How to Clean Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Phone: The Complete Guide

Smartphone Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 has proven to be a reliable device with excellent price-performance ratio, but over time, even such a device can start to work slower. The main reason for the drop in the response speed of the interface and the hanging of applications is the accumulation of system debris, memory fragmentation and residual files of remote programs. Understanding how to clean the phone Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 correctly, will extend its comfortable life without the need to buy a new gadget.

In everyday use, MIUI is flooded with temporary files that take up precious space in internal storage. If you don't do regular prevention, the space runs out, causing the processor to critically slow down and not be able to install updates. In this article, we'll look at all the effective cleaning methods, from the use of embedded tools to radical data reset.

Before you start any manipulation of the file system, it is important to realize that manually deleting system files can lead to unstable shell operation. Data security should be a priority, so always back up important contacts, photos and documents to the cloud server or computer before deep intervention.

Use of the built-in Security application

The easiest and safest way to start servicing a device is to use the standard Security app, which is preinstalled in the MIUI shell. This tool was developed by Xiaomi engineers specifically to optimize the operation of their smartphones and is able to find hidden debris that is not visible to the user when you normally browse folders.

When you first start, the system will suggest checking the device for viruses and clearing the cache. The algorithm works quite aggressively, removing temporary files of browsers and messengers, which often frees up several gigabytes of space. However, be careful: sometimes useful data, such as saving games or cache of cards, fall into the category of garbage, so before the final cleanup, it is better to view the list of files.

โš ๏ธ Note: Do not delete.obb or.data files from your game folders if you want to save your application progress and resources.

For deep memory cleaning, the app has a Cleanup section where you can select specific file types to delete. You can manually mark large videos, unnecessary APK installation packages or duplicate photos. Regular use of this feature, at least once a week, helps keep the system on top and prevents critical storage filling.

๐Ÿ’ก

Use the โ€œAccelerateโ€ function in the notification curtain or desktop widget to quickly clean RAM before starting heavy games.

Manual cleaning of app cache and browser

Cache accumulation is a natural process for any Android operating system. Apps store temporary data to speed up their re-upload, but over time, the size of this data can grow to incredible values, especially for social networks such as Telegram or Viber, which store thousands of images and video files viewed.

To manually clear the cache of a particular application, you need to go to the Settings menu โ†’ Applications โ†’ All applications. You need to find the problem program, click on it and select Memory. Here you will see two buttons: Clear cache and Clear everything. The first one deletes only temporary files, the second one resets the application to the state immediately after installation, removing logins and settings.

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Open the settings and find the "Applications" section".
  • ๐Ÿ” Choose an app that takes up a lot of space (like YouTube or Instagram).
  • ๐Ÿ—‘๏ธ Click Clear Cache to delete temporary files without losing your account data.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Restart the device to apply changes.

Browsers deserve special attention. In Chrome or the standard MIUI browser, the cache can take hundreds of megabytes, and you can clean it through the browser settings in the "History" or "Privacy" section, which often solves problems with improper display of sites and speeds up surfing the Internet.

โ˜‘๏ธ Monthly cleaning of multimedia

Done: 0 / 4

Storage analysis and removal of large files

Often users are unaware that a significant portion of memory is occupied by forgotten video files, old WhatsApp backups or downloaded maps of the navigator. It is convenient to use a built-in storage analyzer or third-party utilities like Total Commander to identify such โ€œspace eatersโ€.

Special attention should be paid to the DCIM folder, where you store photos and videos from the camera, as well as the Download folder. Many applications by default save all downloaded files there, creating chaos. Systematic sorting and removing unnecessary content is the key to free memory. It is also worth checking the messenger folders, which often duplicate media files in the shared gallery.

Type of fileLocation (path)Recommended action
Temporary files/data/local/tmpYou can remove it boldly.
Cash browsers/data/data/com.android.browser/cacheClean through the settings
Logs of error/data/logRequires root rights
Downloads./storage/emulated/0/DownloadCheck it manually

If you find files with the.apk extension in the download folder, you can delete them safely after installing the corresponding applications. These installation packages are no longer needed and only take up space. Similarly, you should do with.log files if they take up a lot of space, although access to them is often limited by system permissions.

๐Ÿ“Š What takes up the most space in your Redmi Note 4?
Photos and videos
Applications and games
Cash messengers
Downloaded movies

Removal of duplicates and system debris

When you use your smartphone, especially when you share files via Bluetooth or messengers, you often create copies of the same documents, duplicate files can take up to 10-15% of all available memory, and you can use specialized applications such as Files by Google or built-in analyzer functions to find them.

System garbage is a more complex category, including remnants of remote applications, empty folders and erroneous registry entries. MIUI shell partially takes over this function, but deep cleaning sometimes requires advanced tools. It is important not to delete files from system directories unless you are sure of their purpose, as this can disrupt the phone.

โš ๏ธ Note: Deleting files from folders called โ€œAndroidโ€, โ€œdataโ€ or โ€œobbโ€ manually can cause applications to fail.

Regularly checking the gallery for similar photos also helps to free up space. Often we take multiple shots of one object to choose the best one and forget to delete the rest. The gallery's "Recently Deleted" feature stores these files for another 30 days, so be sure to clear this basket for final freeing up space.

Cleaning through Recovery Mode (for Advanced)

For users who want to maximize performance and are confident in their actions, there is a Recovery mode. This is a special recovery environment that allows you to clean system partitions that are not available during normal operation of the OS.

To get into the recovery menu on Redmi Note 4, you need to turn off the device and press the Volume+ and Power buttons simultaneously. Once the logo appears, you can release the power button, keep the volume up. In the menu that appears, the navigation is done with the volume buttons, and the choice is made with the power button.

Recovery menu:


1. Wipe Data (Erase Data)




2. Connect with MIAssistant (Pc Connection)




3. Reboot (Reboot)

Selecting Wipe All Data will result in the phone being completely reset to factory settings, which will permanently delete all user data, including contacts, messages and files, and only use this method as a last resort when other cleaning methods fail, or before selling the device.

What is Wipe Cache in Recovery?
It is a feature that only clears the temporary system cache without affecting your personal files, photos and contacts. It is a secure operation that can be performed regularly to eliminate small glitches of the system.

Radical method: Reset to factory settings

If the software cleaning methods fail and the phone continues to slow down, the final argument is a complete reset, which returns the device to its state as it was right after it left the factory assembly line, and all applications are removed, settings reset, and memory is completely cleared.

You can reset via the settings menu: Settings โ†’ Advanced Settings โ†’ Reset and Reset โ†’ Reset. The system will alert you to the consequences and ask you to enter the unlock password. Once confirmed, the system will start the reinstallation process, which will take from 5 to 15 minutes.

  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Make sure the battery is at least 50%.
  • โ˜๏ธ Sync important data with your Mi Cloud or Google account.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Extract. SIM-MicroSD card and memory card before resetting.
  • โณ Wait for the system to fully boot after restarting.

Once turned on, you'll see a welcome language and Wi-Fi settings screen. The phone will run fast like new, but you'll have to re-install all the apps you need and customize the system to suit you, the most effective way to deal with software bugs and accumulated over the years of use "garbage".

๐Ÿ’ก

A complete reset is a guaranteed way to speed up the Redmi Note 4 if the software cleaners fail.

Prevention and useful tips for operation

To avoid the question of how to clean your phone, it is important to follow certain rules of operation: Do not install applications from unknown sources, as they often contain advertising modules that generate garbage. Regularly update your system and applications through the official GetApps store or Google Play.

Use cloud storage for photos and videos to avoid clogging the internal memory of the device. Set up automatic synchronization with Google Photos or Yandex.Disk will store media files in original quality on the Internet, freeing up space on the smartphone for new pictures.

โš ๏ธ Do not use โ€œacceleratorsโ€ and โ€œantivirusesโ€ from dubious developers from the Play Market โ€“ they are often the source of advertising and slow down the system.

Compliance with these simple guidelines will allow your Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 to remain fast and responsive for a long time.Remember that your smartphone requires the same care as any complex technical device, and regular file system hygiene is the key to its stable operation.

Should I use Root rights to clean up?
Getting root rights (via Magisk) gives access to system files and allows you to remove embedded debris, but this voids the warranty and can disrupt the operation of banking applications.
Can I remove system apps on Redmi Note 4?
You can remove standard applications (calculator, clock, browser) but you need to do it carefully through the ADB-Removing critical system components can lead to a cyclic bootloop, and it is better to simply disable unnecessary applications in the settings.
Why does the memory fill up quickly after cleaning?
This is normal for instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) that are constantly downloading new media files, and the system is filled with logs and cache of frequently used applications, and it is recommended to configure automatic cache cleaning in the settings of the application "Security".
Is it safe to use third-party programs like Clean Master?
Modern versions of Android and MIUI have built-in memory management mechanisms. Third-party cleaners often work in the background, consuming resources and showing ads. Xiaomi's built-in tool is quite enough for most tasks.
How to clean the DNS cache on Xiaomi?
To clean the DNS, you can go to flight mode for 10 seconds and back, or use the command adb shell ndc resolver cleardefault via your computer, and reset the network settings in the phone menu also helps.
What if the phone doesnโ€™t see the memory card after cleaning?
Try to remove the map, wipe the contacts, and paste again. If it doesn't work, check the map on another device. The file system of the map may be damaged and needs to be formatted (all data on the map will be deleted).