Xiaomi Redmi 4X — One of the most popular budget smartphones of 2017, still in use by millions of users, but over time, even this reliable device begins to slow down: And the applications take a long time to open, the animations twitch, and sometimes the device will freeze for a few seconds. What's the reason for this behavior? It could be the wear and tear of the iron, but it could be the software bugs that have accumulated over the years.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible causes of brakes on Redmi. 4X — From the clichés of memory loss to the hidden viruses in the firmware, you'll learn how to diagnose a problem, which settings to manually optimize, and when to think about replacing the battery or flashing it back, and we'll also tell you whether to upgrade to the latest version. MIUI Or better to stay on the old but stable firmware.
Important: if your smartphone is not just slowing down, but spontaneously rebooting, it heats up to 50°C or shuts down at 30% charge are already symptoms of critical battery wear.
1. Lack of RAM: Why Redmi 4X «choking" when multitasking
Xiaomi Redmi 4X fitted 2 or 3 GB RAM (depending on the modification). 2017 That was enough for a comfortable year of work, but modern applications — from Telegram to TikTok — have become much more voracious. 3-4 Applications, the problem is precisely in the lack of RAM.
How it manifests itself:
- 🔄 When switching between apps, they reboot instead of staying in the background.
- ⏳ Interface animation MIUI becomes jerky, especially when opening menus or swipes.
- 📱 The screen for a few seconds “stops”, and then responds sharply to the actions.
Decisions:
- 🚫 Turn off auto-run of unnecessary apps: go to Settings → Annexes → Auto-run and ban background work for instant messengers, games and social networks that you rarely use.
- 🔄 Limit the background processes: in Settings → Special facilities → Optimize the system by setting a limit on 2-3 process.
- 🗑️ Clean RAM manually: use the built-in security utility → Cleaning (but not more than 1 time a day, so as not to load the system).
⚠️ Warning: Don't install "memory optimizers" from Google Play - they'll only make the brakes worse. MIUI They do the job more efficiently.
2.Clogged internal memory: how 16GB turns into a bottleneck
The basic version of Redmi 4X has 16 GB of internal memory, from which the user is available about 10-12 GB. Over time, that volume gets clogged:
- 📸 App cache (especially YouTube, Instagram, Google Chrome).
- 🎵 Music and video downloaded offline.
- 📁 Residual files after deleting programs.
- 🔄 System updates that are up to 1-2 GB.
When less than 1GB of free space is left, the smartphone starts to slow down because Android can’t work properly with the file system, and the problem is exacerbated if you use the memory card as an internal drive — MIUI poorly optimized for this mode.
How to make room:
- 📂 Move photos and videos to Google Photos or the Mi Cloud cloud, and then delete local copies.
- 🧹 Clear the app cache in Settings → Warehouse → Application data (select the most "heavy" programs).
- 🔍 Remove unnecessary APK-files and downloads from the folder /storage/emulated/0/Download.
- 🛠️ Turn off automatic app updates on Google Play.
| Type of file | Average weight | How to clean up |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube Cash. | 500MB - 2GB | Settings → Applications → YouTube → Storage → Clear the cache |
| Offline maps of Google Maps | 200 MB - 1 GB | Open Google Maps. → Settings → Offline maps → Delete |
| Logs and dumps of the system | 100-500 MB | Use File Manager → folder /data/log (root) |
| Residual application files | 300MB - 1GB | Utility. SD Maid (requires superuser rights) |
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If you have a memory card installed, transfer only multimedia (photos, videos, music) to it, but not applications. MIUI It works poorly with Adoptable Storage on weak smartphones.
3. Outdated firmware or errors MIUI: When the update is harmful
Xiaomi Redmi 4X Officially received the last major update MIUI in 2020 (version) MIUI 12 based on Android 7.1). However, many users still try to install custom firmware or security patches, which often leads to the use of custom software:
- 🐢 Slowing down the interface due to unoptimized code.
- 🔋 Increased battery consumption (up to) 20-30% hourly).
- 📵 Network problems (signal loss, slow internet).
Critical information: If your Redmi 4X originally worked MIUI 9 or 10, after updating before MIUI 11/12 It's normal to start braking, new versions of the firmware require more resources than Snapdragon can provide. 435.
What to do:
- 🔙 Reverse to the old firmware if the update has impaired performance. ROM Xiaomi.
- 🛠️ Install custom firmware based on Android 10/11 (For example, LineageOS 17.1), But only if you are ready to lose encryption and some functions. MIUI.
- ⚙️ Disable the animation interface: adb shell settings put global window_animation_scale 0.5 adb shell settings put global transition_animation_scale 0.5 adb shell settings put global animator_duration_scale 0.5
⚠️ Warning: Do not install firmware from third-party developers without a backup! 4X There are several modifications (Santoni and santoni_pro), Incompatible firmware can “brick” the device.
Make a backup copy in Mi Cloud|Download the correct version ROM forecast|Charge your phone at least 60%|Install drivers ADB PC-only|Disable the bootloader lock (if you need custom firmware)-->
4. Worn-out battery: the hidden cause of lags and reboots
Lithium-ion batteries degrade over time, and through 3-4 year their capacity falls on 30-50%. On the Redmi. 4X This is not only in the fast discharge, but also in:
- 🔄 Sharp brakes when the charge falls below 20%.
- 🔋 Spontaneous shutdowns on 30-40%.
- ⚡ Overheating during charging or playing.
The fact is that a worn-out battery can not provide a stable voltage, and the Snapdragon processor 435 So you start trottling to save energy, and you get the smartphone to work in a way that's very efficient. 2-3 slower.
How to check the status of the battery:
- Install the AccuBattery app and check the Battery Health option.
- If the capacity fell below 1500 mAh (originally 4100 mAh), it is time to change the battery.
- Check out the discharge schedule: if the phone loses 10% post 5-10 Minutes are a sign of the memory effect».
Replacement cost: New battery for Redmi 4X It costs 800-1,500 rubles (2026), and it's possible to replace it on your own, but it's neat, and it's on double-sided tape, which you can easily break.
What happens if you don't change the battery?
5. CPU overheating: why Redmi 4X «strangulate
Snapdragon 435 redmi 4X It's not very productive, and when you're working on it (games, video, multitasking), it heats up quickly. 50-55°C, it triggers thermal throttling, which is a forced reduction in the frequency of the cores:
- 🎮 Games are starting to frieze every 5-10 seconds.
- 📹 Video in the video 1080p recorded.
- 📱 Interface. MIUI scroll-back.
Causes of overheating:
- 🔋 Charging. + load (for example, playing while connecting to a charger).
- 🌡️ Dust in the connector or under the lid (deteriorates heat sink).
- 🔄 Background processes that load the processor (mining viruses, incorrect updates).
How to reduce heat:
- 🛡️ Install Coolify or CPU Throttling Test for Temperature Monitoring.
- 🔌 Do not play games while charging.
- 🧹 Clean the microUSB connector from dust (use a wooden toothpick).
- ⚙️ Turn off unnecessary background services in Settings → Battery → Battery mode → Optimization.
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If the phone heats up even in a simple (for example, when watching a video), it is most likely to blame a worn-out battery or a faulty power controller.
6 Viruses and malware: hidden “parasites” in the system
Even if you don’t install suspicious apps, viruses can get into Redmi. 4X through:
- 📎 Investments in SMS/The messengers (especially) APK-file).
- 🌐 Phishing sites that offer “free” games or programs.
- 🔄 Vulnerabilities in outdated firmware (for example, MIUI 9 not getting security patches since 2019).
Symptoms of infection:
- 📈 Unexplained traffic consumption (virus can download ads or mine cryptocurrency).
- 🔋 Quick discharge even in standby mode.
- 📱 Appearance of unfamiliar apps on the menu.
- 📵 Advertising in notifications or browser.
How to check and remove viruses:
- Install Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light and perform a full scan.
- Check the list of installed applications in Settings → Apps – Remove all suspicious items.
- Disable installation from unknown sources in Settings → Confidentiality.
- If the virus is embedded in the system files, only a complete reset or flashing will help.
⚠️ Note: Some viruses are disguised as system applications (e.g. com.android.system!
7. Hardware malfunctions: when "iron" is to blame
If all software methods have been tried, but Redmi 4X It is still slowing down, the problem may lie in physical injuries:
| Malfunction | Symptoms | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Damaged flash memory (eMMC) | Frequent errors when writing files, "departures" of applications | Replacing a memory chip (expensive, often impractical) |
| Oxidation of contacts on the motherboard | The smartphone brakes when vibrating or tilting | Cleaning alcohol in the service center |
| Faulty power controller | The phone turns off at 50% charge, does not charge | Replacement of the controller (1000–2000 rubles) |
| Damaged charging connector | Charging is only in a certain position of the cable. | Replacement of the connector (500-800 rubles) |
If you suspect a hardware malfunction, contact a service center. Self-repair (for example, soldering chips) without experience can threaten to completely break the phone.
8 When it’s time to change your smartphone: signs of the “end of life” Redmi 4X
Even after all the Redmi optimizations 4X It's a signal that the device's resources are exhausted, signs that it's time to think about replacing it:
- 🐢 Apps open for longer than 5 seconds even after resetting.
- 🔋 Battery keeps charge less than 2 hours when used actively.
- 📱 The smartphone does not support modern applications (for example, new versions of WhatsApp or Bank). ID).
- 🔄 Android 7.1 older firmware doesn’t get security updates.
If you decide to upgrade, consider Xiaomi’s budget models 2023-2026 year-end:
- Redmi 12C (4/128 GB, Helio. G85) — from 10 000 ruble.
- Poco C55 (6/128 GB, Helio. G85) — from 12 000 ruble.
- Redmi Note 12 (4/128 GB, Snapdragon 4 Gen 1) — from 15 000 ruble.
If you want to extend the life of Redmi. 4X:
- 🛠️ Install a light firmware (e.g. LineageOS without GApps).
- 📱 Use your phone as a second device (for calls, messengers, navigator).
- 🔋 Buy Powerbank to compensate for a weak battery.
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Redmi 4X can be used more 1-2 In the last few years, if you are limited to basic tasks, SMS, video-watching 720p, navigation.