Xiaomi Redmi 5, released in 2017, still remains a popular budget smartphone due to the balanced characteristics: Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 processor, 2/3/4 GB of RAM and a battery of 3300 mAh. However, over time, even this reliable device begins to “brake”: applications open for a long time, animation twitches, and the battery sits down in half a day. The reasons lie not only in the natural wear of iron, but also in the clog of the MIUI system, background processes and suboptimal settings.
In this article, we’ll look at 12 proven ways to bring Redmi 5 back to life, from basic (cache cleanup, animation shutdown) to advanced (CPU overclocking, thermal paste replacement). All methods tested on MIUI 9-12 firmware and are relevant for models with 16/32/64 GB of memory. Importantly, some tweaks require unlocking the bootloader or superuser rights — we’ll note them separately.
If your smartphone has turned into a brick with the Mi logo on the screen, first check the FAQ at the end of the article – there are typical optimization errors.
1. Diagnosis of the current state: what exactly is inhibiting?
Before you start optimizing, identify the bottleneck of your Redmi 5.
- 📊 Launch the built-in performance monitor: go to Settings → The phone. → Status of the system → Monitor. This is the download graphs. CPU, RAM and real-time storage.
- 🔍 Install the app AIDA64 (Free version) and check: CPU temperature (norm: up to 45°C in plain, up to 65.°C under load) RAM load (if free less than 300 MB - urgently clean the background processes) Battery condition (capacity below 80% of nominal requires replacement).
- 📱 Check the read/write speed of internal memory with AndroBench. For Redmi 5, normal reading: Reading: 150–200 MB/s (eMMC 5.1).Write: 50–80 MB/s. If values are lower by 30%+ — problem.
Typical "symptoms" and their causes:
| Problem. | Probable cause | Decision (section of article) |
|---|---|---|
| Lags when opening applications | Lack of RAM, background processes | Section 3 |
| MIUI's twitchy animation | Included transition effects | Section 4 |
| Overheating and sudden shutdowns | Thermopaste wear, CPU trottling | Section 7 |
| Slow file loading | Fragmented memory, slow eMMC | Section 5 |
⚠️ Attention: If in AIDA64 displays a processor temperature above 70°C in plain, stop using your smartphone immediately, it's a sign of critical wear of the heat paste or damage to the radiator.
Optimizing RAM: How to Free RAM Without Root
Xiaomi Redmi 5 with 2GB of RAM is particularly affected by memory shortages. MIUI aggressively kills background processes, but often this only makes the lags worse.
- 🧹 Turn off the autoload of unnecessary apps: Go to Settings → Annexes → Autorun. Sort the list by last use date. Turn off autorun for apps you don't use daily (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music, Facebook).
Set up the limitation of background processes
adb shell settings put global background_process_limit 3This command (performed through ADB) will limit the number of background processes to 3. For 2 GB of RAM, the optimal value is 2, for 3-4 GB - 4.
Stop Optimizing for Critical Applications
- Open Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Optimization
- Select All apps → find messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) and turn off optimization for them.
Disable Auto-Run for 10+ Unnecessary Applications
Set a limit on background processes through ADB
Ban optimization for messengers
Reboot your phone to apply changes-->
Additional tweaks are available for users with root rights:
- 🛠️ Install the Magisk module RAM Expander (SWAP) To create a paging file on internal memory, note: this will reduce the eMMC resource!
- 📉 Use Kernel Adiutor to customize LMK (Low Memory Killer – This will allow you to manage process killings flexibly.
- 🎨 Switch to “Easy mode» MIUI: Go to Settings. → Screen. → Display mode. Choose Light over Standard or Saturated. Turn off Adaptive Brightness, it eats up to 5% CPU background.
- 🖼️ Simplify wallpapers and themes: Use static wallpapers instead of live ones. Set a dark theme (Settings) → Screen. → Dark theme – it reduces the load on GPU.
For maximum effect, combine these settings with disabling unnecessary widgets on the home screen. For example, the Mi Weather weather widget updates every 30 minutes, consuming up to 10% of the CPU.
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If the interface looks “sharp” after disabling the animation, return the animation scale to 0.5x – this is a compromise between smoothness and performance.
4. Storage cleanup and eMMC optimization
Redmi 5's internal memory (eMMC 5.1) fragments over time, causing a slowdown in reading/write.
- 🗑️ Deep Cache and Garbage Cleanup: Remove the Cache of All Apps: Settings → Warehouse → Clear the cache. Use it. SD Maid (with root) for cleaning: SystemCleaner (removes the remnants of uninstalled applications). CorpseFinder (finds dead files).
Memory defragmentation
- Download Storage Analyzer & Disk Usage from Google Play.
- If fragmentation exceeds 20%, reset to factory settings (Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset).
Transfer of applications to SD-map
- Use an A1/A2 class card (e.g., SanDisk Ultra).
- In Settings → Apps, select heavy games (like PUBG Mobile) and click Move to SD.
⚠️ Note: Not all apps support portability, for example, WhatsApp and Telegram cannot be moved to SD rootless.
For users with root:
- 🔧 Install the Magisk module F2FS/Ext4 Converter to translate the section /data filesystem F2FS. This increases the speed of reading/write on 15–20%, But it requires a full backup!
- 📊 Use DiskDigger to recover deleted files that occupy dead space.
What if the memory is filled with unknown files?
5.Overheating control: trottling and thermal paste
Redmi 5 is prone to overheating due to its compact body and weak cooling system, and at temperatures above 60°C, trottling, a forced reduction in the frequency of the processor, causes lags.
- 🌡️ Software methods: Install Coolify (requires root) to manually control the fan (if you have one in your modification). Turn off background sync for email and social networks: Settings → Accounts. → Sync. Use Greenify to freeze apps that warm up CPU (For example, Facebook, Instagram).
- 🔧 Hardware: Replace thermopaste with Arctic MX-4 Or Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut. Redmi 5 is 0.5g of pasta. Set a copper heat-dissipating plate on a memory chip (costs) ~$5 on AliExpress.Use an aluminum radiator case (e.g. Baseus Cooling Case).
How to check the effectiveness of:
- Start 3DMark (Sling Shot Extreme)
- Compare the results before and after the modifications, and if you replace the thermopaste correctly, you'll have a 20 to 30 percent increase in stability.
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Replacing the thermopaste with Redmi 5 has the greatest effect when the background processes are turned off, for example, after replacing the paste and adjusting the Greenify temperature under load drops from 72 ° C to 58 ° C.
Update of firmware: official and custom options
Older versions of MIUI (below 11) contain memory and battery management errors, and a firmware update can give you up to 40% performance gains, but there are some nuances:
- 🔄 Official update through OTA: Check the relevance of the version: Settings → The phone. → System Update. If there are no updates, download the latest firmware for Redmi 5 (rosy) from en.miui.com. → Updating the system → Select a firmware file.
Custom firmware (requires an unlocked bootloader)
- LineageOS 16/17 is the most stable alternative to MIUI.
- Pixel Experience is for fans of “pure” Android.
- Havoc-OS – for fine-tuning performance.
⚠️ Note: When installing custom firmware, be sure to thread the correct kernel for your Redmi modification. 5 (for example, for the version of 3 GB RAM I need a kernel. rosy_3gb).
Comparison of firmware for Redmi 5:
| Firmware | Pluses | Cons | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI 12 (official) | Stability, OTG support | Lots of bloatware, ads. | Download |
| LineageOS 17.1 | No advertising, long support time | No MIUI signature features | Download |
| Pixel Experience | The interface is like Google Pixel | The gestures may not work. | Download |
7 Hardware modifications: what can be improved physically
If software methods don't help, consider hardware modifications.Redmi 5 has a modular design that simplifies repairs and upgrades:
- 🔋 Battery Replacement: Original Capacity: 3300 After. 2–3 In the years of operation, the real capacity falls to 60–70%. Recommended analogue: Xiaomi BM47 (3500 mAh, compatible with Redmi. 5/5A). Cost of replacement: ~1500–2000 ₽ service-centre.
- 🖥️ Replacing eMMC with a faster chip: Stock eMMC 5.1 substitute UFS 2.0/2.1 (for example, Samsung KLUFG4G1ED). Speed increase: reading to 300 MB/s (vs) 180 Difficulty: requires a soldering station and experience with BGA-chip.
- 📶 Installation of an external antenna 4G: Signal trouble? Connect the external antenna through MHF4-connector (connector located under the back cover) Suitable models: Taoglas FXUB63 or Poynting A-XPOL-0001.
⚠️ Warning: Replacing an eMMC or memory module will void the warranty (if it is still valid) and may result in loss of the warranty. IMEI. Before work, make a backup through TWRP Or Mi Flash Tool.
8.Alternative methods: cloud solutions and peripherals
If hardware modifications aren’t for you, consider external Redmi 5 unloaders:
- ☁️ Cloud Games and Apps: Xbox Cloud Gaming or GeForce NOW You can play heavy games (such as Genshin Impact) without loading your phone. PC — Virtual Windows-PC for 15€/Mes (suitable for Photoshop or AutoCAD).
- 🖱️ Peripheral Connect: Use a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard to work with documents easily. SSD through OTG (for example, Samsung T7) file-storage.
- 🔌 Desktop docking station: Models like Baseus 16-in-1 Dock allows you to connect Redmi 5 monitor HDMI, To work properly, install DeX Lite (Samsung DeX port for non-Samsung DeX)-Samsung These solutions will not speed up the phone itself, but will reduce the load on it by transferring the calculations to external devices. FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Redmi optimization 5 ❓ The phone hangs on the logo. MI So, what do you do? This is a typical problem when you interrupt the reset or when you're incompatible with the firmware. + Loudness up on 10 Connect your phone to your PC and run the official firmware through the Mi Flash Tool (select Clean All mode). EFS (It can be damaged when unlocking the loader). Important: Do not use firmware for Redmi 5A Redmi 5 Plus is not compatible with Redmi 5 (rosy)! ❓ Is it possible to overclock the Snapdragon 450 processor? Technically yes, but with reservations: Maximum standard frequency: 1.8 GHz. Through Kernel Adiutor (root) you can raise to 2.0 GHz, but: Increased heating (up to 80 GHz).°C under load. Battery life will be reduced by 20 to 30 percent. Artifacts in games due to overheating are possible. GPU Adreno 506: Recommend: Instead of overclocking, turn off trottling via the Magisk Disable Thermal Engine module. ❓ How to transfer applications to SD-Rootless map? Rootless methods: Use App2SD (requires formatting the card as internal memory in Settings → For individual applications (e.g. Spotify), manually transfer the cache to SD through settings → Annexes → Storage.Limitations: Not all apps support portability (e.g. WhatsApp). SD-The map should not be lower. UHS-I (Class 10). ❓ Why After Updating to Update MIUI 12 phone slows down? Causes and solutions: Background optimization MIUI: Turn it off in Settings. → Battery → Battery optimization for critical applications. New animations: Disable them in the developer settings (see Section 3).Conflict with Magisk: If you have root, upgrade Magisk to version 23+ And you can reflash the modules: MIUI 12 requires a minimum of 3GB RAM For smooth operation, a 2GB model recommends a rollback MIUI 11. ❓ Where to buy parts for Redmi 5 in 2026? Recommended sources: Parts Where to buy Prim. price (₽) Battery (BM47) AliExpress, Beru 800–1200 Screen (with touchscreen) Fix-Mi, ETK 2500-3500 Thermopaste (Arctic) MX-4) DNS, Citilink 500-800 Camera (12 MP, Sony) IMX363) AliExpress (Xiaomi Original Store) 1500–2000 ⚠️ Avoid purchases on Avito or Yula – a high risk of running into used parts from donor phones.