How to completely clear the cache on Xiaomi Redmi: from system files to applications

Cache on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are temporary files that help applications and the system run faster. However, over time, they accumulate, taking up precious space in memory and slowing down the device. If your Redmi Note 12, Redmi 10 or other model began to slow down, spontaneously reboot or emit errors like “Not enough memory”, the problem is likely to be in the cache.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible cleanups, from standard MIUI tools to hidden features for power users, how to remove the cache of individual applications, clean system temporary files, and what to do if the phone starts to work even worse after cleaning, and focus on models with hybrid memory (such as the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G), where the cache can eat up to 30% of the total storage.

1. Clearing the cache of individual applications through settings

The safest way is to delete temporary files for specific programs, which won’t affect their performance, but will free up from 50 MB to several GB of memory depending on the application, for example, TikTok or YouTube cache can take up to 1-2 GB, and games like Genshin Impact can take up all 5-7 GB.

How to do this:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management
• 🔍 Enter the program name in the search bar (such as “WhatsApp”) or scroll through the list manually.
• 🗑️ Press "Storage" → "Clear cache" (not to be confused with "Clear data" - this will delete all application settings!)
• 🔄 System applications (e.g., "Gallery") may require password or fingerprint confirmation.

On Redmi models with MIUI 14 and later, the path has changed a little: Settings → Applications → Permissions → Storage. You can also sort programs by the size of the cache you occupy by clicking on the filter icon in the upper right corner.

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If the app gets slower after cleaning the cache, that's OK, and the temporary files will be recreated the next time you run, but at the optimal volume.

2. Automatic cleaning of the cache through "Security"

MIUI has an integrated Optimization tool that can delete unnecessary files in one click, and it analyzes the system and suggests that you clean up:

• 🧹 Application cache (including hidden system cache)
• 🗃️ Temporary download files
• 📁 Empty folders and duplicates
• 🔍 Residual files after deleting programs

Instructions:

1. Launch the Security app (Icon with Shield)
2. Go to the "Optimization" tab → "Deep cleaning"
3. Wait until the scan is completed (may take 1-3 minutes)
4. Click "Clean" and confirm the action.

On Redmi with MIUI 13 and older, the feature is called Accelerate and is in the same Security app. Note: the tool does not remove the cache of Google Play Services and other critical system processes - they will require manual cleaning (more on this below).

3. Clean the system cache through Recovery Mode

If the phone is slowing down a lot and standard methods don't work, you'll have to remove the system cache through the recovery mode, which is suitable for all Redmi models, including the Redmi 9A, Redmi Note 10 Pro and later. Importantly, the procedure doesn't delete user data, but resets some system settings (for example, regional settings).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power Button + Volume Up at the same time and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select the language (English / Chinese) and go to "Wipe & Reset"
4. Select "Wipe Cache" (not "Wipe All Data" - it's a complete reset!)
5. Confirm the action and wait until the completion (it will take 2-5 minutes)
6. Reboot your phone via Reboot" → "Reboot to System"

Once you restart, the system will create a new cache, and the phone should run faster. If you don't have a "Wipe Cache" in Recovery, you have custom firmware installed, in which case use the adb shell recovery command. --wipe_cache computer.

4. Manually clear cache through file manager

For advanced users, there is a way to manually delete cache by gaining access to hidden folders, which will help clear files that are not visible through standard settings, such as the Google Play Market cache or residual data after deleting apps.

How to find and remove cache:

• 📂 Open any file manager (such as Xiaomi Files or Solid Explorer)
• 🔍 Go to the folder. /storage/emulated/0/Android/data — Here is stored cached application data
• 🧹 Delete folders with the names of unnecessary programs (for example, com.facebook.katana for Facebook)
• 🔄 For the system cache, go to /data/local/tmp (Root rights are required)

Be careful: deleting files from /data or /system folders without root permissions can cause failures. If you are not sure, you should use specialized utilities like SD Maid or CCleaner (but only from official sources!).

Make a backup copy of important data|Use only verified file managers|Do not delete folders with com.android names.*|After cleaning, restart the phone.-->

5. Clearing the Dalvik and ART cache (to speed up the system)

Dalvik cache (on older versions of Android) and ART (on newer versions) is responsible for optimizing the application. Cleaning it can speed up the phone significantly, especially if you install/remove programs often, but it will require an unlocked bootloader and root access.

Cleaning methods:

After cleaning the ART/Dalvik cache, it can take up to 10-15 minutes for the phone to launch first, which is normal because the system will recompile all applications. On Redmi models with Snapdragon processors (such as the Redmi K50), the cleaning effect will be more noticeable than on budget chips like the Helio G88.

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Cleaning Dalvik/ART cache is the most productive, but requires technical skills. For beginners, it is better to limit yourself to standard methods.

6.How to Clear the Cache of Google Play Services and Other System Apps

System applications like Google Play Services, Mi Account or Security also accumulate cache, but you can't delete it in the standard way.

For Google Play Services:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications
2. Find Google Play Services and open Storage
3. Click on “Space Management” → “Clear all data” (this will also reset geolocation and notification settings!)

For Mi Account and other Xiaomi apps:

• 🔧 Use it. ADB-command:adb shell pm clear com.xiaomi.account
• 🛠️ Install a patch through Magisk (e.g., "Disable Miui Analytics") that blocks cache accumulation.

Once system applications are cleaned, it may be necessary to re-authorize Google and Xiaomi accounts, and on models with MIUI Global (for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G), this method works more stable than on Chinese firmware.

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If push notifications stop working after cleaning Google Play Services, restart your phone and check your sync settings in your Google account.

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

In rare cases, cleaning the cache can lead to:

• 🐢 Slowing down even more (the system spends resources on re-creating temporary files)
• 🔄 Reboots (especially on Redmi with a 3/32 GB memory)
• 🚫 Application errors (e.g., “Application has stopped")

Decisions:

⚠️ Note: If after cleaning the cache Dalvik/ART The phone stayed on the Mi logo for longer. 20 minutes - forcefully restart it by holding the power button on 15+ Wait at least a second for the next turn on. 30 minute.

• 🔄 Reboot your phone (for models with 4GB of RAM and less, this often solves the problem)
• 📥 Update the firmware through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system
• 🛠️ Reset to factory settings (if brakes are critical) via Settings → The phone. → Resetting settings
• 🔧 For Redmi with MIUI 12.5+ Try to disable "Optimization" MIUI" developer-setting

If problems persist, check the free space in the /data section via ADB:

adb shell df -h /data

If less than 1 GB is free, you will have to remove unnecessary applications or transfer files to a memory card.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning cache on Xiaomi Redmi