How to Clean Cache on Xiaomi Redmi 9: The Complete Guide

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 9 will sooner or later face slowdowns or lack of free space, often caused by accumulated cache of applications and system services, which takes up gigabytes of memory, and cleaning these temporary files is a safe and effective way to return the device to its former sharpness without losing personal data.

Unlike a full factory reset, this procedure doesn't affect your photos, contacts or installed programs.Cache clearing only removes temporary files created to speed up loading of frequently used items.Understanding how to properly manage this data will allow you to keep the Redmi 9 in optimal condition throughout its life.

In this article, we will take a look at all the cleaning methods available, from standard MIUI tools to advanced developer features, which folders can be manually deleted and which ones should not be touched, and why RAM can be occupied even after all programs are closed.

What is a cache and why does it fill up memory?

Cache is a region of RAM or permanent memory reserved for temporary data storage. When you run an application, such as a social network or browser, the system stores certain interface elements and logs to that area, so that when you start it again, the program opens faster and consumes less CPU resources.

But over time, these temporary files can grow to enormous sizes, and some applications, especially video services and instant messengers, do not have an automatic mechanism to delete old data, and as a result, the Xiaomi Redmi 9 starts to work slower, as the system has to scan huge amounts of junk files.

It is important to distinguish between the app cache and the system cache. The former can be cleaned selectively or massively through settings. The latter contains data about the Android operating system and the MIUI shell. Cleaning it requires a more careful approach, but is often necessary after major firmware updates.

⚠️ Caution: Clearing the cache does not delete your logins, passwords or game progress.However, in some cases, the app may require re-authorization on the first run after cleaning.

There is a myth that constantly cleaning the cache prolongs the life of the battery. In fact, if you delete files too often, the processor will have to recreate them, which can lead to the opposite effect - increased charge consumption in the first minutes of operation.

Standard cleaning through the Security app

The easiest and safest way to free up space on the Xiaomi Redmi 9 is to use a built-in system tool. MIUI shell comes with a pre-installed app that automatically scans the device for debris, a method ideal for regular preventive maintenance.

To get started, look for an icon on your desktop called Security (green shield). Launch the app and wait for the automatic check to be completed. The system will analyze the status of memory, viruses and hidden threats. Click on Clean or Clear to delete temporary files found.

Once you've done the basic cleaning, you're encouraged to go to the Cleanup in-app section, and here you'll see more detailed statistics about what exactly takes up space, and the system will suggest you delete large files, duplicate photos, and of course, the app cache, and you can selectively mark the items you want to delete, or you can clean everything at once.

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Use the Deep Clean feature in the Security app once a week to remove residual files from remote applications.

The advantage of this method is that it's simple and integrated with the system, so you don't have to search for hidden menus or enter complex commands, but it's worth remembering that the standard tool doesn't always find the cache of all running processes, so sometimes you need to manually tweak the settings of specific programs.

Manually cleaning the cache of specific applications

If you notice that a particular program, like YouTube or Telegram, takes up a disproportionate amount of space, then you can force the cache to be cleared, and this method allows you to pinpoint gigabytes of space without affecting other parts of the system, and this is especially true for multimedia applications.

To do this, go to the Settings menu of your Xiaomi Redmi 9. Find the Apps section and select All Apps. You will see the full list of installed software. Find the program you want (you can search from above) and click on it.

In the app management menu that opens, look for the Memory or Storage button, and inside you'll see two main buttons: Clear cache and Clear everything (or Reset). You need the first button. Clicking Clear everything will also delete authorization and settings, returning the application to state immediately after installation.

• 📱 Social media: often accumulate gigabytes of viewed photos and videos that can be safely deleted.
• 🌐 Browsers: Store copies of the pages visited, which speeds up loading, but takes up space.
• 🛒 Marketplaces: Store pictures of products you have viewed before.
• 🎵 Streaming services: cache buffered parts of tracks and videos.

After cleaning, you may notice that the next time you run the app, it will load a little slower than usual, which is a normal system reaction, which re-forms the necessary temporary files, and after a while, the speed will recover.

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Manually clearing the cache of heavy apps (Telegram, Instagram, TikTok) can free up to 2-3 GB of memory on Redmi 9.

Using Developer Mode for Deep Cleaning

For more advanced users who want to gain full control of the Xiaomi Redmi 9, there is a hidden developer menu that allows you to manage the cache at a deeper level, including the ability to disable caching to debug or forcefully stop all background processes.

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. Then a new option will appear in the settings menu Advanced Settings → Developer.

Inside the developer menu, scroll down to the App section, and there you will find the option to “Do Not Store Activity” (not recommended for permanent use) and, more importantly, the ability to limit background processes. You can also find a command to clean the DALVIK cache, but on modern versions of Android, this is done via Recovery.

Using the developer features can greatly speed up the visual experience of Redmi 9 by reducing the scale of the animation, but do not change the settings, the value of which you do not know, as this can lead to unstable system operation.

⚠️ Warning: Enabling the “Do Not Stay Activated” option will cause apps to restart each time you switch tabs, which will increase battery consumption.

Cleaning the cache through Recovery Mode

The most radical but effective way to clean up a system cache is to use Recovery Mode, a method that is often used after a firmware update when the phone starts to malfunction due to conflicts between old temporary files and the new OS version.

To enter Recovery mode on Xiaomi Redmi 9, you need to turn the device off completely. Then press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, but continue to keep the volume until the Recovery menu appears.

Navigation in this menu is done with volume buttons (up-down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button.Look for the Wipe Data item (be careful, this can reset the phone) or, if there is a separate item, Wipe Cache. Newer versions of MIUI often only have a full reset, so read the item descriptions carefully.

If the Recovery menu does not have a separate option to clean only the cache (which is often the case on MIUI), then this method is best avoided to avoid accidental deletion of personal data, in which case it is better to limit yourself to cleaning through settings or specialized software.

After a successful cleanup, the system will prompt a reboot (Reboot → Reboot to System) first run may take longer than usual, as the system will re-index files.

Automation and third-party utilities

Xiaomi Redmi 9 owners who want to automate the process can benefit from third-party apps from Google Play, but be very selective: many so-called accelerators consume a lot of resources and display ads.

Proven solutions like Files by Google or SD Maid allow you to safely locate and remove residual debris, have a transparent algorithm and do not require deep access rights for basic cleaning, and can run on a schedule, freeing you from manual inspection.

MIUI also has a built-in memory extension feature that uses a portion of the permanent storage as virtual RAM, and while this doesn't clear the cache directly, it helps the system manage multitasking more efficiently when the application cache is large.

• 🚀 Files by Google: a reliable app from the search giant to remove garbage.
• 🧹 SD Maid: a powerful tool for finding the “bodies” of remote applications.
• ⚙️ CCleaner: popular utility, but requires careful customization.
• 📂 Conductor MIUI: built-in tool for manual folder search Android/data.

Third-party software is justified if the built-in tools can not find the source of memory filling, but for daily use, standard Xiaomi functionality is enough.

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Avoid installing “antivirus” and “cliner” software from unknown developers, as they are often the source of advertising junk.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)