How to make Xiaomi smartphone smooth: from simple settings to deep optimization

Have you noticed that your Xiaomi has become slow, slow to open apps, or slow to react to touch? This is a common problem even on flagship models like the Xiaomi 14 Ultra or the other. POCO F6 Pro. The causes can range from overloaded memory to a failed firmware, but the good news is that 90 percent of the time, smoothness can be restored without going to a service center.

In this article, we will discuss 10 Proven methods - from basic (cleaning the cache, disabling animation) to advanced (replacing firmware, setting up the kernel). MIUI 14/15, Which ones are suitable for devices on pure Android (for example, Xiaomi) A3). We will also analyze when it is worth contacting specialists, and when home manipulations are enough.

Importantly, some methods require unlocking the bootloader or root rights, which can be insecure, and we'll mark them with a special warning, and we'll start with the safest, easiest solutions.

1.Diagnostics: Why Xiaomi is slowing down?

Before optimizing a smartphone, you need to understand the root of the problem. Brakes can occur due to:

• 📱 Overloaded memory: less than 10% of free storage space.
• 🔄 Background Activity: Apps Consume CPU even on standby.
• 🔥 Overheating: the processor trottles (reduces frequency) due to high temperature.
• 🛠️ Unoptimized firmware: custom or beta versions MIUI They may work unstablely.
• 🔋 Worn-out battery: with capacity below 70%, the system limits performance.

To identify the problem, follow the following steps:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone. → Battery status and check wear.
2. Run Settings. → Annexes → System status (or use Developer Options if enabled).
3. Install the app CPU Monitor AIDA64 processor load analysis.

If AIDA64 You can see that the processor cores are constantly loaded at 80%+ without apparent cause - this is a sign of a software conflict (virus, crooked update) or hardware problem (chip malfunction).

2. Basic optimization: cleaning and settings MIUI

Start with simple actions that don’t require any special knowledge. These methods work on all models, from the Redmi Note 12 to the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3.

Cleaning up cache and garbage

• 🧹 System cache: go to Settings → Memory. → Clear the cache.
• 🗑️ Garbage files: use the built-in Security application) → Cleanup.
• 📦 Application cache: for each application in Settings → Annexes → [Select an application] → Memory. → Clear the cache.

Important: Do not clean application data (Clean data) unnecessarily – this will delete all settings and files (for example, save in games).

Disabling animation and visual effects

MIUI They're known for their beauty, but they use resources to speed up the interface:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the items: The scale of window animation → Disable or 0.5x Scale of transition animation → Disable or 0.5x The duration of the animator → Shut down.

These changes will be applied immediately – the interface will become faster, especially on weak models (Redmi). 9A, POCO M3).

Limitation of background processes

MIUI It aggressively manages background tasks, but sometimes it works against the user:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Autorun.
2. Turn off auto-runs for unnecessary apps (such as games or social media that you rarely use).
3. B Settings → Battery → Battery mode select Balanced (not Energy Savings as it limits performance).

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If notifications have stopped coming after limiting background processes (for example, from Telegram), add the application to the exception list in Settings. → Annexes → Permits → Auto-start

3. Advanced optimization: settings for power users

If the basic methods didn’t work, it’s time to dig deeper, and you’ll need access to hidden settings or even right root (on some models).

Change of CPU scheduler

By default. MIUI It uses a cfq or bfq scheduler, but it's better for smoothness than sio or zen:

1. Install Kernel Adiutor (requires root) or EX Kernel Manager.
2. Go to section. CPU → I/O Scheduler.
3. Select sio (for) SSD-drives) or zen (universal version).
4. Save the settings and restart the device.

Setting up swappiness

The swappiness parameter determines how actively the system uses the swap file — 10-30 (default 60). To change it:

1. Install Termux or use it. ADB Shell.
2. Enter the command: su echo 10 > /proc/sys/vm/swappiness
3. To make the change permanent, add the line vm.swappiness.=10 file /etc/sysctl.conf (root).

This will reduce the number of applications killed (when the system forcibly closes background tasks) and make multitasking smoother.

4. Firmware and kernel: radical methods

If software optimization didn't work, maybe the problem is the firmware itself.

1. Update MIUI to the latest stable version.
2. Install custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience or LineageOS).

Warning: Firmware can reset all data and take no warranty. Always backup before you start!

Update MIUI via Fastboot

If OTA-Update is not working or the device is stuck on the old version:

1. Download the latest stable firmware for your model from en.miui.com.
2. Unpack the archive and launch the script flash_all.bat (Windows or flash_all.sh (Linux/Mac) fastboot.
3. Wait until the end (usually 5-10 minutes).

Important: Do not use beta versions MIUI on major devices – they may contain critical bugs.

Installation of custom firmware

For models with unlocked loader (for example, POCO X3 Pro, Redmi K40) You can install firmware based on pure Android:

• 📱 Pixel Experience – as close as possible to Google’s stock.
• 🔧 LineageOS - stable and lightweight.
• ⚡ ArrowOS – Balanced in Performance and Functionality.

Instructions:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Mi Account binding).
2. Install custom recovery (TWRP or OrangeFox).
3. Sweep through firmware and GApps (if you need Google services).

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi) 12T, Redmi Note 11 Pro+) Unlocking the bootloader can lead to blocking widevine L1 (Downgrading streaming quality at Netflix, Disney+).

Optimizing the kernel with Magisk

If you use root, Magisk modules can significantly improve performance:

• 🔹 FDE.AI — Optimize energy consumption and productivity CPU/GPU.
• 🔹 Universal SafetyNet Fix – if banking applications stop working after the root.
• 🔹 PowerHAL – Manages Performance Profiles.

You can install the modules through Magisk Manager. → Modules. → Install it from the vault.

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Custom firmware and cores offer maximum smoothness gains, but require unlocking the bootloader and may be insecure, and beginners are encouraged to try software methods first.

Hardware causes of brakes

If all software methods have been tried, but the lags remain, the problem may be in the hardware:

• 🔋 Worn-out battery (capacity) < 70%) → system limits productivity.
• 🔥 Overheating → processor trottles (reduces frequency).
• 💾 Damaged flash memory → slow-write.
• 🛠️ Failed memory module (on models with LPDDR5, For example, Xiaomi 13).

How to check the hardware condition?

Use these tools:

• 📊 AIDA64 → Tests to check memory performance and CPU.
• 🔋 AccuBattery → battery-wearing.
• 🌡️ CPU Monitor → temperature monitoring and trottling.

If AIDA64 Memory reading/writing speed below 50% of the declared speed (for example, on the computer). UFS 3.1 must be ~1500 MB / s, and shows 600 MB / s) is a sign of degradation of the drive.

What to do with hardware problems?

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models with liquid cooling (Black Shark 5 Pro, Xiaomi) 12S Ultra) overheating can be caused by the leakage of the coolant, which requires a complete dismantling and replacement of the cooling system.

6.Optimization for games: how to remove lags in PUBG, Genshin Impact and Call of Duty

If the smartphone is slowing down in games, the problem may be:

• 🎮 Suboptimal graphics settings (too high resolution/quality).
• 🔄 Background activity (MIUI Limits productivity for games).
• 🔥 Trottling processor due to overheating.
• 📶 Poor Internet connection (lags online).

Game Turbo settings in MIUI

V MIUI There's a built-in mode for games, Game Turbo, to set it up:

1. Open Settings → Special features → Game Turbo
2. Add the game to the list and activate the following options: ✅ Performance mode → Extremely extreme. ✅ Turn off auto-furiousness (if the game itself adjusts the brightness) ✅ Blocking notifications ✅ Network optimization (reduces ping)

Graphic settings

Balanced

Productivity

Quality.

Manual setting GPU

For devices with Snapdragon processors (e.g, POCO F5, Redmi K60) hand-over GPU:

1. Install Adreno Tools (requires root).
2. In the section GPU Control, increase the frequency on 10-15% standard.
3. Turn on Force 60. FPS (if the game supports).

On Xiaomi with liquid cooling (Black Shark, RedMagic), you can additionally activate the fan mode (if any) through the Game Turbo.

7. Alternative solutions: when nothing helps

If you’ve tried all the methods, but Xiaomi is still slowing down, consider these options:

Reset to factory settings

Sometimes the only solution is a complete reset, which will delete all the data, but it will return the smartphone to its original state.

1. Make a backup of important data (photos, contacts, messages).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose Delete all data and confirm.

After reset, don't restore data from the backup immediately -- check if there are any lags left, and sometimes the problem lies in the corrupted backup files.

Replacement with a new smartphone

If Xiaomi is older than yours 3-4 years (e.g. Redmi Note) 8 Pro, Mi 9T), It may not be enough for modern tasks, but it makes sense to consider updating it.

Contacting the service center

If you suspect a hardware malfunction (for example, damaged memory or motherboard), it is better to contact specialists.

• 🔋 Battery replacement: 1,500 to 4,000 ₽
• 💾 Replacement of flash memory: 5,000 – 12,000 ₽
• 🔧 Motherboard repairs: from 8,000 ₽

⚠️ Note: Unofficial services often install used components (such as AliExpress batteries!

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's smoothness