Cache on Xiaomi Redmi Note 7: where is stored and how to clean it without harming the system

Why Redmi Note 7 Cache Needs Attention

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is still a popular device even after years, thanks to the balanced characteristics and reliable platform of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660. However, over time, users face typical problems: the phone begins to “slow down”, applications take a long time to load, and free space on the disk mysteriously disappears, the culprit in 80% of cases is accumulated cache – temporary files that the system and programs create to speed up work.

There are three types of cache: system (created by Android to speed up the interface), application cache (data from programs like Instagram or Chrome) and Dalvik cache (optimized files for the Android virtual machine). On the Redmi Note 7 with its 64 GB of memory (of which ~53 GB is actually available), a cache cache can eat up to 5-7 GB of space if it is not cleaned for years, while simply removing everything in a row can be fraught with OS malfunctions.

In this article, we will discuss where the cache on the Redmi Note 7 is stored, how to safely clean it through standard settings, Recovery Mode and third-party utilities, and what to do if the phone becomes worse after cleaning.

Where is the cache physically stored on the Redmi Note 7?

Unlike user files (photos, music), the cache is distributed across several hidden folders of internal memory.

• 📁 /data/dalvik-cache — optimized files for Dalvik/ART (Manual removal is not recommended: the system will restore them automatically, but it will take time and resources.
• 📁 /data/data/<package_name>/cache — cache of each application (e.g., cache of each application, /data/data/com.android.chrome/cache Chrome).
• 📁 /cache — system cache, including update files OTA. You can clean without risk, but only through recovery.
• 📁 /sdcard/Android/data/<package_name>/cache — cache of applications that store data on “external” memory (even if you don’t have a physical microSD card).

It is important to understand that on the Redmi Note 7 with MIUI 10-14, part of the cache can be encrypted (if device encryption is enabled), in which case standard file managers (such as Total Commander) will not see the contents of /data folders without root rights.

How to check the cache volume without root rights

Before you clean the cache, you need to estimate the actual volume of the cache, and on the Redmi Note 7, you can do this in three ways:

1. Through MIUI settings: Go to Settings → About → Memory. This shows the total amount of Cached Data (usually 1-3 GB), but this figure does not include the cache of some system applications and Dalvik.
2. Through File Manager: Open Explorer (or Files by Google), turn on the hidden files display, and go to /sdcard/Android/data. The size of /cache folders will show the cache volume of user applications.
3. Through ADB: Connect your phone to your PC, open the command line and type: adb shell df -h /data In conclusion, pay attention to the line /dev/block/... /data — Used column will show occupied space, including cache.

⚠️ Note: If, during the inspection, ADB You can see that the section /data busy 90%+, This can indicate not only cache, but also corrupted files or file system errors, in which case cleaning the cache will not help - you need to reset to factory settings or check through fsck.

Clearing the cache through standard MIUI settings

The safest way to do this is to use the built-in tools. On the Redmi Note 7 with a MIUI 10-14, the algorithm is as follows:

Open "Settings»|Go to the Appendices» → «Application management»|Select an app (e.g. Chrome)|Click "Clear the cache»|For system applications, use Clear All Data (only if you are sure!)-->

For mass cleaning of the cache of all applications:

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup.
2. Click Select Data for Cleaning.
3. Check the Cache Data (do not touch Downloads or Music unless you want to lose files!).
4. Press Clean (Push) MIUI 12+ You may need to confirm your fingerprint).

Note: this method does not clear Dalvik cache and system cache in /cache. Recovery Mode will be required to remove them (see next section). Also, some applications (such as Facebook or TikTok) can recover cache immediately after cleaning - this is normal, but indicates that the application actively uses temporary files.

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If the app is slower after cleaning the cache, give it 5-10 minutes to regenerate temporary files, for example, Instagram can load the tape longer on the first run, but then return to normal speed.

Cache Clearing via Recovery Mode (for power users)

If standard methods don't work and the phone is still slowing down, you can clear the system cache and Dalvik cache through recovery mode, which is more radical and requires caution.

Instructions for Redmi Note 7:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up simultaneously and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo and Recovery menu appear.
3. Use volume buttons for navigation and power buttons for selection. Choose a language (usually English or ).
4. Go to Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
5. Confirm action (Yes).
6. After cleaning, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

What happens in this case:

• 🧹 Folder's being cleared /cache (including update files that may be up to 1–2 GB).
• 🔄 Dalvik cache is reassembled, which can take 5-10 minutes at the first launch.
• ⚠️ User data (photos, messages) or application cache are not deleted /sdcard.

⚠️ WARNING: If you accidentally choose Wipe All Data over Wipe Cache in Recovery, it will result in a complete phone reset to factory settings! On the Redmi Note 7, data recovery after such a reset is almost impossible without a backup.

Third-party utilities for cleaning the cache: pros and cons

There are hundreds of cache cleaning apps on Google Play, but not all of them are equally useful. On the Redmi Note 7, you should pay attention to:

The main problem with third-party cleaners is that they often remove the cache aggressively, which leads to:

• 🐢 Slowing down applications (they have to recreate the cache from scratch).
• 🔄 Frequent reboots (if the cache of system services is removed).
• 🚫 Data loss (some cleaners delete not only cache, but also temporary messenger files, for example, drafts in Telegram).

Recommendation: if you do use third-party utilities, disable auto-cleaning and manually run it no more than 1 time per month. Also, before cleaning, check which files the application is going to delete - many show the list before confirming.

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On the Redmi Note 7, the safest way to clean the cache is a combination of standard MIUI settings (for custom cache) and Recovery Mode (for system cache).

What to do if after cleaning the cache, the phone began to work worse

Sometimes, after cleaning the cache, users notice that the Redmi Note 7 starts to "lag" even more, because:

1. The system reassembles the Dalvik cache in the background, which loads the processor.
2. Apps have to re-upload data (for example, maps in Google Maps or media files in social networks).
3. MIUI may not optimize memory properly after mass cleaning (especially on versions 11-12).

Decisions:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone – it will speed up the reassembly of the cache.
• ⏳ Wait 10-15 minutes without active use (let the system complete background processes).
• ⚙️ Turn off optimization. MIUI: Go to Settings. → Special facilities → Optimization MIUI Turn off the option (if you have one in your firmware version).
• 📱 Reset the application settings: in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Menu (⋮) → Reset application settings. This will return the standard permissions and cache for all programs.

If the problems persist for longer than a day, it may be that cleaning the cache just exposed a deeper problem, such as the wear and tear of internal memory (typical for the Redmi Note 7 after 3-4 years of use) or damage to the file system, in which case only a complete reset or replacement of the memory module (which is not economically feasible on this device) will help.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the Redmi Note 7 cache