Xiaomi Redmi 4X, released in 2017, is still a popular budget device, but over time its hardware resources can be exhausted. Owners often face a lack of internal memory and slowdown of the interface due to accumulated software debris and preinstalled services. Proper management of installed software is the first step to extend the life of the gadget and improve its performance.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can free up space on your device, and not only will you learn about standard methods, but also more advanced techniques to get rid of deeply integrated components that are usually hidden from the user's eyes. Cleaning the system requires care, but the result is worth it.
Before we take action, we need to understand the difference between user data and system files. Incorrect removal of critical components can lead to unstable MIUI operation, so we will pay special attention to process security and explain what risks exist.
Standard removal through settings
The safest and most recommended way for the average user is to use the standard operating system settings menu, which allows users to completely remove their applications and free up space without risking damage to the integrity of the firmware, a process that is intuitive and available on all versions of Android.
To start, you need to go to the main settings menu, which is usually represented by a gear on the desktop or in the notification curtain.Look for the Applications or Application Management section, which displays the full list of installed software, and here you can sort programs by size or installation date to find the most “heavy” of them.
If you select the item that you don't want, you'll see a "Delete" button, and the system will request confirmation of the action to avoid accidental data loss, and after the confirmation, the uninstallation process will begin, which will take a few seconds.
- 📱 Open Settings and go to the "Applications" section».
- 🔍 Find the program you want to get rid of in the list.
- 🗑️ Click the “Delete” button and confirm the action in the pop-up window.
- ✅ Wait for the report of the successful completion of the operation.
It is worth noting that for some system applications, the delete button may be inactive or replaced with “Disable” which means that system restrictions do not allow the component to be removed in the standard way, since it is integrated into the MIUI shell core.
⚠️ Note: When you delete applications through settings, only user data is saved unless you have previously selected the Clear Data option.
Removal through the desktop and application menu
A faster way to get rid of unnecessary software is to use desktop shortcuts, which are convenient when you need to quickly remove several programs without diving into the deep settings menu, but it does not work for all types of applications, especially system ones.
Press and hold your finger on the icon of the app you plan to remove. Depending on the version of the MIUI shell, the context menu will appear or the icon will start to tremble, allowing you to drag it to the cart. If the cart does not appear, perhaps deletion is forbidden for this shortcut.
The alternative is to open the menu of all apps (swipe up from the bottom of the screen), find the icon you want, pinch it, and drag it to the top of the screen, where the bin icon that says "Delete" is usually displayed, and this action will instantly start the uninstallation process.
- 🖐️ Press the app icon on the desktop with your finger.
- 🗑️ Drag the label into the basket icon that appears.
- ✔️ Confirm removal in the pop-up dialog window.
It is important to understand that this method only works for programs installed by the user, and the built-in services of Xiaomi and Google can not be removed as the system protects them from accidental removal through the launcher interface.
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If the app shortcut is removed from the desktop but the program itself is still in memory, check the Tools folder or use a settings search to find its full name.
Working with system applications and ADB rights
For advanced users who want to clean Redmi 4X as much as possible of pre-installed software (bloatware), there is a method of debugging over USB. It requires connecting a smartphone to a computer and using the toolkit ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to remove even those components that are hidden from the average user.
The first step is to activate the developer mode. → About the phone and seven times quickly click on the build number (MIUI After the message “You became a developer” appears, go back to the settings menu and find a new item “For developers».
Inside the developer menu, turn on the option “Debug over USB.” Now connect your phone to your PC using a quality cable. On the smartphone screen, you will see a request for debugging permission — be sure to click “Allow” and select “Always Allow from this computer.”
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name packetThe command above removes the application for the current user without affecting the system partition, which avoids blocking the bootloader.However, improper removal of system components, such as the system UI or Google Play services, can lead to an endless restart (bootloop).
- 💻 Install the drivers. ADB platform-tools computer.
- 🔌 Connect your smartphone with a cable and allow debugging.
- ⌨️ Enter a command to remove a specific packet in the command line.
- 🔄 Restart the device to apply changes.
⚠️ Note: Before removing system packets through ADB Be sure to know the package name. Removing critical system processes can make your phone inoperable without flashing it.
List of safe to remove Xiaomi packages
Use of third-party cleaning tools
If the manual method seems too complicated, specialized uninstallation applications come to the rescue, providing a user-friendly interface for managing installed programs and often having batch removal features, which saves time.
One popular solution is System App Remover or Clean Master, which, once installed, scans the device and divides the applications into user and system applications, and can warn of potential risks when trying to remove important components.
Using third-party software also allows you to clear the cache and residual files that often remain after a standard uninstallation.This helps free up even more space on the Redmi 4X internal drive.
| Title of the annex | Type of access | Packet removal function | Advertising |
|---|---|---|---|
| System App Remover | Root / No Root | There is. | Yes. |
| Clean Master | No Root. | There is. | Yes. |
| AppMgr III | No Root. | There is. | No (in PRO) |
| SD Maid | Root / No Root | There is. | Partially. |
When choosing a tool, keep data security in mind: Trust only trusted developers and carefully read the permissions the app requests when installing, and avoid questionable utilities that promise “super-acceleration.”
☑️ Check before removing system applications
Cleaning cache and residual files
Even after successful removal of an application, the device may still have tails — temporary files, logs, and settings — and on devices with small storage, such as the Redmi 4X, these files can take up gigabytes of space, slowing down the system.
For manual cleaning, go to Settings → Memory → Clean. The system will prompt you to delete temporary files and app cache. You can also go to Settings → Apps → All apps, select a specific program (or residual data) and click “Clean”.
Regularly cleaning your browser and social media cache is particularly effective. These apps accumulate a huge amount of media files that are not needed for their work, but take up space. Use the built-in Cleanup feature in the MIUI security menu.
- 🧹 Launch the standard “Security” app on Xiaomi.
- 📂 Select the “Cleanup” function and wait for analysis.
- 🗑️ Mark the categories “Cash” and “Residual Files».
- ✅ Press the cleaning button to free up the space.
Do not abuse the functions of "memory acceleration" (RAM), closing all background processes. RAM in Android is designed so that frequently used applications are better to keep in memory for quick start, rather than unloading them constantly.
⚠️ Cache clearing does not delete your personal data (logins, passwords, correspondence), but may require re-authorization in some applications or download some images again.
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Regularly cleaning the cache and residual files is a simple habit that significantly prolongs the comfortable use of a smartphone with a small amount of memory.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
In this section, we will answer the most popular questions that owners of Xiaomi Redmi 4X when trying to optimize their device.