Smartphone Redmi 7A, despite its budget price and advanced age, continues to be a popular device due to its reliability. However, over time, any Android gadget begins to work more slowly, responding to presses with a delay. This is often caused by the accumulation of temporary files that the system and applications create during their operation.
Owners of this model often face a lack of internal memory, since the basic versions of the device have only 16 or 32 GB of space. Manually clearing the cache becomes not just a useful procedure, but a necessity to maintain system stability. In this article, we will look in detail at how to safely delete unnecessary data without losing important information.
Why the cache accumulates and affects the operation of Redmi 7A
The cache is a temporary data storage that speeds up the launch of apps and loading content. When you open an application for the first time, the system stores some of its resources in fast memory. When restarted, the data is read from there, saving time and battery power. However, over time, these files become outdated and take up space without benefit.
On a device Xiaomi Redmi 7A with a shell MIUI the caching process is especially active due to the aggressive operation of background services. The system strives to keep applications in memory for quick switching, but this leads to the fact that free space disappears literally before our eyes. If you do not clean it regularly, your smartphone may begin to slow down or even reboot.
It is important to understand the difference between application data and its cache. Deleting the cache is safe and will not affect your logins, passwords or game progress. At the same time, clearing the data will reset the app to its factory state. To memory optimization we need the first option, which frees up gigabytes of space without harming user settings.
⚠️ Attention: Before you start large-scale cleaning, make sure that you have a backup copy of important contacts and photos. Although the procedure is safe, random errors when working with system files can lead to unpredictable results.
Clearing the cache of individual applications through settings
The most reliable and safe way to free up space is to manually clear the cache for each heavy application separately. This method allows you to control which apps lose their temporary files. To begin, go to the main menu and select the item Settings.
In the menu that opens, find the section Applications, and then tap on the item All applications. A complete list of installed software will be displayed here. You need to scroll the list or use the search to find the most power-hungry apps, such as social networks, browsers or instant messengers.
After selecting a specific application, for example Telegram or YouTube, you will be taken to the information screen. Here we are interested in the button Memory or Storage. By clicking on it, you will see two parameters: the amount of data occupied and the cache size. To clear, press the button Clear cache at the bottom of the screen.
- 📱 Social networks (VK, Instagram) often take up to 1 GB of cache due to downloaded images and videos.
- 🌐 Browsers (Chrome, Yandex) save site thumbnails and scripts to speed up page loading.
- 🎵 Streaming services (Spotify, Yandex.Music) cache listened tracks for offline mode.
Repeating this procedure for all resource-intensive apps, you can return your smartphone to its former agility. Do not forget that after clearing the cache, the application may take a little longer to load when first launched, since the system will have to download the necessary files from the network again.
Using the built-in Security application
The shell MIUIinstalled on Redmi 7Ahas a powerful built-in maintenance tool systems. The Security (Security) application is preinstalled by default and does not require additional downloading. This is the fastest way to carry out a superficial cleaning of the system.
Launch the application through the green shield icon on the desktop. On the main screen you will see a large button Cleaning indicating the current volume of garbage. Click on it and the system will automatically scan the internal memory for residual files, ad cache and temporary data.
After scanning is completed, press the button Clear selected items. The app will remove the found garbage. However, it is worth noting that this method is less in-depth than manual cleaning through application settings. It often skips the cache of some system services and large games.
Run the built-in cleanup once a week before rebooting your phone. This will help keep the system in good shape without having to go into deep settings every day.
The application Security also has a section Deep cleaning. There you can find old installer APKs, large files and duplicate photos. Be careful when deleting large files: make sure that they are not your personal videos or documents.
Full cleaning through Recovery mode
There is a more radical method that allows you to clear the entire system cache, including temporary files of the operating system itself. This method is useful if the smartphone is unstable after updating or installing many apps. To do this, you will need to enter the mode Recovery.
Completely turn off your Redmi 7A. Then hold down the Volume Up button and the Power button at the same time. Hold them until the logo appears Mi, then release the power button, but continue to hold the volume until the recovery menu appears.
In the Recovery menu, control is carried out by the volume buttons (up and down) and the power button (select). Find item Wipe Data or Clear Cache. Be extremely careful: selecting the item Wipe All Data will lead to a complete reset of the phone to factory settings, deleting all your photos and contacts.
| Action | Risk of data loss | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning via Settings | No | Medium |
| Security application | No | Low |
| Recovery (Wipe Cache) | No | High |
| Recovery (Wipe Data) | Total loss | Maximum |
⚠️ Attention: In new versions of MIUI, a separate cache clearing option in Recovery may not be available. If you only see an option to reset data, it is better to refrain from this method unless you have a recent backup.
What to do if the phone is not included in Recovery?
If holding down the buttons does not help, try connecting the switched off phone to the computer via a USB cable, and then holding down the button combination. Sometimes this helps to activate the recovery mode.
Clearing the cache via a computer and ADB
For advanced users who want to get maximum control over the system Xiaomi, there is a cleaning method via a computer using the utility ADB (Android Debug Bridge). This method allows you to delete the cache of system applications that are hidden from the average user.
First you need to enable USB debugging on your smartphone. Go to Settings → About phone and quickly click on the item MIUI version seven times until the message “You have become a developer” appears. Then in the advanced settings, activate the switch USB debugging.
Connect your phone to the PC and open the command line in the folder with ADB installed. Enter the command to enter the device shell:
adb shellAfter successful connection, you can run the command to clear the cache of all applications at once. This is a powerful command that requires access rights, but works without root on many devices:
pm clear com.android.cacheUsing ADB gives flexibility, but requires care. Entering commands incorrectly may cause certain services to fail. If you are not sure of your actions, it is better to limit yourself to standard methods through the phone interface.
☑️ Preparing to work with ADB
Frequent mistakes and questions from users
Many users Redmi 7A make common mistakes when trying to speed up their smartphone. For example, installing many Task Killer applications often does more harm than good. The Android system automatically manages memory, and forcibly closing processes forces the phone to waste energy launching them again.
Another common problem is deleting the game cache, which leads to loss of progress. This happens if the game stores saves not in the cloud, but locally in the data folder. Always check if your account is linked to the server before clearing game applications.
It is also worth remembering that after clearing the browser cache, you will have to re-enter passwords on sites if they were not saved in the Google password manager or Mi account. This is a minor inconvenience, which is a price to pay for increased security and cleanliness of the system.
⚠️ Attention: The MIUI interface may vary slightly depending on the firmware version (Global, China, Russia). If you don’t find the menu item you need, use the settings search by entering the name of the function.
Regular manual clearing of the cache of heavy applications is more effective than using third-party utilities that often just show ads.
By following these recommendations, you can extend the life of your budget smartphone and ensure its comfortable operating speed. Don't forget that digital hygiene is the key to the stability of any electronic device.
Is it safe to delete the Android/data folder manually through a file manager?
No, it is not recommended to do this manually without understanding the file structure. Deleting the contents of this folder may lead to resetting application settings, losing downloaded maps in navigators or offline content in streaming services. It’s better to use built-in cleaning tools.
Why did little space free up after clearing the cache?
Perhaps the bulk of the memory is occupied not by temporary cache files, but by your personal photos, videos or downloaded files in instant messengers. Also, some applications (for example, Telegram) store media files in their own folder, which is not always considered a system cache.
Do you need to restart your phone after clearing the cache?
Rebooting is not strictly necessary, but is highly recommended. It allows the system to correctly recalculate the free space index and terminate background processes that could be holding deleted files in RAM.
Will the WhatsApp chat history be deleted when clearing the cache?
No, the chat history is stored in the application database, not in the cache. Clearing the cache will only delete temporary files, such as image thumbnails or downloaded statuses, but text messages and main media files will remain in place.
How often should you clear the cache on Redmi 7A?
The optimal frequency is once every 2-3 weeks for active users. If you notice that the phone starts to slow down or the space runs out too quickly, the procedure can be carried out more often, on social networks and browsers.