How to improve the performance of Xiaomi devices: from smartphones to smart homes

Xiaomi devices are some of the most popular on the market due to their combination of price, functionality and performance. However, even the most advanced technology gets slower over time: apps open long, the battery goes down in a few hours, and smart gadgets lose connection with the network. The reasons can be different from overloaded memory to outdated settings MIUI.

In this article, we will look at 15 practical ways to improve Xiaomi’s performance, from basic actions like clearing cache to hidden firmware features that are not written in the official instructions. All recommendations are tested on the 2020-2026 models and are relevant for Redmi, POCO, Xiaomi Mi and Mi Home ecosystem devices.

Important: some methods require superuser rights or bootloader unlocking, and we've marked these cases with warnings that you'll skip them if you're not willing to risk warranty, and let's start with the simplest and move on to advanced tricks.

1. Cleaning the system: what to remove first

Cluttered memory is the main reason for the brakes, and even if your Xiaomi has 10-15 GB of free space, the system can run slowly due to fragmented files and app cache.

• 🗑️ App cache: Go to Settings → Storage → Cleanup and click “Clean.” This will delete temporary files that take up to 1-3 GB.
• 📁 Unnecessary APK: In the same Storage tab, find the APK Files section, where app installers accumulate, which you can safely delete.
• 🔄 Duplicate File: Use the built-in Cleaner app (or Files by Google) to find repetitive photos, videos, and documents.
• 🚫 Garbage folders: Check Download, DCIM/.thumbnails and Android/data folders – often left unneeded files after uninstallation of programs.

Pay special attention to the Mi Video app (or Gallery in newer versions of MIUI), which automatically creates thumbnails for all videos that can take up to 500 MB.

1. Open the gallery.
2. Go to Settings → Lab (or additionally in older versions).
3. Turn off the option “Create thumbnails for video”.

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If the free space disappears again quickly after cleaning, check the Mi Drop or ShareMe app – they often save the received files in hidden folders.

2. MIUI Optimization: Hidden Settings for Acceleration

MIUI is not just an Android shell, it's an entire ecosystem with hundreds of hidden settings, many of which are set up by default to be suboptimal for performance, and here's what you can change without risking the system:

• ⚡ Interface animation: Reducing animation time will speed up the opening of applications. Activate Developer Mode (7 times click on Version MIUI in Settings → About Phone), then in Settings → Additional → For Developers, set:
• 🔋 Background Process Limitation: In the same section, For Developers, find Process Limit and select Process Maximum 2 in the Background, which will reduce the RAM load.
• 🛠️ Disable MIUI Optimization: This feature often conflicts with user settings. In Settings → Additional → Special Features → MIUI Optimization, disable the slider. After that, some system applications may not work stable - check compatibility on your model!

Another useful trick is to reset MIUI settings without losing data, which will help if the interface gets glitchy after the update.

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select “MIUI Reset” (not to be confused with a full reset!).
3. Confirm the action – it will return to the factory parameters only shell settings, without affecting applications and files.

3. Battery management: how to extend autonomy

Fast battery life is one of the most common complaints Xiaomi owners have, not only because of battery wear, but also because of suboptimal power saving settings.

• 🔌 Adaptive charging: If your smartphone supports this feature (available on Xiaomi 12/13/14, Redmi Note 11/12 and later), turn it on in Settings → Battery → Battery settings → Adaptive charging. This will slow battery wear, limiting the charge to 80% at night.
• 📵 Background activity: Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Use and turn off background activity for applications you rarely use (such as games or social media).
• 🌙 Dark theme: On AMOLED- screens (Xiaomi 11T, 12 Pro, 13 Ultra), a dark theme reduces energy consumption by 15-20%. Include it in Settings → Screen → Dark theme.
• 📡 5G and NFC: If you don’t use these features all the time, turn them off in the Quick Settings Panels. 5G consumes 25–30% more power than 4G.

For advanced users: MIUI has a hidden Battery Oversaving mode that disables all background processes except calls and SMS.

1. Enable Developer Mode (as described above).
2. Enter the Settings → Additional → For developers, the command:
3. Reboot the device. Now a new mode will appear in the battery menu.

4. Firmware Update: How to Avoid Errors

MIUI updates often bring not only new features, but also bugs. Installation of the firmware incorrectly can lead to a brick (inoperable device).

Before any update:

Make a backup to Settings → Additional → Backup

Check the compatibility of the firmware version with the device model

Disable the antivirus (it can block update files)

Charge the battery to at least 60%

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If the device becomes worse after the update (for example, warms or discharges quickly), reset the cache via Recovery:

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press Power + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. Select Wipe → Wipe Cache (control – volume buttons, confirmation – power button).
4. Reset the device.

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If the sound is gone or the sensor is not working after the update, try to roll back to the previous version via Fastboot. For instructions, look at the 4PDA or XDA Developers forums for your model.

5. Network optimization: Wi-Fi, mobile internet and Bluetooth

Connection issues are a common headache for Xiaomi users, and a smartphone can lose Wi-Fi connectivity, slow loading pages, or not find devices over Bluetooth. Here’s how to fix it:

• 📶 Network reset: go to Settings → Connections → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth settings. This will delete all stored networks and passwords, but often solves connection problems.
• 🔄 Change Wi-Fi Region: If internet speeds are low, try changing the region in your router settings to the US or Europe (some firmware MIUI has restrictions for Russia).
• 📱 Disable IPv6: in Settings → Wi-Fi → Additional → Settings IP, select IPv4. This can speed up the loading of sites.
• 🔊 Bluetooth problems: If headphones or smartwatches don't connect, clear the Bluetooth app's cache in Settings → Apps → App management → Bluetooth.

For owners of Xiaomi with Wi-Fi 6 support (Xiaomi 11/12/13 series, Redmi K50): if the router also supports this standard, turn it on in the router settings. This will increase the speed and stability of the connection.

1. Connect to Wi-Fi.
2. Go to Settings → Wi-Fi → Current Network → More
3. Look up the line "Wi-Fi standard." If it's 802.11ax, it means Wi-Fi 6 is used.

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If mobile internet is slow, try manually selecting the network in Settings → SIM- Cards and Mobile Networks → Network type. Sometimes automatic mode selects a suboptimal frequency.

6.Working with Xiaomi smart devices

The Mi Home ecosystem allows you to control dozens of devices, from light bulbs to robot vacuum cleaners, but often users face problems: gadgets disconnect from the network, do not respond to commands or conflict with each other.

• 🏠 Device firmware update: Open the Mi Home app, select the device and check for updates. Outdated firmware is a common cause of failure.
• 🌐 Server Region: In the Mi Home settings, select Russia (or Europe if the first option doesn't work) and this is important for cloud functionality to work properly.
• 🔄 Device reset: If the gadget is not responding, press and hold the reset button (usually on the case) for 5-10 seconds until the indicator blinks.
• 📡 Wi-Fi network splitting: Some Xiaomi devices (e.g. cameras) don’t work well on 2.4GHz+5GHz networks.

For Xiaomi Robot Vacuum owners: If the vacuum cleaner is constantly losing communication, check the router settings. Some models do not support WPA3 - switch to WPA2-PSK in the Wi-Fi security settings.

If smart devices don’t respond to voice commands through Alice or Google Assistant, follow these steps:

1. Make sure the device is added to Mi Home and connected to the same account as the assistant.
2. In the settings of Google Home (or Yandex), update the list of devices.
3. Restart the router and smart device.

7 Advanced Tricks: Root, ADB and Custom Settings

If standard methods don't work, you can try more radical ones, which require technical skills and may be warranty-free, but give you complete control of the device.

• 🔓 Unlock the bootloader: Xiaomi's official way is through the Mi Unlock website, and once unlocked, you can install custom firmware.
• 🛠️ Superuser rights (root): Magisk allows you to get root access without losing the ability to update over the air.
• 🖥️ ADB- Teams: With Android Debug Bridge, you can turn off unnecessary services, for example, to delete Mi Video:

Warning: Once rooted, some features may stop working (like Google Pay or banking apps).To get around this, use the MagiskHide module.

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Before any firmware or root manipulation, make a full backup via TWRP or Mi Flash Tool.This is the only way to restore the device in the event of a failure.

8 Diagnostics of problems: how to understand what is wrong

If Xiaomi is not working properly, you should first identify the cause, and here is a list of symptoms and their possible sources:

For deep diagnostics, use the hidden test menu to get there:

1. Open the phone app.
2. Enter the code: ##4636###.
3. Select “Battery Information” or “Use Statistics” to check the details.

If the device has become a “brick” (it does not turn on, it hung on the logo), try to restore it through Fastboot:

1. Download the firmware for your model from the official website.
2. Unpack the archive and run the Mi Flash Tool on your PC.
3. Connect the off smartphone to the computer, holding Volume down + Power.
4. In the program, select the firmware folder and click "Flash".

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If IMEI (no network) is missing after the update, restore it using the QCN- file via QPST or Maui META. Instructions look for on thematic forums.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions