Cache Clearing on Xiaomi Redmi: A Complete Guide for Beginners and Advanced Users

Has Xiaomi Redmi slowed down? Apps take a long time to load and memory ends up in the flat? Most often the reason lies in cache clogged — temporary files that the system and programs create to speed up work. But over time, this "junk" accumulates, taking up gigabytes of memory and slowing down the smartphone.

Cleaning up Redmi cache is a simple procedure that will get your phone back to speed, but it’s important to do it right: Deleting the right system files can cause failures. In this article, we’ll look at all the cleaning methods, from standard MIUI tools to hidden features for power users.

Before you start, check how much cache is on your device. Go to Settings → About Phone → Memory. If the cache partition is more than 1-2 GB, it’s time to act. On some Redmi models (such as the Note 10 Pro or Redmi 12), the cache can weigh up to 5 GB when you’re actively using social networks and games.

Note that clearing the cache does not delete your photos, messages or installed apps; it only frees up space by deleting temporary data. However, after the procedure, some programs (such as Instagram or TikTok) can take longer to load on the first run - this is normal.

1. Standard cache cleaning through MIUI settings

The easiest way is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which is suitable for all Xiaomi Redmi models, including the latest firmware versions.

Open the Settings menu → Applications → Application Management. Here you will see a list of all installed programs, sorted by memory size. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Sort by Size, so you will quickly find the most voracious applications.

To clean the cache of a particular application:

1. Select a program from a list (such as Chrome or Facebook).
2. Click Clear Cache (not to be confused with Clear Data button – it will delete all app settings!).
3. Confirm the action in the pop-up window.

To clean the cache of all applications, go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup. Here, the system will analyze unnecessary files and suggest that they be deleted. On Redmi models with MIUI 14 and later, this section is called Deep Cleanup and allows you to remove up to 3-4 GB of garbage in one tap.

⚠️ Note: Do not manually clear the cache of system applications (e.g. com.android.systemui or com.miui.home) through Application Management. MIUI.

2.Cache cleanup via Recovery mode (for power users)

If the phone is slow and does not respond to standard methods, you can use Recovery mode. This method is suitable for all Redmi models, including the Redmi Note 9, Redmi 10 and newer devices.

For entrance to Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the power button and the volume button at the same time.
3. Hold them for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo and menu appear in English.

In the Recovery menu, use the volume buttons for navigation and the power button for selection. Find Wipe & Reset and confirm the action. This method only clears the cache without affecting user data.

Once the cache is cleared through Recovery, the phone will restart.The first run can take up to 5-10 minutes - that's fine, as the system recovers temporary files.

3. Automatic cleaning with Security App

MIUI has a built-in Security app that can automatically clean the cache and optimize the system, and can be found on the home screen or in the application menu (the shield icon).

Open Security and go to the Cleanup tab (or Boost in English). The app will scan the device and show you:

• 🗑️ Garbage files (cache, temporary data, empty folders)
• 📁 Large files (unused files) APK, duplicate)
• 🔄 Background processes (resource consuming applications)

Click Clean, and it will delete unnecessary files in seconds. On Redmi models with MIUI 13+, you can also turn on Auto Cleanup, which will delete the cache once a week automatically.

The advantage of this method is security. the Security application does not touch system files and does not risk the stability of the phone, but it can skip the cache of some games (for example, Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile), so it is better to use manual cleaning for them.

4. Clearing the Dalvik and ART cache (to speed up the system)

Advanced users know that in addition to the usual app cache, Android has a Dalvik cache (or ART-These files are created by the Android virtual machine to speed up the launch of programs, and over time they can be corrupted, leading to lags and errors.

Cleanup Dalvik/ART-The cache is only performed through recovery or ADB. In the Recovery menu (see section) 2) Select Advanced item → Wipe Dalvik Cache. On some firmware, this item may be called Wipe. ART Cache or Wipe System Cache.

Once cleaned, the phone will restart, and the system will regenerate the cache. This process can take up to 15 minutes -- don't interrupt it! -- The result is less lag when you open apps and smoother interface animation.

⚠️ Note: Do not clean Dalvik cache more than once in a while. 2-3 Frequently regenerating these files can cause wear and tear on the phone’s memory, especially on budget Redmi models (e.g. Redmi). 9A or Redmi 8).

5. Clearing the cache of Google Play Services and other system applications

Some system applications, such as Google Play Services, Mi Account or Mi Cloud, use cache to run in the background, and their temporary files can take up hundreds of megabytes, but you need to delete them carefully.

For safe cleaning:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots at the top and select "Show System Processes".
3. Find Google Play Services (or com.google.android.gms).
4. Click on “Clear Cache” (but not “Clear Data”!).

Do the same with other system applications:

• 📱 Mi Account (com.xiaomi.account)
• ☁️ Mi Cloud (com.miui.cloudservice)
• 🔍 Google Play Market (com.android.vending)

Once the cache is cleared, these apps may need to re-enter the password from your Google or Mi Account account, and notifications from some services (such as Gmail or Mi Fit) may temporarily disappear, but they will recover after 5-10 minutes.

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If Google Play Services stop working after clearing the cache (such as maps or mail), go to Settings → Accounts → Google and sync the data manually.

6.Using third-party applications to clean up the cache

If you don't like the built-in MIUI tools, you can use third-party utilities.

• 🧹 CCleaner – removes cache, temporary files and duplicates.
• 🗑️ SD Maid – Finds junk files deep in the system.
• 🔍 Files by Google – Simple File Manager with Cleanup Function.

However, beware: many cleaners require root rights, which will void the warranty on Xiaomi Redmi, and aggressive cleaning can delete the desired files, which will lead to malfunctioning of applications.

If you still decide to use third-party programs, follow the rules:

1. Download apps only from Google Play.
2. Do not give root software access unless you are sure it is safe.
3. Before cleaning, back up important data.

7. How to clear the cache of individual applications (instructions for games and social networks)

Some apps (like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Genshin Impact) create huge caches of up to 1-2 GB each, and clearing their temporary files can greatly free up memory.

Here’s how to do it for popular programs:

• 🎮 Games: Go to Settings → Annexes → [play-off] → Clear the cache. For Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile cache can weigh up to 3-4 GB!
• 📷 Instagram: Cash keeps uploaded stories and photos.Cleanup won't delete your posts, but next stories will load longer.
• 📺 YouTube: Cash contains pre-uploaded videos. Once cleaned, the videos will be buffered again.
• 🗺️ Google Maps: Cache includes downloaded maps. Cleanup will remove offline maps, but not your saved places.

For social networks (VK, Telegram, WhatsApp), cleaning the cache will remove:

Preloaded media files (photos, videos, voice messages).

Temporary data for fast download of chats.

- Local copies of stickers and gifs.

After cleaning the cache, messengers can open longer, but this is temporary. The main thing is not to click "Clear Data", otherwise you will lose your correspondence history!

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Cleaning up the cache of games (such as Call of Duty Mobile or Free Fire) can remove downloaded maps and textures, after which the game will require re-uploading additional files, which will take time and traffic.

8 How to Avoid Rapid Cache Accumulation: Prevention Tips

To avoid cleaning the cache every week, follow these guidelines:

• 📵 Limit the background activity of applications in Settings → Battery → Energy saving regime.
• 🚫 Disable autoload media in instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram).
• 🔄 Reboot your phone regularly (once in a week). 2-3 - This cleanses the working memory.
• 📥 Use the "Lite" versions of applications (for example, Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite).
• 📁 Move heavy applications to a memory card (if supported).

Redmi models with MIUI 12 and later have a Smart Clean feature (Settings → Memory → Smart Cleanup) and enable it, and the system will automatically delete unnecessary files when memory runs out.

Also note the Background Data Limitation feature (Settings → Connections → Data Use → Background Limitation) which prevents applications from downloading data in the background, which reduces memory load.

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If you play heavy games often (like Honor of Kings or Diablo Immortal), select a separate folder on your memory card so that the games cache won’t clog your phone’s main memory.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning cache on Xiaomi Redmi