Cleaning up the app cache on Xiaomi Redmi: a complete guide with instructions and warnings

The app cache on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is temporary files that help programs load and run faster. However, over time, they accumulate, taking up precious space in the device’s memory and even slowing it down. If your Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or another model started to slow down, and there is only a few gigabytes of free space left, the problem is most likely in cache.

In this article, we’ll break down all the current ways to clean up cache on Xiaomi (including hidden methods through Recovery and ADB), explain when it’s really necessary and when you can do without radical measures, and learn which apps eat the most cache and how to automate the cleaning process so you don’t do it manually every month.

Why do I need to clean up the cache on Xiaomi Redmi?

Cache isn't always evil. It speeds up the launch of commonly used apps (like Instagram, YouTube, or Google Maps) by storing pieces of data on the device. But there are a few reasons why it should be cleaned regularly:

• 📉 Lack of memory: cache can take up to 5–10 GB on devices with 64/128 GB drive, especially if you actively use social networks and instant messengers.
• 🐢 Slowdown: Fragmented cache makes the processor process requests longer, leading to lags.
• 🔄 Application errors: corrupted cache files can cause crashes (for example, TikTok or Telegram departures).
• 🔒 Privacy: Some apps store personal data in cache (for example, thumbnails of photos from chat rooms).

However, do not clean the cache daily, this will lead to the opposite effect: applications will have to reload data, which will increase traffic consumption and latency, the optimal frequency is 1 time every 1-2 months or when there are clear signs of system overload.

⚠️ Caution: Clearing the cache does not delete your accounts, messages or media files; it only resets temporary data, such as YouTube browsing history or uploaded maps to Google Maps.

Method 1: Clearing the cache of individual applications through settings

The easiest and safest method is to remove cache for specific programs, which is suitable if you notice that only one application (for example, Facebook or VKontakte) is slowing down.

Instructions for MIUI 14/13/12:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want (like Chrome or WhatsApp).
3. Click Warehouse (or Memory in older versions of MIUI).
4. Tap Clear Cache (not to be confused with Clear Data button – it will delete all app settings!).

For convenience, you can sort applications by cache size:

• 📊 In the Application Management section, click on three dots (⋮) top-right.
• 🔍 Select Sort. → By size.
• 🗑️ Now, the top of the list will be the programs with the largest cache (usually Google Play Services, MIUI System or messengers).

Some system applications (e.g. com.miui.home – launcher) MIUI) They don't have a cache clearing button. They'll need to use methods 3 or 4 from this article.

Method 2: Mass cleaning the cache of all applications

If you need to free up space quickly and manually clean each application for a long time, use the built-in MIUI function:

1. Go to Settings → Memory (or Storage in new versions).
2. Click Clean in the Cash section of the applications.
3. Confirm the action by waiting for the process to be completed (may take 1-3 minutes).

This method removes the cache of all user applications, but does not affect system files.

• 🔄 Applications will be loaded longer on the first run.
• 📶 Mobile traffic will increase (data will have to be reloaded).
• 📱 Some settings (such as the theme of the design in Instagram) will reset.

⚠️ Attention: if after mass cleaning of the cache, the smartphone began to work even slower, it may be a problem in the fragmentation of memory. → Memory. → Optimization) or reset to factory settings.

Method 3: Clearing the cache with Recovery Mode (for power users)

If the smartphone is slowing down a lot and standard methods don't work, you can use Recovery Mode, which removes the cache of all applications, including system ones, and can help with:

• 🔄 Hanging after update MIUI.
• 📵 Persistent errors such as "Application stopped".
• 🦠 Suspicions of damaged cache files.

Instructions:

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select a language (e.g. English).
4. Go to Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
5. Confirm the action and wait for the completion (it will take 2-5 minutes).
6. Choose Reboot. → Reboot to System.

This method doesn’t delete user data, but resets some system settings (e.g., regional settings). If after a reboot, the smartphone requests a password from Mi Account, enter it — that’s fine.

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If your smartphone still slows down after cleaning the cache through Recovery, try resetting the Dalvik Cache settings (available in custom TWRP recavators).

Method 4: Cleaning the cache through ADB (for advanced users)

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

• 🔧 You need to clear the cache of system applications (for example, com.miui.home).
• 🤖 You want to automate the process through script.
• 📱 You have root access and need deep cleansing.

Instructions:

1. Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times, then go back to Additional Settings → For Developers).
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission.
3. Open the Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb shell pm list packages -f | grep cache | awk '{print $2}' | xargs -n1 adb shell pm clear

This command consistently clears the cache of all applications. To clear the cache of a particular application, use:

adb shell pm clear com.android.chrome

(Replace com.android.chrome with the desired application package).

⚠️ Note: pm clear commands delete not only the cache, but also all application data (like the Clear Data button in the settings). 9999G This command forcibly releases the cache of all applications without affecting user data. Method 5: Automatically clear the cache using third-party applications If you are lazy to clean the cache manually, you can use the utilities from Google Play. Best Options for Xiaomi Redmi: App Pros and Cons SD Maid Deep Cache Cleanup, Garbage Search, Defragmentation Works without root, supports the Paid version for advanced CCleaner Cache Cleanup, History, Temporary Files Simple interface, RAM optimization Ads in the free version of Files by Google Cache Cleanup, duplicates, Big files Official application from Google, Safe Does not clean the system cache Xiaomi Cleaner Optimization for MIUI, Cleaning garbage Integration with the system, no advertising Not always removes the cache completely Before using third-party cleaners: 🔍 Check reviews and rankings on Google Play (avoid apps with a score below 4.0). 🛡️ Do not give applications administrator rights or access to Accessibility Service without the need to. 📊 Compare the amount of freed memory before and after cleaning (sometimes programs show inflated figures). 💡Cache cleaners can remove not only garbage, but also useful files (for example, uploaded maps to Google Maps or offline playlists in Spotify). Always check what is deleted before confirming. What if cleaning the cache did not help? If after all the manipulations the smartphone still brakes, and the memory quickly ends, the problem may be deeper. Consider possible causes and solutions: Symptoms Possible cause Decision Memory is filled in for 1–2 Background activity of apps (such as Facebook or TikTok) Limit background activity in Settings → Battery → Selection of Laga applications when opening applications Memory fragmentation or damaged partition /data Perform reset to factory settings or re-marking through TWRP Heating and fast battery discharge Virus or mining bot in the background Check smartphone antivirus (Malwarebytes or Dr.Web) Errors such as "Insufficient memory" if it is available Damaged file system Run fsck through ADB Or reflash the device if none of the methods worked, there may be a problem in the hardware (for example, worn flash memory: 📊 Check the health of the drive with the help AIDA64 (storage → Status of memory). 🔧 Contact Xiaomi Service Center for Diagnostics. FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning the cache on Xiaomi Redmi ❓ Can I clean the cache of system applications (e.g. com.miui.home)? Yes, but only through ADB You can't do this manually through the settings. Be careful: cleaning the cache of system applications can cause malfunctions. MIUI (For example, the disappearance of icons on the desktop). ❓ Why do applications load long after cleaning the cache? That's normal: applications have to reload data from the servers. After 1-2 launches, the speed will recover. To speed up the process, connect to Wi-Fi and open the desired programs alternately. ❓ How to clear the Google Play Services cache without consequences?Cleaning the Google Play Services cache is safe, but can result in: Temporary loss of sync of Google Account. Google Maps or Gmail errors. To avoid problems, after cleaning, restart your smartphone and wait for automatic service updates. ❓ How much space will be freed up after cleaning the cache? Depends on the model and number of installed applications: Redmi Note 12 / POCO X5: 1.5-4 GB Redmi 10 / POCO M4: 800MB-2GB Older models (Redmi 7, Note 8): 300-1GB. The longer you don’t clear the cache, the more space will be freed up. ❓ Can we turn off app caching altogether? Technically, but it's not recommended at all. Cache speeds up applications and reduces the load on the processor. If you turn it off completely: Applications will load longer. Mobile traffic will increase. Some features (such as offline cards) will stop working, instead it is better to clean the cache regularly (every 1-2 months) and monitor the background activity of applications.