simultaneously. Hold them until the logo Miappears, then release the power button while continuing to hold the volume down. The menu can be in English or Chinese, navigation is carried out with the volume buttons, selection is with the power button.
⚠️ Attention: In the Recovery menu, never select the Wipe Data item if you want to save personal files. You only need the Wipe Cache Partition item.
Find the item Wipe Cache or Wipe Cache Partition. Confirm the action. The process will take a few seconds. Once completed, select Reboot or Reboot to System to restart the phone in normal mode. This method is safe for user data, but requires caution in navigation.
If the Recovery menu is in Chinese, be guided by the icons or text color. The cache clearing item is usually located second or third in the list, immediately after the reboot item.
Clearing the browser cache and system services
Web browsers are one of the main consumers of disk space. Google Chrome, MI Browser or Yandex save copies of pages so they load instantly when you visit them again. Over time, this database can grow to hundreds of megabytes, slowing down the browser itself.
To clean it, go to the browser settings, find the section History or Privacy. There will be an option Clear history. Make sure the “Images and other files stored in cache” checkbox is selected. Clearing your browsing history and passwords in this menu is not necessary if you want to save them.
System services deserve special attention Google Play. Sometimes the app store starts to work incorrectly, does not download updates or does not see connected devices. Clearing the Google Play service cache often solves these problems without having to reset the entire phone.
- 🌐 Open Chrome settings and select "Clear browsing data."
- 🛍️ Go to the Google Play Store app settings and click "Clear cache."
- 📂 Check the "Downloads" folder in the file manager for the presence of old APK files.
System services, such as Google Play Servicesalso accumulate temporary data. They are cleaned similarly to any other applications through the app management menu. This can help if you encounter account synchronization errors or problems with geolocation.
Regularly clearing the browser cache not only frees up space, but also increases privacy by removing traces of your online presence.
Automation and prevention of garbage accumulation
So as not to have to do manual cleaning every day, you can set up automatic cleaning. The built-in optimizer Xiaomi allows you to set a schedule. Go to the application Security, click on the three dots in the corner or the settings icon and find the item Scheduler or Autorun.
Activate the daily or weekly cleaning function. The system will independently check for junk files and, when a certain threshold is reached, notify you or delete them silently. This is a great way to maintain productivity smartphone at a high level without user interaction.
It is also worth reconsidering your habits of using instant messengers. In the settings WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber you can limit the autosaving of media files to the gallery. This will prevent cache duplication: the file will be stored inside the application and in the general gallery, occupying double the volume.
⚠️ Attention: MIUI and HyperOS shell interfaces may differ depending on the Android version and regional firmware. The location of menu items can be changed by developers.
Using cloud storage helps relieve internal memory. Set up automatic uploading of photos and videos to Google Photos or Yandex.Disk with subsequent deletion of local copies. This will free up space for the system to operate and cache the necessary data.
Is it safe to use third-party cleaning applications (Clean Master and analogues)?
Using third-party “cleaners” on modern versions of Android is often not makes sense and even harmful. The Android system (from versions 8-9 and higher) effectively manages memory itself. Third-party applications can aggressively close the necessary processes, forcing the system to waste battery power to restart them, and also show intrusive advertising.
Will my correspondence be deleted when clearing the messenger cache?
No, when clearing it is cache (Cache) that your messages, contacts and media files are in chats are saved. Only temporary files are deleted to speed up work. However, if you select “Clear Data” or “Erase everything”, the application will be reset to the factory state, and the correspondence will disappear if a backup copy was not made.
Why did the phone start to work slower after clearing the cache?
This is a temporary effect. After cleaning, the system and applications take time to recreate the necessary temporary files. In the first 10-15 minutes after deep cleaning, the phone may work a little less responsively, but then performance will recover and become even higher than before cleaning.