Delays in tapping, slow menu openings, or animation hanging around are familiar to Xiaomi smartphone owners, especially after a year of use. The reasons may lie in both MIUI software settings and hardware limitations. But the good news is that 90% of response problems are solved without a service center.
In this article, we will look at 7 proven methods, from basic settings to hidden developer functions, that will help to restore the device to its former speed. And also find out why even flagship models Xiaomi 13 Ultra or POCO F5 sometimes “brake” when touched, and what to do about it.
Before you dive into the settings, it's important to understand what you call slow response.
- 📱 Sensor Latency – The screen responds to touch with delay (often noticeable in games or when typing fast).
- ⚙️ Lags of the interface - animations MIUI «The menu is not open smoothly, the menu is not open smoothly.
- 🔄 System freezes - the device is "thought" on 1-2 Seconds when switching between applications.
Each of these problems requires a different approach, and if the interface lags are often handled by cleaning the cache, the sensor delay will have to be fixed through the developer's settings or even hardware tests.
1. Optimizing animation in MIUI: how to remove the “brake effect”
By default, MIUI uses smooth transition animations between screens that look visually beautiful but can create the illusion of “brakes,” especially on budget models like the Redmi Note 12 or the POCO M5, where the processor does not always have time to process graphics.
To speed up the response of the interface:
- Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version and click on it 7 times.
- Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
- Find the points: 🎨 The scale of window animation → Choose No Animation or 0.5x. 🔄 Scale of transition animation → equal. ⚡ The scale of the duration of animation → Off..
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If the interface seems too sharp after disabling animations, set the 0.5x value – this is a trade-off between speed and smoothness.
These settings don't affect processor performance, but they do remove the delays associated with drawing transitions, and the effect is noticeable immediately: apps will open faster, and swipes between screens will respond instantly.
⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi firmware (especially global) may not have animation points, in which case try changing region to India in your phone settings - there are often more options available there.
Sensor sensitivity setting: why the screen is "not listening"
If the screen responds to late touches (such as in games or typing), the problem may be incorrect sensor calibration or power saving mode on, especially for devices with a high-powered sensor. AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or Redmi K50), where drivers sometimes reset settings after updates.
How to check and correct:
Delay test in Settings → Screen → Touch test
Turn off Adaptive Brightness in the screen settings
Turn off the energy saving mode in the battery settings
Reset the sensor settings via ##36446337## (Snapdragon models only)
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If the touch test shows delays greater than 100ms, try:
- 🔧 Include increased sensitivity in the settings → Additionally. → Special facilities → Touch and Retain (reduce retention time to 0.3c).
- 📊 Update the sensor driver through Settings → System system → Software update (sometimes delays are patched).
- 🔄 Reset the screen settings to factory (in Settings) → Screen. → Additionally).
On models with 120Hz and 144Hz screens (such as the POCO F4 GT or Black Shark 5), delays are often due to the incorrect operation of Touch Sampling Rate technology. Check that the screen settings have selected the maximum sensor polling frequency (usually 360Hz or 720Hz).
3. Cleaning up the system: why "garbage" slows down response
Over time, MIUI accumulates application cache, temporary files, and residual processes that take up RAM and slow down system response, especially on devices with 4-6 GB of RAM (such as Redmi 9 or POCO X3 NFC).
What to do:
| Problem. | Decision | The effect |
|---|---|---|
| Cache filled. | Clean in Settings → Applications → App Management → Clear cache for all applications | Accelerate application opening by 15-30% |
| Background processes | Limit to Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization (select Without Limits for Key Applications) | Reduced delays in switching between tasks |
| Memory fragmentation | Optimize for Security → Optimization | Interface smoothness will improve by 10-20% |
For deep cleaning:
- Remove unused applications (especially those that work in the background, such as memory cleaners or weather widgets).
- Turn off autoloading unnecessary services in Settings → Applications → Autorun.
- Reset the Dalvik cache (requires TWRP or Fastboot).
Once a week.
Once a month
Only when it starts to brake.
Never clean.
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⚠️ Warning: Don’t use third-party “boosters” or “optimizers” from Google Play. They often consume more resources than they free up and may conflict with built-in mechanisms. MIUI.
4. firmware update: when "brake" is a system bug
Response delays can be caused by software bugs in the current version of MIUI. For example, MIUI 13.0.4-13.0.6 firmware for Xiaomi 11T had a problem with sensor freeze when battery power is low. and MIUI 14 for Redmi Note 11 saw animation lags due to unoptimized code.
How to check and update:
- 📲 Go to Settings. → System system → Update the software and check the relevance of the version.
- 🔍 If there are no updates but the problem persists, look for information about the bug in the forums (for example, for information about the bug, 4PDA or XDA Developers according to your device model.
- 🛠️ In extreme cases, install custom firmware (such as Pixel Experience or LineageOS), but this requires unlocking the bootloader.
Some models (such as the POCO X3 Pro) have delays after upgrading to Android 13 due to a new memory management mechanism, in which case a rollback to Android 12 or an alternative kernel will help.
What to do if the update does not help?
5. Hardware causes: when the "iron" is to blame
If the software methods did not help, the problem may lie in the hardware:
- 🔋 Worn-out battery – at low voltage, the screen controller is unstable.
- 📱 Damaged sensor plume is a common problem after falls or repairs.
- 🔥 Overheating of the processor - on Snapdragon 888/8 Gen 1 (For example, in Xiaomi 11 Ultra) throttling causes sensor survey frequency to drop.
How to diagnose:
- Check the battery status via ##4636## (Battery Information tab). If the health level is below 80%, the battery needs to be replaced.
- Run the sensor test in the service menu (#36446337##) and check if all areas of the screen react the same way.
- Install the Throttling Test CPU app – it will show if the processor frequency is reduced due to overheating.
If the diagnosis has identified a hardware problem:
- 🔋 For the battery - replace it in the service center (cost for Xiaomi - from 1,500 to 3,000 rubles).
- 📱 For the sensor plume - it is necessary to disassemble the device (it is not recommended to do it yourself!).
- 🔥 For overheating – try replacing the heat paste or using a cooling case.
6. Hidden settings for gamers: how to reduce latency in games
If the delays are only in games (for example, in PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty), use special modes:
- 🎮 Enable Game Turbo in Settings → Special facilities → Game Turbo. This turns off background processes and optimizes sensor response.
- 🔄 Activate Performance Mode in Battery Settings for a Specific Game.
- 📊 Set the maximum screen refresh rate (e.g. 120Hz for the screen) POCO F3).
For advanced users:
adb shell settings put global force_high_performance trueThis command (injected via ADB) enforces maximum performance mode, but can reduce battery life.
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On devices with LTPO-In the case of screens (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Pro), the refresh rate is automatically reduced to save power. To avoid this, turn off the Adaptive frequency in the screen settings.
Extreme measures: dumping and firmware
If nothing has worked, radical methods remain:
- Hard Reset: Returns the device to factory settings.
- Fastboot Firmware: Install a clean version MIUI Instructions: Download the firmware from Xiaomi's official website (choose the version for your region!) Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode (press the Power) + Vol− When the device is off, start the script. flash_all.bat firmware-film.
Installation of custom firmware
ArrowOS
HavocOS
⚠️ Note: Fastboot flashing erases all data, including files in internal memory, and can result in a loss of warranty if the device is not officially unlocked.