How to overclock Xiaomi: 7 ways to speed up the smartphone

Owners of Xiaomi devices often face a situation where once-fashioned device starts to work slower. This is a natural process for any Android operating system that overflows with cache and temporary files. However, in the case of MIUI shells or the new HyperOS, the problem can be exacerbated by aggressive optimization and background processes that “eat” the CPU resources.

Many users mistakenly believe that speeding requires complex firmware or root rights. In fact, there are many standard methods that can significantly improve the responsiveness of the interface, and that good visuals and memory management can produce results comparable to hardware upgrades.

In this article, we will discuss in detail the proven optimization techniques that will help to return your gadget to its former agility, we will touch on both simple actions like cleaning storage, and more advanced settings through the engineering menu. Follow the instructions consistently to avoid conflicts in the operation of the system.

1. Optimization of the developer settings

The most effective way to overclock Xiaomi without third-party software is through the developer menu, which is hidden from the eyes of the average user by default to prevent accidental changes in critical parameters, and activating this section gives you access to fine-tuning animations, which visually speeds up the interface.

To start, you need to unlock hidden features. Go to Settings and select About Phone. Find the MIUI Version (or OS Version) bar and quickly click on it 7-10 times in a row until a notification appears that you have become a developer.

⚠️ Note: Changing the settings in the developer menu can affect the stability of individual applications. If you are not sure about the purpose of a particular option, it is better to leave its default value.

Find window animation scale, transition animation scale, and animation duration scale. Set 0.5x or turn off animation entirely (without animation) This action will instantly affect folder opening speeds and switching between screens, creating the illusion of a more powerful processor.

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Write down the initial values of the parameters before changing, so that, if necessary, quickly return all settings to the factory state.

2. Working with RAM and background processes

The MIUI shell is known for its ability to hold a lot of applications in memory for quick start-ups. However, on models with 4 or 6 GB of RAM, this leads to constant reboots of active tabs and slowdowns.

In the same developer menu, find the Background Process Limit section. The default is the standard limitation, but it can be tightened. Choose No More than 2 Processes or No Background Processes, which will make the system more aggressively unload unused applications from RAM, freeing up resources for the current task.

• 🚀 Turn off autostart for all unnecessary apps via the security menu.
• 🚀 Use the memory extension function with caution, as it can slow down the drive.
• 🚀 Regularly clean the cache of system services through the standard application "Security".

And you also have to look at the memory extension feature that's available in newer versions of firmware, which uses some of the internal memory as RAM. Paradoxically, on fast UFS 3.1 drives, it helps, and on older eMMCs, it can even reduce overall performance because of the difference in read and write speeds.

3. Cleaning the storage and cache of the system

A crowded drive is one of the main reasons why the phone starts to go dumb. When the empty space runs out, the system has no place to create temporary files and.swap partitions, which leads to noticeable lags when launching heavy apps and the camera.

It is recommended to keep at least 15-20% of the total internal memory free. Use the built-in analyzer in the Explorer or Security app to analyze the space. Pay special attention to folders of messengers such as Telegram or WhatsApp, which can take up gigabytes of space due to the cache of media files.

Remember to check the MIUI folder at the root of the internal storage, which often accumulates error logs and crash reports that take up space but do not benefit the average user, removing them safely and frees up valuable megabytes.

4. Disabling advertising and system services

MSA (MIUI System Ads) ads consume Internet traffic and CPU time even if you can't see them, load recommendations into application folders and system utilities, and disabling these services is a must-have for increased productivity and autonomy.

To remove ads, go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Access to personal data. Find the msa service in the list and turn off the slider. The system can ask you several times and start a countdown timer — be patient and wait until the end. It is also worth turning off the Mi Daemon service if it is not used for sync with the PC.

⚠️ Attention: After the service is disconnected MSA The banner ads may disappear within 24 hours, not instantly.

You can also turn off personalized recommendations, and to do this, in the settings of each system application (Security, Explorer, Downloads), you need to find the Receive recommendations and deactivate it, which will reduce the load on the network module and speed up the opening of the applications themselves.

5.Using Game Mode and Game Turbo

For gamers, maximum frames per second (FPS) is critical. In the MIUI shell, Game Turbo is responsible for this function, which not only disables notifications, but also redistributes CPU resources in favor of running the game.

Add your favorite shooters or MOBAs to the Safety → Game Turbo app. Inside the game mode settings, you can select a performance profile. Activate the High Performance mode, which speeds up the CPU frequencies. However, be prepared for faster battery discharge and body heat.

It's important to understand the difference between software acceleration and the physical limits of hardware. If the device gets too hot, the system will automatically lower the CPU frequencies (trottling) to avoid damage. In this case, no settings will help until the phone cools down. Use external mobile coolers during long gaming sessions.

6. Advanced Methods: ADB and Bloatware Removal

If standard methods have not worked, you can resort to removing system debris that cannot be removed in the usual way, which is pre-installed applications from Google and Xiaomi, which hang in the background, and this will require a computer and an ADB utility (Android Debug Bridge).

Connect your smartphone to your PC in USB debugging mode. Enter a command to remove unnecessary packets, such as to remove Google Play Music (which has not been used for a long time) or unnecessary Xiaomi services.

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.music


adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.misound

The list of safe packets for removal is huge and individual for each model. Before removing, be sure to check the purpose of the packet on the Internet, so as not to remove a critical component responsible for, for example, network operation or calls.

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Removing system applications through ADB is the most powerful method, but it requires precision. A mistake in the name of the package can make the phone inoperable.

7. Cardinal measures: Resetting and flashing

When software bugs have been accumulating for years, even cleaning the cache doesn't help, so the way to overclock Xiaomi is to completely reset to factory settings, and it will put the phone back out of the box, removing all the configuration conflicts and remnants of the remote applications.

Before resetting, make sure to back up your important data to the Mi Cloud or your computer. Go to Settings → About Phone → Reset → Erase all data. The process will take 10 to 30 minutes. Once turned on, the phone will work as fast as possible, as on the first day of purchase.

If that didn't work, it may be the firmware version itself that is the problem. Global versions of MIUI often contain more advertising and services than Chinese ones. Power users install custom firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu) that is litter-free and optimized for speed. However, this requires unlocking the bootloader, which is officially banned in some regions and resets the warranty.

⚠️ Note: Installation of third-party firmware (Custom) ROM) You cancel the manufacturer's warranty, and you do everything at your own risk.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)