How to clean the cache on Xiaomi Redmi 5A: all methods with explanations

Xiaomi Redmi 5A is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but over time even it begins to slow down. The main reason is a crowded cache that takes up precious memory and slows down the system. In this article, we will analyze all the available methods of cleaning the cache on Redmi 5A, including hidden MIUI functions that not everyone knows.

Cache is a temporary file created by apps and systems to speed up re-operations. For example, the browser saves images of sites to avoid re-loading them, and messengers cache media files. But when the cache grows to gigabytes, it turns from assistant to enemy: applications start to fly out, the system freezes, and free disk space melts in front of your eyes. On Redmi 5A with its modest 16 GB of memory, this is especially critical.

It's important to understand that cleaning cache is not a panacea for all lags, but it's the first thing you should do before drastic measures like factory resetting. Below you'll find instructions for different types of cache, as well as tips on how to prevent it from accumulating too much in the future.

1. Clearing the cache of individual applications

The most targeted and secure method is to remove cache for specific programs, which will not delete your data (messages, photos, settings), but will free up space and can eliminate errors in the application.

How to do this:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes.
• 🔍 In the top search box, type the name of the application you want (such as WhatsApp or Chrome).
• 🗑️ Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
• 🔄 For a complete reset (if the application is buggy), select Clear Data, but remember: this will delete all settings and files inside the program!

On Redmi 5A, the cache is particularly voracious:

• 🌐 Browsers (Chrome, MIUI Browser – can accumulate up to 1-2 GB.
• 📷 Social networks (Facebook, Instagram) – cache videos and photos.
• 🎮 Games (especially) PUBG Mobile, Free Fire – save textures and updates.

⚠️ Warning: Do not clear the cache of system applications (e.g. com.android.phone or com.miui.home) unnecessarily. MIUI.

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If the app is slower after cleaning the cache, it's OK. The cache helps speed up the re-operations, so the first runs after cleaning can be longer.

2. Automatically clean the cache through "Security"

MIUI has a built-in tool for optimizing the system, the Security app, which not only clears the cache, but also closes the background processes, saving battery life.

Step-by-step:

1. Run the Security app (if it isn’t on your desktop, search through search).
2. Click Optimization (or Accelerate depending on the version of MIUI).
3. Wait for the scan to be completed (usually 10–30 seconds).
4. Click Clean or Optimize.
5. For deep cleaning, go to the Deep Clean tab and select Garbage Files.

Advantages of this method:

• ⚡ Fast - takes less than a minute.
• 🤖 Automatically – no need to manually select applications.
• 🔋 Saves the battery by closing the background processes.

3. Clearing the browser cache (Chrome, MIUI Browser)

Browsers are the main garbage storage devices. On Redmi 5A, Chrome or standard MIUI Browser can take hundreds of megabytes to cache, especially if you surf the Internet frequently.

For Google Chrome:

1. Open the browser and press. ⋮ (three-point) → History.
2. Choose Clear Data.
3. Check the boxes: 🗑️ Cookies and website data 🖼️ Cached images and files

Clear the data

For MIUI Browser:

1. Launch your browser → ⋮ → Settings.
2. Go to Privacy and Security.
3. Select Clear Personal Data and mark the necessary points.

⚠️ Attention: Clearing cookies will leave you from your accounts on websites (including social networks and mail!

4. Manually clear cache through file manager

If you prefer to manually control the process, you can delete the cache directly through the file manager, which is suitable for advanced users, as it requires caution.

Instructions:

1. Open Files (standard MIUI manager)
2. Go to Categories → Annexes.
3. Select an app (like Telegram) and click Clear Cache.
4. For advanced users: Enable the display of hidden files (in the manager settings) and delete the /data/data/packet name/cache folders.

Which folders can be safely removed:

• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/*/cache — cache of user applications.
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails — photo and video miniatures.
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Download/.temp — download-file.

What can't be removed:

• 🚫 Folders. /system, /vendor, /boot — These are system sections.
• 🚫 Files with.odex or.apk extension in system folders.
• 🚫 folder /data/dalvik-cache (if you don't know what you're doing).

Backup of important data

Check the free disk space (less than 10% - the risk of failure)

Disable automatic update of applications

Close all operational programmes-->

5. Clean the system cache through Recovery Mode

If Redmi 5A is getting a lot of brakes and conventional methods aren’t working, you can clear the system cache (including dalvik-cache) through recovery mode.

How to log in to Recovery Mode:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up simultaneously and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons – you will be taken to the Recovery menu (management is carried out by the volume and power buttons).

Further action:

1. Select Wipe & Reset (or Advanced in newer versions).
2. Press the Wipe Cache Partition.
3. Confirm the action and wait for the completion (it will take 1-2 minutes).
4. Restart the phone (Reboot).

⚠️ Note: Do not confuse Wipe Cache Partition with Wipe Data/Factory Reset! The second option will completely reset the phone to factory settings, deleting all your data.

After cleaning the system cache, the first run of Redmi 5A can take up to 5-10 minutes – this is normal, since the system recovers the necessary files.

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Cleaning the cache through Recovery is a last resort, and only use it if the phone is unbearably slow or after a failed upgrade.

6. Cleanup automation: setting up MIUI to minimize cache

To avoid manually cleaning the cache, you can configure Redmi 5A to limit its accumulation.

Step 1. Limit the background activity of applications:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Management.
2. Select Background Limitation and add “gluttonous” apps (like Facebook or TikTok).

Step 2: Turn off automatic application updates:

1. Open the Google Play Store → ⋮ → Settings.
2. Select Auto-Update Applications → Never.

Step 3: Set up automatic cleaning to Security:

1. Launch Security → Settings (⚙) → Autocleaning.
2. Turn on the option and set a schedule (for example, once a week).

Useful applications for automatic cleaning:

• 🛡️ CCleaner – analyzes and cleanses the cache on schedule.
• 🧹 SD Maid – Finds residual files of remote applications.
• 🔍 Files by Google – a simple manager with garbage cleaning function.

7.What to do if cleaning the cache did not help?

If the Redmi 5A continues to slow down after all the manipulations, the problem could be deeper.

Problem 1: Lack of RAM (RAM)

• 🔄 Close the background applications through Recent Tasks (Square button).
• 🚫 Turn off the autoload of unnecessary programs in Settings → Permits → Auto-start.
• 🔄 Reboot your phone – it cleans up. RAM.

Problem 2: Internal memory is filled.

• 📁 Transfer photos and videos to SD-Map or cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud).
• 🗑️ Remove unused applications (in Settings) → Annexes → Delete).
• 🔍 Check the Download folder – unnecessary files often accumulate there.

Problem 3: System lags due to old firmware.

• 🔄 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🛠️ If there are no updates, consider flashing on custom firmware (like LineageOS), but this requires unlocking the bootloader.

If nothing works, the last option is to reset to factory settings (Settings → Additional → Restore and Reset).Be sure to back up the data before doing so!

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up cache on Redmi 5A