How to Clean Cache on Xiaomi Redmi: 5 Proven Ways

Your Xiaomi Redmi has started to slow down, apps are loading for a long time, and memory is filled with incomprehensible files? Most likely, an overloaded cache - temporary data that the system and programs accumulate during operation. Clearing the cache will not only free up space on the device, but can also solve performance problems, sudden reboots or errors in applications.

In this article, we will look at all the current ways to clean up Redmi cache, from standard MIUI tools to hidden features and third-party utilities, how to safely remove unnecessary files without affecting personal data, and what types of cache exist (applications, systems, Dalvik), and why cleaning the cache through Settings only removes part of the garbage, and how to get to hidden temporary files.

Why the cache accumulates and when it needs to be cleaned

Cache is buffer data that creates apps and a system to speed up re-operations, for example, when you open Instagram, the app saves thumbnails of photos so that it can show them faster the next time you run, and the same happens with web pages in your browser, maps in Google Maps, or a game cache.

Problems begin when:

• 📱 Cache takes up gigabytes of memory – some applications (especially social networks and instant messengers) can accumulate up to 1-2 GB of unnecessary data.
• 🐢 Phone brakes – fragmented cache slows down reading / writing data to the drive.
• 🔄 Applications crash – corrupted cache files can cause crashes (for example, the error “Application stopped").
• 📉 Battery goes down faster – the system spends resources on processing outdated temporary data.

Cleaning the cache is recommended in such cases:

• 🔧 After updating MIUI (Avoid conflicts between old and new files).
• 📲 If the app is unstable (for example, YouTube is constantly reloading the video).
• 📊 When you see in the "Storage" section that the "Cash" takes more than 500 MB.
• 🔄 Before selling or dumping your phone (to remove personal data from temporary files).

⚠️ Warning: Don’t clean the cache too often (once a week or more) and this will cause applications to have to re-upload data each time, which will increase traffic and startup time.

Method 1: Clearing the cache of individual applications through settings

The safest method is to remove cache for specific programs, which will not affect your accounts or settings, but will free up space and can solve problems with the application.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Select Application Management.
3. Tapping on the right app (like Facebook or Chrome).
4. Press Warehouse.
5. Select Clear Cache (not to be confused with Clear Data – this will remove all app settings!).

For convenience, you can sort applications by cache size:

1. In the Application Management section, click on three dots (⋮) top-right.
2. Select Sort by size.
3. Clear the cache of the applications that occupy the most space (usually social networks, browsers and games).

Remember the username / password (if the application requires authorization)

Close the application in multitasking

Check if there is any important unsaved data (for example, drafts in messengers)

Connect to Wi-Fi (when you first start after cleaning the application can download a lot of data)

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Some apps (like the Google Play Store or Mi App Store) may be temporarily slower after cache clearing, which is normal. After 1-2 launches, the speed will return.

Method 2: Mass cleaning the cache of all applications

If you're too lazy to clean the cache of each application individually, MIUI has a mass-cleaning feature that deletes temporary files from all programs except system ones.

How to do this:

1. Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
2. Tap on the item Cache data (or "Cached data").
3. Confirm the action by pressing OK in the window that appears.

This method only removes the user cache (from the apps).The Dalvik system cache and cache will remain intact. If you need to clear them, read the next section.

⚠️ Warning: If after mass cleaning of the cache, the phone started to work slower, do not panic. MIUI Restore the necessary temporary files within 1-2 days, during which time avoid installing new apps and games.

Method 3: Clean the system cache and Dalvik via Recovery

For power users, if the phone is slowing down or there are glitches after the MIUI update, cleaning the system cache and Dalvik can help.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up simultaneously and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo and Recovery menu appear.
3. Use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.
4. Choose Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
5. Confirm the action.
6. To clear the Dalvik cache, select Advanced → Wipe Dalvik Cache.
7. Reboot the phone (Reboot) → Reboot to System).

The first run after such a cleanup can take up to 5-10 minutes – this is normal, since the system restores the necessary files.

This method is particularly useful if:

• 🔄 phone is stuck on startup Mi logo after update.
• 📱 Apps are massively flying out with an error.
• 🔧 You have installed custom firmware and you need to avoid conflicts.

Method 4: Using the built-in MIUI cleaner

MIUI has a built-in Security tool that can find and delete unnecessary files, including cache, and is smarter than manual cleaning, as it analyzes what data can be safely deleted.

How to use:

1. Open the Security app (the shield icon).
2. Go to the Cleaner (or Cleaner) section.
3. Press the check and wait for the scan to be completed.
4. Check the boxes of the Cash applications and Residual files.
5. Press Clear.

Advantages of this method:

• 🔍 Automatically finds cache even in little-known applications.
• 📊 It shows how much space can be freed up.
• 🛡️ Safer than manual cleaning (will not affect important data).

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If you see Deep Clean in the Cleanup section, don't use it too often, which not only removes the cache, but also some temporary application files, which can cause malfunctions.

In newer versions of MIUI (13 and above), the cleaner has become more aggressive, offering to remove the cache of even system applications. If you are not sure if you need to clean a point, you should skip it.

Method 5: Third-party applications for cleaning the cache

If built-in tools aren't enough, you can use third-party utilities, which offer more flexible settings and often find cache that MIUI can't see.

Popular applications:

• 🧹 CCleaner – a classic cleaner with the function of analyzing cache by category.
• 🗑️ SD Maid is a powerful tool for experienced users (can clean the system cache).
• 🔍 Files by Google – a simple Google cleaner with the function of removing duplicates.
• 📱 AVG Cleaner – Automatically optimizes cache and background processes.

How to use (in the example of CCleaner):

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and provide the necessary permissions.
3. Go to the Cleanup or Junk Files section.
4. Select the app cache and other unnecessary files.
5. Press Clear.

⚠️ Warning: Some cleaners (such as Clean Master) may display false warnings about "critical errors" or "overheating" to make you buy a premium version.

Third-party cleaners are useful if:

• 🔧 You need to clear a specific type of cache (e.g., only media files or only browser cache).
• 📊 You want to see a detailed report on which files are taking up space.
• 🔄 You often install/remove apps and want to get rid of junk junk.

Frequent Cache Cleaning Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many users make mistakes that, instead of improving the phone, lead to new problems, and the most common ones are:

Mistake 1: “Clear the cache” and “Clean the data”

There are two buttons in the app menu:

• 🗑️ Clear cache – deletes temporary files (safely).
• 🚨 Clear the data – resets the application to factory settings (deletes accounts, settings, saves!).

Never click “Clear Data” unless you want to lose important information.

Mistake 2: Cleaning the cache too often

If you clean the cache every day, the applications will have to constantly upload the data again.

• 📉 Increases traffic consumption (especially if you have a limited rate).
• ⏳ Slows down the start of programs (they have to download everything from scratch).
• 🔋 Increases battery consumption (constant data loading drains the battery).

Mistake 3: Use "accelerators" from advertising

Many Google Play apps promise to "speed up your phone 2x" or "free up 10GB of storage."

• 🚫 Most of them simply clean the cache (the same can be done manually).
• 🕵️ Some collect your data and show annoying ads.
• 🔧 The real acceleration is only provided by cleaning the system cache (via Recovery), but it doesn’t make the phone “like new".

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Cache cleaning is not a magic wand; if the phone is old or weak (like the Redmi 4A), even after cleaning it will not work as a flagship, in which case only replacing it with a more powerful model or installing a light firmware (like the MIUI Lite) will help.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions