Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi 9 budget smartphone often face a gradual decrease in the speed of the device over time. This is a natural process for Android gadgets, especially given the accumulation of cache, background processes and application updates that require more resources. However, with a Helio G80 processor and an optimized MIUI shell, this device is able to work much faster if you configure the system correctly.
In this article, we will explore not only standard cleaning techniques, but also advanced techniques available in hidden menus. You will learn how to turn off system advertising, which often imperceptibly consumes CPU resources, and what animation settings really affect the responsiveness of the interface. A competent approach to memory management will allow you to extend the life of your gadget without having to buy a new device.
Before embarking on radical measures like factory resets, it’s worth trying software optimization techniques. Smartphone performance depends on a variety of factors, and often the problem lies in misconfigured power saving options or a crowded system partition. Let’s look at the main steps to speed up your Redmi 9.
Basic System Cleaning and Memory Management
The first step to speed up Xiaomi Redmi 9 should be a thorough revision of the occupied space. Android requires free space to create temporary files and swaps; if the internal memory is filled to the end, the device starts to work slower. It is recommended to always keep at least 15-20% of the total storage space free so that the system can effectively manage files.
Use the built-in Security app to remove junk files. This tool analyzes app cache, remnants of deleted programs and temporary system files. However, don’t rely on automatic cleaning alone — manually check download and instant messenger folders, where gigabytes of unnecessary images and video files often accumulate.
☑️ Checklist for quick cleaning
Special attention should be paid to memory management. In the shell of MIUI there is a function of memory expansion, which uses part of the internal storage as virtual RAM. On Redmi 9 with its 3 or 4 GB of physical memory, the inclusion of this option can positively affect multitasking, allowing you to keep more applications open in the background without rebooting them.
- 📱 Go to Settings and find the About Phone section.
- 📱 Click on the version several times MIUI, activate the developer menu.
- 📱 Return to Advanced Settings and select Memory Extension.
- 📱 Select the maximum available volume and restart the device.
Keep in mind that running on virtual memory can slightly increase the wear and tear of the drive, but for budget models, it is often a justified compromise for the sake of smooth interface.
Disabling MIUI Advertising and System Services
One reason why Xiaomi Redmi 9 might be slowing down is the heavy work of advertising services and analytics in the background.The MIUI shell is known for its aggressive marketing, and turning off these features will not only remove annoying banners, but also free up CPU time for your tasks.This is a critical optimization step that users often ignore.
First, you need to disable the MSA (MIUI System Ads) service, which is a system process that is responsible for displaying ads in standard applications, and turning it off won't disrupt your phone, but it will make your use much cleaner. Find the Security app and find the recommendation point in the settings and deactivate it.
⚠️ Attention: When the service is disconnected MSA The system may ask you a few times, saying that without advertising, the functionality will be limited. Ignore these warnings and insist on turning off the phone will work correctly.
Next, you go through each standard app and turn off the personalized recommendations, which are Music, Theme, Explorer, and even Downloads, and each of these apps has a "Receive recommendations" or "Show ads" option in the settings, which you need to put into an inactive state.
Also, limit background activity for applications you rarely use. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, select an unnecessary program, and set a background activity limit. This will prevent it from running in the background and consuming the resources of the Helio G80 processor.
Developer settings to speed up the interface
For more advanced users who want to make the most of the Xiaomi Redmi 9, there are hidden possibilities through the developer menu, where you can change the speed of the animation of the windows, which visually makes the smartphone faster. While this will not add real computing power, the subjective perception of speed will significantly improve.
To get into this menu, activate it as described earlier by going to Advanced Settings → For Developers. Find the section related to drawing and rescale the animation. The standard value is usually 1x, but it can be reduced to 0.5x or even turned off completely.
| Animation parameter | Standard value | Recommended for speed | The effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Window animation | 1x | 0.5x | Acceleration of opening/closing applications |
| Animation of transitions | 1x | 0.5x | Quick switching between screens |
| Duration of animation | 1x | Off | Instant interface response |
Another important setting is to limit background processes, and you can find the "Background Process Limit" item on the developer menu, or set "No More than 2 Processes" or "Standard Limit" to prevent the system from having too many heavy applications in memory that can slow down the active window.
Be careful with the “Do not activate” setting. HW-The inclusion of this option forces GPU It can handle all the interface elements, which on some models can, on the contrary, cause twitches or increase battery consumption. On Redmi 9, it is better to leave this function off, relying on the standard operation of the graphics accelerator.
Optimization of battery operation and energy saving
There's a direct link between battery health and processor performance, and if a MIUI detects a critical charge or overheating, it compulsorily lowers the CPU frequencies to prevent shutdowns, so it's important to set the power saving modes right for maximum speed.
In the Security app, go to Battery. Make sure you select Performance or Balanced. Energy Saving mode significantly limits background processes and processor frequency, making the phone slow. For games and heavy tasks, always switch to high performance mode.
Control the temperature of the device. Xiaomi Redmi 9 has no active cooling, so when heated above 40 degrees begins trotting (reset frequency). Remove the case while charging or playing to ensure better heat sink. Using heavy protective glasses and tight rubber covers can contribute to overheating.
- 🔋 Avoid using your phone during fast charging.
- 🔋 Close it. GPS Bluetooth, if not in use right now.
- 🔋 Turn off data sync for rarely used accounts.
- 🔋 Use a dark topic if you have a AMOLED-screen (although on the IPS Redmi 9 is just a matter of habit, but reduces the load on rendering black).
Application and Autoboot Management
Controlling the autoload of applications is key for owners of devices with little RAM, and many programs aim to run with the system, consuming precious resources from the first seconds of a phone’s life, and MIUI has a built-in tool to manage this process.
Go to the Security app and select Permissions, and look for Autostart here, leave the WhatsApp-only autoboot and alarm on, and all other apps, such as stores, social networks and games, must be turned off, which will significantly speed up the system’s loading once turned on.
⚠️ Warning: Do not disable Auto-Run for Google System Services and Components MIUI, This can lead to unstable notifications or interface failures.
It's also worth checking for updates for all installed apps.Developers are constantly optimizing their code, and the new version of the program can run faster and consume less memory than the previous one.Update all apps via Google Play or Galaxy Store (if installed).
Radical measures: Resetting and reflashing
If the software methods didn't work, the last and most effective way is to completely reset to factory settings, which will delete all user data, settings and applications, returning the phone to a "store-like" state.
To perform the reset, go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Erase all the data. The process will take a few minutes. After turning on the phone, take your time to install all the applications at once. Test the system in its pure form - often it turns out that the brakes were caused by one particular conflict software.
In extreme cases, when even a reset doesn’t work, you might consider installing custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) that lacks Xiaomi services and advertising. However, this requires unlocking the bootloader, which is officially only possible after waiting 168 hours (7 days) from the account’s binding, a complex process that requires a PC and command line skills.
fastboot oem unlockInstalling third-party firmware gives you maximum performance, as it removes all the excess load from the manufacturer’s shell. However, this is not warranty and can disrupt the operation of some banking applications if additional maskers (Magisk) are not configured. It is safer for the average user to stay on the official MIUI.