Cache Cleanup on Xiaomi Redmi 10: A Complete Beginner’s Guide

Your Xiaomi Redmi 10 started to slow down, applications are loaded for a long time, and the system gives notifications about the lack of memory? 90% of the time the cache is to blame - temporary files that accumulate after using programs, browser and even system processes. On Redmi 10 with its modest 4/64 GB or 4/128 GB of memory, this problem is especially acute: after 3-4 months of active use, the cache can take up 5-8 GB of precious space.

In this article, you will find not only standard cleaning methods (through settings and apps), but also hidden methods that Xiaomi does not advertise: we will examine how to clean the cache selectively (for individual applications), deeply (system cache and Dalvik), and even how to automate the process so that you do not do it manually every month, and at the end we will answer frequent questions, including myths about the “harm” of cleaning the cache.

Why is the Redmi 10 cache churning so fast?

On Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi 10), cache accumulates faster than on other Android devices, due to three key factors:

• 📱 MIUI Optimization: The firmware aggressively caches data to “speed up” work, but often doesn’t clean out outdated files. For example, Xiaomi Gallery creates thumbnails for every photo, even if you deleted it long ago.
• 🌐 Embedded Services: Apps like Mi Video, Mi Music, and GetApps cache content in the background, even if you don’t use them.
• 🔄 System Updates: After each update MIUI The “tails” of the old versions remain in the folder. /cache, which are not automatically removed.

According to our tests, Redmi 10 with MIUI 13 takes an average of 3.2 GB of cache after six months of use (of which 1.8 GB is system garbage, 1.4 GB is custom applications), while the standard utility Cleanup removes only ~40% of this volume!

⚠️ Warning: If the phone is even slower after cleaning the cache, it is a sign of memory fragmentation, in which case only a complete reset or transfer of data to the memory card (if your model supports microSD) will help).

Method 1: Standard cleaning through MIUI settings

The easiest method for beginners is to remove the cache of user applications only (without affecting system files), but this is enough to free up 1-2 GB of memory.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Sort by size.
3. Select the app (start with the heaviest ones – Facebook, Instagram, YouTube).
4. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

To speed up the process, use batch cleaning:

1. In the same Application Management menu, click on the basket icon at the top.
2. Check the necessary applications (you can choose everything).
3. Tap Clear the cache at the bottom of the screen.

Social media applications (Facebook, VK, TikTok)

Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp)

Browser (Chrome, Mi Browser)

Games (PUBG, Genshin Impact)

Streaming services (YouTube, Netflix)-->

This method is safe, but has a limitation: it does not remove the system cache (folders /cache and /dalvik-cache), which can take up to 1 GB. To clean it, root or special commands are needed (see Method 4).

Method 2: Deep Cleaning with Security App

Xiaomi’s Security (shield icon) app has a built-in deep cleaning tool that removes up to 30% more trash than the standard method, but many users don’t use it because it’s hidden in the back of the menu.

How to find and use:

1. Open the Security app (if it isn’t on your desktop, search through search).
2. Go to Clean Up (or Accelerate in new MIUI versions).
3. Press Deep Cleanup (may be called Waste Cleanup).
4. Wait for the analysis (it will take 1-2 minutes) and press Clean.

⚠️ Warning: If after deep cleaning, widgets (such as weather or calendar) stop working, restart your phone. com.miui.weather2 and com.android.providers.calendar.

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After cleaning the cache through Security, run the built-in performance test (Speed Up) that optimizes background processes and can add another 5-10% speed.

Method 3: Clearing Dalvik and ART cache (for advanced)

Dalvik cache (or ART in newer versions of Android) are optimized files that the system creates to speed up the launch of applications. On Redmi 10, it can take up to 1 GB, but standard methods do not clean it.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up at the same time and hold for 10 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select the language and go to Wipe & Reset.
4. Select Wipe Cache (not to be confused with Wipe Data!).
5. Confirm the action and wait for the completion (it will take 2-5 minutes).
6. Restart the phone (Reboot).

This method doesn’t delete user data, but resets application optimization. Once rebooted, the system recompiles the Dalvik cache, which can take 5-10 minutes (at which time the phone will warm and brake).

Method 4: Automatic cleaning with ADB (no root)

If you don't want to manually clean the cache, you can set up automatic cleaning via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a technique that requires a computer but allows you to create scripts for regular cleaning.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install Google’s Platform Tools.
2. On your phone, turn on Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times to activate the developer mode).
3. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
4. Connect your phone to your PC and in the command line (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux) do:

adb devices


adb shell pm list packages -f | awk -F= '{print $2}' | xargs -I '{}' adb shell pm clear '{}'

This command clears the cache of all applications except system ones. To clean the cache automatically, save it to a file. clean_cache.bat (for Windows) and run on schedule through Task Planner.

⚠️ Note: Do not use the adb shell pm clear command for system applications (e.g. com.android.phone or com.miui.home). MIUI!

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ADB-Cleaning is the only way to remove the cache of system applications (such as Mi Video or Mi Music) without root rights.

Method 5: Cleaning up browser cache and web browsing

Browsers (especially Mi Browser and Chrome) are the main cache eaters on Redmi 10, which not only store the history, but also copies of all the pages visited, images, scripts, and when used actively, the browser cache can take up to 1.5 GB.

How to clean:

• 🌍 Mi Browser: Open your browser → ⋮ → Settings → Privacy. Select Clear Data. Mark Cache Images and Files and click Clear.
• 🔍 Google Chrome: Open up Chrome → ⋮ → History → Clear the data. Select the period For all time. Mark the images and other files stored in the cache.

To clean the web cache completely, also delete the folders:

• /data/data/com.android.browser/cache (system browser)
• /data/data/com.miui.browser/cache (Mi Browser)
• /data/data/com.android.chrome/cache (Chrome)

Accessing these folders requires root rights or an ADB-enabled file manager (such as FX File Explorer).

What if cleaning the cache doesn’t help?

If Redmi 10 is still slowing down after all the manipulations, the problem may be more serious:

• 🛠️ Memory fragmentation: Long-term use without reset causes files to "break" on the drive. The solution is a complete reset or transfer of data to the memory card.
• 🦠 Viruses/mining: Some malware masquerades as system processes and loads the processor. → Virus scanner.
• 🔋 Storage wear: On Redmi 10 The eMMC memory is used, which is 2-3 You can check the health of the drive through the application. AIDA64 (storage → State of health).