Cache Clearing on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9: A Complete Guide for All Versions of MIUI

Why should Redmi Note 9 cache be cleaned regularly?

Cache is temporary files that create apps and a system to speed things up. On the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 with its 4/6GB of RAM and 64/128GB of storage, the cache can take up to 5-15GB in a year of active use. This not only eats up precious space, but also leads to:

✔ Slowing down the interface — MIUI Begins to “slow down” when switching between applications.

✔ Overheating of the processor - Snapdragon 720G forced to process the clogged temporary data.

✔ Failures – apps crash or fail to open (especially for WhatsApp, Instagram and gaming).

✔ Fast discharge of the battery - background cleaning of the cache consumes up to 10-15% day-load.

The manufacturer claims that MIUI optimizes the cache itself, but in practice, manual cleaning is required every 2-3 months.

• 📱 Actively use social networks (TikTok, Facebook)
• 🎮 Install heavy games (Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile)
• 📷 You're filming in 4K or 1080p@60fps
• 🔄 Frequently update the firmware through OTA

In this article, 5 proven methods of cleaning the cache, including hidden methods for power users, all instructions are tested on the Redmi Note 9 with MIUI 12.5-14 (including global and Chinese versions).

Method 1: Clearing the cache of individual applications

The safest method is to remove cache for specific programs, which will not delete your data (photos, messages, save in games), but will free up space and eliminate errors.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select Sort by size.
3. In the list, find apps with large cache (usually Google Play Services, YouTube, Chrome, MIUI Gallery).
4. Select the application → Storage → Clear the cache.

🔹 Which apps to clean first?

⚠️ Warning: Do not clear the cache for Google Play Store and Google Play Services too often - this can lead to app update errors.Optimum: 1 time in 3 months.

Close all background applications |Check the vacant space (should be ≥1 GB) |Do not back up important data |Do not clear the cache of system applications without the need-->

Method 2: Automatic cleaning through “Safety”

MIUI has a built-in tool for system optimization, the Security app (or Security in global versions), which not only cleans the cache, but also removes unnecessary files, remnants of deleted programs and duplicates.

How to use:

1. Open the Security app (the shield icon).
2. Go to the Optimization or Cleaner tab.
3. Press Check (or Scan) and wait for analysis.
4. In the results, select Garbage Files → Clean.

🔹 What removes this tool?

• 🗑️ Application cache and systems
• 📁 Temporary files APK (post-instalment)
• 🔍 Log files (log files)
• 📂 Empty folders and duplicate media files

⚠️ Note: If photos from the gallery are missing after cleaning through Security, check the folder MIUI/Backup/RecentlyDeleted — Sometimes files are moved there instead of being deleted.

💡

After automatic cleaning, restart your smartphone – this will allow MIUI to recalculate the free space and avoid “phantom” busy gigabytes.

Method 3: Cleaning Dalvik cache (for power users)

Dalvik cache is an optimized file for the Android virtual machine that speeds up the launch of applications.

• 🐢 The phone is slowing down after the update. MIUI
• 🔄 Applications are constantly restarted
• 📱 The smartphone is overheating for no apparent reason

🔹 How to Clean Dalvik Cache:

1. Turn off the Redmi Note 9.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo (Recovery mode) appears.
3. Choose your language (if required).
4. Go to Advanced. → Wipe Dalvik Cache.
5. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.
6. Choose Reboot. → Reboot to System.

⚠️ Warning: Cleaning the Dalvik cache does not delete user data, but the first start after the procedure will take 2-3 minutes longer than usual (the system will restore the cache again).

Method 4: Manually Delete Cache Through File Manager

If standard methods don’t work, you can manually delete the cache through the file manager, which is suitable for removing remnants of remote applications or cache that the system “does not see”.

Instructions:

1. Open Files (or any other file manager, such as Solid Explorer)
2. Go to /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/.
3. Find folders with app names (e.g. com.facebook.katana for Facebook).
4. Inside each folder, remove the cache subfolder.

🔹 What folders can be removed safely?

⚠️ Note: Do not delete folders called com.android. or com.xiaomi. MIUI. Their damage can lead to a “brick” of the device (complete inoperability).

💡

Manually clearing the cache through the file manager is the most efficient way to free up space, but it requires caution. Always check folder names before deleting!

Method 5: Cache reset via ADB (for advanced)

If you're familiar with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can clear the cache of all applications with one command.

• 📵 The phone does not respond to touch (but connects to the PC)
• 🔧 You need to clear the cache of system applications that are not displayed in the settings
• 📊 Mass cleaning is required without manual selection of each application

🔹 Step-by-step instruction:

1. Download and install Google’s Platform Tools.
2. Turn on USB Debugging on Redmi Note 9: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (Tap 7 times) Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging on USB
3. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line in the adb folder.
4. Enter a command to clear the cache of all applications: adb shell pm trim-caches 100G (where 100G is the maximum cache size that can be cleaned).

🔹 Additional useful teams ADB:

• 📊 See the cache size of all applications: adb shell dumpsys meminfo | grep "Cache"
• 🧹 Clear the cache of a specific application (e.g. Chrome): adb shell pm clear com.android.chrome

⚠️ Note: pm clear not only removes the cache, but also all application data (as in reinstallation:

adb shell pm trim-caches {app package}

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Clearing the cache seems like a simple procedure, but many Redmi Note 9 users are facing problems due to the wrong actions.

🔹 1.Photos disappear after cleaning

📌 Reason: Annex MIUI Gallery sometimes saves thumbnails of photos in cache, and when it is cleaned, the pictures can disappear from the gallery (although they physically remain on the phone).

🔧 Solution: Open the Files → So, you can see if the images are showing up there, and if you do, reboot the phone, and the gallery will restore the thumbnails.

🔹 2 Applications have become slower

📌 Reason: After cleaning the cache, applications need time to recreate it. The first 1-2 launches may be slower than usual.

🔧 Solution: Wait 10-15 minutes and restart your phone. If the lags are left, check the space available (should be available). ≥ 1.5 GB).

🔹 3. The cache of system applications is not deleted

📌 Reason: MIUI Blocks cache clearance for critical services (e.g. Google Play Services or Google Play Services) MIUI System).

🔧 Solution: Use ADB (method 5) or disable the application through Settings → Annexes → Show it all. → Disable (if possible).

🔹 4.After cleaning the Dalvik cache, the phone does not turn on

📌 Reason: Cleaning process interrupted or not enough space to recover cache.

🔧 Solution: Go to Recovery and select Wipe Cache Partition (not to be confused with Wipe Data!). If it doesn't work, reset to factory settings.

💡

If your phone starts to drain faster after cleaning the cache, check Google Play Services in the battery settings. Sometimes restarting it solves the problem.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions