Why Xiaomi Redmi 4X is slowing down and how to get it back to speed in 2026

Xiaomi Redmi 4X (codenamed santoni) is still one of the most popular budget smartphones thanks to reliable hardware and support for custom firmware. However, over time, even this “unkillable” device begins to slow down: applications open for a long time, animation twitches, and the system periodically “thinks.” If your Redmi 4X turned into a “brick” with lags, do not rush to write it off. In 90% of cases, the problem can be solved software without resorting to expensive repairs.

The main causes of brakes fall into two categories: system (cluttered memory, outdated software, background processes) and hardware (battery wear, overheating, damaged flash memory). In this article, we will discuss the unique optimization methods for the Redmi 4X, including hidden MIUI settings that Xiaomi does not advertise, and also consider radical measures from firmware to hardware upgrades.

Important: if the brakes appeared suddenly (for example, after a fall or moisture), the problem is more hardware - in this case, it is better to immediately contact the service.

1. Diagnosis: how to understand what exactly inhibits

Before treatment, you need to make a diagnosis. Redmi 4X can inhibit in various ways:

• 🐢 Common lags: slow app opening, hanging when scrolling through menus.
• 🔥 Overheating and trottling: the smartphone heats up and begins to “slow down” when playing or charging.
• 📉 Drawdowns FPS: Twitching animations, especially noticeable in games or when switching between windows.
• 🔋 Brakes at low charge: the device slows sharply by 10-20% of the battery.

To identify the cause, follow the following steps:

1. Check CPU boot: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (tap 7 times to activate Developer Mode). Then open Settings → Additional → Developer → Activity Monitor. Here you will see what processes are loading the CPU.
2. Use the Benchmark side: Install AnTuTu Benchmark or Geekbench. Compare the results with the benchmarks for Redmi 4X (about 45,000 in AnTuTu for pure MIUI). If the scores are lower by 30% or more, there is a problem with hardware or firmware.
3. Check memory status: Type ##4636## in the dialer, select Battery Information, and look at the Usage history graph. If the System or Android OS takes up more than 20% of the CPU time, the system is clogged.

⚠️ Note: if you see a mediaserver download process in the Activity Monitor CPU More than 15 percent is a sign of a damaged flash memory, and it's only a replacement chip or a full-format firmware that helps.

System Cleanup: Removing garbage and background processes

The Redmi 4X has only 2/3GB of RAM and 16/32GB of memory, so even a small clogging is critical to performance.

• 🧹 Cache Cleanup: Go to Settings → Annexes → All apps, select the hardest (e.g. Facebook, Instagram, YouTube) and click Clear cache. → Memory. → Clear the cache.
• 🗑️ Delete Unnecessary Files: Install MIUI Cleaner (official app from Xiaomi) or Files by Google.Delete: Older APK-Download files. Photo and video duplicates..thumbdata files).
• 🚫 Disabling Autostart: In Settings → Battery and productivity → Autorun control disable autoboot for all applications except system (e.g. Phone, Messages).

Use for deep cleaning ADB-Teams (PC required):

adb shell pm list packages -f | grep "com.miui"


adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.analytics # Removes Xiaomi Statistical Collector




adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.ab # Removes the ad module

⚠️ Attention: Do not remove through ADB Packages called com.android or com.qualcomm will cause the system to fail. 4X can be found XDA Developers.

3. MIUI Optimization: Hidden Settings and Tweaks

MIUI has a lot of hidden features that you can activate to speed up the work, and here are the most effective ones:

• ⚡ Activate Performance Mode: Enable Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Select animation and install No animation. Then activate the background process. → Standard Limit and Do Not Stay Activated (This Will Kill Background Processes More Aggressive).
• 🔄 Reset graphics settings: In For developers, find Disable hardware overlays (enable), and install GPU-acceleration → On and on. 4x MSAA → Disabled (this will reduce the load on the video processor Adreno 505).
• 📵 Shutdown MIUI Optimization: This feature often conflicts with custom launchers. To disable it, run it in the ADB: adb shell settings put global miui_optimization_disabled 1

For custom firmware users (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience), additional tweaks are available:

• Install the Perseus Kernel – it is optimized for the Redmi 4X and supports undervolting (reducing voltage on the CPU to reduce heat).
• Use the Magisk Module Universal GMS Doze to aggressively manage Google’s background processes.

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If you have brakes left after optimizing MIUI, try installing the Nova Launcher launcher and disabling the standard MIUI Launcher via ADB with the adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.home command. This will relieve RAM by 100-150 MB.

Update of firmware: official and custom options

Outdated firmware is one of the main reasons for brakes. Redmi 4X officially supports MIUI up to version 12.5, but even it can run slowly due to optimizations for new devices.

How to update the official MIUI:

1. Download the latest firmware for santoni from the official website.
2. Rename the file to update.zip and place it in the root of the memory.
3. Go to Settings → About Phone → Software Update → Three Dots → Select a firmware file.
4. Confirm the installation and wait for the restart (it will take 5-10 minutes).

For custom firmware installation:

1. Unlock the bootloader through Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Xiaomi account binding).
2. Install TWRP Recovery for santoni (version 3.6.1 or later).
3. Backup with TWRP (Backup → System + Data)
4. Flush firmware (e.g. LineageOS 18.1) and GApps (if you need Google services).
5. Clean Dalvik/ART Cache and reboot.

5. Hardware problems: battery, memory and overheating

If software methods don't work, the problem may be in hardware. The Redmi 4X is most often affected by:

• 🔋 Battery wear: after 3-4 years of operation, the capacity drops to 60-70%, which causes voltage and brake drawdowns.
• 🔥 Overheating: The heat paste on the Snapdragon 435 processor dries out, resulting in trottling (automatic frequency reduction). CPU).
• 💾 Damaged flash memory: cheap eMMC memory in budget smartphones degrades after 10-15 TB of recorded data.

How to check the status of the battery:

1. Install AccuBattery and look at the Battery Health chart, and if the capacity is below 1500 mAh (originally 4100 mAh), the battery needs to be replaced.
2. Enter the code ##284## for the battery test in the engineering menu (#4636###) if the voltage at 100% charge is below 4.2V, the battery is worn out.

Solutions to hardware problems:

• 🔧 Battery replacement: Original battery for Redmi 4X It costs about 1,000 to 1,500. ₽. Replacement can be done on your own (need a mediator and a hair dryer to peel off the back cover) or in the service (500-800). ₽ job).
• ❄️ Replace thermopast: If the smartphone heats up above 50°C to simple (checked through AIDA64), Removing the lid and applying a new thermal paste (e.g. Arctic) MX-4) It can reduce the temperature by 10-15°C.
• 💽 Flash memory replacement: If the memory test (via DiskSpeed) shows a write speed below 30 MB/s, the eMMC chip is worn out. ₽ (work).

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If the battery is still slowing down after you replace it, check the contacts of the battery plume, they may have oxidized. Clean them with alcohol or replace the plume (worth it). ~300 ₽).

Radical measures: acceleration, undervoltage and upgrade

If you're willing to take risks, you can try overclocking or modifying the iron, which requires experience and can shorten the life of the device, but can give you a noticeable increase in performance.

• 🚀 CPU overclocking: With the Perseus core, you can increase the frequency of the Snapdragon 435 from 1.4 GHz to 1.6 GHz. TWRP. Download Kernel Adiutor.In the section CPU Set the maximum frequency of 1603 MHz and apply the settings. ⚠️ Warning: Acceleration increases heat and battery consumption. Use only with a new battery and heatpaste.
• ⚡ Undervoltage: Reducing stress on CPU In Kernel Adiutor, go to Voltage Control and reduce the values by 25-50 mV for each frequency.
• 🔧 Memory upgrade: Redmi 4X It does not support RAM replacement, but you can expand memory using microSD as an internal drive (Adoptable Storage feature in Android). UHS-I (for example, Samsung EVO Plus. Go to Settings. → Memory. → Memory map → Format as internal. Move applications to the map through Settings → Annexes → Move it to SD.

⚠️ Cons: memory cards are slower than the built-in eMMC, so the performance will only increase if there is a shortage of space.

7. Alternative ways of using: what to do if nothing has worked

If the Redmi 4X is still slowing down, but you’re not ready to throw it away, consider alternative use cases:

• 📺 Media player for TV: Install Kodi or VLC, Connect your smartphone to the TV through HDMI-adapter (Type-C) → HDMI) And you can use it as a movie player. → Screen. → Developer regime → Debugging by USB. Connect the adapter and select the mode HDMI. In Kodi, set up the output of sound through HDMI (Settings → System system → Sound).

Game console

With RetroArch or PPSSPP, you can run PS1, N64 or PSP emulators.

• Install LineageOS (less lag than on MIUI).
• In the emulator settings, reduce the render resolution to 640×480.
• Use the gamepad via Bluetooth.

router IP-camera

Using Fing or IP Webcam, you can turn your smartphone into:

• Access Point (Wi-Fi distribution via Settings → Modem and access point).
• Surveillance camera (streaming video over a local network).
• Server for files (via FTP Server in ES Explorer).

For maximum performance in these scenarios:

• Turn off all background processes through Settings → Battery → Power saving mode.
• Use Greenify to hibernate unnecessary apps.
• Connect your smartphone to power (to avoid battery trottling).