How to Optimize Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Setup MIUI and Accelerate Your Smartphone

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones are known for their functionality, but over time, even the most powerful models start to slow down. The reasons range from cache-filled memory to suboptimal system settings. This article will help you figure out how to get the device back to speed without drastic measures like factory resetting.

We will look at both basic methods (cleaning up garbage, turning off unnecessary services) and advanced techniques (setting up animations, optimizing background processes). Particular attention will be paid to the hidden features of MIUI 14/15, which the manufacturer does not advertise, but can dramatically improve the user experience. All recommendations are tested on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO F5 and Xiaomi 13 Ultra models – relevant for most devices in 2022-2026.

1. Diagnostics of the current state of the smartphone

Before you start optimizing, you need to understand what is holding your Xiaomi back, and 80% of the problems are caused by:

• 📱 Overloaded RAM (too many background applications)
• 🗑️ Completed storage (less than 10% of free space)
• 🔋 Worn-out battery (capacity below 80% of nominal value)
• 🤖 Outdated Firmware (irrelevant version) MIUI)

For quick diagnosis:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System status
2. Check the Memory section – if less than 3GB is free, cleaning is required
3. In the battery, look at the discharge graph - sharp jumps indicate problematic applications

⚠️ Note: If the processor temperature is constantly above 45 in the System State section°C in normal use is a sign of either hardware problems (thermopaste) or malware.

System cleanup: from cache to junk files

MIUI is known for actively cacheing data to speed up work, but over time, this cache turns into ballast.

Step 1. Clean up the app cache

• 🧹 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management
• 🔍 Sort by size (button in the upper right corner)
• 🗑️ For each application >500MB press Clear Cache

Step 2: Deep cleaning of the system

Use the built-in Optimization tool (the broom icon in the drop-down notification menu) or:

Settings → Memory → Memory Cleanup → Deep Cleanup

Disable the autoload of unnecessary applications|Clean the cache manually for top-5 "heavy-handed|Remove duplicate photos through the gallery|Clean up the downloads (Download folder)|Check the "Other Files" section in the repository-->

For advanced users: hidden folders with garbage are often on the path /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/. This is where temporary files of games and social networks are stored.

3. MIUI Optimization: Hidden Performance Settings

MIUI has hidden parameters that affect smoothness, and changing them requires activation of the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. 7 times tap the MIUI version
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers

Key parameters for optimization:

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After changing the animation, restart the device – some apps (like TikTok) may ignore the new settings before restarting.

For models with Qualcomm Snapdragon (e.g., POCO F4 GT), activate:

Settings → Battery → Performance mode → High productivity

⚠️ Warning: This mode increases heat and battery consumption, use only for resource-intensive tasks (games, video editing) and turn off afterward.

4.Manage autoload and background processes

One of the main reasons for MIUI brakes is aggressive application autoloading, and even after closing, many programs continue to run in the background, consuming RAM and charge.

How to turn off autoboot:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management
2. Select the application → Autostart → Disable the slider
3. For full control, use Security → Autorun (not available on all models)

List of apps that can be safely disabled from autoboot:

• 📱 Mi Video, Mi Music (unless you use it)
• 🎮 Game Turbo (if you don't play)
• 📊 Analytics, MSA (system-based data collection services)
• 🛒 GetApps, Mi Pay (if not required)

5. Optimizing the battery for long-term operation

The worn-out battery not only discharges quickly, but also brakes the smartphone - the system limits performance at low charge.

Settings → Battery → Battery condition

If the capacity is below 85%, consider replacing it.

• 🔌 Do not keep your phone charging after 100% (use the 80% limit in Battery Settings)
• ❄️ Avoid overheating (do not play while charging)
• 🔄 Calibrate every 3 months: discharge to 0%, then charge to 100% without interruption
• 🛑 Turn off Fast charging overnight (in Settings) → Battery. → Charging settings)

For models with Surge chip support (Xiaomi 12S Ultra, Mix Fold 2), activate intelligent charging control:

Settings → Battery → Intelligent charging → Included.

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A battery with a capacity below 75% of its value can cause spontaneous reboots and lags even at 30-40% charge. This is a hardware problem, software optimization is powerless here.

6. firmware update: when and how to do it correctly

Xiaomi regularly releases MIUI updates, but not all of them are equally useful.

When to update:

• ✅ If critical bugs are fixed in the update (read the release notes)
• ✅ When you upgrade to a new version of Android (for example, from 12 to 13)
• ❌ Don’t upgrade for “small improvements” – new versions MIUI Often contain undocumented services that consume resources.

How to update:

1. Make a backup through Settings → About the phone → Backup
2. Connect to Wi-Fi (update "over the air" weighs 1.5-3 GB)
3. Charge the battery to at least 60%
4. Use the official method: Settings → About the phone → System update

For enthusiasts, alternative firmware like Xiaomi.EU or Pixel Experience can give you performance gains, but it will take away official support and can cause problems with:

• 📸 Camera (not all modes) Leica/UltraPixel work)
• 🔐 Biometrics (fingerprint scanner may fail)
• 📶 Communications (problems with VoLTE on some operators)

Radical methods: resetting and flashing

If all previous methods have failed, extreme measures remain. Hard Reset solves 90% of software problems, but has side effects:

When to do the reset:

• 🐢 The system brakes even after cleaning and optimization
• 🔄 Applications are spontaneously closed or not opened
• 📱 The phone is overheating for no apparent reason.

How to properly reset the settings:

1. Backup all data (photos, contacts, SMS)
2. Make sure you know the username/password from your Mi Account (required to unlock after reset)
3. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings
4. Choose to erase all data and confirm

⚠️ Note: On models with a locked bootloader (Redmi Note 11 and later), a reset may lead to a requirement to enter the Mi Account password even if you have not used it before.

For power users: if the reset didn't work, consider flashing through Fastboot or Recovery. Official instructions and firmware are available on Xiaomi's website.

• 🔧 Use only firmware for your model (check in Settings). → The phone. → Model)
• 🔌 The battery should be charged. >50%
• 🖥️ Fastboot will require a PC with Mi Flash Tool drivers installed

8. Additional advice for specific models

Some Xiaomi devices have unique features that require a separate approach:

For flagships (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Mix Fold 3) with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, it is recommended to:

• 🎯 Enable Performance Mode in Settings → Special facilities → Mode for games
• 🔄 Disable Adaptive Brightness (it conflicts with 120Hz display)
• 📱 Use it. MIUI Optimization Module in Magisk for Fine Core Customization

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On devices with LPDDR5 memory (such as the Xiaomi 13T Pro), disabling application background activity can worsen multitasking, and it is better to limit yourself to cleaning the cache and updating the firmware.