Cache Cleanup on Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro: A Complete Guide to Speeding Up Your Phone

Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro is a popular smartphone with great price-performance ratio, but over time even it begins to slow down. The main reason is the crowded cache of applications and systems. Unlike flagships with storage, budget models like Redmi 9 Pro are more sensitive to clogging with temporary files. This article will help you understand how to properly clear the cache without risking data, what methods are most effective for MIUI 12/13/14, and what to do if standard methods do not work.

We'll look at not only basic cleaning settings, but also hidden MIUI features that the manufacturer doesn't advertise. For example, you'll learn how to remove the cache of system applications (including com.miui.system) that take up gigabytes of memory but don't show up in the standard file manager. We'll also tackle the myths of whether cache cleaning actually speeds up the phone, or is it a temporary solution? And most importantly, how to avoid damaging your smartphone by deleting important data.

Why Redmi 9 Pro cache clogs faster than other smartphones

Smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro is equipped with a Snapdragon processor 720G and 4/6 GB of RAM, but even that's not long enough if you don't keep track of the cache. MIUI:

• 📱 Aggressive caching: The OS saves temporary files even for background processes you haven't used in a long time. e.g., the Mi Video or Mi Browser cache can take up to 1-2 GB.
• 🔄 Auto Updates: Xiaomi apps (like GetApps or Mi Community) are updated in the background, leaving older versions in cache.
• 🗑️ Hidden system files: folders like /data/system/package_cache or /cache Not visible without root rights, but can weigh hundreds of megabytes.
• 🎮 Game mode: If you play in PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact, the cache of graphic data (obb files) can inflate to 3-5 GB.

Another problem is memory fragmentation. The Redmi 9 Pro uses eMMC 5.1 (instead of the faster UFS 2.1), which exacerbates clogging. Cache files are scattered across different memory sectors, and access to them slows down over time, and cleaning helps defragment the storage, but only if you do it correctly.

⚠️ Note: Do not confuse the app cache with Dalvik-cache /data/dalvik-cache). The latter contains optimized versions of installed programs, and removing it without root rights can lead to a cyclical reboot of the smartphone.

Method 1: Standard cleaning through MIUI settings

The safest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which are suitable for beginners and do not require additional software.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Sort by size.
3. In the list, find apps with large cache (usually YouTube, Facebook, Mi Video or Chrome).
4. Click on the app → Storage → Clear the cache.

For mass cleaning:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Memory.
2. Click Clean (blue button at the bottom) and the system scans for unnecessary files, including cache, remnants of deleted applications and duplicates.
3. Check the Cash points of the applications and Residual files, then confirm the cleanup.

Are all important applications (messaging, banking) closed?

Is there a backup of the data (photos, contacts)

Is the phone connected to charging (for long-term operations)

Is at least 10% of memory free (otherwise, cleaning can freeze)-->

This method only removes the user's cache. System temporary files (/cache and /data/log) remain intact.

Method 2: Deep Cleaning with Safe Mode (without root)

If the smartphone is slowing down a lot and standard cleaning doesn't help, try Safe Mode.In this mode, all third-party apps are turned off, and you can remove the cache of system processes that are normally locked.

How to run Safe Mode on Redmi 9 Pro:

1. Press the power button before the turn off menu appears.
2. Press the icon "Switch off" (don't let go!) after 2-3 seconds, you will be prompted to go to Safe Mode.
3. Confirm the transition. The phone will reboot with the Safe mode label in the lower left corner.

In safe mode:

• 🧹 Clear the cache through Settings → Memory (as in Method 1), but now system applications like MiuiDaemon or SecurityCenter will be available.
• 🔍 Check the Download folder for unnecessary.apk files (remains from installing apps).
• 📁 Delete the contents of the folder DCIM/.thumbnails — Here are the photos and videos that can weigh up to 500 MB.

⚠️ Warning: Safe Mode doesn't have a fingerprint or Face Unlock. If you forget your pattern lock, make sure you remember before entering Safe Mode. PIN-code!

Method 3: Cleaning the cache through Recovery (for power users)

If the first two methods didn’t work and the phone is still lagging, try clearing the cache section (/cache) This will not delete your data, but will reset temporary system files, including updates. MIUI, which may have been incorrectly.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the Redmi 9 Pro.
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 button for selection.
4. Choose Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
5. Confirm the action and wait until it is completed (usually takes 1-2 minutes).
6. Reboot the phone (Reboot) → Reboot to System).

This method is particularly useful if:

• 🔄 The phone is stuck on the logo MI post-refresh.
• 📱 Applications are constantly being crashed with the error "Application is stopped".
• 🔋 Battery discharges quickly due to background processes.

⚠️ WARNING: Don't confuse Wipe Cache with Wipe Data in Recovery! The second option (Factory Reset) will completely reset the phone to factory settings by deleting all your data. V12.5.3.0 The newer Wipe Cache feature can be hidden – in this case, select Advanced Wipe and manually mark only the Cache section.

Method 4: Using ADB to clean hidden cache

For advanced users who don’t want root rights but need deep cleaning, ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is a good method to remove the cache of system applications that are not visible in the standard manager.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver.
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB Redmi 9 Pro (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then return to the Additional Settings → For developers).
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).

Cleanup commands:

adb shell pm list packages -f | grep cache

This command will show all cache applications. To clear the cache of a particular application (e.g. com.miui.gallery), use:

adb shell pm clear com.miui.gallery

For mass cache cleaning of all user applications:

adb shell pm trim-caches 1000000000

(The number is the size in bytes, here it is 1 GB. The system will remove cache that exceeds this limit.)

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If the adb device command doesn't find your Redmi 9 Pro, try reconnecting the cable, turning on File Transfer (MTP) mode in the notification curtain, and repeating the command. Some firmware also requires you to confirm debugging on your phone screen.

Method 5: Automatic cleaning with a scheduler (hidden MIUI function)

Few people know, but MIUI has a built-in cache cleanup scheduler that can be configured to automatically delete temporary files on schedule, a feature hidden in the settings lab.

How to turn on:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap 5 times on the kernel line (you will see a message “You became a developer!”).
2. Return to Settings → Additional settings → Functions Lab.
3. Find the Auto Cleanup (or Automatic Cleanup in English) and activate it.
4. Set up a schedule: for example, clean up every day at 3:00 a.m.

What the planner cleans up:

• 🗑️ Cache of applications not used for more than 3 days.
• 📁 Temporary download files (.tmp,.temp).
• 📊 Logs of the system (/data/log), except critical.
• 🔍 Remnants of Remote Applications (Folder) /data/app-lib).

This method is convenient because it does not require manual control, but it does not clear the cache of actively used applications (such as WhatsApp or Telegram), so periodic manual cleaning is still necessary.

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Autocleaning in MIUI only works when connected to charging and stable internet. If the phone is discharged or in power saving mode, the planned cleanup is skipped.

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

Sometimes, after cleaning the cache, users notice that the Redmi 9 Pro has started to warm up more quickly, discharge faster or slow down, which is due to the fact that the system has to recreate the cache files, which loads the processor.

• 🔋 Recalibrate the battery: Discharge the phone to 0%, then charge to 100% No breaks. 2-3 once.
• 🔄 Reboot your phone after cleaning it up – this will help the system recover critical cache files.
• ⚙️ Turn off animation: Go to Settings → For developers and set the scale of the animation window, the scale of the animation transition and the duration of the animator on the Off..
• 🚫 Freeze Unnecessary System Applications Through Settings → Apps (e.g. Mi Music, Mi Pay, if you don't use them).

If problems persist, check the CPU temperature using the CPU Monitor app. Normal values for the Snapdragon 720G:

• 🌡️ In plain: 30-40°C.
• 🎮 Under load (games, video): 50-65°C.
• ⚠️ Critical temperature: above 70°C (diagnosis required).

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