Memory cleanup Xiaomi Redmi 4: from cache to complete reset

Xiaomi Redmi 4

Slowdown

Not enough space on the device

7 Proven Methods

MIUI

Redmi 4/4A/4X

Many users mistakenly believe that it is enough to remove unnecessary photos or applications. In fact, up to 40% of the memory is occupied by system debris: app cache, update residues, duplicate files and temporary MIUI data. Moreover, on Redmi 4, with 16 GB of memory, part of the volume is “eat” by the system itself – up to 3-4 GB is allocated for firmware and preinstalled Xiaomi services. So standard methods often do not work, and a comprehensive approach is required.

We tested all the ways on the Redmi 4 Pro (3/32 GB) with MIUI 12.5 and Android 6.0. The instructions are relevant for other versions of the series: Redmi 4A (5-inch screen) and Redmi 4X (with a Snapdragon 435). If your smartphone runs on the newer version of MIUI, the paths in the menu may differ slightly - but the logic of actions remains the same.

1. The analysis of occupied memory: what exactly eats the place?

Before you clean up your memory, you need to understand what's clogging it. On Redmi 4, the built-in analysis tool doesn't always work correctly -- especially if the device is infected with viruses or cache-loaded. Here's how to get accurate data:

Open Settings → Memory of the device. This shows a diagram of the distribution of memory by category: "Apps", "Images", "Video", "Audio" and "Other." Pay attention to the "Other" section - if it takes up more than 1-1.5 GB, this is a sure sign of garbage accumulation. Click on it to see details: often there are temporary update files, logs of system errors and remnants of deleted applications.

For a deeper analysis, use third-party utilities:

• 🔍 Files by Google – shows “junk” files (cache, duplicates, large files) and allows you to delete them in one click.
• 📊 SD Maid (requires root rights for full operation) – finds the remains of uninstalled programs, empty folders and unnecessary databases.
• 🛡️ CCleaner clears cache and history, but Android 6.0 may not see system files MIUI.

If you see apps in the Apps section that you haven’t used for a long time but they take more than 100MB, they should be removed, especially for games (PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty) and social networks (TikTok, Facebook), which accumulate cache even in the background.

⚠️ Note: If less than 10% of the free space is displayed in the Memory section, the smartphone starts to slow down due to the constant overwriting of system files. In this case, a simple cache cleaning will not help - you will need to transfer data to the computer. SD-map.

2. Cleaning up app cache and system debris

Cache is a temporary file that creates applications to speed up work. On Redmi 4, the cache can take anywhere from 500 MB to 2 GB, especially if you use YouTube, Instagram or a browser a lot. Cache clearing is secure - application data (logins, settings) will not be deleted.

Method 1: Manual cleaning for individual applications

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select a program (such as Chrome or WhatsApp).
3. Click Clear Cache. If you have a Clear Data button, don't click it, or all settings and accounts will be deleted!

Method 2: Mass cleaning the cache of all applications

1. Open Settings → Memory of the device → Clean.
2. Select “App Cache” and confirm the action.

This method removes the cache of all programs except system ones. Redmi 4 with MIUI 9-12 may need to restart after cleaning.

Method 3: Removal of garbage through MIUI Security

In the firmware MIUI has a built-in cleaner:

After cleaning, check the space in Settings → Memory. If the increase was less than 300 MB, then the problem is deeper – for example, in duplicate files or a crowded Download folder.

3. Delete unnecessary files and duplicates

Redmi 4 often accumulates unnecessary files in standard folders:

• 📁 Download — it stores all the downloads from the browser and messengers. Often there are outdated ones. APK-files, memes and documents.
• 📸 DCIM/.thumbnails — Photos and videos that can be used up to 500 MB.
• 🎵 Music and Ringtones – audio files you haven’t listened to in a long time.
• 📄 Documents — PDF, Excel and other files downloaded in case».

How to find and remove duplicates:

Use the Files by Google app:

1. Open the app and go to the “Cleanup” tab.
2. Select “Duplicates of Files” or “Large Files”.
3. Look through the list and delete the unnecessary. Attention: do not delete files with the.db or.xml extension, it can be system data.

Cleaning the Download folder:

The easiest way is to connect your smartphone to your PC and manually view the folder, or use a file manager (e.g. Solid Explorer):

1. Open the manager and go to /sdcard/Download.
2. Sort files by date or size (click on the three dots in the upper right corner).
3. Remove anything over 6 months old and weighs more than 10MB.

If you frequently download files from Telegram or WhatsApp, check the folders:

• 📥 /sdcard/Telegram/Telegram Documents
• 💬 /sdcard/WhatsApp/Media (Here are stored all media files from chat rooms)

⚠️ Note: When you delete files from your WhatsApp (Viber) folders, they will disappear from the chats themselves. If you want to save a photo or video, copy them to another place first (for example, on a PC or cloud).

4. Data transfer to SD-card (if supported)

Redmi 4 (except the 4A) supports microSD cards up to 128 GB.

• 📱 On the Redmi. 4 Pro/Prime (3/32 GB) SD-The card works as an external storage – you can only transfer media files and documents.
• 🔄 On the Redmi. 4X (s MIUI 9+) Adoptable Storage mode is available (formatting the card as internal memory), but this is not recommended - after extracting the card, the applications will stop working.

How to transfer files to SD-map:

1. Insert a memory card (class 10 is recommended for speed).
2. Open Files (standard MIUI application).
3. Select files (photos, videos, music), click "More» → «Move it» → specify SD-map.

Transfer of applications to SD-map (only for selected programs):

Not all apps support portability, to check:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select a program (such as Spotify or Maps.me).
3. If there is a button, move to SD-Map" -- press it. Once you've moved it, the app can run slower!

Table: What can be transferred to SD-risk-free?

If you use SD-The card as the main storage, we recommend:

• 🔋 Buy cards in a class not lower UHS-I (U1) steady-work.
• 🔄 Regularly copy important data to the PC — SD-cards may fail.
• 🚫 Not to retrieve the card while writing files (risk of data corruption).

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If, after transferring the applications to SD-They're slowing down the card, and you're going to put them back in the internal memory».

5. Clean up system files and MIUI updates

The MIUI firmware on Redmi 4 has a feature: after updates, backup folders and temporary files remain, which can take up to 1 GB. They can not be deleted by standard means - a file manager with permissions to access system folders (for example, Root Explorer or FX File Manager) will be required.

Where to find MIUI garbage:

How to clean:

1. Install FX File Manager and give it access to the storage.

If you have updated MIUI through Settings → About Phone → System Update, check the /sdcard/Download/rom folder. There may be firmware files weighing 1-1.5 GB that are no longer needed.

Cleaning up the MIUI cache through Recovery:

If the smartphone is severely slowing down, cleaning the cache partition through the recovery mode will help:

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse Wipe Cache (safe) with Wipe Data (full reset)! The second option will delete all your data, including photos and apps.

6.Reset to factory settings (last chance)

If you have less than 500MB of free memory left after all the manipulations, and your smartphone is unstable, you should do Hard Reset, a radical method that deletes all data, including:

• 📱 Installed applications and their settings.
• 📸 Photos, videos and music (if not on the list) SD-map).
• 🔑 Google Accounts, Mi Accounts and Wi-Fi Passwords.
• 📞 Call log and SMS.

How to do the reset correctly:

First, save important data:

• 📲 Sync your contacts with Google Account (Settings) → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of contacts).
• 📷 Copy photos and videos on PC or in the cloud (Google Photos, Yandex Drive).
• 🔐 Write down passwords from Wi-Fi and apps (or use Google Password Manager).

Method 1: Resetting through settings

1. Open Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset.
2. Select “Reset” → “Delete all data”.
3. Enter. PIN-code (if installed) and confirm.

Method 2: Reset via Recovery (if the phone is not turned on)

Once reset, Redmi 4 will return to the out-of-the-box state. The first turn on takes 5-10 minutes - don't interrupt the process! Then set up the phone again, restore the data from the backup (if it was created through the Mi Cloud).

⚠️ Note: If you sell or give away your phone, be sure to log out of your Mi Account after the reset (Settings) → Mi Account → Otherwise, the new owner will not be able to use the device due to the lock Xiaomi.

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Resetting to factory settings is a last resort, and if memory runs out again quickly, the problem may be a faulty flash memory (a diagnostic at a service center is required).

7.Prevention: How to avoid future memory clogging

To avoid clearing up Redmi 4 memory every month, follow the following simple rules:

• 📵 Delete the browser and social networks cache once every 2 weeks (via the website) MIUI Security by hand).
• 🚫 Don’t install apps just in case. Use Lite versions (e.g. Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite, Facebook Lite).
• 📥 Set up autoclean downloads: Files by Google enable the option “Delete files older than 30 days».
• 🔄 Move photos and videos to your PC or cloud regularly. Use Google Photos to download automatically (up to 15 GB free).
• 🛡️ Install antivirus (such as Malwarebytes) – some viruses create hidden files that clog memory.

Automatic cleaning in MIUI:

Optimization of storage in messengers:

In WhatsApp and Telegram, you can limit the automatic download of media files:

• 💬 On WhatsApp: Settings → Warehouse → Storage management → Delete unnecessary files.
• 📎 In Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Autoboot media → Choose “Never” for mobile data.

If you install games frequently, use the memory card as your primary storage (but keep in mind the risks described above).The alternative is cloud services like NVIDIA GeForce NOW, where games run on a remote server and do not take up space on the phone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up Redmi memory 4