Xiaomi’s Redmi 4 lineup, which came out a few years ago, is still a reliable workhorse, but its limited internal storage often becomes a narrow neck. Owners of devices with 16 or 32 gigabytes of internal storage regularly face notifications of space shortages, which significantly slows down the MIUI operating system. When free space runs out, the phone starts to slow down, applications fly out, and new programs simply refuse to install.
There are many ways to solve this problem without buying a new gadget, and most of them do not require root rights or deep technical knowledge. In this article, we will detail how to safely and efficiently free precious megabytes using built-in tools and proven third-party utilities.
Analysis of vault occupancy
Before you start taking action to delete data, you need to understand what takes up the lion's share of your drive. Often users delete photos thinking that this will solve the problem, when in fact the place is eaten by messenger caches or forgotten video files. Data visualization allows you to make an informed decision about what to get rid of in the first place without losing important information.
MIUI already has a powerful analyzer built in that scans all folders and shows the space distribution by category, but for a more detailed look at the structure of files, including hidden system directories, it's better to use specialized applications that show the exact size of each folder, which is especially useful for finding lost APK installation files.
Note the Android/obb and Android/data folder, which often store the cache files of heavy games and applications. Deleting the contents of these folders can free up several gigabytes, but will reset the progress in games or require re-loading resources the next time you run programs. Always check the contents of the folders before cleaning them, so as not to delete the saves.
⚠️ Note: Do not delete files with the.xml extension or system folders with names like com.android... unless you are sure about their purpose, as this can lead to unstable operation of the system.
Cleaning of system debris with built-in tools
The safest and fastest way to start the fight for free space is to use the regular app “Cleaner”, which is preinstalled on all Xiaomi smartphones. This tool automatically scans the device for temporary files, residual debris after deleting applications and large unused files. MIUI.
To start a deep cleaning, you need to open the Security app and select Clean up. The system will prompt you to delete cache files that do not affect the application, but take up space. After the initial scan, you should click on the Clean up button to remove the debris found, this action is safe and will not affect your personal photos or contacts.
Additionally, Deep Cleaning is available on the same menu, which allows you to find duplicate photos, similar images and old screenshots. Often users take dozens of pictures of the same document or object, forgetting to delete the unsuccessful frames. Removing duplicates is a great way to return gigabytes of space without losing important data.
- 🗑️ Open the Security app on the home screen.
- 🗑️ Click on the “Cleanup” icon and wait for the analysis to be completed.
- 🗑️ Carefully review the files proposed for removal in the section "Deep Cleaning».
- 🗑️ Confirm the removal of garbage by pressing the appropriate button.
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Run a standard cleaning at least once a week so that cache files do not accumulate and slow down the MIUI interface.
Cache management of messengers and social networks
The main memory consumers on modern smartphones, including Redmi 4, are instant messengers like WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber, which automatically store all received photos, videos and voice messages into internal memory, and over time, folders with media files can grow to incredible sizes, taking up 10, 20 or more gigabytes.
Unlike the system cache, cleaning messenger data through Android settings will delete all correspondence, so you need to act carefully. It is best to use built-in cleaning tools inside the applications themselves. For example, in Telegram you can set up automatic deletion of the cache if it occupies more than a certain volume, while the history of correspondence will remain on the server and re-download as needed.
WhatsApp is more complicated because media is stored locally, you have to go to chat settings, select Memory Use, and see the list of the most extensive dialogs, and often it hides thousands of unnecessary postcards and videos that have been viewed once and forgotten, and cleaning those folders regularly is critical for owners of devices with low memory.
| Annex | The path to cleanup | Security of removal | Impact on data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telegram | Settings → Data and memory → Memory use | Tall. | Cash is deleted, correspondence remains |
| Settings → Chats → Memory usage | Medium | Media files from chat rooms are deleted | |
| Viber | More. → Settings → Memory. | Medium | Cache and media cleanup |
| Phone Settings → Applications → Clear the cache | Tall. | Temporary files only |
Transfer applications and files to SD-map
Redmi 4 features a hybrid slot or a separate microSD card slot, which is a lifesaver for owners of 16GB versions. Transferring user data such as music, movies and documents to an external drive is the first thing you need to do to relieve internal memory. However, porting the applications themselves is not always possible and depends on the version of Android and the policies of the developers.
To transfer media files, simply connect your phone to your computer in file transfer mode or use the built-in file manager. Create Photos, Music, Video folders on the memory card and move the contents of the corresponding internal directories there. After that, in the application settings (for example, in the camera or voice recorder), specify the default save path on the SD-map.
To transfer applications, go to Settings → Annexes → All applications. Select the program you want and click Memory. If the developer has authorized the transfer, the Move to button will be activated. SD-Unfortunately, many system applications and popular social networks do not support this feature, leaving their main files in internal storage.
Why aren’t all apps on the map?
Removing unnecessary applications and services
Over time, a lot of software accumulates on your smartphone that you've stopped using, that may not run for months, but take up space and even consume resources in the background, that is, revision of installed software is a mandatory step in optimization, that is, carefully review the list of all applications and ruthlessly delete what you don't use.
Special attention should be paid to pre-installed games and services, which often come bundled with firmware. While some are system-based and removing them can lead to errors, most can simply disable or remove updates to make room. For advanced users, there is the option of removing system debris through ADB, but this requires a connection to a PC.
It’s also worth checking the Downloads folder, which often stores application installation files, mail documents, and temporary browser files, and often contains older versions of APK installers that are no longer needed because the program has been installed and updated through Google Play.
- 📱 Go to the Settings menu and select Apps».
- 📱 Sort the list by size or date of last use.
- 📱 Select the unnecessary application and click “Delete».
- 📱 For system applications, use the “Disable” button if deletion is not available.
☑️ Weekly cleaning of Redmi 4
Use of cloud storage
The current approach to memory management involves not storing all data exclusively on the device. Cloud services such as Google Photos, Yandex.Disk or Mi Cloud allow you to store photos and documents on remote servers, leaving only thumbnails or file links on the phone, which radically reduces the load on the internal memory of Redmi 4.
Google Photos offers a “Free Space” feature that automatically removes images and videos that have already been uploaded and stored in the cloud, a safe process because you can re-view or download media files in their original quality if necessary. For users with a large archive, photos are the most effective solution.
In addition, many documents and work files can be transferred to Google Drive or similar services by deleting local copies of them. Files will be available at any time with the Internet, but will not take up precious gigabytes on the built-in drive. Setting up automatic synchronization of the Documents and Desktop folders will also help keep order.
⚠️ Before removing the original photos, make sure that the sync with the cloud is successful and the files are displayed in the web version of the service.
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The combination of manual cache cleaning and automatic synchronization of photos to the cloud allows you to keep free up to 3-5 GB of memory constantly.
Resetting to factory settings as an extreme measure
If none of the above methods have produced the desired result and the memory is filled up instantly even after cleaning, it is possible that the file system has accumulated critical errors or virus software. In this case, the most radical but effective way is a complete reset to factory settings (Hard Reset), which will return the phone to the state “out of the box”.
It is important to understand that the reset will completely destroy all user data: contacts, SMS, photos, installed applications and their settings. Therefore, before the procedure, you must make a full backup of important information to the computer or the cloud.
To enter recovery mode on Redmi 4, you usually need to turn off the phone, then press the power and volume buttons simultaneously. In the menu that appears, the volume button selects the Wipe Data or Clear Data item, then confirms the action of the power button. The phone will reboot and begin the cleaning process, which can take several minutes.
Way through the menu: Settings → About the phone → Resetting → Erase all data