How to Clean Up Cache on Xiaomi Redmi 9: 5 Proven Ways

Xiaomi Redmi 9 is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but over time even it starts to slow down due to overcrowded cache. If your phone gets slower, apps open for a long time and memory ends for no apparent reason — the problem is most likely in the accumulated temporary files. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to clean the cache on Redmi 9, from standard to advanced, taking into account the features of the MIUI firmware.

Cache is temporary data that creates applications and systems to speed things up. But over time, it takes up gigabytes of memory and its fragmentation slows down the smartphone. On Redmi 9, with its modest 3/4 GB of RAM and 32/64 GB of storage, this is particularly critical. We'll not only show you how to delete the cache, but we'll also explain which files can be safely cleaned and which ones shouldn't be touched so as not to break the system.

1. Clear cache through MIUI settings

The easiest and safest way to do this is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which are suitable even for beginners and do not require super-user rights.

1. Open the “Settings” section and go to the Apps section.
2. Select the Application Management tab (or just scroll through the list of apps).
3. Tap on the desired application (for example, Chrome or Facebook).
4. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

For mass cleaning:

1. In the same section of the Appendices, click on the three dots in the upper right corner.
2. Select Sort by size → tick off unnecessary applications.
3. Click Clear the cache at the bottom of the screen.

⚠️ Note: Do not clear the cache of system applications like com.android.phone or MIUI System – this can cause phone malfunctions. Also avoid clearing the cache of Google Play Services, otherwise some features (such as geolocation) will stop working before the restart.

✅ Cash messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp)

✅ Cache of browsers (Chrome, Mi Browser)

✅ Social media cache (Facebook, Instagram)

✅ Cash of media players (YouTube, MX Player)

❌ System applications with names like "com.android." or "com.miui."

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2.Use of the built-in MIUI cleaner

MIUI has its own optimization tool, Security (or Security in the global version), which not only cleans the cache, but also removes junk files, remnants of deleted applications and duplicates.

1. Open the Security app (the shield icon).
2. Go to the Cleaner (or Cleaner) tab.
3. Wait for the scan to be completed (usually 10–30 seconds).
4. Check the boxes for Cash applications, Garbage files and Remains of applications.
5. Click Clean (at the bottom of the screen).

💡 Useful tip: In the same section, you can configure Autocleaning, which will automatically delete the cache once a week. To turn it on, tap the gear in the upper right corner and select Autoclean.

⚠️ Warning: If some applications have started to run slower (such as maps or games) after cleaning through Security, don’t worry – this is normal.

Once a week.

Once a month

Only when the phone starts to brake

Never cleaned it up.

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3.Cache clearing via Recovery Mode

If the phone is severely slowing down or lacking memory even after a standard cleaning, you can use Recovery Mode, which removes the Dalvik-cache that is not cleared through normal settings.

1. Turn off Redmi 9.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up at the same time and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons and you will be taken to Recovery Mode (English or Chinese menu).
4. Use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.
5. Choose Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
6. Confirm the action (Yes) and wait until it is completed.
7. Reboot the phone (Reboot) → Reboot to System).

🔧 Technical detail: Recovery Mode also has a Wipe Data option, and don't confuse it with Wipe Cache, which will cause total data loss! If you accidentally choose the wrong item, immediately remove the battery (if it's removable) or press the power button on 20.+ second-out.

4. Advanced cleaning through ADB (for power users)

If you're familiar with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can clear the cache more thoroughly, including system partitions, which requires a computer and USB debugging enabled.

1. Turn on Developer Mode on Redmi 9: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI until the notification “You’ve become a developer” appears.

Settings → Additional → For Developers

USB debugging

Xiaomi

ADB

adb devices

(The name of your device should appear)

adb shell

su

(If you have root rights, miss otherwise)

pm clear --all

(clears the cache of all user applications)

⚠️ Attention: pm clear command --all reset the settings of some applications (for example, accounts in messengers will have to log in again:

pm clear com.android.chrome

(Replace com.android.chrome with the desired application package).

adb shell pm list packages | grep "appendix name"

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5. Cleaning the cache with third-party applications

If standard methods don't work, you can use third-party utilities.The best options for Redmi 9:

• 🧹 SD Maid – Deep Cleanup, including system files (requires root for full functionality).
• 🗑️ CCleaner – simple interface, removes cache, debris and duplicates.
• 🔍 Files by Google – Google’s official app with memory cleaning and analysis.
• 🛠️ 1Tap Cleaner – Quick cleaning of the cache on schedule.

📌 Important: When using third-party cleaners, disable the option “Clean up the boot” – on MIUI This can cause system applications to stop running automatically (such as alarms or notifications).

Example of working with SD Maid:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Start and provide root rights (if any).
3. Go to the CorpseFinder tab, and here are the remnants of the remote applications.
4. Press Run and wait for the scan to be completed.
5. Check the unnecessary files and click Delete.

💡

Side cleaners can remove more debris than built-in MIUI tools, but require caution.Always check which files are marked for removal so as not to erase important data.

6 Manual deletion of cache through file manager

For those who prefer full control, you can manually delete the cache through a file manager (such as Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).

• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/ — cache of user applications.
• 📁 /data/data/ — System cache (available only with root).
• 📁 /cache/ — partition with temporary system files (cleaned through Recovery).

🔹 How to clean manually:

1. Open a file manager with root permissions (if necessary).
2. Go to the folder. /Android/data/.
3. Find a folder with the name of the application (for example, com.whatsapp) and delete the cache folder inside it.
4. For the system cache, go to /data/dalvik-cache/ and delete all files with the.dex extension.

⚠️ Note: Removing files from /data/data/ root-free can cause application failure, and do not delete files with extensions.odex or.oat - this is optimized code necessary for the operation of programs.

7.When cleaning the cache doesn't help: alternative solutions

If Redmi 9 still brakes after all the manipulations, the problem could be deeper.

• 🔄 Resetting to factory settings is a last resort, but effective. Backup first through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.
• 📉 Turning off animation speeds up the interface. Turn on Developer Mode and set it to Settings. → For developers: The scale of window animation → No animation. Scale of transition animation. → No animation.
• 🚀 Update MIUI — New firmware versions have optimized memory. Check the updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🔋 Replacing the microSD with a faster one -- if you use the memory card as internal storage, its slow speed can slow down the system — A2 or UHS-I.

📊 Comparison of cleaning methods:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)