Cache Cleanup on Xiaomi Redmi 9: A Complete Guide to Accelerating Your Smartphone

Your Xiaomi Redmi 9 is slowing down, applications are loading for a long time, and there is less free memory? The reason most often lies in clogged cache — temporary files that the system and programs accumulate as they work. Cache is needed to speed up re-access to data, but over time it turns into digital garbage, occupying precious space and slowing down the device.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways to clean up Redmi 9 cache, from standard MIUI tools to hidden features for power users, how to properly remove app cache, clean system temporary files, and even reset Dalvik-cache without risking data, and why you shouldn’t clean all applications’ cache at once and how it can harm performance.

Why Redmi 9 cache needs to be cleaned regularly

Cache is not just junk, it does an important function: it speeds up the loading of frequently used data, for example, when you open Instagram, the app caches thumbnails of photos so that the next time you run it, it shows them instantly, but over time, this mechanism fails:

• 📉 Slowdown – Cache crowded causes the system to spend more time searching for the right files.
• 🗑️ Busy memory - on Redmi 9 s 32/64 GB storage cache can take up to 5-10 GB.
• 🔄 Application crashes – corrupted cache files cause errors and program crashes.
• 🔋 Increased battery consumption – the system spends resources on processing unnecessary data.

Xiaomi recommends clearing the cache every 1-2 months, but it depends on the intensity of use. For example, if you actively play Genshin Impact or mount a video in CapCut, the cache can fill up in a week. It is important to understand that not all cache needs to be deleted. For example, cleaning the cache of Google Play Services can lead to problems with authorization in your Google account.

How to Clear the Cache of Individual Apps on Redmi 9

The safest way to do this is to selectively remove the cache, only for programs that take up too much space or are unstable.

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
3. In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and select Sort by size.
4. Slip on the app you want to clear (such as Facebook or Telegram).
5. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

For convenience, we have compiled a table of applications, the cache of which most often grows to giant sizes:

⚠️ Warning: Do not cache system applications like com.android.systemui or com.miui.home unless absolutely necessary. MIUI.

Close the application in multitasking

Connect your phone to charge (if the battery level is below 20%)

Remember the login details (if the application requires authorization)

Check if there is any important unsaved data (for example, drafts in messengers)-->

Cleaning the system cache through Recovery Mode

If Redmi 9 is getting slower and the standard cleaning of the app cache isn’t working, it’s time to look into the system partition, where temporary update files, log files, and other data that are not visible to the user accumulate, and you’ll need Recovery Mode to delete them.

Warning: this method doesn't delete user data, but you can't interrupt it!

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up at the same time and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select the language (English / Chinese), then tap Wipe & Reset.
4. Select Wipe Cache (not to be confused with Wipe All Data!).
5. Confirm the action and wait until the completion (it will take 1-3 minutes).
6. Reboot your phone with Reboot → Reboot to System.

Once you reboot, MIUI will recover the files you need and remove the junk you need, which is especially useful if you've recently updated your firmware and your phone is getting worse. In fact, on Redmi 9 with MIUI 14+, the update cache can take up to 1.5GB, even if you haven't updated in a while, it stores backups.

Dalvik-cache removal: for experienced users

Dalvik-cache is a special cache that is used by the Android virtual machine to speed up the launch of applications. It usually clears automatically when you update the system, but sometimes requires manual cleaning. This method is only suitable for users with root rights or unlocked bootloader!

If you don’t know what a root or bootloader is, skip this section – wrong actions can cause your phone to fail completely.

1. Install a file manager with root support (e.g. Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).


2. Go to /data/dalvik-cache/.




3. Delete all files with the.dex extension (or just highlight everything and click Delete).




4. Reboot the phone.

Once rebooted, the system will restore Dalvik-cache automatically.This method can significantly speed up Redmi 9 if you notice that apps have been opening longer. But remember: improper cleaning can lead to a bootloop!

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI folder /data/dalvik-cache/ It can be hidden even to root users, in which case you can use the command through the ADB: adb shell su rm -r /data/dalvik-cache/*

Automatic Cache Cleanup: Configuring MIUI

MIUI has built-in tools for automatic memory optimization, but by default they don't work well. Let's set them up correctly:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Click on the MIUI version 7 times to activate Developer Mode.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the option to Do Not Save Actions and turn it on, which will limit the background activity of the applications.
4. Go to Settings → Applications → Cleaning.
5. Activate Auto Cleanup and set a schedule (e.g. once a week).

It is also useful to enable the memory compression function (available in MIUI 12 and later):

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Battery and productivity → Performance mode.
• 📊 Choose Balance or Performance (depending on priorities).
• ⚡ Enable the option of Optimizing memory.

These settings will help Redmi 9 manage the cache on its own, but won't replace manual cleaning. MIUI Often leave garbage from system processes, so once a month it is recommended to carry out deep cleaning by hand.

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If your phone is running slower after cleaning automatically, try turning off the developer settings' Background Limitation option, sometimes MIUI shuts apps too aggressively, which leads to longer downloads.

What to do if after cleaning the cache problems remain

Cache cleaning doesn't always solve all performance issues.If the Redmi 9 keeps braking, check out the following points:

• 🛠️ Update the firmware - go to Settings → The phone. → System updates. Old versions. MIUI (Below 13) often have memory management bugs.
• 🧹 Check the space available - if the phone has less than 10% of the memory, the system starts to work unstable.
• 🔍 Look for viruses - some malware creates hidden cache files. scan your phone through Google Play Protect or Malwarebytes.
• 🔄 Reset settings – if nothing helps, reset to factory settings (but save important data first!).

Pay special attention to the memory card (if installed). Redmi 9 often has problems with caching data on the microSD, especially if it is low-end (below Class 10).

⚠️ Note: If applications start to crash or not open after cleaning the cache, try reinstalling them. Sometimes cache files contain critical data for the program to work (for example, in online-authorized games).

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If Redmi 9 is slowing down due to a weak processor (Helio G80) or a lack of RAM (3/4 GB), consider turning off animations in the developer’s settings or using lightweight versions of apps (for example, Facebook Lite instead of the main Facebook).

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up cache on Redmi 9