How to completely clear the cache on Xiaomi Redmi: 5 proven ways

The cache on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is temporary files that create apps and a system to speed up work. Over time, they accumulate, taking up gigabytes of memory and slowing down the device. But completely cleaning the cache requires not only pressing a button in the settings, it is important to understand which files can be deleted without risk and which should not be touched. For example, cleaning the cache of Google Play Services can cause malfunctions of Google services, and deleting the MIUI System data can cause personal settings to be reset.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways Redmi cache cleanses, from standard MIUI tools to hidden features for power users, how to remove cache of individual applications, system processes, and even hidden temporary files that aren’t visible in a normal memory manager, and how to avoid the typical bugs that stop Push notifications, Google Pay or Mi Account from working after cleaning.

Note: The instructions are valid for all Redmi models based on MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS, including Redmi Note 12/13 Pro, Redmi 10/11, Redmi K50/K60 and older devices. If you have custom firmware installed (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience), some methods may not work.

1. Standard cache cleaning through MIUI settings

The easiest way is to use the built-in MIUI tool to clean the app cache, which requires no superuser rights and is suitable for beginners, but it has a limitation: it only removes the cache of user applications without affecting system files.

To clear the cache of all applications at once:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Sort by size.
3. Slip on any app (like YouTube or Facebook) and select Clear Cache.
4. For mass cleaning, click Clear cache of all applications (not available on all versions of MIUI).

If there is no mass cleaning option, use an alternative route:

• 🔍 Go to Settings. → Memory. → Cleanup.
• 📊 Press Deep Cleanup and wait for analysis.
• 🗑️ Select the garbage files → Cache applications and confirm removal.

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse Clear cache and Clear data! The second action removes all application settings (logins, saves, settings), returning it to the "as after installation" state".

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If the app is slower after cleaning the cache, that's OK. The cache is recreated when you first start, so you can slow down for the first 1-2 minutes.

2. Cleaning the cache of system applications (without root)

System applications MIUI (For example, com.miui.home — launcher, com.android.phone — phone — also accumulate cache, but they can not be cleaned through the standard menu. ADB-team.

Method 1: Through Developer Settings

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the option Don't Keep Activities and turn it on, which will cause the system to clear the cache of the applications when they are closed.

Method 2: Through ADB (without root rights)

Connect your phone to your PC, enable USB Debugging in the developer settings and execute the command:

adb shell pm clear --user 0 com.miui.home

Replace com.miui.home with the system application package you want, and you can get a list of packages by command:

adb shell pm list packages -s

3. Completely clean the cache with Recovery Mode

If your smartphone is severely slowing down or lacking memory, you can use Recovery, which removes all the cache of the system, including update files, temporary data and residual files of remote applications, suitable for devices without root rights.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache (control – volume buttons, confirmation – power button).
4. After cleaning, restart the device (Reboot → System).

This method is safe, as it does not affect user data (photos, videos, messages), but it will reset the settings of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth devices and some system settings.

🔋 Battery charge > 50%

📱 Backup of important data (in case of error)

🔌 Turn it off. USB-devices (earphones, flash drives)

📡 Remember the Wi-Fi passwords (sets will reset)-->

⚠️ WARNING: Don't confuse Wipe Cache and Wipe Data! The second option will perform a full factory reset by deleting all your files.

4. Clearing cache with root rights (for advanced)

If you have root access, you can delete the hidden cache that is not visible in the standard settings.

• 🗃️ Cash Dalvik (accelerates work) ART/DVM).
• 📁 Temporary files /data/local/tmp.
• 🔄 Residual data after updates MIUI.

Use Root Explorer or ADB with superuser rights to clean up:

su


rm -rf /data/dalvik-cache/*




rm -rf /cache/*




rm -rf /data/local/tmp/*

Once you have completed the commands, be sure to restart the device. The first turn on can take up to 5-10 minutes, which is normal, since the system restores the Dalvik cache.

5. Automatic cache cleanup with third-party applications

If you are too lazy to clean the cache manually, you can use third-party utilities.

• 🧹 SD Maid – removes residual files, cache and debris in /data (requires root to be completely cleaned).
• 🚀 CCleaner is a simple interface, but only clears the surface cache.

When using such applications, make sure that they do not remove:

• 📂 folder Android/obb (It's where the game data is stored).
• 📎.nomedia files (they hide media from the gallery).
• 🔑 License files DRM (For example, Netflix or Widevine).

SD Maid is the most powerful solution, but it requires caution, such as cleaning the /data/app-lib folder can lead to application crashes, and deleting files in /system can lead to bootloop.

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The side of the cache cleaner app is handy, but never gives a 100% guarantee of security.Always check which files they suggest to delete before confirming the action.

6.Cache clearing of Google Play Services and other critical apps

Some apps (e.g., Google Play Services, Mi Account, Telegram) store cache that cannot be deleted by standard methods, and if their cache has grown to a few gigabytes, you will have to use workarounds.

For Google Play Services:

1. Open Settings → Applications → All applications.
2. Find Google Play Services and click Storage.
3. Select Space Management → Clear all data (this will remove both cache and settings).
4. Restart your phone and wait for the sync to re-sync (it can take up to 30 minutes).

For Mi Account and Mi Cloud:

• 🔐 Open the Settings. → Accounts. → Mi Account.
• 📥 Press Synchronization and turn it off.
• 🗑️ Return to the Mi Account app menu and clear the cache.
• 🔄 Turn the sync back on.

⚠️ Attention: Clearing the cache of Google Play Services on devices with MIUI Sometimes it causes a 403 server error in the Play Store. To fix this, delete your Google account and add it again.

7.How to avoid typical cache cleaning errors

Many Xiaomi Redmi users experience problems after cleaning the cache, and here are the most common mistakes and how to avoid them:

• 🚫 Cache removal com.android.vending (Play Market) → result in error DF-DFERH-01 Solution: Clear Play Store and Google Play Services data, then restart your phone.
• 🚫 Cleaning up com.miui.securitycenter → shut down the antivirus MIUI Solution: Reinstall updates through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🚫 Deletion of the folder /data/app-lib → It breaks all applications. Solution: just flashing.

If the phone overheats or runs out quickly after cleaning the cache, it means that the system indexes the files again. Give the device 1-2 hours to stabilize. If the problem does not disappear, check Settings → Battery → Battery Use for abnormally active processes.

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If the app stopped working after cleaning the cache, try reinstalling it. If the problem persists, check the access rights to Settings → Applications → Permissions.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning cache on Xiaomi Redmi