Owners of the popular Xiaomi Mi 9 T smartphone often face a gradual slowdown in the interface and a long run of programs. It is a natural process of accumulating temporary files that the system and applications create to speed up access to data. However, over time, this data begins to occupy a significant amount of internal memory, causing conflicts and reduced device performance.
Regularly cleaning your cache is one of the most effective prevention measures to keep your gadget running. Unlike a full reset, this procedure is safe for personal photos, contacts and documents. Below we will discuss in detail all the available methods for removing temporary debris on your Redmi K20 (global version of the Mi 9 T).
Many users mistakenly believe that deleting the cache leads to loss of important settings or progress in games. In fact, the cache is only a temporary clipboard that will automatically recreate the next time an application is launched, but in a “clean” form. Understanding the difference between memory types will help you manage your smartphone resources competently.
Why you need to clean the cache on Xiaomi Mi 9 T
Modern operating systems, including the MIUI shell, are using caching to keep things running smoothly. Applications save thumbnails of images, interface elements and intermediate data so they don't load them all over again, which reduces the CPU load and saves traffic, but inevitably inflates the volume.
When space becomes critically scarce, the system starts to run slower, artifacts may appear or sudden program closures.Cache clearing allows you to instantly free up 500 MB to several gigabytes of space. This is especially true for the Mi 9 T model, which, despite its powerful hardware, is sensitive to system partition filling.
In addition, corrupted cache files often cause errors in the operation of specific applications. If YouTube or Instagram stopped opening or work incorrectly, deleting temporary data often solves the problem faster than reinstalling the program.
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Clean up the messaging cache (Telegram, WhatsApp) regularly, as they accumulate gigabytes of media files, even if you have already viewed them.
It's important to distinguish between "clean the cache" and "clean the data." The first action is safe and only removes debris. The second action returns the application to state immediately after installation, removing logins, passwords and settings inside the program.
Cleaning the cache through the standard Security app
The easiest and safest way for the average user is to use a built-in system tool, which is called "Security" in MIUI firmware, and has a green icon with a shield, which requires no deep knowledge and eliminates the risk of removing something superfluous.
To start, open the menu of all apps and find the Security icon. Run the scan by clicking on the big button in the center of the screen. The system will automatically analyze the memory status and find the amount of temporary files available for removal.
☑️ Security system inspection
Once you've done the analysis, you'll see a list of categories of garbage. Click on "Cash" or "Clean up" to see the details, and you can selectively delete the data or clean it up at once by clicking the corresponding button at the bottom of the screen.
⚠️ Note: The Security app sometimes comes across "safe" files that the system suggests you delete for speed. Read the category names carefully so you don't accidentally delete the cache of apps that are important to you if you want to keep them in a state.
Xiaomi algorithms know which files can be deleted without affecting the stability of the Mi 9 T. It is recommended to perform this procedure once a week to maintain optimal speed.
Manually cleaning the cache of individual applications
If the problem is only in one program, for example, only the browser or gallery brakes, there is no point in cleaning the entire phone. Android provides the possibility of individual cleaning for each installed software.
Go to the Settings menu on your smartphone. Find the Apps section, then select All Apps. In the list that opens, look for a problem program, such as Google Chrome or VK.
Inside the app menu, you'll see a memory or storage button, and by clicking on it, you'll get access to two important functions: Clear cache and Clear everything. Select the first option to securely delete temporary files.
What to do if the cleaning button is inactive?
This method is especially useful for social networks and instant messengers, which are prone to proliferation. By deleting the Telegram cache manually, you can free up a few gigabytes without losing correspondence, since it is stored on the server.
It’s worth noting that after this cleaning, the app can open a little longer on its first run, as it will have to re-form basic temporary files.
Using Developer Mode for Advanced Users
For Xiaomi Mi 9 T owners who want to gain deeper control over the system, the developer menu is available, which allows you to manage the cache more flexibly, including resetting application preferences.
To activate this mode, go to Settings → About Phone. Find the MIUI version string and quickly click on it 7 times in a row. The system will tell you that you have become a developer.
Now, a new Developers option will appear in the Advanced Settings menu, scroll down to the Apps section, and you can find the option to force all processes to stop or reset access rights, which indirectly affects the clearance of system dependencies.
| Function | Description | Cache impact |
|---|---|---|
| Not to keep up the action | Destroying activity immediately after exit | High (constant cleaning) |
| Limit of background processes | Limiting the number of employees in the background of programs | Average (reduces the amount of RAM) |
| Resetting preference settings | Return of all rights and settings of applications | Low (configuration reset) |
Using these settings requires caution, and changing settings like “Do not save action” can cause applications to constantly reboot, consuming more battery.
The main purpose of this section is to make it clear that memory management in MIUI is multifaceted, but standard methods are usually sufficient to clean the cache easily.
Cache Clearing in Recovery Mode (Dalvik Cache)
The deepest cleanup is possible through Recovery mode, where you can remove the Dalvik and ART cache, which contains optimized files to run applications, which is useful after major system updates.
To enter this mode, turn off the phone completely. Then press the Volume Up and Power buttons simultaneously. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, continuing to keep the volume.
In the Recovery menu, you can navigate with volume buttons and you can choose with a power button. Find Wipe Data, then select Wipe Cache. Confirm the action.
⚠️ Note: In the Recovery menu, select items carefully. "Wipe All Data" will delete all your files completely".
Once the procedure is complete, select Reboot to restart.The first system launch will take longer than usual, as the Xiaomi Mi 9 T will re-optimize all installed applications.
Automation of the process with third-party utilities
If manual cleaning seems tedious, you can use specialized software. Apps like SD Maid or Files by Google can find hidden debris that a standard cleaner misses.
Install the selected application from Google Play, give the necessary permissions to access files, run a scan and allow the program to remove the remnants of deleted applications and empty folders.
However, it is worth remembering that aggressive cleaners can consume battery resources themselves, and often the built-in MIUI functionality is enough to keep the system clean without installing additional software.
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The best optimization is the absence of junk antivirus applications and cleaners that load the system themselves.
Use third-party utilities only for deep file system analysis, not for daily background work.This will save your Mi 9 T battery life.