Where is the cache in the Xiaomi Redmi phone: search and complete cleaning

Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones sooner or later face a slowdown in their devices, often caused by overflowing internal memory. The main culprit for the lack of gigabytes is accumulated cache — temporary files that applications create to quickly download data. Understanding where exactly this digital garbage is stored on the disk allows not only to free up space, but also to solve problems with the freezes of the MIUI interface.

The Android system that underlies the MIUI shell is designed to caching at multiple levels, from system libraries to program-specific data. User experience shows that manual cleaning is often more effective than automatic cleaning, as standard algorithms can skip some hidden folders. In this article, we will detail file paths, secure deletion methods, and the nuances of working with the system partition of memory.

First, you need to decide on the purpose of cleaning. If you want to just make room for installing a new game, a surface cleaning through regular funds is enough. However, if you want to fix a bug in the work of a particular application, you may need to deep clean the data, which will lead to a reset of the program settings. Deleting the cache folder of the system application can cause a malfunction of the entire interface, so you can not touch system files without extreme necessity.

What is cache and why is it necessary for Android system

Cache is a buffer memory area designed to store intermediate computational results or copies of original data, which are accessed more often than access to slower memory. In the context of a Xiaomi Redmi smartphone, this means that applications save pictures, scripts and other elements so that they do not download them again from the Internet every time, which significantly speeds up the program and reduces traffic consumption.

But the endless accumulation of temporary files is not always useful. Over time, broken links, outdated versions of scripts, or simply redundant data that are no longer used can accumulate in the cache, which leads to the system wasting the CPU resources to index the unnecessary, and RAM is filled with unnecessary processes, which is when the user notices that the phone starts to run slower.

There are several types of caching: a browser cache stores copies of visited pages, an app cache (such as Instagram or Telegram) stores media files for quick viewing of the tape, and a system cache contains temporary files of the operating system itself. It is important to understand that cleaning the cache does not delete your personal data, logins or passwords, unlike the “Clear Data” function, which resets the application to its original state.

⚠️ Attention: Clearing messenger cache (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) can delete images and videos you upload from the chat gallery if they have not been saved to a separate folder. Always check for important files before deep cleaning.

Many users mistakenly believe that regular cache cleaning extends battery life. In fact, it is not quite true. The cleaning process itself consumes resources, and re-downloading data (such as images on social networks) after cleaning consumes traffic and energy of the radio module. Cleaning the cache makes sense only when it takes up a critically large volume or causes errors in the software.

Where is the app cache: paths to folders

For those who are used to using file managers to clean up their messaging, it is important to know the exact paths to temporary file directories. In modern versions of Android and MIUI, folder structure has become more complex for security reasons. Access to some system partitions is limited, but basic user data is publicly available along the /Android/data/ path.

So let's look at the main locations where digital trash is hiding, and to get there, run the standard Explorer (or Mi File Manager) and go to the internal storage, and you're interested in the following directories:

• 📂 /Android/data/ — It stores the data and cache of the applications you installed. Each program has its own folder with the name of the package (for example, com.instagram.android).
• 📂 /Android/obb/ — This folder contains cache files for heavy games and some resource-intensive applications, and deleting files from here can cause the game to stop running.
• 📂 /MIUI/debug_log/ — Xiaomi-specific folder, where the system stores debugging logs, can grow to several gigabytes and is safe to delete.
• 📂 /Tencent/ — If you use Tencent messengers (WeChat, QQ) or games of this company, here will be the contents of their cache.

And you should also look at the thumbnails folder, which is often hidden in the root of your internal memory or in the DCIM folder, and it stores thumbnails of all your photos and videos for quick display in the gallery. With a lot of media, this folder can take up tens of gigabytes. It can be easily deleted, the system will create it again the next time you start the gallery, but it will take time and processor resources.

Use of the built-in "Security" application

The easiest and safest way to find and delete a cache on Xiaomi Redmi is to use the standard Security tool, which is deeply integrated into the MIUI shell and has access rights that are not available to third-party programs from the Play Market, which allows you to conduct comprehensive diagnostics and cleanup without risking damage to important system files.

To get started, open the app and select Cleanup. The system will automatically scan the memory and prompt to remove the garbage. However, standard cleaning is often superficial. To get to the deeper layers of the cache, you need to find the Deep Cleanup section in the application interface, and that's where the big files, duplicates, old APK installation packages and, in fact, the app cache are hidden.

In the deep cleaning section, you'll see a list of categories: "Large Files," "Unused Applications," "Installation Packages." Of particular interest is the "Cash" tab. When you click on it, you'll see a list of the programs that take up the most space. For example, TikTok or YouTube can store gigabytes of videos you've watched. You can selectively clear the cache only for those applications that you don't mind "resetting" in terms of stored data.

The advantage of using the built-in tool is that it knows the specifics of how MIUI works. Third-party cleaners may be less effective due to access restrictions introduced in Android 11 and later. In addition, the Security app does not contain advertising (unlike many analogues) and does not require additional permissions that could compromise privacy.

Cleaning the cache through smartphone settings

If you prefer to manually control the process and know which app is eating away at memory, the best way to do this is to use the standard Android settings menu, which allows you to pinpoint the cache of a particular program without affecting others, especially when the phone starts to slow down due to an error in one particular service.

The path to managing application memory is as follows: go to Settings, then select the App (or "All Apps"). In the list that opens, find the program you want. Inside the app menu, you are interested in the Memory (or "Storage") section. Here you will see two buttons: "Clear Cache" and "Clean All" (or "Clean Data").

The Clear Cache button is secure: it will only delete temporary files. The Clear All button will reset the app to the state immediately after installation: all accounts will be released, settings and stored data deleted. Be careful when you click. In some versions of MIUI, when you click Clear All, the system will additionally ask for confirmation, warning you of data loss.

Another useful lifehack is memory management, where in some versions of MIUI, you can see the schedule and recommendations in the Memory section of the main settings menu, and it can tell you which apps have been out of use for a while, but they take up a lot of space, and it's a good way to identify the "hidden consumers" of space.

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If the app doesn't work properly after cleaning the cache, try not just clearing the cache, but first clearing the data and then logging in again, which often solves problems with broken databases inside the application.

Cleaning the cache in Recovery mode

There is a deeper level of cleanup available through Recovery Mode, where you can clear the Wipe Cache Partition, which removes the entire operating system cache that may have accumulated as a result of firmware updates or crashes, which often helps if the Xiaomi Redmi phone has started to glitches after the MIUI update.

To enter Recovery mode, you need to turn off your smartphone completely. Then press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, and then the Recovery menu. This menu is controlled by volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button.

Select a language (if you can) or immediately look for Wipe and Reset (or just Wipe Data in older versions). Inside this section, there will be a Wipe Cache option. It's important not to confuse it with Wipe All Data, which will completely erase your phone! After selecting the cache cleaner, the system will ask you to confirm the action. The process will take a few seconds.

⚠️ Note: In Recovery mode, navigation may vary depending on the version MIUI. Be very careful: choose only the option Wipe Cache. the option Wipe Data or Factory Reset will delete all your photos, contacts and applications without the ability to restore.

After a successful cleanup, select Reboot -> Reboot to System. The first system launch after such a procedure may take longer than usual, as Android will recreate the necessary system files. Don't be afraid if the phone hangs on the Mi logo a little longer than usual - this is normal.

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Cleaning the cache partition through Recovery is a powerful tool for treating software glitches after system updates that do not affect personal user data (photos, contacts).

Third-party utilities and their effectiveness

There are thousands of memory cleaner apps in the Google Play Store: CCleaner, Clean Master, Files by Google, and others. Should they be installed on Xiaomi? Most of the time, they don't. The built-in MIUI mechanisms work more efficiently because third-party programs are limited by Android access rights and can't get to the system cache as deeply as the native app.

Moreover, many cleaners themselves are the source of problems, they can be constantly hanging in RAM, consuming battery power and showing ads. The only exception that can be recommended is Files by Google, an official application from the search giant that can find duplicate files, blurred photos and really unnecessary garbage without overloading the system with unnecessary functions.

If you do decide to use third-party software, pay attention to the permissions requested. The file cleaner application does not need access to your contacts, microphone or geolocation. Installing such software can turn your phone into a tool to collect personal information. Always check developer ratings and reviews before installing.

There are also dedicated disk space analysis tools, such as DiskUsage or Storage Analyzer, which don't clean the cache automatically, but build a handy visual memory card to show which folders have swelled to giant sizes, a great diagnostic tool that allows you to manually find and remove heavyweights.

Prevention of overflow of cache

So you don't have to constantly search for where the cache is in your Xiaomi Redmi phone and how to delete it, you should stick to simple digital hygiene rules. First, set up automatic cleaning in messengers. Telegram and WhatsApp have features that allow you to automatically delete media files older than a week or a month, which saves gigabytes of space.

Second, keep an eye on app updates. Developers often optimize their programs by fixing bugs that cause excessive cache proliferation. Third, check the Downloads folder periodically (once a month), which often accumulates files that you no longer need but forgot to delete.

Use cloud storage for photos and videos. Syncing with Google Photos or Mi Cloud will allow you to store originals in the cloud, leaving only optimized copies on the device or freeing up space per click. This is the most effective way to combat memory shortage in the long run.