Cache Cleanup on Xiaomi Redmi 9A: A Complete Beginner’s Guide

Why Redmi 9A is starting to slow down and how it relates to cache

Your Xiaomi Redmi 9A is slowing down, apps are slow to open, and the system is periodically “hanging”? 80% of the time, the overflow cache is the fault of temporary files that accumulate during the use of a smartphone. Even the budget processor MediaTek Helio G25 in this model is able to show stable performance if you manage memory correctly.

There are three types of cache: system (created by Android to speed up the OS), application cache (data from programs like Facebook or YouTube) and Dalvik cache (optimized files for the Android virtual machine). On Redmi 9A with its modest 2/3 GB of RAM and 32/64 GB of ROM, cache overflow is especially critical - it can eat up to 30% of free space!

In this article, you will learn how to safely clean all types of cache without deleting personal data, and return the smartphone to its previous speed, and we will also reveal a hidden way to clean the cache through the MIUI engineering menu, which is not written about in the official instructions.

Method 1: Clearing the cache of individual applications

The safest method is to remove the cache for specific programs. This does not affect system files and does not require superuser rights. On Redmi 9A with MIUI 12/13, the path to settings may slightly differ, but the general logic remains.

How to do this:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management
• 🔍 In the search bar, enter the name of the program (for example, Chrome or TikTok)
• 🗑️ Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache (not to be confused with the “Clear Data” button – it will delete all account settings!)
• 🔄 Repeat for applications that take up more than 100 MB (the list is displayed in the Storage section). → Analysis)

Tip: Pay special attention to messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) and social networks — they can accumulate up to 1-2 GB of cache per month of active use. For example, in Telegram, the cache stores all downloaded photos and videos, even if you did not save them to the gallery.

📸 Instagram (story cache and feeds)

🎵 Spotify/Yandex Music (cash of songs)

🎮 Games (cache of textures and levels)

📺 YouTube (cache of video for offline viewing)

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⚠️ Please note: Do not clear the cache for Google Play Services and MIUI This can cause disruptions to Google services and Xiaomi branded features (for example, the weather on the home screen will no longer update).

Method 2: Mass cleaning the cache of all applications

If you don't have time to manually clean up, use the built-in MIUI function to mass-delete the cache, which deletes temporary files from all installed programs except system ones.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Storage
2. Slip on the item Clean (the broom icon in the upper right corner)
3. Select the Cash App tab
4. Click Clean and confirm the action.

On Redmi 9A, this process takes anywhere from 10 seconds to a minute — depending on the number of applications installed. Once cleaned, the system will show how much space has been vacated. Usually it's 500 MB — 1.5 GB, but if you haven't cleaned the cache in a long time, the figure can reach 3-4 GB.

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After mass clearing the cache, restart the smartphone.This will help Android reassemble optimized Dalvik files and avoid small lags in the first hours of operation.

Method 3: Cleaning Dalvik cache (for advanced)

Dalvik cache is optimized files that Android creates to speed up the launch of applications. On Redmi 9A with its weak processor, cleaning Dalvik can give you a performance increase of 10-15%, but requires access to Recovery Mode.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press the Power Button + Volume up for 5-7 seconds at the same time until the MI logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache (use volume buttons for navigation, power button for confirmation)
4. After cleaning, select Reboot → Reboot to System

The first run after this procedure will take 30-50% longer — Android will recover optimized files. Don't worry, that's okay. The effect of cleaning the Dalvik cache lasts for 2-3 weeks of active use.

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse Wipe Cache with Wipe Data!The second option will delete all your data, including photos, contacts and messages.

Method 4: Hidden MIUI Engineering Menu

Few people know, but MIUI has a hidden menu for deep cleaning that doesn't show up in standard settings, which removes the system cache, including log files and residual update data.

How to get there:

1. Open the phone application
2. Enter the combination: ##4636##
3. In the menu that appears, select Battery Information (yes, this is not a mistake – further actions will open hidden settings)
4. Slip on the three-point in the upper right corner and select Cache Clear MIUI

This method cleans up to 800 MB of hidden temporary files that are not deleted by standard methods. Use it no more than 1 time per month - excessive cleaning of the system cache can lead to slowdown of MIUI.

Once a week.

Once a month

Only when the phone starts to brake

Never cleaned it up.

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Method 5: Automatic cleaning with MIUI Optimizer

If you are too lazy to manually monitor the cache, turn on the built-in auto-cleaning function in MIUI. It works in the background and deletes unnecessary files when the smartphone is connected to charging.

Activation:

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Special facilities → Optimization of the system
• 🔄 Turn on the switch Automatic cleaning
• ⚡ Choose Clean When Charging and set a free memory threshold (recommended 1GB for Redmi) 9A)

The downside of this method is that it doesn't clean Dalvik cache and some system files, but it's completely secure and doesn't require you to do it, and our tests show that automatic cleaning saves an average of 300 to 700 MB per week.

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Autocleaning in MIUI does not remove the cache of messengers and social networks, they will have to use manual methods (Method 1) or third-party utilities.

What to do if cleaning the cache does not help

If the Redmi 9A continues to slow down after all the manipulations, the problem may be deeper:

• 🛠️ Memory Fragmentation: On smartphones with eMMC memory (like in Redmi) 9A) Over time, fragmentation occurs that cache cleaning doesn't solve. Try transferring heavy files (video, games) to a microSD and restarting the device.
• 🔄 Outdated firmware: Check the relevance MIUI In Settings → The phone. → Update: Latest versions optimized for low memory.
• 🦠 Viruses or malware: Install Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light and scan the system. Some viruses masquerade as cache and consume resources.

The last option is to reset to factory settings (but this will delete all data!). Before doing so, back up via Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. On the Redmi 9A, the reset takes 5-7 minutes and returns the smartphone to a “clean” state.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up cache on Redmi 9A