How to completely clear the cache on Xiaomi Redmi 5: from system to applications

Xiaomi Redmi 5 is a reliable smartphone, but over time even it begins to “brake” due to crowded cache. If your device has become slower to respond to commands, applications take a long time to load, and the memory is filled with unknown things — it’s time for a cleanup. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to clean the cache on Redmi 5, from standard MIUI tools to hidden functions and third-party utilities.

Cache is a temporary file that creates applications and a system to speed things up. But when too many of them accumulate, they start to take up precious space and slow down the device. On Redmi 5, with its modest 16-32GB of memory by today, this problem is especially relevant. We'll show you how to clear the cache without losing data without resorting to a radical reset to factory settings.

Why Redmi 5 Should Be Cleaned Regularly

On Redmi 5 with Snapdragon 450 processor and 2-3 GB of RAM, cache plays a dual role: on the one hand, it speeds up the re-launch of applications, on the other, when overflowing, it leads to:

• 🐢 Slowing down the interface – lags when scrolling the menu, hanging when opening applications.
• 📱 Spontaneous reboots – the system can “fly” due to lack of memory.
• 🔋 Fast battery discharge - background cache cleaning processes consume charge.
• 🚫 Errors in apps – for example, Google Play refuses to update or WhatsApp does not send messages.

This is especially critical for Redmi 5 on MIUI 9-11 (the current version for this model). Older MIUI builds are less optimized for automatic cleaning than newer ones, so manual cleaning is needed more often. For example, after updating Facebook or Instagram, their cache can take up to 1-1.5 GB - almost 10% of the total memory of the basic version of the smartphone!

Method 1: Clearing the cache of individual applications through settings

The safest and easiest method is to remove the cache for specific programs, which will not delete your data (for example, correspondence in Telegram or saved games), but will free up space.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Slip on Application Management (or just scroll through the list of apps).
3. Select the app you want (such as Chrome or YouTube).
4. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

For convenience, sort apps by cache size: in the top right corner, click three dots → Sort → By size. So you quickly find the main memory eaters. For example, TikTok can have cache up to 500-700 MB, and Google Maps can have up to 1 GB.

Social networks (Facebook, Instagram, VK)|Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram)|Navigators (Google Maps, Yandex.Maps)|Browsers (Chrome, Opera)|Streaming services (YouTube, Twitch)-->

⚠️ Note: Do not clear the cache of system applications like com.android.systemui or com.miui.home – this can cause shell malfunctions. MIUI. If you are not sure what you are doing, skip these items.

Method 2: Mass cleaning the cache of all applications

If you're too lazy to clean each application individually, Redmi 5 has a mass-cleaning feature that removes the cache of all user programs except system ones.

How to do this:

1. Go to Settings. → Memory.
2. Slip on Clean in the Cash section of the applications.
3. Confirm the action by pressing OK.

This method frees up an average of 1-3 GB of space, but has a nuance: once cleaned, the first launches of applications will be longer than usual – they will have to recreate the cache. For example, Instagram can load 5-10 seconds slower in the first hours after cleaning.

Method 3: Cleaning the cache with Recovery Mode (for experienced)

If Redmi 5 is slowing down or not loading, cleaning the cache through Recovery will help.This method removes the Dalvik cache and system cache, which often solves problems with freezes.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up simultaneously and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the recovery menu, select the language (if you have a choice), then tap on Wipe & Reset.
4. Select Wipe Cache (not Wipe All Data!)
5. Confirm the action by swipe or press Yes.
6. After completion, press Reboot.

This method does not delete personal data, but resets some settings (for example, you may need to re-enter your Wi-Fi password).If the phone still brakes after cleaning, try also erase Dalvik-cache in the same menu.

⚠️ Note: If you accidentally chose Wipe All Data over Wipe Cache, the phone will perform a full reset! In this case, you can only recover data from a backup (if any). On Redmi 5, backups are created through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

Method 4: Use of third-party utilities (CCleaner, Files by Google)

If standard methods don't work, you can use third-party applications that not only clear the cache, but also find junk files, duplicates and large, unnecessary data.

Top.-3 utility 5:

• 🧹 CCleaner – a classic cleaner with analysis of cache, history and unnecessary items APK.
• 📁 Files by Google – a lightweight app from Google with the function “Memory Cleanup».
• 🔍 SD Maid is an advanced tool for experienced users (can clean the system cache).

Example of Files by Google:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and tap it on Clean at the bottom of the screen.
3. Select the Cash App category.
4. Click Clear XXMB (where XX is the volume of the cache found).

The advantage of third-party utilities is that they find cache even in applications that MIUI does not show in the standard menu (for example, the cache of the Android System WebView or Google Play Services). However, beware: some “cleaners” aggressively delete files, which can lead to crashes. For example, Clean Master is known for sometimes deleting game data, so it is better to use proven CCleaner or Files by Google.

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Before using third-party cleaners, create a restore point in MIUI: Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup. This will help roll back changes if something goes wrong.

Method 5: Manually clean the cache through the file manager

For advanced users, there is a way to manually remove the cache through the file manager, which is useful if you need to clear the cache of a particular application that is not displayed in the settings (for example, system services).

How to do this:

1. Install a file manager with access to root folders (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Go to /data/data/ (root rights required!) or /sdcard/Android/data/ (no root required).
3. Find a folder with the name of the application package (for example, com.facebook.katana for Facebook).
4. Delete the cache folder inside it.

Without root rights, you can only clear the cache of user applications in /sdcard/Android/data/. Accessing /data/data/ will require unlocking the bootloader and installing Magisk (which is not recommended for beginners, as it deprives you of warranty).

Example of ways to cache popular applications:

• 📷 Instagram: /sdcard/Android/data/com.instagram.android/cache/
• 🎵 Spotify: /sdcard/Android/data/com.spotify.music/cache/
• 🌍 Google Chrome: /sdcard/Android/data/com.android.chrome/cache/

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Manually clearing the cache without root rights is only safe in the /sdcard/Android/data/ folder. Deleting files in other partitions can cause system failure!

What to do if after cleaning the cache problems remain

If Redmi 5 continues to slow down even after cleaning the cache, check the following points:

• 🔄 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version: Settings → The phone. → Update of system: old builds (e.g, MIUI 9) frequently conflict with new versions of applications.
• 🛑 Turn off autoloading of unnecessary apps: Settings → Permits → Autostart. Turn off autoboot for games and social media.
• 🗑️ Check memory for garbage: sometimes cache isn't the main problem. Use Files by Google to find and delete large, unnecessary files (like old ones). APK photo-duplicate).
• 🔋 Check battery status: if the battery is worn out (capacity below 70%), the phone may brake due to performance limitations).

If nothing works, the last option is to reset to the factory settings, but before that, you must:

1. Create a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
2. Save photos and videos to your computer or cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud).
3. Write down the logins/passwords from the accounts (they will erase!).

Reset is done via Settings → About Phone → Reset or Recovery Mode (Wipe All Data). Once reset, the phone will be “like new” but all data will be deleted.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning the cache on Xiaomi Redmi 5