How to completely delete unnecessary files on Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X: 7 proven ways

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X

mido

MIUI

self-cleaning

Many users find that after deleting files through standard Explorer, memory is only 10-15% free, and after a week the volume is reduced again, the reason is hidden files that do not appear in the GUI, as well as Dalvik cache and temporary MIUI data, occupying up to 3-5 GB. In this article, we will analyze all available cleaning methods, from basic to advanced, including working with ADB and engineering menus.

The Redmi Note 4X features both official and custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) and will have different cleaning methods, so we’ll give you the nuances for each case. If you’re not sure about your firmware, check out Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.

1. Standard cleaning methods through MIUI

Start with built-in MIUI tools that don’t require superuser rights (root) and are safe for beginners. Even if they don’t delete all files, you’ll free up 1-3GB of storage.

Open Settings → Memory. Here, the system will show the allocation of memory by categories: Applications, Images, Audio, etc. Click on the category to see a detailed list of files. For example, in the Other files section, logs (.log), temporary files (.tmp) and update cache are often hidden.

• 📱 Cleaning the app cache: Go to Settings → Annexes → App management, select a program (like Facebook or YouTube) and click Clear Cache. For bulk cleaning, use the Clean Everything button in the top menu.
• 🗑️ Removal of unnecessary APK: In the same app menu, sort programs by size. Remove those you don't use (e.g., pre-installed Mi Games games or duplicate instant messengers).
• 📂 Manual folder cleaning: Through the File Manager, go to /storage/emulated/0 and delete folders: Download - downloads from the browser; DCIM/.thumbnails — photo-picture; Android/data — game cache, PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty can take up to 2 GB).

⚠️ Attention: Do not delete folders Android/obb and MIUI — This can cause firmware to crash, and avoid files with the.odex and.vdex extensions, which are responsible for optimizing applications.

If the memory is still filling up quickly after cleaning, check the storage settings in messengers. For example, in Telegram, the media cache can take up to 10 GB. Go to Settings → Data and memory → Storage and set up automatic deletion of old files.

💡

To speed up your search for large files, use the size sorting in Mi File Manager. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Sort by → Size (in descending order).

2. System garbage disposal through the engineering menu

The engineering menu (#4636##) allows you to clear hidden logs and temporary files that are not visible in the standard interface, which works on all versions of MIUI, but requires caution - incorrect actions can lead to crashes.

Enter the combination ##4636## in the Phone app. Go to Storage tab and click Clear App Data.

• 📊 Dalvik Cache – cache of the Android virtual machine (can take up to 1 GB);
• 🗃️ System Logs – system logs (up to 500 MB);
• 🔄 Temporary Files – Temporary Update Files and Installer.

Press Clear against each item. After cleaning, restart your phone — that’s a must, as the Dalvik Cache only recovers when you reboot.

⚠️ Warning: If after cleaning through the engineering menu, the phone starts to brake, reset the cache in Recovery. + Volume Up, select Wipe Cache Partition and confirm the action.

💡

The engineering menu is the most efficient way to remove system debris without rooting permissions, but after cleaning, be sure to restart your phone or the changes won't take effect.

3. Clean up via Recovery Mode (without data loss)

Recovery Mode on the Redmi Note 4X allows you to reset the partition cache (Wipe Cache Partition) and delete unnecessary update files. This method is useful if the phone started to slow down after installing the MIUI update or custom firmware.

To enter Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power and Volume Up buttons for 5-10 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Select the language (if there is one), then Wipe & Reset.
4. Click on Wipe Cache (not to be confused with Wipe Data, which will reset your phone to factory settings!).
5. Confirm the action and wait for the completion (it will take 1-2 minutes).

This method removes:

• 🗑️ Update cache (/cache);
• 📦 Temporary installer files;
• 🔄 Data that has not been properly deleted through standard methods.

⚠️ Warning: If you see the Wipe Dalvik Cache in Recovery, you can choose it too, which is an analogue of cleaning through the engineering menu, but more reliable.

Charge your phone at least 50 times%|Make a backup copy of important data|Make sure you choose Wipe Cache over Wipe Data|Do not interrupt the process until it is completed-->

4. Delete hidden files with ADB (for advanced)

If standard methods didn't work, and you don't have root rights, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to delete hidden files, which requires connecting your phone to your computer, but allows you to clear out what's not available through the MIUI interface.

First, turn on the USB debugging:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Click 7 times on the MIUI version to activate Developer Mode.
3. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.

Now connect your phone to your PC, open Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb shell


su -c "find /data /cache -name '*.log' -delete"




su -c "find /data /cache -name '*.tmp' -delete"




su -c "rm -rf /data/local/tmp/*"

These commands delete:

• 📜 All logs (.log) in sections /data and /cache;
• 🗑️ Temporary files (.tmp);
• 📂 Contents of the folder /data/local/tmp, where the update remains are stored.

⚠️ Note: If the phone stops turning on after you execute the commands, you have deleted the critical files, in which case you will have to reflash the device via Fastboot!

5. Cleaning with root rights (for experienced users)

If you have Magisk or another root rights manager installed, you can delete even files that are protected by the system, such as pre-installed apps (bloatware) or remnants of old firmware.

Install System App Remover from Magisk or use Root Explorer. Go to /system/app and /system/priv-app, which stores system applications. Only remove those that do not have framework, services or miui in their name.

• 🎮 MiGameCenter;
• 📺 MiVideo (if you use YouTube);
• 📰 MiBrowser (if you prefer Chrome).

On the Redmi Note 4X with MIUI 10 firmware and below, you can remove up to 1.5 GB of pre-installed applications, but on MIUI 11+ some of them are protected and their removal will lead to a failure.

Also, with root rights, you can clear the /data/app-lib folder where the remote application libraries are stored.

su


rm -rf /data/app-lib/*

⚠️ Note: Removing files from /system If you don't have a backup, you can make your phone inoperable. TWRP before such operations.

6. Automatic cleaning with third-party utilities

If manual methods seem complicated, use specialized applications, but be careful: many of the cleaning machines in the Play Market create garbage themselves.

• 🧹 SD Maid (requires root for complete cleaning): Removes empty folders, duplicates and remnants of deleted applications. The free version provides cache and basket cleaning.
• 🔍 Files by Google: Shows large files and offers to delete unnecessary ones. Suitable for cleaning without root.
• 📊 CCleaner (cache only): Deletes app cache and browser history, but does not touch system files.

For the Redmi Note 4X The storage analyzer function in SD Maid. It shows which folders take up the most space, including the hidden ones. For example, you might find that the folder is the one that is the most spaced. /data/media/0/MIUI/sound_recorder It contains gigabytes of old voice recordings.

When using Files by Google, pay attention to the Cleanup section – here are collected:

• 📁 Unnecessary screenshots (for example, take from messengers);
• 🎵 Large audio files (voice messages from WhatsApp);
• 📺 Cache streaming video (for example, from TikTok or YouTube).

💡

The utility side is convenient for regular cleaning, but does not replace manual methods, for example, they will not be able to remove system logs or Dalvik cache without root rights.

7. Radical methods: reset to factory settings

If all previous methods failed and the phone is jammed to the limit, then you will have a full reset, which will delete all data, including accounts, photos and apps, but return the device to its original state.

The reset can be done in two ways:

1. Through Settings → Settings → Additional → Restore and Reset → Reset. Choose Delete all data.
2. Through Recovery: Log into Recovery Mode (as described above) and select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.

After discharge:

• 🔄 The phone will reboot and start setting up as new;
• 📱 All applications and data will be deleted (including photos on internal memory!);
• 🔐 The binding to the Mi Account will remain if you have not disabled it in the settings.

⚠️ Attention: On the Redmi Note 4X With a blocked bootloader, a reset via Recovery can lead to a request for a username and password from Mi Account. If you forget them, it will be difficult to unlock the phone - you will need an official request in support of Xiaomi.

To avoid data loss, before resetting:

1. Copy photos and videos on your PC or in the cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud).
2. Export contacts to VCF-file.
3. Save a backup of your SMS via the SMS Backup & Restore app.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning the Redmi Note 4X