Cache Clearing on Xiaomi Redmi 6A: 5 Ways to Get Your Phone Back

Your Xiaomi Redmi 6A is slowing down, apps are loading for a long time and memory is full of obscure files? Most likely, the problem is a crowded cache. This MediaTek Helio A22 smartphone with 2 GB of RAM is especially sensitive to clogging with temporary data. Cache is like a warehouse for frequently used files, but when it is overflowing, the system starts to stumble at every step.

Unlike flagships, budget models like the Redmi 6A don’t have enough power to ignore memory clogging. Cache cleaning here gives you a noticeable performance boost of up to 30% acceleration when you keep up with it. But it’s important to do it right: Deleting the wrong files can cause applications to crash or even lose data. In this article, we’ll look at 5 safe ways to clean up cache, including hidden system tools that aren’t mentioned in the standard instructions.

Why is Redmi 6A cache-clogged so fast?

The Redmi 6A architecture has two key features that accelerate the accumulation of garbage:

• 🔹 The small amount of internal memory (16 GB in the basic version) forces the system to actively use the cache to save space. MIUI By default, it reserves up to 3 GB for system needs, leaving the user even less free space.
• 🔹 An outdated version of Android (originally Android) 8.1 Oreo with a shell MIUI 9/10) It's not optimized for automatic cache cleaning. Modern versions of the OS do it in the background, and here you need manual intervention.
• 🔹 Aggressive caching policies for apps like Facebook, Instagram or Mi Video, which can take up to 500MB of cache each when used actively.

Another reason is memory fragmentation, because over time, the cache files break down into smaller pieces, and the system takes longer to process them, especially when opening a gallery or launching games, the phone hangs for 2-3 seconds, although it used to react instantly.

Method 1: Clearing the cache of individual applications (without root)

The most secure method, which does not affect system files, is suitable for deleting temporary data of specific programs - for example, if YouTube or Chrome are slow to work.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application from the list (sorting by size will help you find the most “glutty”).
3. Click Clear Cache. The Clear Data option will remove all program settings - use it only as a last resort!

⚠️ Warning: Do not clear the cache of system applications with an icon MIUI (For example, com.miui.home or com.android.systemui.This can cause the launcher to crash or the icons from the desktop to disappear.

Method 2: Using the built-in Cleaning Tool

MIUI has a hidden deep cleaning tool that removes not only the app cache, but also temporary system files.

Settings → Additional → Clean (or use the search by settings, entering the request “clean”).

The algorithm of the work:

1. Click Analyze - the system will show the amount of garbage.
2. Select categories to clean: Application Cache, Unused Files, Residual Files.
3. Ignore Remove Duplicates – on Redmi 6A, it often mistakenly finds duplicates in system folders.
4. Confirm the cleanup and restart the phone.

This method removes up to 1-1.5 GB of garbage at a time, but has a limitation: it does not touch the Dalvik cache (Android Virtual Machine), which can take up to 500 MB on tired systems.

Method 3: Manually cleansing through file manager

For power users who are willing to dig through system folders, this method allows you to remove the cache of even those applications that do not appear in the settings (for example, preinstalled services Google or Mi).

Procedure:

1. Install a file manager with access to root folders (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Go to /data/data/ – this is where the folders of all installed applications are stored.
3. In each application folder, find the cache subfolder and delete its contents.

The advantage of the method is that you can choose which files to delete, for example, in the folder com.android.chrome you can leave files with the.idx extension (they are responsible for fast loading of frequently visited sites), and delete only media files (.jpg,.mp4).

⚠️ Note: Do not delete folders with the names lib, databases or files with the.db extension, this will cause the application to crash..

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Before manually cleaning, create a restore point via TWRP (if installed) to roll back changes if you accidentally delete critical files.

Method 4: Clean Dalvik cache and systems via Recovery

This method requires the phone to be rebooted to Recovery mode and is suitable for deep cleaning when standard methods don't work.

• 🔹 Dalvik cache (accelerates application launches)
• 🔹 Temporary system files (/cache)
• 🔹 Residual data after updates

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up at the same time until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the completion (it will take 1-2 minutes).
5. Restart the device via Reboot → System.

After this procedure, the first start of the phone can take up to 5 minutes — this is normal, the system restores the Dalvik cache. The effect is noticeable immediately: apps open faster, and animations become smoother.

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Cleaning through Recovery does not delete personal data (photos, contacts, messages), but resets some system settings (for example, background processes or application rights).

Method 5: Automating cleaning with Tasker (for advanced)

If you don’t want to manually clean the cache, you can set up automatic cleaning on a schedule, which requires the Tasker app (paid, but there is a free trial) and the AutoInput plugin.

Algorithm of settings:

1. Install Tasker and AutoInput from Google Play.
2. Create a new task (Task → + → Plugin → AutoInput).
3. Type: UI Interaction → Action: Click.
4. Point the way: Text: Clear cache → Package: com.miui.securitycenter (for built-in cleaning tool).
5. Add a time trigger (e.g. every Monday at 3:00 a.m.).

Example of code for Tasker (can be imported via Tasks → Import):

BEGIN TASK: Auto Cache Clean


A1: AutoInput [ Configuration:Type: Text




Text: Clear the cache




Package: com.miui.securitycenter




Action : ClickTimeout (Seconds):20 ]




A2: Wait [ MS:0 Seconds:5 Minutes:0 Hours:0 Days:0 ]




A3: AutoInput [ Configuration:Type: Text




Text: Confirm




Package: com.miui.securitycenter




Action : ClickTimeout (Seconds):20 ]




END TASK

This method allows you to clear the cache in the background without interrupting your work. The main thing is not to configure the cleanup more than once every 3 days, otherwise some applications (for example, messengers) will constantly reload media files.

What if after cleaning the cache problems remain?

If the Redmi 6A continues to brake even after a complete cleanup, check the following points:

• 🔹 Occupation of RAM: Open Settings → The phone. → Memory status: If less than 200MB is free, close the background applications through recent tasks.
• 🔹 Memory Fragmentation: Use the App SD Maid (requires root) for defragmentation.
• 🔹 Viruses or malware: scan your phone through Malwarebytes or built-in Security from Xiaomi.
• 🔹 Outdated firmware: check for updates in Settings → The phone. → System Update: The latest stable version for Redmi 6A — MIUI 12.5.3 based on Android 9.

If nothing works, consider resetting to factory settings (but remember to back up!). On Redmi 6A, this is done via Settings → Additional → Restore and Reset → Reset.

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Before reset, check if Factory Lock is included in Settings → Lock and Protection. If so, you will need to enter your Mi Account password after reset.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up cache on Redmi 6A