How to improve the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9: from system cleaning to hardware tricks

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 is still one of the most popular budget smartphones due to balanced characteristics: MediaTek Helio processor G85, 4GB of RAM and a capacious battery for 5020 mAh. But over time, even such a reliable device begins to "brake", warm or quickly discharge, the reasons are not in the "weak iron", but in the accumulated digital garbage, outdated settings. MIUI and suboptimal use of resources.

In this article — 15 working methods to improve the performance of the Redmi Note 9, We'll look at software tricks, from cleaning cache to hidden functions. MIUI), We'll give you hardware nuances (for example, why the smartphone overheats when charging) and a checklist for monthly maintenance. MIUI 12–14 and relevant to the Redmi Note models 9/9S/9 Pro/9T.

Spoiler: 80 percent of problems are solved in 10 minutes — just remove unnecessary apps and turn off voracious features. The other 20 percent will require a little more effort, but the result is worth it: the smartphone will work like a new one.

1.Diagnosis: Why the Redmi Note 9 brakes or heats up

Before optimizing your smartphone, you need to understand the root of the problem.The Redmi Note 9 can slow down for several reasons:

• 📱 Overloaded memory: Less than 10% of the free space on the internal drive leads to lags.
• 🔄 Background Processes: Apps like Facebook or TikTok consume up to 30% CPU even in a folded state.
• 🔥 Overheating: above 45 temperatures°C C C C C CPU MediaTek Helio G85 automatically reduces the frequency (trottling).
• 🔄 Outdated firmware: in MIUI 12.5+ has memory management bugs.
• 🛠️ Hardware problems: worn-out battery or damaged memory chip.

To check the current status of the smartphone:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone. → System status and look at the load on CPU/memory.
2. Install the app AIDA64 (Free on Google Play and check the temperature of the processor in the Sensor section.
3. Run a performance test in AnTuTu Benchmark – if the score is below 180,000, it’s time to clean the system.

⚠️ Warning: If your smartphone is warming up even in a simple way (for example, when watching a video), check your Settings. → Battery → Battery use. If there's a mediaserver consumption process hanging there. >15%, this is a sign of damaged media cache – resetting via Settings will help → Annexes → Show it all. → Media storage → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

System Cleaning: Removing Digital Garbage

The main reason for the brakes is accumulated temporary files, residual data from remote applications and fragmented memory. Redmi Note 9 has built-in cleaning tools, but they don't work well. Here's what to do:

2.1 Clearing cache and unnecessary files

• 🧹 System cache: go to Settings → Warehouse → Clear and select Cached Data. This is secure - only temporary files will be deleted.
• 🗑️ Residual files: Use Files by Google (free) to find duplicates and large files (>100MB).
• 📁 Download folder: Remove old folders APK-Files, memes and archives – they take up space and fragment memory.

Disposal of embedded debris MIUI

Firmware MIUI It's known as a bloatom, which is a pre-installed application that can't be removed in the standard way:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).
2. Enable USB debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC and use the command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.analytics Replace com.miui.analytics with unnecessary application packages (see list below).

A list of safe to remove packages (don’t delete what’s not in your firmware!):

⚠️ Note: Do not delete packages with names like miui, android or google at the beginning - this may cause the system to fail.If you are not sure, use Universal Android Debloater utility (requires PC).

3. MIUI Optimization: Hidden Settings for Speed

MIUI It offers a lot of hidden features that can speed up a smartphone, and most users are unaware of their existence.

3.1. Disabling animations

The animations of the transitions between the screens look beautiful, but slow down the interface.

1. Activate the Developer Mode (see Section 2.2).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Find the settings: The scale of the window animation → Disable Transition Animation Scale → Disable the duration of animation → No animation.

Setup of application autoloading

Many apps are launched when you turn on your smartphone and hang in the background to turn them off:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Autostart Management.
2. Sort the list by the date of last use.
3. Turn off auto-runs for apps you use less than 1 time per week.

Pay particular attention to:

• 📱 Social media (Facebook, VK, Instagram)
• 🎮 Games (even closed games consume resources)
• 📊 Analytics services (e.g. com.miui.analytics)

💡

If the app stopped sending notifications after the autoboot was turned off, check the notification settings in the app itself. For example, in Telegram you need to go to Settings. → Notifications and sounds → Background work and enable the option "No restrictions».

Switch to “Easy Mode”

If your smartphone is used for calls and instant messengers, turn on the lightweight version MIUI:

1. Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Easy Mode.
2. Activate the switch and select the apps that will be displayed on the home screen.

This will disable unnecessary widgets, simplify animations and reduce the load on the processor.

💡

Disabling animations and app autoloads gives you up to 20% performance gains – this is the fastest and safest way to speed up the Redmi Note 9 without losing functionality.

4. Firmware Update: When and How to Do It

Regular updates MIUI Not only do they add new features, they also fix performance-impairing errors:

• 🔄 Stable versions (e.g., stable versions, MIUI 14.0.5) are tested and contain less bugs.
• 🧪 Beta versions (e.g, MIUI 14.1.23) may contain uncorrected errors, but sometimes work faster.
• 🚫 Custom firmware (for example, LineageOS) require unlocking the bootloader and deprives of warranty.

How to upgrade safely:

1. Make a backup copy: Settings → The phone. → Backup.
2. Connect to Wi-Fi and charge your smartphone at least 50%.
3. Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update and click “Check Updates”.
4. If the update weighs >1 GB, download it through the PC and transfer it to the folder downloaded_rom smartphone.

If the last version MIUI It's not available for your model, check it out on the official Xiaomi firmware website:

5. Battery Optimization: How to Prolong Autonomy

The Redmi Note 9 has a 5,020 mAh battery, but it gets smaller over time. Here's how to get back to the old days:

Calibration of the battery

If the smartphone suddenly turns off at 20-30% charge, perform the calibration:

1. Discharge the phone before automatically shutting down.
2. Charge up to 100% without interruptions (use the original adapter on the device). 18W).
3. Turn off the charger and wait for full discharge again.
4. Repeat the charging-discharge cycle 2-3 times.

Energy saving adjustment

MIUI Offers several battery modes:

• 🔋 Balanced – the best option for most users.
• 🌿 Energy saving – limits background activity and reduces screen brightness.
• ⚡ Performance – maximum speed, but fast discharge.

Recommendation: Use Balanced Mode and manually disable power-intensive functions:

1. Settings → Battery → Battery mode → Choose “Balanced».
2. Turn off Constant Network Search in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
3. Reduce screen wait time to 15 seconds: Settings → Screen. → Sleeping mode.

Background activity monitoring

Some applications drain the battery even when it's rolled up, to limit it:

1. Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Use.
2. Click on a high-consumption app (like WhatsApp or Google Play Services).
3. Choose to limit background activity.

⚠️ Warning: If your smartphone is running 10-15% overnight on standby, check Settings → Battery → Battery utilization → Screen: If it's more than 5% of the consumption, it's a sign of voracious wallpaper or widgets. Set up static wallpaper and remove weather/social widgets.

6. Hardware tricks: cooling and care

Software optimization is half the success. The physical state of the smartphone is just as important.

Control of overheating

Redmi Note 9 is warming up because of:

• 🔥 Games: Helio processor G85 Not designed for long-term loads (e.g. Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile).
• ☀️ Heat: temperatures above 30°C smartphone heats up even in simple.
• 🔌 Fast charging: adapters for 33W heat up the battery.

How to lower the temperature:

• 🧊 Use cases with aluminum inserts or cooling stands.
• 🎮 In games, activate Game Turbo mode (swipe down) → gamepad icon).
• 🔌 Charge your smartphone when the screen is off (for example, at night).

Replacement of thermopaste

If your smartphone is warming up even for simple tasks (like watching YouTube), the heat paste between the processor and the radiator may have dried up, a hardware problem that you can solve yourself:

1. Buy the Arctic Thermopaste MX-4 (5g is enough for 2-3 substitutions).
2. Disassemble the smartphone (you need a plastic transmitter and a Torx screwdriver). T3).
3. Clean the old paste with alcohol, apply a new (thin layer!) and assemble the device.

Checking the battery

If the smartphone is discharged in 4-5 hours with moderate use, check the status of the battery:

1. Install AccuBattery (free on Google Play).
2. Charge your phone to 100% and use it until it is discharged.
3. Check out the Health section in the app – if the capacity is below 80%, it’s time to change the battery.

The cost of replacing the battery in the Redmi Note 9 is about 1500-2500 rubles (the original Xiaomi). Self-replacement is possible, but requires care: you need to solder off the plume of the old battery and solder a new one.

7. Alternative firmware: is it worth switching

If all the methods have been tried, but the smartphone is still slowing down, you can consider installing custom firmware.

How to install custom firmware:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool (you need a Mi Account).
2. Install TWRP Recovery for your model (instructions on XDA Developers).
3. Download firmware (e.g. LineageOS 20 for Redmi Note 9 merlin).
4. Reboot to TWRP (clamp down on power. + Volume up) and pass ZIP-file.

⚠️ Note: Installing custom firmware is warranty-free and can result in a brick device. Check compatibility with your model before firmware (Redmi Note 9 - merlin, Note) 9S — curtana).

8.Monthly maintenance: checklist to maintain speed

To make the Redmi Note 9 work quickly, you just need to do simple things once a month:

Also useful:

• 📱 Once every 3 months to do a soft reset: Settings → Additionally. → Resetting settings → Reset settings (data will not be deleted!).
• 🔄 Every six months, check the fragmentation of memory SD Maid (Defender option).
• 🔋 Calibrate the battery once a year (see section 5.1).

If you follow these guidelines, the Redmi Note 9 will last another 2-3 years without noticeable brakes, the main thing is not to ignore the first signs of slowdown and regularly clean the system.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Redmi Note optimization 9