How to Clean Cache on Xiaomi Redmi 4: A Complete Guide with Pictures and Tips

Xiaomi Redmi 4 is one of the most popular budget smartphones of 2016-2017, which is still used by millions of users. Over time, even this reliable device begins to “brake”, and the fault of this often becomes clogged. Unlike modern flagships, Redmi 4 has only 16/32 GB of memory, so cleaning the cache is especially relevant here.

Cache is a temporary file that creates applications and a system to speed things up, but over time, it accumulates, taking up precious space and slowing down your smartphone. In this article, you'll find 5 proven ways to clean up the cache on Redmi 4, including hidden MIUI features that few people know. We'll also look at which cache can be removed without risk and which is better left.

The Redmi 4 is unique in that it runs on MIUI 8-11 (depending on the firmware), where the cache clearing interface is different from the newer versions. If you upgraded your smartphone to MIUI 12/14 informally, some menu items may shift, we've factored that into the instructions.

Why you should clean the cache on Redmi 4

On the Redmi. 4 modestly 2/3 GB of RAM and eMMC 5.0 The cache is more visible than on new models, and here are the key signs that it is time to clean up:

• 🐢 Smartphone “hangs” when switching between applications (even after closing all background processes).
• 📱 Applications are loaded for a long time or suddenly closed with the error "The application is stopped".
• 📉 There is less than 1GB of free memory, although you haven’t installed anything recently.
• 🔋 The battery sits on 20-30% faster than usual (cache causes the system to constantly re-index files).
• 🔄 After updating MIUI Smartphone has become worse – this is a typical symptom of the conflict of old cache files with new firmware.

On Redmi 4, the cache is divided into three types:

1. App cache – temporary files of each installed software (for example, pictures from Instagram or videos from TikTok).
2. Dalvik-cache: files that MIUI creates to speed up Android, which cannot be manually deleted without root permissions.
3. Google Play Services cache – takes up to 1-2 GB and often causes lags.

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse cache with app data! Deleting cache won't result in logging out or losing game progress. → Applications) will reset the program settings to the factory.

Method 1: Clearing the cache of individual applications

The safest method is to delete the cache only for the programs that take up the most space. On Redmi 4, this is done as follows:

1. Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
2. Go to All Applications (MIUI 8-9) or Applications → Application Management (MIUI 10+).
3. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Sort by size.
4. In the list, find apps marked "Cash: XX MB" (usually messengers, social networks and games).
5. Click on the app → Storage → Clear the cache.

Top.-5 «cache-eaters on Redmi 4:

• 📸 Facebook / Instagram – up to 500 MB (stores thumbnails of photos and videos).
• 🎮 PUBG Mobile/Free Fire - before 1-2 GB (textures and maps).
• 💬 Telegram / WhatsApp – up to 300 MB (media files from chats).
• 🌍 Google Chrome – up to 200 MB (web cache pages).
• 🎵 YouTube / TikTok – up to 1 GB (preloaded videos).

Important for Redmi 4: If the app is slower after cleaning the cache, it's OK. The system will create new cache files after 1-2 days of use.

Close all background applications

Connect charging (in case of long re-indexation)

Check the memory space (less than 500MB – cleaning is required)

Backup important data (in case of failure)-->

Method 2: Automatic cleaning through “Safety”

MIUI has a built-in garbage cleaner, the Safety app (newer versions of Optimize), which is more efficient than third-party cleaners on Redmi 4 and does not require root rights.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Security app (the shield icon on the desktop).
2. Click on Clean (the tab at the bottom of the screen).
3. Wait for the scan (usually 10-30 seconds).
4. Check the boxes across the street: 🗑️ Cash app. 📁 Unnecessary files APK (leftovers after installation) 🔍 Residual files (junk after removal of software)

Clean up

⚠️ Note: Do not clear the Autoboot section of the Security app – this may disrupt the system processes on Redmi 4. Also avoid cleaning the Dalvik Cache without root rights, as this will lead to a cyclical restart of the smartphone.

💡

If after cleaning through the "Security" smartphone began to warm up - reboot it. MIUI 8-9 sometimes incorrectly re-index files after mass cleaning.

Method 3: Cleaning the cache with Recovery Mode (for experienced)

If Redmi 4 is slowing down and standard methods don't work, you can use a recovery mod, which deletes all temporary system files, including the update cache and Dalvik-cache, but does not affect user data.

Instructions:

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up at the same time and hold for 5-7 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select the language (volume buttons) and confirm the choice with the Power button.
4. Go to Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
5. Confirm the action and wait for the completion (it will take 1-2 minutes).
6. Choose Reboot. → Reboot to System.

After the reboot, Redmi 4 will run faster, but the first turn on can take up to 5 minutes – this is normal (the system recovers cache).

⚠️ Note: Do not confuse Wipe Cache and Wipe Data! The former deletes only temporary files, the latter deletes all user information. On Redmi 4 with its low memory, Wipe Data can lead to loss of photos if they are not saved to the user. SD-map.

Method 4: Delete the Google Play Services cache (hidden method)

Google Play Services is one of the main memory eaters on Redmi 4, a process that runs Google's services, but its cache often inflates to gigabytes, which can't be cleaned by standard methods, but there's a workaround:

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Slip on the three dots at the top and select Show all apps.
3. Find Google Play Services (could be called Google Play Services).
4. Click Warehouse → Space Management → Clear all data.
5. Confirm the action and restart the smartphone.

Cleanup commands:

adb shell pm clear com.google.android.gms # Google Play Services Cleanup


adb shell pm clear com.android.vending # Google Play Market Cleanup




adb shell su -c "rm -rf /data/dalvik-cache/*" # Dalvik-cache cleanup (requires root)




adb shell su -c "rm -rf /cache/*" # Cleaning system cache (requires root)

⚠️ Attention: Teams with su -c They only work on Redmi. 4 If you don't use them properly, you can have a bootloop. If you're not sure, skip this.

After the commands are executed:

1. Reboot your smartphone with the adb reboot command.
2. The first turn on will take up to 10 minutes (the system recovers the cache).
3. Check the key applications (Telegram, Chrome, Camera).

What NOT to do when cleaning the cache on Redmi 4

Some of the “advice” on the internet can hurt your smartphone, and here’s what you’re strongly against on Redmi 4:

• 🚫 Use cleaners like Clean Master or CCleaner to delete important system files MIUI, resulting in failure.
• 🚫 Clear the cache through TWRP No backup – on Redmi 4, it often breaks the camera or sensors.
• 🚫 Delete files manually through Root Explorer in folders: /system — will cause the system to collapse. /data/app-lib — break down applications. /efs — disrupt IMEI nets.
• 🚫 Clearing the Mi Account or Mi Cloud cache – this can block access to Xiaomi account.

Also not worth it:

• 🔄 Cleaning the cache more than 1 time a week will force the system to constantly restore it, which will increase the load on the processor.
• 📵 Use tasks such as "Cleaning off" in MIUI — On Redmi 4, this often results in slow loading.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up cache on Redmi 4