Xiaomi Redmi 9T — It's a popular smartphone with a balance of performance and price, but even it slows down over time, and one of the main reasons is crowded cache, which is temporary files that accumulate when apps run, surf the Internet, and update the system. If you don’t clean them regularly, your phone may slow down, overheat, or even make mistakes.
In this article you will find 5 Proven methods of cleaning cache on Redmi 9T — From manually cleaning individual applications to deep optimization of system files, we'll also look at what types of cache exist, why they can't be deleted all over, and what to do if the phone gets worse after cleaning. MIUI 12/13/14 newer versions.
Before proceeding, check the free space in memory: go to Settings → The phone. → Memory: If you have more than 1-2 GB of cache, you have to act, but remember, cleaning up the Dalvik cache with Recovery can cause you to initially boot up the system longer than usual, which is normal and doesn't require panic.
1.What is cache and why should it be cleaned on Redmi 9T
Cache is a temporary file that creates apps and a system to speed up its work, for example, when you open Instagram, it saves thumbnails of photos so that it can show them faster the next time it runs, and it does the same with web pages in your browser, maps in Google Maps, and even system processes.
On the Redmi. 9T cache is divided into three types:
- 📱 Application cache – files of individual programs (for example, YouTube or Telegram cache).
- 🖥️ System cache - data MIUI Android, including updates, logs and temporary kernel files.
- 🔄 Dalvik cache – Optimized versions of installed applications for fast download (stored in the section) /cache).
Why is this becoming a problem?
- ⚠️ Slowdown: Overflowing cache makes the system waste time searching for the right files among the trash.
- 🔋 Increased battery consumption: Processor takes longer to process unnecessary data.
- 📉 Memory shortage: On Redmi 9T s 64/128 GB cache can take up to 5–10 GB, blocking space for photos and apps.
⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse cache with app data! Cache cleaning won't delete your accounts, messages, or settings. Here's a data cleanup (Storage) → Clear the data) will reset the application to the factory state.
How often do you clean the cache?
- 📅 Application cache – every 1-2 months or when a specific program is slowed down.
- 🖥️ System cache - once every 3-6 months.
- 🔄 Dalvik cache - only for serious lags or after updating MIUI.
2. Method 1: Clearing the cache of individual applications
The safest method is to remove the cache of only those programs that take up the most space or are unstable, which does not affect system files and does not require rebooting.
Instructions:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Sort by size.
- Select an app (such as Facebook or Google Play Services).
- Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
Which apps are cleaned first?
- 📷 Social media: Instagram, TikTok, VK — Gigabytes of miniatures and video are being accumulated.
- 🎮 Games: PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact – Cache Textures and Levels.
- 🌍 Maps and navigators: Google Maps, Yandex.Maps – save offline maps and routes.
- 📺 Streaming services: YouTube, Twitch - caching videos for smooth viewing.
⚠️ Please note: Do not clear the Google Play Services cache and MIUI System Unnecessarily – This can lead to account sync errors and system failures.
If the application becomes worse after cleaning the cache (for example, it loads data for a long time), just restart it.
Check the space in the memory.|Close all background applications|Make a backup copy of important data|Do not clear the cache of system applications without the need-->
3. Method 2: Mass cleaning of cache of all applications
If you don’t want to clean each app separately, MIUI There's a built-in mass-cleaning tool that removes the cache of all user programs, but it doesn't touch the system files.
How to do this:
- Go to Settings. → Memory.
- Slip on Clear the cache (usually displayed at the bottom of the screen with volume, for example, "1.2 GB").
- Confirm the action by pressing OK.
What happens during mass cleaning:
- ✅ Temporary files of all user applications are deleted.
- ❌ Application data (save games, messages, settings) are not affected).
- ⚠️ Some programs may be loaded longer than usual when they are next run (for example, WhatsApp will cache stickers again).
How much space will be available? Depends on the number of applications installed. Redmi averages. 9T Mass cleaning frees up from 500 MB to 3 GB.
| Type of data | Removed? | Effects of consequences |
|---|---|---|
| Cash app. | ✅ Yes. | Applications can be loaded longer on first run |
| Application data | ❌ No. | Accounts, messages and settings will be maintained |
| System cache | ❌ No. | A separate cleaning is required (see Method 4). |
| Dalvik cache | ❌ No. | Removed only through Recovery |
If the phone is slowing down after a mass cleanup, it's temporary. The system will restore the necessary cache files within a day. If the problem persists, try other methods from this article.
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After mass cleaning the cache, restart the phone – it will help MIUI correctly calculate the free space.
Method 3: Cleaning the system cache through Recovery
System cache (/cache) store temporary files MIUI, including update data, error logs and optimized libraries, and cleaning it helps with the:
- 🐢 Strong interface lags.
- 🔄 Freezes during system updates.
- 📱 Errors like “Settings app stopped».
You'll need to go to Recovery mode. 9T It's done this way:
- Turn off the phone.
- Press the power button. + Increase volume and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
- Release the buttons. In a few seconds, the Recovery menu will open.
- Use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.
- Select the Wipe & Reset option → Wipe Cache.
- Confirm the action and wait until it is completed (usually takes 1-2 minutes).
- Select Reboot → Reboot to System to reboot.
⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse Wipe Cache with Wipe Data! The second item (Factory Reset) will completely reset your phone to factory settings, deleting all your data.
What happens after cleaning the system cache:
- 🔄 First download. MIUI It may take 1-2 minutes longer, that’s normal.
- ⚡ There may be minor bugs in the interface (for example, missing app icons on the desktop), which will fix after the restart.
- 📱 Some system applications (such as Camera or Gallery) may request permissions again.
This method is safe, but you should not use it more than once every 3-6 months. Frequent cleaning of the system cache can lead to memory fragmentation and performance deterioration.
What happens if Recovery does not open?
5. Method 4: Cleaning Dalvik cache (for power users)
Dalvik cache is an optimized version of installed applications that create a virtual machine Android Runtime (ART). Cleaning it can help if you:
- 📱 The phone is slowing down after the update. MIUI.
- 🔄 Apps are crashed with the error “Stop».
- 📉 The memory is filled with unknown (in Settings) → Memory is visible in a large section "System»).
To clean the Dalvik cache, you need to go to the custom Recovery (for example, TWRP), Xiaomi's standard Recovery doesn't provide this feature. TWRP, follow the instructions:
- Boot in. TWRP (usually + Volume up).
- Choose Advanced → Wipe Dalvik Cache.
- Confirm the swipe action (if required).
- Reboot the phone.
If TWRP not installed, you can clear Dalvik cache through ADB:
adb shell
su
rm -r /data/dalvik-cache/*
reboot⚠️ Attention: Cleaning the Dalvik cache will lead to an initial optimization of all applications at the next launch. This can take up to 10-15 minutes (the phone will “hang” with the words “App Optimization!
When should I resort to this method?
- 🔧 Unless other ways have helped.
- 📱 Only if you are sure that the problem is in the Dalvik cache (for example, after a failed update).
- ⚠️ Not more than once a year.
After cleaning the Dalvik cache:
- 📱 The phone will run slower in the first few hours, which is normal.
- 🔋 Battery consumption may temporarily increase (due to re-optimization).
- 📲 Some applications may request permissions again.
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Cleaning Dalvik cache is a last resort, and 90% of the time, it is enough to clean the application cache and system cache through standard Recovery.
6. Method 5: Automatically cleansing the cache with the help of MIUI Optimizer
If you are too lazy to clean the cache manually, in MIUI There's a built-in optimizer that can do this automatically, and it's called Memory Cleanup, and it runs in the background.
How to turn on:
- Go to Settings. → Annexes → Cleanup.
- Activate the Auto Cleanup slider.
- Click Auto Clean Settings and select:
The advantages of automatic cleaning:
- ✅ You don't have to bemember doing it manually.
- ✅ Cleaning takes place in the background without interfering with work.
- ✅ You can set a schedule (for example, at night).
Cons:
- ❌ Sometimes removes the cache of the desired applications (for example, offline maps in Google Maps).
- ❌ Can close background processes (e.g. music on Spotify).
- ❌ Does not clean system and Dalvik cache.
If you notice that some applications are not working properly after automatic cleaning, turn it off and go back to manual methods.
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Turn it on in the settings. MIUI Adaptive Cleanup (same menu) analyzes your habits and only closes apps you rarely use.
7.What to do if after cleaning the cache the phone began to work worse
In rare cases, after cleaning the cache (especially system or Dalvik) Redmi 9T It can start to "glut": slow to open applications, overheat or even give out errors:
Problem 1: Phone is severely braked after cleaning Dalvik cache
- 🕒 Wait 1-2 hours – the system will restore the necessary files.
- 🔄 Reboot your phone (sometimes double reboot helps).
- 📱 If the brakes are retained, check for free space in memory (less than 10% of the free space can cause lags).
Problem 2: Applications are constantly rebooting
- 🔧 Clear the cache of a particular application again (Settings) → Annexes → [name] → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
- 📲 Reinstall the problem app.
- 🔄 Turn off Adaptive Cleaning in Settings MIUI.
Problem 3: Part of the data is missing (photos, messages)
- ⚠️ This means that you have not cleared the cache, but the application data. Try to restore files through Google Photos or backup.
- 📱 Check the Recycle Bin folder in the Gallery (deleted files are stored there for 30 days).
Problem 4: The phone is overheating
- 🔥 This is normal in the first hours after cleaning the Dalvik cache (application optimization is underway).
- 📵 Close all background apps and let the phone cool down.
- 🔋 Check charging - sometimes overheating is associated with a faulty cable.
If none of the tips helped, perhaps the problem is not the cache, but in:
- 📱 Overflowing memory (free up space).
- 🔋 Worn-out battery (check battery health in Settings) → Battery → Battery status).
- 🖥️ Damaged firmware (update) MIUI last-minute).