How to Improve Xiaomi Redmi Phone Performance: A Complete Guide to Android Optimization

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are known for their price-performance ratio, but even the most powerful models start to slow down over time. The reasons can vary from overloaded memory to unoptimized MIUI settings. In this article, we will discuss specific methods that will help your Redmi to return performance without buying a new device.

It’s important to understand that the brakes aren’t always hardware-related, and most often the problem is software-related: background processes, app cache, outdated firmware, or incorrect power-saving settings. We analyzed user experience and Xiaomi’s official guidelines to collect only the working methods tested on the Redmi Note 10 to Redmi 12 models.

If your phone is slower after the MIUI update, don't rush to roll back to the old version. In 90% of cases, just a few simple steps are enough to restore the smoothness of the interface and response speed, start with the basic methods and gradually move to deeper settings.

1. Cleaning the system: remove garbage and cache

The first thing to do when you brake is to free up space in memory and clear temporary files. The MIUI system automatically accumulates an application cache that can take up several gigabytes over time, especially on Redmi's budget models with 32-64 GB of storage.

Start with the built-in cleaning tool:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Memory.
2. Click “Clean” (the system will scan the garbage files).
3. Select “Deep Clean” to remove residual application data.

For more thorough cleaning, use the Security app from Xiaomi:

• 🧹 Cleaning up garbage: removes temporary files, cache and remnants of deleted applications.
• 🔍 Deep scanning: Finds duplicate photos, large files, and rarely used apps.
• 🚫 Autoclean: Set up automatic cache removal once a week.

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If you still have a lot of free memory after cleaning, transfer photos and videos to the Mi Cloud cloud or memory card. → «More» → «Move it to SD-map».

Note the apps that take up the most space, most commonly messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), social networks (TikTok, Instagram), and games, for example, Telegram cache can weigh up to 5 GB if you don’t set up automatic cleaning.

2. Optimization of background processes and autoboot

One of the main reasons for the brakes on Xiaomi Redmi is excessive background processes. Many applications continue to work even after closing, consuming RAM and battery power. MIUI has built-in tools to manage this.

How to limit background activity:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (like Facebook or AliExpress).
3. Go to Battery and set the background limit to Limited or Strictly Limited.

For mass shutdown of autoboot:

• 🔄 Autostart: Settings → Annexes → Autostart control. Turn off autoboot for unnecessary apps.
• 🛑 Background Activity: In the same application management menu, turn off Background Activity for underutilized programs.
• ⚡ Battery Optimization: Enable Charge Saving Mode for Apps That Shouldn't Run in the Background.

Critical: Xiaomi apps (such as Mi Video, Mi Music, GetApps) can often not be completely disabled without superuser rights, but their background activity can be limited through battery settings.

Disable Auto-Run for 10+ Unnecessary Applications |

Limit background activity of messengers |

Check the list of “Recently used” in the app menu |

Reboot your phone after the changes-->

3. Customization of animation and visual effects

MIUI is known for its beautiful animations, but they can slow down on weak devices.Switching off or reducing visual effects will give you speed gains, especially on Redmi with 3-4 GB of RAM.

How to speed up the interface:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the items: Window animation scale → Disable or 0.5x. Size of transition animation → Disable or 0.5x. Animator duration → Disable.

It is also recommended that:

• 🎨 Make wallpaper simple: live wallpaper and animations on the lock screen eat up resources. Use static images.
• 🔄 Disable transitions: in Settings → Screen. → Select the system animation "Without animation».
• 🌓 Dark theme: reduces the load on the processor when rendering the interface (relevant to the processor) AMOLED-screen).

On the Redmi Note 11 and later, these settings give you up to 20 to 30 percent smoothness, especially when switching between apps. If the interface seems sharp after the changes, return the animation scale to 0.5x, which is a trade-off between speed and comfort.

4. Update firmware and reset settings

An outdated version of MIUI can be the cause of "brakes," especially if you haven't updated your phone in a long time. Xiaomi regularly releases patches to optimize performance, fix bugs and close vulnerabilities.

How to properly update the firmware:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click on "Check Updates." If a new version is available, download it.
3. Before installation: Connect your phone to charge (charge should be ≥50%). Connect to Wi-Fi (updates weigh 1-3 GB). Close all applications.

If the phone gets worse after the update, reset (without data loss):

• 🔄 Soft reset: Settings → The phone. → Resetting settings → Reset settings (files and applications are saved).
• ⚠️ Hard reset: Settings → The phone. → Resetting settings → Delete all data (full cleanup, requires backup).

Stable versions of MIUI come out every 1-2 months, and weekly builds (for enthusiasts) can contain bugs. If after the update there are "lags", roll back to the previous version via Recovery Mode or wait for the next patch.

5. Battery optimization and performance

The energy saving modes in MIUI directly affect performance, such as activated Ultra Mode, which limits the clock speed of the processor, leading to "brakes," and how to adjust the balance between autonomy and speed.

Main settings:

How to set up:

1. Open Settings → Battery and Performance.
2. Select the “Balanced” or “Performance” mode.
3. In the Battery Optimization section, disable restrictions for frequently used apps (e.g. YouTube, Chrome).

Additional advice:

• 🔋 Calibration of the battery: once every 2-3 months, discharge the phone to 0% and charge up to 100% without interruptions.
• ⚡ Fast charging: Turn it off in Settings → Battery → Fast charging if you notice overheating.
• 🌡️ Overheating: At temperatures above 40°C processor automatically reduces frequency. Avoid direct sunlight.

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If the phone has become slower after replacing the battery, check if the battery is original.Non-original batteries can cause overheating and forced performance restriction.

6.Working with applications: what to delete and what to leave

Many of the brakes on Xiaomi Redmi are associated with redundant or poorly optimized applications, and even if you don't run a program, it can run in the background, consuming resources, and figuring out which apps can be safely removed or replaced.

List of unnecessary MIUI applications (can be removed without consequences):

• 🎵 Mi Music – Replace with Spotify or YouTube Music.
• 📺 Mi Video - use it VLC or MX Player.
• 🛒 GetApps – Xiaomi app store, duplicates Google Play.
• 📊 Mi Browser – Replace with Chrome or Firefox.
• 📱 Mi Drop – it is better to use Nearby Share or Snapdrop.

How to remove system applications:

1. Use ADB (PC required): adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer (replace com.miui.videoplayer with the desired application package).
2. Or disable through Settings → Applications → Application Management → Disable.

Applications that cannot be removed:

• 🚫 Security (Security) – Responsible for protecting the system.
• 🚫 Mi Account – needed for synchronization and unlocking.
• 🚫 Services & Feedback – System Services MIUI.

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Before you uninstall your system applications, back up your phone via Settings → About Phone → Backup. This will help you recover your phone if something goes wrong.

7. Additional methods: from root rights to alternative firmware

If standard methods don't work, you can try more radical ones, which require technical skills, but they give you a significant increase in productivity.

Ways for Advanced Users:

• 🔓 Root: Allows you to remove system applications, configure the kernel and overclock the processor. Risk: loss of warranty and the ability to "brick" the phone.
• 📱 Custom firmware: LineageOS or Pixel Experience, for example, give a "clean" Android without a shell MIUI.
• 🔄 Reverse to the old version MIUI: If the new firmware is worse, you can return the previous one via Fastboot.
• 🔧 Changing the task scheduler: Process priorities can be set through the kernel (requires Root).

Instructions for installing custom firmware (briefly):

1. Unlock the bootloader through Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Xiaomi account and wait 7-30 days).
2. Install TWRP Recovery via fastboot flash recovery twrp.img.
3. Download the firmware (for example, from the XDA Developers website) and transfer it to your phone.
4. In TWRP, run Wipe → Format Data and install firmware.

For most users, the first 6 paragraphs of this article are enough. resort to root rights and custom firmware only if you are confident in your skills or ready for possible problems.

8. Hardware causes of "brakes": when it's time to go to the service

If the software methods didn't work, the problem might be the hardware.

• 🔋 Worn-out battery (capacity) < 70% of the original).
• 💾 Damaged flash memory (frequent read/write errors).
• 🔥 Processor overheating (due to dust, thermal paste or mechanical damage).
• 📶 Failed memory module (for example, after a fall).

How to diagnose hardware problems:

If you suspect a hardware malfunction, don’t try to repair the phone yourself (especially if it’s warranty-based). Contact Xiaomi’s official service or a trusted repair center. The average cost of diagnosis is 500-1000. ₽.

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Before visiting the service, back up your data via Settings → About Phone → Backup or Mi Cloud. After repair, you may need to reset your settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Redmi optimization

If none of the proposed methods helped, it may be time to consider replacing the phone. Current Redmi models (like the Redmi Note 13 Pro+) offer significantly better performance with new processors (Snapdragon 7s Gen 2) and optimized memory (LPDDR5).

Remember: regular maintenance (cleaning, updates, monitoring background processes) extends the life of a smartphone by 2-3 years. MIUI Test new features – often they contain hidden optimization tools.