The Xiaomi Redmi 9, released in 2020, is still a popular device due to its affordable price and functionality, but over time, owners may notice a decrease in system response speed and interface hanging. It is a natural process for any gadget that is overgrown with app cache, background processes and updates that require more resources than the first launch. Understanding how RAM and Android file system work will allow you to return the device to its former sharpness without having to buy a new model.
Many users mistakenly believe that the only way out is to reset completely to factory settings or install custom firmware, which is not always safe and justified. In fact, the MIUI operating system on which this device is based has a wide range of hidden and explicit tools for fine-tuning. The right configuration of animations, competent management of background processes and disabling unnecessary system services can do wonders with the Helio G80 processor.
In this article, we will take a closer look at each step that will help you make the most of your Redmi 9, turning it into a responsive assistant for everyday tasks. We will not use third-party software of dubious quality, but focus on the built-in features of the system, which are often ignored by users.
Analysis and release of internal memory
The first and most critical factor affecting the speed of any Android smartphone is internal storage occupancy. When free disk space drops below 10-15%, the system starts to work slower due to file fragmentation and lack of space for temporary buffers. Internal memory such as eMMC 5.1, installed in Redmi 9, is especially sensitive to overflow, so regular cleaning is a mandatory procedure.
Start by removing apps you haven’t used in the past few months, as they not only take up space, but can run background services. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps and study the list carefully, removing the extra. Pay special attention to social networks and instant messengers, which tend to grow to giant sizes due to the cache of images and videos.
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Use the built-in Security → Cleanup app to quickly remove junk files, but don’t rely on it entirely – manually checking download folders often gives you the best result.
To free up space, it is also recommended to transfer photos and videos to external media or to cloud storage, leaving only the necessary files on the device. SD-card, if you have it installed, but remember that the speed of applications from the memory card will be lower.
- 📂 Delete the Download and Bluetooth folder, where old installation files often accumulate APK.
- 🗑️ Clear the cache of heavy applications through storage settings without deleting their data.
- 📸 Move media files to your computer or to the cloud (Google Photos, Yandex.Disk).
- 📱 Disable or remove pre-installed apps (bloatware) that you don’t need.
Optimization of MIUI interface and animations
The visuals of the MIUI shell are often overwhelmed with various transition animations, which are certainly beautiful, but take precious milliseconds of CPU time. For owners of Redmi 9 with its budget hardware, turning off or shortening the duration of these effects is one of the most effective ways to speed up the experience of working with the phone. It does not affect the actual performance of the processor, but makes the interface visually more responsive.
To access hidden speed settings, you need to activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7-10 times on MIUI Version until you notice that you have become a developer. Then a new Developer section will appear in the additional settings menu, where key performance parameters are hidden.
☑️ Set up animations
Inside the developer menu, find the Drawing section and change three options: Window animation scale, transition animation scale, and animator duration scale. Set a 0.5x or even 0x (off) if you want top speed, although 0.5 looks more organic. Also, you should find the Background Process item on this menu and limit the number of processes running simultaneously to 2 or 3 to free up RAM.
- ⚙️ Activate the developer mode taps by build number.
- 📉 Reduce the scale of animations to 0.5x instantaneously.
- 🚫 Turn off the live wallpaper that consumes resources GPU.
- 🔄 Limit the number of background processes in the developer menu.
Managing Autoboot and Background Processes
One of the main reasons for the brakes on Xiaomi is the aggressive policy of running applications in the background, which are constantly updated, check notifications and synchronize data. Auto-run a dozen programs immediately after turning on the phone puts a huge strain on the processor in the first minutes of use, which leads to lags and input delays, and control over this process lies entirely in your hands through system settings.
Go to the Security app (green lightning icon) and select Permissions → Auto Run. Here you will see a list of all the apps that start with the system. Leave only messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) and alarms on, and everything else, including stores, news feeds and games, safely turn off. This will not remove the applications, but only prevent them from starting on their own without your knowledge.
⚠️ Note: Do not disable system processes that start with "MIUI", "Google, Android or System, as this can cause a phone to malfunction or loss of communication.
In addition, you should adjust the battery savings for each heavy application individually. In the Settings → Battery and performance section, you can select the mode of operation for specific programs. Set the "No Limits" mode for games and heavy social networks only if you need instant notifications, in other cases it is better to leave the standard or limited mode so that the system can unload them from memory when inactive.
Disabling Advertising and System Services
MIUI is known for its built-in advertising, which not only annoys but consumes Internet traffic and processor resources to download ad modules. Disabling ads in system applications is not only a matter of comfort, but also a real way to improve the performance of the Redmi 9. Advertising services (MSA) work in the background and can cause micro-freezes of the interface.
To start, disable the main MSA ad service. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Access to Personal Data (or “Special Features” in older versions of MIUI). Find the msa list and turn off the switch by confirming the action (you will need to wait 10 seconds).
Way to turn off: Settings → Passwords and security → Access to personal data → msa → Turn offNext, go through the built-in apps and turn off ads in each one manually. In Explorer, Music, Themes, and Security, go to the settings (usually through a three-dot menu) and find Receive Recommendations or Show Ads by unchecking it, which will reduce network requests and free up CPU cycles for your tasks.
- 🚫 Disable msa service in the access section of personal data.
- 📵 Remove the “Receive Recommendations” boxes in all system applications.
- 🎨 Turn off automatic update of the theme "Free" in the Topic app.
- 🔍 In the Mi Browser browser, turn off push notifications and news feed.
Use of memory extensions and game modes
Modern versions of MIUI offer the function of expanding RAM due to internal memory, which can be useful for Redmi 9 with its 3 or 4 GB of RAM. This technology allows the system to use part of the storage as virtual RAM, which helps to keep more applications open in the background without rebooting them.
You can activate this feature in Settings → Additional settings → Expand memory. If you have a fast memory card installed or a significant amount of internal memory is free, enabling this option can improve multitasking. But if you notice that the phone has started to run slower when you open heavy applications, it is better to turn off the function, since in some scenarios it puts an extra load on the memory controller.
Should I include memory expansion?
It is critical for gamers to use the built-in Game Turbo, which not only blocks notifications, but also redistributes CPU resources in favor of the game, limiting the background activity of other applications. Add all your games to Game Turbo through the Security app so that the system prioritizes their work.
Comparison of optimization methods
Choosing the right acceleration method depends on your device’s current state and your skills, and here’s a table to help you navigate your situation, considering the balance between safety and efficiency.
| Method | Efficiency | Difficulty | Risk of data loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning up cache and memory | Low/Mediocre | Very low. | No. |
| Shutdown of animations | Medium (visually) | Low. | No. |
| Removal of bloatware | Tall. | Medium | Minimum |
| Reset to factory settings | Maximum | Tall. | Full (needs backup) |
As you can see from the table, the safest methods only provide a temporary or visual effect, while deep cleaning or resetting takes longer but gives a guaranteed result. A combination of memory cleanup, animation disabling and auto-start banning techniques provides the best balance between speed and stability of the system without the risk of data loss.
Remember that the physical wear of the battery can also affect performance, as the system can trott (reduce frequency) the processor at unstable voltage. 9 For several years, check the status of the battery through the service code ##6485## (parameter MB_06) will be useful.