How to remove lags on Xiaomi: a step-by-step guide for all models

The freezes and brakes on Xiaomi smartphones are one of the most common problems faced by users of both budget and flagship models. Even powerful devices like the Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi Note 12 Pro+ eventually begin to “suppress”, especially after prolonged use or updating of MIUI. The reasons can vary from overloaded memory to software conflicts.

In this article, we’ll look at 10 proven ways to remove lags on Xiaomi, from simple actions like cleaning cache to radical measures like resetting to factory settings. All methods have been tested on current versions of MIUI 14/15 and are suitable for most models, including POCO, Redmi and Black Shark. If your phone is slow to open apps, frieze when scrolling or slow down in games, you’ll find the solution here.

Important: Before you start settings, check whether the lags are related to overheating (especially for gaming smartphones) or a discharged battery (below 15%), which are often masked as software failures.

1.Cache and garbage cleanup in MIUI

The most common cause of lag is cache and temporary files that accumulate in the system. MIUI has built-in tools to delete them, but many users do not use them. Let's figure out how to clean the phone properly without deleting important data.

First, open the Security app (the shield icon) and go to Cleanup, where the system will scan the device and show how much space is occupied by unnecessary files.

• 🗑️ Application cache – temporary data that can be safely deleted without losing personal files.
• 📁 Unnecessary APK — Remnants of Remote Applications That Take Place.
• 🔍 Log files are system logs that accumulate over time.
• 📥 Downloads – a folder where garbage often gets after installing programs.

Once cleaned, restart your phone. If the lags are left, move on to the next step. Note: Clearing the cache doesn't delete your photos, contacts or messages - only temporary data.

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If, after cleaning the cache, the applications start to load longer on the first run, that's OK, and the system will recover the data itself.

2. Disable animation and visual effects

MIUI is known for its colorful animations and transitions, but they can severely inhibit weak or outdated devices. Turning off redundant visuals often gives you a 15-20% increase in performance. Here's how to do it:

Go to Settings → About Phone and click on the MIUI version several times until the message “You are a developer!” appears. Then go back to the main settings, open Additional → Developer options and find the following options:

• ⚡ The scale of window animation - set off. or 0.5x.
• ⚡ The scale of the transition animation is the same value.
• ⚡ Duration of animation – reduce to a minimum.
• 🎨 Disable hardware acceleration – DO NOT TOUCH this option, it can impair performance!

Also in Settings → The screen can be turned off:

• 🌈 Animation when blocking.
• 🔄 Smooth transitions between applications.
• 📱 The blurring effect in the multitasking menu.

These changes don't require rebooting and they'll have an immediate effect, and if the interface gets too sharp, put some of the animations back, leaving only the most resource-intensive ones disabled.

3. Optimization of the background and autoloading of applications

Many of the lags are caused by dozens of applications running in the background, consuming RAM and CPUs. MIUI aggressively manages memory, but sometimes it works against the user.

First, open Settings → Applications → Application Management and select Autoboot. Here you will see a list of programs that run with the system.

• 📱 Social networks (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) if you do not use them constantly.
• 🎮 Games – They often hang in the background, even if you don’t play them.
• 🛒 Store apps (AliExpress, Wildberries) if you don't need discount notifications.
• 🔄 Cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud) if you do not sync your data automatically.

Next, go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Management and select Performance Mode (if available). For individual applications (such as instant messengers), you can install Without Limits, and for others, limit background activity.

4. reset partition cache (Wipe Cache Partition)

If a conventional cache cleanup didn't work, try a deeper procedure, partition cache reset, which deletes temporary system files that can cause conflicts and brakes. The procedure is safe and doesn't affect your data, but requires a reboot to recovery mode.

Here's how to do it:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the buttons Power and Volume up at the same time (on some models – Volume down).
3. Wait for the Mi logo to appear and release the buttons – you will be taken to Mi Recovery.
4. Use volume buttons for navigation and select Wipe & Reset (on some firmwares – Wipe Cache).
5. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.
6. Select Reboot to reboot.

It can take a few minutes. Once you reboot, the phone will run faster, especially if the lags were associated with corrupted system files, and if this method doesn't work, move on to more radical measures.

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Resetting partition cache does not delete your files, photos or apps; it only clears temporary system data that may be causing conflicts.

5. Update MIUI to the latest version

Frosts and bugs are often fixed in new firmware versions. Xiaomi regularly releases updates for MIUI that optimize the system and close vulnerabilities.

Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update. If a new version is available, download it and install it. Pay attention to the type of update:

• 🔄 Incremental Update – a small patch (weighs several dozen MB), installed quickly.
• 📦 Full update – weighs 1.5-3 GB, contains all changes from scratch.

If the update doesn’t come automatically, try:

• 🔌 Connect to another Wi-Fi network (sometimes updates are blocked on corporate or public networks).
• 🔄 Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Download the latest version.
• 🛠️ Use the Mi Flash Tool for manual firmware (for power users only!).

Important: If your phone was purchased in China or has global firmware with regional restrictions, updates may be delayed or not at all, in which case you should consider switching to European (EEA) or Russian firmware via Mi Flash.

6. reset to factory settings (Hard Reset)

If all the previous methods didn't work, the last chance is a complete reset, which is a radical solution that removes all data from the phone, returning it to the "out of the box" state, and only use it if:

• 🐢 Phone brakes even after cleaning cache and updating.
• 🔄 Apps are constantly flying out or not opening.
• 📱 Interface. MIUI It is operating with serious delays.

Before discharge, it is mandatory:

1. Back up important data (Settings → About Phone → Backup).
2. Remember or write down logins / passwords from accounts (Mi Account, Google).
3. Remove the memory card and SIM if you have them.

To reset, go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Delete all data. Alternatively, use Mi Recovery (as in the Wipe Cache section, but choose Wipe All Data).

Make a backup copy|Record account details|Checking the battery charge (minimum 50%)|Extract SD-map SIM|Disable Mi Account (if you sell your phone)-->

⚠️ Warning: After a reset, the phone may require input from the Mi Account that was previously tied.If you forget the password, unlocking can take up to 72 hours!

7. Additional ways to accelerate Xiaomi

If the lags remain even after resetting, try these alternative methods:

Disable MIUI Optimization (for power users):

Some users have noted that disabling MIUI optimizations through ADB improves performance.

1. Connect your phone to your PC and enable USB Debugging in Developer Settings.
2. Open the command line and type in: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.powerkeeper
3. Reset the device.

B. Use of light launchers:

Replace the standard MIUI launcher with a lighter one, such as:

• 🚀 Nova Launcher (configurable, minimalist).
• ⚡ Lawnchair (open source).
• 🎯 POCO Launcher (optimized for performance).

Disabling unnecessary system applications:

Some pre-installed Xiaomi apps can be disabled without root rights:

• 📺 com.miui.videoplayer - standard video player.
• 🎵 com.miui.player - Music player.
• 📖 com.miui.notes – Notes (if you use Google Keep).
• 🛒 com.xiaomi.shop - Mi Store.

Disable through Settings → Applications → Application Management → Disable.

8. When is the time to bring the phone to the service?

If none of these methods worked, the hardware may be the problem, and here are some signs that the phone needs to be diagnosed:

• 🔥 Overheating even with minimal load (may indicate a faulty battery or processor).
• 🔋 Fast battery discharge (less than 2-3 hours of operation) + lags at charge level below 30%.
• 💾 Persistent memory errors (applications fly out with the message “Not enough memory”, although RAM is free).
• 🛠️ Physical damage (falls, moisture, bloated battery).

The average cost of diagnosis in the service center Xiaomi — 500-1000 rubles. Frequent “hardware” causes of lag:

⚠️ Warning: If the phone is warranty, don't try to disassemble it yourself! this will void warranty obligations. Contact the official Xiaomi service center with a check and a box.

FAQ: Frequent questions about lags on Xiaomi