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Owners of smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi i Poco often face a situation where a once-smart device starts to work slower and notifications Insufficient memory appears more and more often. Application cache - these are temporary files that accumulate during the use of the operating system MIUI and installed apps, taking up valuable space in the internal storage. Properly clearing this data can not only free up gigabytes of memory, but also eliminate software glitches that can cause freezes.
Many users mistakenly believe that deleting the cache will lead to the loss of personal photos or contacts, but this is not true. Temporary files are created to quickly load interface elements and often contain outdated information that is no longer needed by the system. In this article, we will look at safe cleaning methods available using standard shell tools Xiaomi, and also look at deeper settings for advanced users.
Regular maintenance of the device is the key to its long and stable operation. Android has the property of “growing” with over time, consuming more and more resources for background processes. Understanding how to effectively manage data storage will help you avoid buying a new smartphone ahead of time and maintain high performance of the gadget throughout its entire service life.
What is cache and why it needs to be cleared on Xiaomi
Cache is a buffer memory that stores temporary files necessary for quickly launching frequently used applications. When you open a social network or browser, the system loads images, scripts and design elements into the cache so that the next time you log in, the page appears instantly. However, over time, the size of this data can reach several gigabytes, which is critical for models with a limited amount of built-in memory.
On devices Xiaomi i Redmi cache overflow often causes apps to work incorrectly. Application may crash on startup, freeze on the logo, or simply refuse to open new tabs. Clearing the cache in this case acts as a “reboot” of the app’s operating logic, forcing it to re-download fresh and relevant data from the server.
⚠️ Attention: Clearing the browser cache will lead to logging out of accounts on sites where you did not save passwords and will delete your browsing history. Make sure you remember your login information before carrying out the procedure.
In addition, freeing up space in the system partition /data directly affects the speed of writing new files. When the free space on the disk runs out, the memory controller begins to work in non-linear recording mode, which significantly slows down the installation of updates and saving photos. The state is considered critical when less than 10% of the total memory of the device is free.
Using the built-in Security application
The easiest and safest way to clear the cache on smartphones Redmi i Xiaomi —use the standard utility preinstalled by the manufacturer. The application "Security" (Security) is integrated deeply into the shell MIUI and has access to all necessary system functions, which allows deep cleaning without the risk of removing unnecessary items.
To get started, you need to find an icon with the name on the desktop "Security" or "Security", which is usually green. After launching the application, you will see the main screen with a pie chart showing your current memory and CPU usage. Clicking on the “Cleaning” or “Speed” button will start an automatic scan of the system for junk files.
☑️ Check before cleaning
During the analysis process, the system will highlight several categories of files: application cache, installation packages APK, remnants of deleted apps and advertising files. The user can selectively exclude certain categories if, for example, they do not want to remove application installers. After the scan is completed, just press the big blue button to delete the found “garbage”.
- 📱 Automatic scanning reveals hidden temporary files in folders
Android/data. - 🗑️ Removing the advertising cache frees up space occupied by banners in free games.
- ⚙️ Function “Deep cleaning” analyzes large files and duplicate photos.
- 🛡️ The application does not delete the user’s personal data without his direct confirmation.
Manually clearing the cache of individual applications
If the problem with low memory or unstable operation concerns only one specific app, there is no need to clean the entire phone. The settings Android based MIUI provide detailed control over each installed application. This allows you to specifically remove accumulated “garbage” from heavy apps, such as Telegram, Viber, Instagram or TikTok.
To get to the control menu, go to Settings → Applications → All applications. In the list that opens, find the desired app and click on its name. In the “About application” menu you will see a “Memory” or “Storage” button, where it will be detailed how much space is occupied by user data and how much is cache.
⚠️ Attention: Do not confuse the "Clear" button Data) with the “Clear cache” button. The first will completely reset the application to factory settings, deleting your correspondence and logins, the second will delete only temporary files.
By clicking on the clear cache button, you will instantly free up space occupied by temporary files. For some applications, such as instant messengers, this method is the only way to restore performance when the database grows to incredible sizes. The system will automatically recreate the necessary temporary files the next time you start the app.
Why does the cache take up so much space?
Some applications, especially social networks and navigators, save area maps, watched videos and images from feeds in the cache. Without regular cleaning, these files can occupy up to 5-10 GB of memory, although formally they are not the user’s personal data.
Clearing the system cache using Recovery Mode
For deeper cleaning that affects the system temporary files of the operating system itself Android, you can use the recovery mode (Recovery Mode). This method is safe for personal data (photos, contacts, documents), since it clears only the partition cache, but does not touch the partition datawhere user information is stored.
To enter recovery mode on Xiaomi, you must completely turn off the smartphone. Then hold down the Volume Up button and the Power button at the same time. Hold them until the logo Mi or Redmiappears, after which a menu will open with a black background and several lines of text. Navigation is carried out using the volume buttons, and selection is made using the power button.
In the menu Recovery select item Wipe Data, and then Wipe Cache. The system will ask you to confirm the action, since the process is irreversible. After cleaning is complete, which usually takes a few seconds, select Reboot to restart the device in normal mode. This method is especially useful after major firmware updates MIUI.
- 🔄 Deletes system logs and temporary update files.
- 🚀 Helps eliminate errors that occurred after installing a new OS version.
- 🔒 Does not affect the user’s personal files and installed applications.
- 🔋 Requires a battery charge of at least 50% to avoid shutdown in the process.
Storage analysis and deletion of large files
Often, lack of space is caused not so much by the cache, but by forgotten large files, videos or duplicate photos. The shell MIUI has a convenient analysis tool that visualizes memory usage. It allows you to see which folders and files take up the most space on the internal drive.
Go to Settings → About phone → Memory (or through the Explorer application → menu icon → “Storage Analyzer”). The system will build a chart where the most “heavy” categories will be highlighted in color: videos, images, documents or application data. By clicking on a sector of the chart, you will be taken to a list of files sorted by size.
Use the “Compressed Packages” feature in Explorer to find and delete old ZIP and RAR, which are often forgotten after unpacking and take up space twice.
Particular attention should be paid to the folder Download and catalog DCIM. The first one often contains installation files and documents, the second one contains deleted photos that have been moved to the trash. The gallery Xiaomi also has a separate “Trash” folder, where deleted photos are stored for 30 days, continuing to take up space.
| Data type | Location | Impact on speed | Deletion security |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application cache | /data/data |
High | Safe |
| Downloads | /storage/emulated/0/Download |
Average | Requires verification |
| System logs | /data/log |
Low | Safe |
| Photo thumbnails | /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails |
Average | Safe (recoverable) |
Automation and third-party utilities
For those who want to keep the system clean without constant manual intervention Xiaomi offers a "Cleanup Scheduler" feature. In the Security application, you can configure the cleaning to automatically start when a certain memory threshold is reached or on a schedule.
There are also third-party solutions, such as Files by Google or SD Maid, which can be more effective in finding “orphaned” files (remnants of deleted applications). However, it is worth remembering that aggressive “cleaners” can delete the necessary cached data, forcing applications to download them again, which increases traffic and battery consumption.
⚠️ Attention: The interface and names of menu items may vary slightly depending on the shell version MIUI (Global, China, EEA) and version Android. If you do not find this option, use the search in the settings (magnifying glass at the top of the screen).
Using cloud services to store photos and documents also helps relieve internal memory. Setting up automatic synchronization with Google Photos or Mi Cloud with the “Free up space” function allows you to store originals in the cloud, leaving only thumbnails on the device.
Regularly clearing the cache is not a one-time event, but a part habits for maintaining a smartphone, which prolongs the life of the device and keeps its performance at a high level.
Will clearing the cache delete my WhatsApp conversations?
No, if you use the “Clear cache” function in the application settings or through the “Security” menu. Your conversations, media files and settings will be saved. However, if you click “Clear all data” or “Erase data”, the correspondence will be completely deleted, and the application will be as it was after installation.
How often should you clear the cache on Redmi?
The frequency depends on the intensity of use. Active users of social networks and games are recommended to carry out the procedure once every 1-2 weeks. If you use your phone only for calls and instant messengers, it is enough to do this once a month or when notifications about low space appear.
Why does the cache quickly fill up again after clearing?
This is normal system behavior. Applications create a cache to speed things up. If the cache is growing abnormally fast (gigabytes per day), there may be a bug in the particular application or it is not managing temporary files correctly. In this case, it is worth checking for updates for this application.
Is it possible to delete the .thumbnails folder?
Yes, the folder .thumbnails can be deleted, it contains thumbnails of images for the gallery. After deletion, the system will create it again when you open the gallery. This will temporarily free up space, but will not provide permanent growth, since the file will grow again over time.