How to completely clean Xiaomi Redmi 4: from cache to factory settings

Xiaomi Redmi 4

Pro

Prime

MIUI 14

Many users mistakenly think that it is enough to remove unnecessary photos or applications — but this is only the tip of the iceberg. System debris, remnants of deleted programs, duplicate files and even errors in the work of MIUI can eat up to 30% of free space. In this article, we will analyze 7 proven ways to clean Redmi 4, from simple to radical (including resetting to factory settings), taking into account the features of the old version of MIUI and the hardware limitations of the smartphone.

⚠️ Important: Before any manipulation of the Redmi 4 memory, check the battery power - it must be at least 50%.This model is known for problems with sudden shutdown at low charge levels, which can lead to a failure during cleaning.

1.Cache and garbage cleanup through built-in MIUI tools

To start with, the safest method that doesn’t require installing third-party apps is that MIUI 8/9 (relevant to Redmi 4) has hidden cleaning tools that many users don’t notice.

Go to Settings → Additional → Clean. Here you will see three tabs:

• 🗑️ Garbage: temporary files, remnants of deleted applications, system log files, and you can delete them without risking data.
• 🔄 Cache is the data of applications that speed up their work, but over time grows to gigabytes. Clearing the cache will slow down the first download of programs after restarting.
• 📁 Large files - video, APK, You can check this section carefully, and you can see important files!

⚠️ Note: If after cleaning the cache, applications begin to “fly out” (for example, WhatsApp or VKontakte), restart the phone. MIUI 8 on weak processors (Snapdragon) 430/435).

For deep cleaning, click Deep Clean in the top right corner. The system will scan the phone for unnecessary files, including:

• 📱 Remains of uninstalled applications (folders) /data/app-lib).
• 📄 Empty folders and duplicate files.
• 🔧 Incorrect shortcuts and widget cache.

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If the Deep Clean button is inactive, go to Settings → About Phone and click on the MIUI version 5 times to unlock Developer Mode. Then go back to the Cleanup section – the option will become available.

2 Manually delete unnecessary files through the Explorer

The MIUI-built file manager (Conductor) allows you to manually locate and remove debris that automatic tools are skipping. Open the app and go to Categories → Multimedia.

📊 Redmi 4 statistics: on average, users find 1.5 to 3 GB of unwanted files, including:

• 🎵 Audio: voice messages from messengers, alarm rings, notification sounds from remote games.

Pay special attention to folders: /storage/emulated/0/Android/data — this is where application data is stored. Many games (such as PUBG Mobile or Free Fire) leave after removing a folder weighing 500 MB-1 GB. /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/backup — system backups that are created during updates. These can be safely deleted if you do not plan to roll back to the old version of MIUI.

⚠️ Note: Do not manually delete files from folders /system or /data No root rights! this can lead to a phone "brick" (completely disabled) as Redmi 4 Does not support recovery through Fastboot without authorization of your Mi Account.

Delete the folder DCIM/.thumbnails (photo-picture)|Clean Download from the old ones APK and archives|Delete files with the.nomedia extension (they are not visible in the gallery, but take up space)|Check the folder. MIUI/sound_recorder statuary-->

3. Cleaning the app cache through settings

Even after the application is deleted, its cache can remain in the system to clear it completely:

1. Go to Settings → Applications.
2. Select an app (such as Facebook or YouTube).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
4. To completely reset the app, use Clear Data (but note that this will delete all settings and accounts!).

🔍 Hidden feature: On Redmi 4, the cache of some system applications (for example, com.miui.home – launcher) can take up to 800 MB. Clearing the launcher cache will help eliminate lags when scrolling the desktop.

To speed up the process, use sorting by size:

1. In the Apps section, click on the three dots in the upper right corner.
2. Select Sort. → By size.
3. Clear the cache from applications that are larger than 100MB.

4.Use of third-party applications for deep cleaning

If the built-in MIUI tools fail, third-party utilities will come to the rescue.

• 🧹 SD Maid cleans the leftovers of deleted applications, empty folders and duplicate files. There is a feature CorpseFinder to find dead files.
• 🗃️ Files by Google – a simple manager with garbage cleaning function and recommendations for vacating space.
• 🔍 CCleaner is a classic cache and history cleaner. Redmi 4 runs slow due to a weak processor, but it does the job.

🛑 Warning: Do not use “optimizers” like Clean Master or DU Speed Booster. These apps:

• Consume additional resources (which is critical for Redmi 4 with 2/3 GB of RAM).
• They can delete important MIUI system files.
• Often contain ads that further burden the phone.

💡 Tip: After installation SD Maid follow the following steps:

1. Launch CorpseFinder (the Explorer tab).
2. Select Run All for a full scan.
3. Delete the files marked ORPHANED (orphaned).
4. Reboot the phone.

5. reset to factory settings (Hard Reset)

If the phone is unbearably slow and the memory is full, there's no telling what, the last chance it's going to work again is a factory reset, and this method will delete all the data, including:

• 📱 Applications and their settings.
• 📷 Photos, videos, music (if stored in the phone’s memory).
• 🔑 Google, Mi, Facebook and Other Accounts.
• 📋 SMS, callbook, notes.

🔧 Step-by-step instruction:

1. Make a backup of important data (see the next section).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset.
3. Select Settings Reset.
4. Check the box to clear your internal memory (if you want to erase everything).
5. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

⚠️ Attention: Redmi 4 may have a "No command" error with the Android lying down after reset:

• Press Power + Volume up for 10 seconds.
• Select Wipe data/factory reset via volume buttons.
• Confirm the action and restart the phone.

📌 Important: If you forget the password from your Mi Account, the reset can block the phone! Xiaomi links the devices to the account, and after the reset you will need to enter a login / password. Without this data, it will be impossible to unlock Redmi 4 (officially).

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Resetting to factory settings is a last resort. Before you do that, be sure to try cleaning the cache, deleting unnecessary files, and optimizing through Settings → Battery → Performance Mode.

6. Backup before cleaning

Before you reset or deep clean up, save your important data. Redmi 4 has two reliable ways to do this.

🔹 Method 1: Reservation through MIUI

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
2. Select Local Backup.
3. Check the necessary data (contacts, SMS, applications).
4. Click Create a backup and wait until it is completed.

📌 Limitation: This method does not save photos, videos, or music – it must be copied manually.

🔹 Method 2: Copying on a PC

1. Connect Redmi 4 to your computer via USB (select File Transfer Mode).
2. Copy folders: DCIM (photos and videos), Download (downloads) Pictures (screenshots) WhatsApp/Media (media from instant messengers)

Contacts → Settings → Import / Export

⚠️ Warning: Don’t rely on cloud services like Mi Cloud or Google Photos on Redmi 4. This model often loses connection to servers due to a weak Wi-Fi module (802.11n), and backup copies may not be saved.

7. Optimize the operation of the phone after cleaning

After the memory is cleared, Redmi 4 can still run slowly due to hardware limitations.

• 🚀 Turn off animation: go to Settings → About the phone, 5 times click on the version MIUI, Then in the developer settings set the animation scale to 0.5x.
• 🔋 Activate the performance mode: in Settings → Battery → Select High Performance Mode (reduces uptime but speeds up the phone).
• 📱 Install a lightweight launcher: replace the standard MIUI Launcher on Nova Launcher or Lawnchair – they consume less RAM.
• 🔄 Limit background processes: In Developer Settings, set Process Limit to Maximum 2 of the process.

📊 Performance test: After optimizing, check the speed of the phone at AnTuTu Benchmark. on Redmi 4 (Snapdragon 430, 2/3 GB RAM) normal readings:

• Before cleaning: 25,000-30,000 points (strong lags).
• After cleaning and optimization: 35,000-40,000 points (acceptable speed).

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Even after the complete cleanup, Redmi 4 won’t fly like a flagship, it’s a budget phone in 2016 with a weak processor, and you can expect to eliminate the freezes and free up 3-5 GB of storage.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up Xiaomi Redmi 4