Cache Cleanup on Xiaomi Redmi Note 4: A Complete Guide to Accelerating Your Smartphone

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 is still a popular smartphone due to its reliability and performance, but over time even it begins to slow down. The main reason is a filled cache that takes up precious space and slows down the system. Unlike the new models with MIUI 14, the Redmi Note 4 (released in 2017) runs on outdated versions of the firmware, where cleaning the cache has its nuances.

In this article, you will find 5 proven ways to clean up cache, from standard MIUI tools to hidden features for power users, how to remove the cache of individual applications, the system cache (including Dalvik-cache), and what to do if the phone starts to work even worse after cleaning, and at the end, answers to frequent questions and a unique life hack for the Redmi Note 4 with 16 GB of memory.

Why Redmi Note 4 cache needs to be cleaned regularly

Cache is a temporary file that creates applications and a system to speed up work. On Redmi Note 4 with its modest by modern standards 3/4 GB of RAM and 16-64 GB of ROM, the cache can take up to 3-5 GB of space, which is critical for models with a small amount of memory.

The main problems that cause a crowded cache:

• 🐢 Slowing down the interface: animations begin to “suppose”, applications open for a long time.
• 🔥 Overheating of the processor: Snapdragon 625 on the Redmi Note 4 does not like overload, and unnecessary background processes aggravate the situation.
• 📱 Spontaneous reboots: especially relevant for devices with custom firmware.
• 🚫 Errors in apps: for example, Google Play Services or MIUI Launcher can issue a message “Stop».

On new smartphones, MIUI automatically clears the cache once a week, but on the Redmi Note 4 (especially with firmware older than MIUI 10), this feature is not available.

Method 1: Clearing the cache of individual applications through settings

The safest method is to remove cache for specific programs, which will not affect their data (for example, saved games or chats in instant messengers), but will free up space.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Sort by size.
3. In the list, find apps with large cache (usually Facebook, YouTube, Google Chrome, MIUI Gallery).
4. Click on the app → Storage → Clear the cache.

To speed up the process, packet cleaning can be used:

• 🔍 In the same menu of the Applications, click on the Filter icon (in the form of a funnel).
• 📊 Check all applications with cache over 100 MB.
• 🗑️ Click Clear Cache for all selected.

Cache applications >500MB|Social networks (Facebook, Instagram)|Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp)|System applications (MIUI Gallery, Music)|Games (PUBG, Genshin Impact)-->

⚠️ Note: Do not clear the cache for Google Play Services and Services Framework – this can cause a malfunction of your Google account.If these apps take up a lot of space, it is better to update them through the Play Market.

Method 2: Clean the system cache with Recovery Mode

If the phone is slowing down and standard methods are not working, it’s time to remove the system cache (including Dalvik-cache), which requires a reboot in Recovery Mode and is suitable for power users.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the Redmi Note 4.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up at the same time until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select the language (if required) and go to Wipe & Reset.
4. Select Wipe Cache (not to be confused with Wipe All Data!).
5. Confirm the action and wait for the completion (it will take 1-3 minutes).
6. Restart your phone via Reboot.

After this procedure:

• ✅ The first download will take longer than usual (up to 5 minutes) – this is normal.
• ✅ Some applications may request re-authorization.
• ❌ Do not manually delete the Dalvik-cache section through TWRP, If you are not sure about your actions, this can lead to a bootloop (a looped reboot).

Method 3: Using the built-in MIUI cleaner

MIUI has its own optimization tool, the Security App (newer versions called MIUI Security), which works a little differently on the Redmi Note 4 than on today’s Xiaomi smartphones, but is still effective.

How to use:

1. Open the Security app (the shield icon).
2. Go to the Cleanup tab (or Boost in English firmware).
3. Press Deep Clean and wait for the scan.
4. Check Cash, Residual Files and Large Files.
5. Click Clean and confirm the action.

MIUI Security features on Redmi Note 4:

• 🔄 Cache cleaning is less aggressive than in Recovery, but safer.
• 📊 Shows the exact size of the vacated space after cleaning.
• ⚠️ Occasionally offers to delete useful files (such as browser downloads) – check the list carefully before cleaning.

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If your phone is still slowing after cleaning through MIUI Security, try turning off AutoRun for unnecessary applications. Go to Security → AutoRun and turn off autoboot for social media, games and other voracious programs.

Method 4: Cleaning the cache through the engineering menu (for advanced)

This method is suitable for those who are willing to work with hidden Android settings, it allows you to clear the cache more thoroughly, but requires caution.

Instructions:

1. Open the phone app and enter the code: ##4636##
2. In the menu, select Storage.
3. Press Cache data and confirm the cleanup.
4. Reboot the phone.

What's important to know:

• 🔧 This menu shows the actual memory state, not the rounded numbers from the settings.
• 📉 Here you can see how much space System cache (system cache) and Misc files (different temporary files) takes up).
• ⚠️ Do not press Erase Flash or Format, this will result in a complete reset!

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi Note 4 firmware (especially custom ones) may not have an engineering menu or may not work properly. If nothing happens after you enter the code, try using the app. MTK Engineering Mode from Play Market (only for Mediatek-based firmware, but Redmi Note 4 runs on Snapdragon, so this method is not suitable for everyone!).

Method 5: Automatically cleans the cache with third-party applications

If you're too lazy to clean the cache manually, you can use third-party utilities. For Redmi Note 4, you can:

• 🧹 SD Maid – Deep Cleanup, including residual files after deleting applications.
• 🗑️ CCleaner is a simple interface, but less effective for older versions of Android.
• 🔍 Files by Google – Google’s official app that finds and deletes unnecessary files.

How to use SD Maid:

1. Download and install the app from the Play Market.
2. Run and grant Root rights (if any) or use without them.
3. Go to the CorpseFinder tab, where you can see the residual files from the remote programs.
4. Press Run and wait for the scan.
5. Mark all the files found and press Delete.

Advantages and disadvantages of third-party cleaners:

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The side cleaners are convenient, but do not replace manual cleaning through Recovery. For maximum effect, use them in combination with standard methods.

What to do if after cleaning the cache, the phone began to work worse

Sometimes, after cleaning the cache, users face new problems: apps crash, the phone opens programs slower, or even starts to overheat.

Problem 1: Applications take a long time to load on the first run

• 🔄 That's okay -- cache is what you need to speed up reopening. Wait 1-2 days until the system recovers the files you need.
• 📥 If a particular app (such as Instagram) is slowing down, try updating it through the Play Market.

Problem 2: The phone is overheating.

• 🔥 Maybe after cleaning the cache, the processor has to recompile the data for Dalvik.
• 🌡️ Check the temperature through the app AIDA64. If she's over 50.°C in simple - the problem is not in the cache, but in the battery or thermal paste.

Problem 3: System applications are crashing

• 🛠️ Most likely, the cache of critical services (for example, was deleted, MIUI Try resetting the settings of this application: Settings → Annexes → Finding a problem → Warehouse → Drop it.
• 🔄 If it does not help, perform a soft reset: turn off the phone, pinch the power. + Volume up for 10 seconds, then turn it on normally.

⚠️ Note: If the phone doesn't turn on after cleaning the cache through Recovery (hangs on the Mi logo), this is a sign of damage to Dalvik-cache. TWRP. Do not try to solve the problem by resetting to factory settings - this will not help!

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up the cache on Redmi Note 4