How to increase memory Xiaomi Redmi 4A: everything from memory card to system optimization

Xiaomi Redmi 4A is still popular with users due to its reliability and budget price, but its main drawback is only 16 GB of internal memory, of which the user can access about 10-12 GB. Over time, this space is clogged with photos, applications and cache, and the phone begins to slow down and give notifications about the lack of memory. In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to increase memory on the Redmi 4A – from the banal to the little-known, taking into account the features of MIUI and the hardware limitations of the model.

It's important to understand that physically extending the internal memory of a smartphone is impossible, because it's a hard-to-find storage capacity, but there are some legal and not-so-legal methods to make room or redirect data to an external drive, some of which require root rights, others work out of the box, and we'll look at each option with detailed instructions, warnings and performance evaluations.

1.Using a microSD memory card: pros and pitfalls

The most obvious way is to install a microSD card. Redmi 4A supports drives up to 256 GB (officially tested cards up to 128 GB).

• 📱 Hybrid slot: in the smartphone only one connector under SIM + microSD. You have to choose the second. SIM memory.
• ⚡ Formatting as an Internal Memory: MIUI allows you to "merge" the card with the main memory, but this reduces its speed and reduces the service life.
• 🔄 Application portability: Not all programs support microSD, especially system applications.

To use the card as a memory extension:

1. Insert the microSD into the slot (when the phone is turned off).
2. Go to Settings → Memory → SD card.
3. Select Configure as internal memory and follow the instructions.
4. After formatting, restart the phone.

⚠️ Note: Once formatted as internal memory, the card cannot be read on other devices without completely erasing the data. A1 (U1) — They'll slow down the system.

2. Cleaning up cache and unnecessary files: hidden memory reserves

MIUI is known for actively cacheing data even when memory is running out. Cleaning the cache can free up 1 to 5 GB of space. Here's how to do it correctly:

• 🧹 App cache: Settings → Annexes → Select an application → Clear the cache.
• 🗑️ Systemic garbage: Security → Cleanup → Deep cleaning.
• 📁 Downloads: The Download folder often contains unnecessary files (APK, archives, documents).
• 🎵 Media files: Remove duplicate photos/video through the Gallery → Albums. → Duplicate.

Pay special attention to the cache of messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) and social networks, for example, Telegram can take several gigabytes just from stored stickers and media.

1. Open Telegram → Settings → Data and memory.
2. Select Clear Telegram cache.
3. For radical cleaning, mark Delete all uploaded files.

Also check the MIUI → Camera folder, which may contain bad photos and videos that don’t appear in the gallery but take up space. Use a file manager (e.g. Mi File Manager) to delete them.

3. Transfer applications to a memory card: what works and what does not

Android allows you to migrate some applications to microSD, but on Redmi 4A, this works with limitations.

• ✅ Transferred: most user applications (games, social networks, utilities).
• ❌ Not portable: System applications (Mi Account, Security, Gallery) and those that explicitly prohibit it in the manifesto (e.g., some banking applications).

Instructions for transfer:

1. Go to Settings → Applications.
2. Select the desired application → Warehouse.
3. Click Change and specify the SD Card.
4. Confirm the transfer and wait until it is completed.

⚠️ Note: After the transfer, the application may run slower, especially if the memory card class. U1 And not all widgets will work with apps that have been ported to the site. SD.

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Before perenosom app on SD check its ranking in Google Play. If it has a lot of complaints about "departures" - better leave it in internal memory.

4. MIUI optimization: disabling unnecessary functions and services

MIUI is a sinner with background processes that eat up memory, and if you turn off some of them, you can free up to 2-3 GB.

• 📊 Turn off the analytics. MIUI: Settings → The phone. → Send feedback → Shut down.
• 🔄 Limit background activity: Settings → Battery → Choice of applications → Limit background activity.
• 🎵 Remove unnecessary sounds and melodies: They take up to 500MB in a folder MIUI → ringtone.
• 📱 Disable duplicate services: for example, if you are not using Mi Cloud, disable it in Settings → Accounts. → Mi Account.

Pay special attention to pre-installed applications that cannot be removed but can be disabled:

1. Settings → Applications → All applications.
2. Find Mi Video, Mi Music, Mi Browser.
3. Click Disable (not "Remove Updates").

Also, check the Android → data folder through the file manager, which may contain residual files from long-deleted applications (such as game cache), which can be easily deleted manually.

5. Root access and advanced methods: for power users

If the standard methods didn't work, you can go ahead and get root rights, and that will open up access to:

• 🔧 Removal of system applications (debloat).
• 📁 Transfer all applications to SD (including those that are not normally tolerated).
• 🔄 Modification of section /data (riskyly!).

To get root on Redmi 4A, you will need:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi website (you need a Mi Account).
2. Install custom recovery (TWRP).
3. Switch Magisk to get root.

fastboot flash recovery twrp.img


fastboot boot twrp.img



TWRP to use Magisk.zip

⚠️ Warning: Unlocking the bootloader resets the phone to factory settings, also takes away warranty (if it's still valid) and can lead to a device blinking if it makes an error. 4A newer-than-newer MIUI 10 may require additional patch to bypass anti-rollback.

Once rooted, you can use applications like Link2SD or FolderMount to force application data to a memory card, but it takes experience — doing the wrong thing can lead to a reboot cycle.

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Root access gives you maximum freedom, but turns your phone into a brick with one mistake, and without experience, you'd better limit yourself to standard methods.

6.Alternative solutions: cloud storage and external drives

If you can’t physically expand your memory, you can transfer some of the data to the cloud or use external drives:

• ☁️ Mi Cloud: 5GB free, integration with MIUI. Suitable for backups of contacts and photos.
• ☁️ Google Photos: Unlimited storage of compressed photos / videos (quality "High quality").
• 💾 OTG-drive: you can connect a flash drive through the adapter (support is required) OTG, on the Redmi 4A floundering).
• 📡 FTP-Server: Applications like Solid Explorer allow you to use your phone as a network drive.

Automating uploading of photos to the cloud:

1. Install Google Photos.
2. Go to Settings → Backup and Synchronization.
3. Enable the option and select High (unlimited) quality.

If you need to transfer large files (such as videos), use Mi Drop (preinstalled in MIUI) or SHAREit. These applications allow you to transfer files over a local network without using the Internet.

7.Extreme measures: reset to factory settings

If the phone is full and standard methods don't work, it's a hard reset, which will delete all the data, including apps, photos and settings, but it will return the original 10-12 GB of free space.

How to do the reset correctly:

1. Save important data (contacts, photos, messages) to a memory card or to the cloud.
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset.
3. Select Reset and confirm.
4. After the reboot, the phone will look like new.

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 4A discharge may take up to 10-15 Don't interrupt the process, even if the screen doesn't react for a long time, which is normal. 5-7 minutes (application optimization).

After discharge:

• 🔧 Don’t install all apps at once – do it gradually to keep track of which ones are eating up memory.
• 📵 Turn off automatic app updates on Google Play.
• 🗑️ Clean the cache regularly (once in a week) 1-2 weekdays).

FAQ: Frequent questions about increasing memory on Redmi 4A