Clearing the cache on Xiaomi Redmi 9: a complete guide to speed up your phone

Has your Xiaomi Redmi 9 started to slow down, applications take a long time to load, and memory runs out out of the blue? The reason most often lies in a full cache - temporary files that the system and apps accumulate to speed up work. But when the cache grows to gigabytes, it begins to do exactly the opposite: it slows down the smartphone, takes up precious space and can even cause crashes.

In this article you will find 5 proven ways to clear the cache on Redmi 9 —from standard MIUI tools to hidden functions and third-party utilities. We will look at how to clear the cache of individual applications, system temporary files, and also what to do if the phone still slows down after cleaning. Important: all methods are safe and do not require root access or complex manipulations.

Before you start, check how much space the cache takes up on your device. To do this, go to Settings → About phone → Memory. If you see a higher number in the “Cache” or “Other Files” section 1–2 GB, it’s time to act. And if less than 10% of the total memory is free, clearing the cache will be the first step to “reanimating” the phone.

1. Clearing the cache of individual applications through settings

The most precise and safe way is to delete the cache of only those apps that take up too much space or are unstable. This method does not affect system files and does not affect account data (logins, passwords, progress in games will remain intact).

How to do this:

1. Open Settings (gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to section Applications → Manage applications.
3. Select an application from the list (for example, YouTube, Facebook or Google Play Market).
4. Click Storage (or Memory in some versions of MIUI).
5. Tap on the button Clear cache.

For convenience, sort applications by cache size: in the upper right corner of the “Manage Applications” screen, click on the three dots → Sorting → By size. This way you will quickly find the main memory “eaters”. For example, Redmi 9 the cache of:

• 📷 Gallery (photo and video thumbnails)
• 🎵 Music (album covers, streaming audio buffer)
• 🌍 Browsers (Chrome, Mi Browser - store copies of sites). data-i="73">and
• 🎮 Games (especially with 3D graphics, for example PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact)

⚠️ Attention: Don't confuse the buttons Clear cache And Clear data! The second will delete all application settings, including logins and saved files (for example, downloads to Telegram or offline maps to Google Maps). data-i="77">Attention:

2. Automatic clearing of the cache through “Security”

Xiaomi built into MIUI utility Security (shield icon), which can analyze the system and suggest optimizations - including deleting unnecessary cache. This method is suitable if you do not want to manually review each application.

Instructions:

1. Launch the application Security (if it is not on the desktop, find it through the system search).
2. On the main screen, tap on button Cleaning (or Garbage in new versions).
3. Wait for scanning to complete (usually takes 10-30 seconds).
4. B results, select the tab Cache (or Unnecessary files) and click Clear.

Utility Security also shows how much space is occupied by:

• 🗑️ Residual files — “garbage” after deleted applications.
• 📁 Large files —videos, APKs, archives that have not been opened for a long time.
• 🔍 Duplicates — duplicate photos or documents.

⚠️ Attention: In some versions of MIUI, the utility Security may offer to clear Background processes or RAMThis will temporarily speed up the phone, but not. will free up permanent memory. To free up space, focus specifically on the tab Cache.

3. Clearing the system cache through Recovery mode

If the phone is very slow and standard methods do not help, try deleting system cache (Dalvik-cache) These files are created by Android to speed up the launch of applications, but over time they can become damaged, causing problems. lags. Clearing via Recovery is safe and does not delete user data.

Step-by-step guide:

1. Turn off Redmi 9.
2. Hold down the buttons simultaneously Volume up + Power and hold for 5-10 seconds until the logo appears Mi.
3. Release the buttons - you will be taken to the menu Recovery (navigation is carried out with the volume buttons, selection is with the power button).
4. Select item Wipe & Reset (or Wipe Cache in some versions).
5. Next tap Wipe Cache (DO NOT select Wipe All Data - this is a reset to factory settings!).
6. Confirm the action and wait for completion (it will take 1-2 minutes).
7. Reboot the phone via Reboot → Reboot to System.

After the reboot, the system will restore the necessary cache files automatically. This method is especially useful if:

• 🐢 The phone began to freeze after the update. MIUI.
• 🔄 Applications close spontaneously or crash.
• 📱 The screen “thinks” for a long time when unlocking.

⚠️ Attention: If after clearing the system cache the phone takes longer than usual (up to 5-10 minutes) - this is normal. Do not interrupt the process and do not remove it. battery! In the future, the operating speed will return to normal.

What is Dalvik-cache and why does it need to be cleaned?

Dalvik-cache is an optimized version of applications that Android creates to speed up their launch. /data/dalvik-cache and can take up to 1-2 GB. Over time, the cache becomes damaged (for example, due to incorrect updates or crashes), which leads to errors like "The application has stopped". Cleaning through Recovery deletes damaged files, forcing the system to create them again.

4. Using third-party applications for deep cleaning

If the built-in MIUI tools do not work, you can use specialized utilities from Google Play. They offer advanced functions: cleaning the cache on a schedule, deleting duplicates, analyzing “heavy” files. Redmi 9:

Application	Features	Cons
CCleaner	Deletes cache, residual files, analyzes startup	Advertising in the free version, sometimes offers unnecessary “optimizations”
SD Maid	Deep scanning of system folders, searching for “dead” files	Requires root for some functions
Files by Google	Simple interface, clearing cache and duplicates without wasting money	Fewer settings compared to analogues
AVG Cleaner	Cache clearing + virus protection, battery optimization	Aggressive notifications about “problems”

How to use (using example CCleaner):

1. Install the application from Google Play and open it.
2. Go to the tab Cleaning (Cleaner).
3. Click Analysis and wait for completion scanning.
4. In the results, select Application cache and System cache (if available).
5. Tap Clear and confirm the action.

💡 Tip: Do not clear the cache of all applications in a row through third-party utilities - this may slow down the first launch of apps after cleaning. It is better to selectively delete the cache of the most “gluttonous” applications (see section 1).

5. Manually clearing the cache through a file manager

For experienced users, there is a way to delete the cache manually - through a file manager. This is useful if you need to clear the cache of system applications (for example, Mi Account or Google Services), which are not displayed in the standard application management menu.

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with access to root folders (for example, Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Open the manager and give it access to the phone's memory.
3. Navigate to the path:

   /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/

   Caches of user applications are stored here.

4. Find the folder with the name of the problematic application (for example, com.facebook.katana for Facebook) and delete the contents of the folder cache.
5. For the system cache, go to:

   /data/data/

   (root access required!).

⚠️ Attention: Deleting files in folders /data/data/ or /system/ without root access can lead to failures! If you are not sure of your actions, use standard methods (sections 1–3).

🔍 How to find “heavy” cache folders:

• In the file manager, sort the folders /Android/data/ by size.
• Pay attention to folders weighing >100 MB - their cache can be safely cleared.
• Exception: do not touch the folders com.android. i com.xiaomi. are system files.

6. optimization Redmi 9 after clearing the cache

Clearing the cache is only the first step towards making your phone healthier. To Redmi 9 work quickly and stably, follow a few more steps:

• 🔄 Update MIUI: Go to Settings → About phone → System update and install latest patches. New versions often optimize memory management.
• 🚫 Limit background activity: In Settings → Battery → Battery mode select Battery saving - this will reduce the load on the processor.
• 📵 Disable autostart: B Settings → Applications → Autostart disable automatic launching unnecessary apps.
• 🗃️ Transfer files to the card memory: Photos, videos and music can be stored on microSD (if installed), freeing up internal memory.

📌 What to do if, after clearing the cache, problems remain:

• Check the free space: if memory is critically low (<5%), remove unnecessary applications or files.
• Run Performance test in the application Security - it will show what exactly is slowing down the phone (CPU, memory or storage).
• If lags appear in a specific application (for example, in Instagram), reinstall it.

On Redmi 9 with MIUI 12+ there is a hidden “Deep Cleaning” function that deletes the cache and optimizes the system in one click. To activate it, enter the code in the “Phone” application ##4636##, go to “Battery Information” and tap on the menu icon (three dots) → “Cleaning”.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about clearing the cache on Xiaomi Redmi 9

❓ Do you need to clear the cache regularly?

No, it is enough to do this once every 1-2 months or when the phone starts to slow down. Frequently clearing the cache can, on the contrary, slow down the work, since applications will have to download the data again each time.

❓ Why After clearing the cache, some applications take a long time to load?

This is normal: applications restore deleted temporary files (for example, thumbnails in the gallery or authorization data). After the first launch, the speed will return to normal.

❓ Is it possible to clear the cache without losing data?

Yes, clearing the cache does not affect personal files. (photos, contacts, messages). However, if you select Clear data (rather than cache), the information from the application will be deleted.

❓ Why is there no “Clear cache” button in the settings for some applications?

These are system ones. applications Xiaomi or Google, the cache of which is cleared only through Recovery or special utilities (for example, SD Maid with root access).

❓ How much space should be freed up after cleaning?

Depends on the number of installed applications. On average, 500 MB to 3-4 GB are freed. If after cleaning the free space has not increased, check the folders with downloads and media files.

If none of the methods helped, and Redmi 9 continues to slow down, consider this option resetting to factory settings (after making a backup copy) or checking the phone for viruses. In 90% of cases, clearing the cache solves the problem of lags, but sometimes the cause of slow operation is hardware limitations (for example, processor overheating or memory wear).