How to Optimize Xiaomi Phones: Hidden Opportunities

Smartphone owners of the Chinese brand often face a paradox: powerful hardware does not work as fast as you would like, due to the features of the MIUI or HyperOS shell, which are “out of the box” overloaded with background processes and services.

Many users mistakenly believe that to perform the cache needs to be constantly cleaned by third-party utilities. In fact, Android system algorithms know how to manage memory independently, and unnecessary "accelerators" only consume the resources of the processor. Deep optimization consists in fine-tuning system parameters, disabling unnecessary telemetry and competent application management.

In this guide, we will look at proven methods that will turn your gadget into the most effective tool, we will touch on both basic security settings and advanced features that are not known to everyone.

Basic cleaning and memory management

The first step to stable operation is to free up internal storage, where when the amount of free memory falls below 10-15%, the speed of writing and reading data on flash memory decreases dramatically, which causes lags when running applications and saving photos.

Xiaomi’s built-in Security app has a pretty aggressive cleaning algorithm, but it also knows how to find duplicate files and remnants of deleted programs. It’s recommended to check the Cleanup section regularly, paying special attention to the Downloads folder and the cache of messengers such as Telegram or WhatsApp.

☑️ Checklist for quick cleaning

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Manually checking can find forgotten APK installation files and heavy video files that take up gigabytes of space, and moving media files to the cloud or to a computer is the best way to keep the system on track.

⚠️ Note: When using the Deep Clean feature, carefully look at which files are marked for deletion. System logs or important documents may be mistakenly identified as garbage.

Disabling Advertising and System Garbage

One of the main reasons why Xiaomi’s phone can run slower or annoy users is built-in advertising.MSA (MIUI System Ads) consumes Internet traffic and processor resources even in the background.

To completely eliminate advertising, you need to go through several system applications, first of all, disables the personalization of advertising in the settings of your Xiaomi account, then you should prohibit receiving recommendations in standard applications: Music, Themes, Explorer and Downloads.

  • 📱 Go to the settings of each system application and find the “Get recommendations” switch».
  • 🔒 Turn off the msa service from the Passwords and Security menu» → «Access to data».
  • 🚫 In the Security app, turn off “Receive recommendations” in the settings.
What to do if the advertisement remains?
If after all the settings banners continue to appear, try to turn off the Internet for 10 seconds or change the DNS-server in Wi-Fi settings to an ad-blocking address, e.g. 1.1.1.3.

Once all sources of intrusive content are turned off, the interface will become noticeably more responsive, and the system will no longer waste resources on loading advertising modules, which is especially noticeable in mid- and low-end models.

Optimization of battery and processor

Autonomy is a key parameter for a modern smartphone, but many features, such as constant network search or background synchronization, can drain the battery in a matter of hours. MIUI There are powerful tools for controlling energy consumption.

Energy Saving Mode often works too aggressively to close down the right applications, instead using No Limits for important messengers and navigators, and setting the standard mode for the rest, which will balance performance and time.

The screen setting helps to save a lot of charge. AMOLED-It really reduces power consumption because the black pixels are just off, and it's also worth reducing the refresh rate to 60Hz if you're not playing demanding games.

ParameterImpact on the batteryRecommendation
Screen frequencyHigh.60 Hz for savings, 120 Hz for comfort
Always On DisplayAverage.Include on schedule or when touching
5G ModuleVery high.Use only when necessary
Vibration.Low.Disable the keyboard tactile response

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Use Ultra Power Saving mode only in critical situations, when you need to live to charge, it turns off all background processes and leaves only calls and texts.

Customization of interface and animations

Visual smoothness is directly dependent on the animation settings. Standard values often seem to be tightened, giving the illusion of slow operation even on powerful processors. Changing the scale of animation is the easiest way to speed up the perception of the interface.

To access these settings, you need to activate the developer mode, and this is done by repeatedly clicking on the build number in the About Phone menu, and a new section will appear in the settings menu after the corresponding notification appears.

In the Developer menu, you'll find three options: "Window animation," "Change animation," and "Duration of animation." Changing their value from 1x to 0.5x makes the interface instant. Some enthusiasts put 0x, but it can lead to abrupt and unpleasant switching of screens.

📊 What scale of animation do you like?
1.0x (Standard)
0.5x (Accelerated)
0.0x (No animation)
Automatic.

Also worth paying attention to is the system's font. Using standard sans-serif font often renders faster than complex custom fonts from the theme store. If you notice slowing down as you scrolle through text, return the standard font.

Application and Autoboot Management

The Chinese version of firmware and even the global version sometimes sin by allowing applications to run with the system, which leads to a dozen heavy processes running an hour after the phone is turned on in memory, and autoboot control is a mandatory procedure.

In the menu “Annexes» → «Permits» → «Auto-run should only leave programs that need to work all the time (such as an alarm clock or messenger for work.

Special attention should be paid to the memory extension feature, which uses a portion of the permanent storage as RAM. On phones with a fast UFS 3.1 drive, this may help, but on older models with slow memory, it is better to turn this feature off so that the interface does not slow down.

⚠️ Note: Do not remove system applications through ADB, If you don't know exactly what they're responsible for, removing critical components can lead to an endless bootloop).

Network settings and DNS

Page loading speed and response in online games depend not only on the operator’s tariff, but also on the operator’s performance. DNS-Providers often use their servers, which can be overloaded. DNS Google or Cloudflare often solves problems with long-term website opening.

You can set up in the Wi-Fi section or on the mobile network. In the IPv4 settings, you can choose Manual or Static and write down the DNS address. For Cloudflare, it is 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1. This can also help bypass some ISP locks.

Another important aspect is resetting the network settings if there are persistent connection breaks.This won't delete your data, but will return all network settings to factory values, which often solves problems with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

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Shift. DNS-1.1.1.1 servers often speed up the response of the system in the browser and reduce ping in games without third-party applications.

Hidden functions and engineering menu

For advanced users, it is possible to access the engineering menu through special codes, but be very careful: changing the parameters of the radio module or display without understanding the consequences can bring the device down.

One useful hidden feature is sensor and display testing, and the diagnostic menu can check for touchscreen dead zones or broken pixels, which is especially important when buying a used device.

There's also a feature called "Remote Download" on the developer menu that shows the amount of RAM available on the screen, which helps you understand how aggressively the system is unloading applications from memory, and whether you need to increase virtual memory.

How to reset all settings to factory?
For a full reset, go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset. Select “Erase all data.” Make sure to back up important files before you do so, as you won’t be able to recover them.
Why does the phone warm up after the update?
After an Android or MIUI update, you re-index files and optimize applications in the background, which is a normal process that takes anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days, and the phone can warm up and discharge faster during this period.
Do I need to install antivirus on Xiaomi?
The built-in scanner in the Security app uses Avast and AVL databases, which are updated regularly, which is enough for the average user. Third-party antiviruses only consume the battery and slow down the system.
What is MIUI Optimization?
This is a special mode in the developer menu that manages permissions and application behavior.Disabling this option may be required to install some modified applications, but it can also disrupt the system and increase battery consumption.
How to speed up games on Xiaomi?
Use the built-in Game Turbo, which allows you to prioritize the processor for the game, disable notifications and clear the memory before starting, and make sure that the screen settings have the maximum refresh rate enabled.