Cache Clearing on Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro: A Complete Guide to MIUI 12, 13 and 14

Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro gets slow, warm and make app errors over time? 90% of the time, it's the overflowing cache, the temporary files that the system and programs accumulate to speed up work. But when the cache grows to gigabytes, it turns into garbage, eating up memory and slowing down the device.

Cache cleaning on Redmi 9 Pro is not just a recommendation, but a necessary procedure to maintain performance. Especially for owners who have not updated their firmware in years or are actively using social networks, messengers and games. In this article, you will find 5 working ways to clean the cache, from standard MIUI tools to hidden features for power users.

It is important to understand that cache can be system (created by Android and MIUI) and applications (generated by each software installed), we will discuss both types, and also tell you how to automate cleaning and avoid the typical errors that lead to even larger brakes.

1. Clearing the cache of individual applications through settings

The safest and most point-based method is to remove cache for specific programs, which does not affect user data (logins, saves in games), but frees up space and eliminates errors such as "app does not respond".

Instructions for MIUI 12/13/14:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the list, find the desired application (for example, Facebook or YouTube) and tap it.
3. Go to the Warehouse section.
4. Click Clear Cache (not to be confused with Clear Data – it will delete all program settings!).

For convenience, sort apps by cache size: in the upper right corner of the App Management screen, click three dots → Sort → By size, so you quickly find the most voracious culprits.

📱 Google Play Services (can be used by Google Play Services) 1-2 GB)

📷 Gallery (miniatures of photos and videos)

🎵 Music players (Spotify, Yandex Music)

💬 Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp – especially if there are a lot of media files)

🎮 Games (Call of Duty, PUBG, Genshin Impact)

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⚠️ Note: Do not clean the cache for system applications called com.android. or com.miui. manually – this can disrupt the work MIUI. Use the methods from the following sections.

2. Automatic cleaning of the cache through "Security"

Xiaomi has built a firmware security utility (formerly "Optimizer") that can analyze and clean garbage automatically, a method suitable for beginners, as it does not require manual search of applications.

How to start automatic cleaning:

1. Open the Security app (the icon with the shield on the desktop).
2. Go to the Cleanup tab (or Accelerate in older versions of MIUI).
3. Wait for the scan to be completed (usually 10-30 seconds).
4. Click Clear (removes cache, temporary files and residual data of remote programs).

In the same menu you can configure autocleaning:

• 🔄 Automatic cleaning → Turn on the slider and select the frequency (daily/weekly).
• 📴 Screen lock cleaning – removes debris every time you extinguish the display.
• 🗑️ Deep Cleaning – Removes more aggressively, but can slow down the first application download after cleaning.

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If you clean it automatically, it's normal to start a little bit slower, and when you first run an application after you clear the cache, it'll take longer to load, because the system has to create new temporary files, and the performance will be restored through the cache. 10-15 minutes of active use.

3. Clean the system cache through Recovery mode

When the phone starts to spontaneously restart, or when it starts to make errors like "System application stopped," or when it stops even after resetting, the fault is the damaged system cache, which cannot be deleted through standard settings, but can be erased through Recovery Mode.

Important: This method does not delete user data, but resets some system settings (e.g., regional settings).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the Redmi 9 Pro.
2. Press the Volume Up + Power buttons at the same time and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo and Recovery menu appear.
3. Use volume buttons for navigation and power button to select the item.
4. Choose Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
5. Confirm the action and wait for the completion (it will take 1-2 minutes).
6. Reboot your phone with Reboot → Reboot to System.

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse Wipe Cache with Wipe Data! The second item will perform a full reset of the phone to factory settings, deleting all your files, photos and apps.

4. Manually clear cache through file manager

For advanced users who want to control every megabyte, manual file manager cleaning is a good option, which allows you to remove the cache of even those applications that are not displayed in the settings (for example, system services).

How to find and remove cache manually:

1. Install a file manager with access to root folders (such as MiXplorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to the root directory (/) and open the /data/data/ folder (root rights or USB debugging mode enabled are required).
3. Find a folder with the name of the application package (for example, com.facebook.katana for Facebook) and open it.
4. Delete the cache folder inside.

Without root rights, you can only clear the cache for custom applications.

• 🔓 Enable Developer Mode (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — press 7 times).
• 🔧 In the Developer Settings, enable Debugging by USB.
• 🖥️ Connect your phone to the PC and use it ADB for cleaning (command: adb shell pm clear) --user 0 name-pack).

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Manually clearing the cache through the file manager is the most efficient way, but it requires caution. Deleting the wrong folders can lead to the collapse of applications or even the system. Always back up before such operations!

5. Reset partition cache via Fastboot (for experienced)

If Redmi 9 Pro started to "lay" after the MIUI update and standard methods don't help, the problem may lie in the boot and recovery partition cache. Cleaning through Fastboot solves this, but requires a connection to a PC.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Xiaomi drivers installed and Mi Flash Tool.
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 📱 Fastboot mode enabled (click Volume Down) + Power with the phone turned off).

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode to your PC.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with the platform-tools (from the Android SDK).
3. Run the commands in turn: fastboot erase cache fastboot erase userdata (only if you need to reset all data!) fastboot reboot

⚠️ Note: The fastboot erase userdata team will delete ALL of your data, including photos, contacts and apps!

6.How to prevent cache accumulation in the future

Cleaning the cache is like cleaning the room: if you don't clean it regularly, the garbage will accumulate again. To keep the Redmi 9 Pro from slowing down a week after cleaning, follow these tips:

• 📵 Limit background activity: In Settings → Battery → Power management applications disable auto-start for unnecessary programs.
• 🚫 Remove unused apps: Even unopened programs can accumulate cache.check Settings section → Annexes → Unused.
• 🔄 Update the firmware: In new versions MIUI optimized cache management algorithms. Update through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 📁 Use Cloud Storage: Photos and videos in Google Photos or Mi Cloud do not take up space in the gallery cache.
• 🛡️ Install antivirus: Some viruses masquerade as cache files. Dr.Web or Malwarebytes will help you detect them.

A critical mistake many users make is to clear the cache, but not to limit the apps that generate it. For example, TikTok or Instagram can recover up to 500MB of cache per day when you're actively using it. The solution is to disable autoplay video in the settings of those apps.

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Create a shortcut for quick cache cleanup: add a Security widget with a Clean button to your desktop, and you don't have to go into the settings -- just one tap!

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Clearing the cache seems like a simple procedure, but many users make problems worse with the wrong actions.

• 🔹 "The cache cleared, the phone started to lag even harder. Reason: After cleaning, the system starts to recreate the cache, which temporarily loads the processor. Solution: Wait. 10-15 minutes or reboot the device.
• 🔹 "Delete the cache of the gallery — missing photos" Reason: You accidentally clicked "Clear Data" instead of "Clear Cache." Solution: Restore photos from a backup of Google Photos or Mi Cloud.
• 🔹 "After cleaning through Recovery, the phone does not turn on" Reason: Process interrupted or Wipe Data option selected. Solution: Re-enter Recovery and select Reboot. If it does not work, run the phone through the Mi Flash Tool.
• 🔹 "Cache clears but reappears a day later" Reason: The culprit is one or more aggressive caching apps Solution: Check the list of apps by cache size (see Section 1) and remove or limit problem ones.

If after all the manipulations Redmi 9 Pro continues to slow down, the problem may lie not in the cache, and in:

• 🔋 Worn-out battery (check battery health in Settings) → Battery → Battery status).
• 🛠️ Damaged firmware (flash your phone through Fastboot with official version) MIUI).
• 🦠 Viruses (scan the Malwarebytes device).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions