How to Speed Up Android TV on Xiaomi TV: From Cache Cleaning to Hidden Settings

Why Android TV is slowing down on Xiaomi and what to do about it

Xiaomi Android TVs (Mi TV 4/5, Redmi Smart TV, Mi TV Q1/Q2 and others) are slowly starting to work over time: apps open for a long time, the menu hangs, and video is played with jerks. The reasons for the brakes lie not only in the weak hardware of budget models, but also in the features of firmware, background services and accumulated debris.

Unlike smartphones, where you can easily reset or install custom firmware, Android TV on Xiaomi TVs is more complicated: limited recovery functionality, a closed bootloader and no root rights in most cases. However, even without radical measures, there are ways to return performance. In this article, 7 proven methods of acceleration, including hidden settings and optimization for models with 1-2 GB of RAM.

It is important to understand: if your TV is older than 2019 (e.g. Mi). TV 4A 32" or Mi" TV 4S 55), its performance is limited by the hardware platform (Amlogic processors). T962 or MT5658). In this case, optimization will help, but it will not make it a flagship. TV Q1E, Redmi Smart TV X) the effect will be more noticeable.

1. Cleaning the cache and application data

The most common reason for brakes is a crowded cache of system and user applications. On Android TV, the cache is not as easy to clean as on a smartphone: there is no convenient Storage menu, and the standard Settings → Applications section hides some of the options. Here's how to clean garbage correctly:

• 📱 Through the App Menu: Go to Settings → Annexes → Installed apps, select a program (like YouTube or Netflix) and click Clear Cache. To clean up completely, select Clear Data (Warning: This will reset the app settings!).
• 🧹 System cache: in the same menu, find Android apps TV Core Services, Google Play Services and Launcher3 (Clear the cache for all three, it will delete the temporary interface files.
• 🔄 Launcher reset: If the launcher still brakes after cleaning the cache, restart the TV by holding the power button on the remote for 10 seconds.

For Xiaomi models with MIUI TV firmware (such as Mi TV 5 Pro), there is a hidden deep cleaning option: press Menu + Home on the remote control simultaneously for 5 seconds to open the service menu.

⚠️ Note: Do not clear the data of the com.xiaomi.mitv.settings application, this will result in resetting all system settings, including Wi-Fi connection and accounts. → The device → Reset.

2. Disabling unnecessary applications and services

Android TV performance on Xiaomi is suffering from background activity of pre-installed services: Mi Home, Xiaomi Ads, Google Play Movies and others. Many of them can not be removed, but you can disable or limit their work.

List of applications that can be safely disabled (without risk to the system):

• 🎬 Google Play Movies & TV — If you do not purchase movies through Google.
• 📦 Mi Home – if you don’t use Xiaomi smart devices.
• 📢 Xiaomi Ads – service shows ads in the launcher (disabling will reduce background activity).
• 🎮 Google Play Games is useless on TV.
• 📡 Chromecast built-in – if you don’t use a live stream from your phone.

To disable the application:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Installed Applications.
2. Select an unused app (such as Mi Home).
3. Click Disable (if the button is inactive, click Stop first).
4. Confirm the action. The app will disappear from the menu and stop consuming resources.

For models with Android TV 10+ (like Redmi Smart TV X2022), there’s an additional trick: limiting background activity through Settings → Device → App Restrictions. Here you can disallow auto-starting for unnecessary services.

3. Updating the firmware and core of the system

The slowdown is often due to an outdated version of Android TV or firmware from Xiaomi.The company regularly releases updates that fix bugs and optimize performance.

1. Open Settings → About TV → Update system.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. If a new version is available, download and install it (requires a stable Internet connection).

For Xiaomi models with Amlogic chipsets (such as the Mi TV 4S), it is critical to update not only the firmware, but also the Linux kernel, which is responsible for working with hardware. In some cases, after a kernel update (for example, from version 4.9 to 5.4), performance increases by 20-30%.

If the automatic update does not work (for example, due to regional restrictions), you can install the firmware manually:

1. Download the latest version of the software for your model from the official website of Xiaomi Support.
2. Unpack. ZIP-archive and copy the file update.zip flash drive (format) FAT32).
3. Connect the flash drive to the TV, go to Settings → About TV → System Update → Local Update.
4. Select a file and wait until the process is complete (don’t turn off the TV!).

⚠️ Attention: On Mi models TV 4C mi TV 4A (2018–2019 hand firmware may result in loss of support for some codecs (e.g., codecs, H.265 for 4K). Before updating, check the reviews on the forums (for example, 4PDA) for your particular model.

4. Optimizing performance settings

Android TV on Xiaomi has hidden settings that affect the speed of the interface and applications, and can be changed through the developer mode or service menu.

Activation of the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings. → On TV.
2. Find the build number and click on it 7 times in a row (the notification “You became a developer”) will appear.
3. Return to the main settings menu and a new section for developers will appear.

Recommended settings for acceleration:

• 🔧 Reduce animation: In For developers, find options for Windows Animation, Transition Animation, and Animator Duration. Set a value Disabled or 0.5x.
• 🖥️ Background Process Limits: Select the Background Process Limit → Maximum 2 process (this will reduce the load on RAM).
• 📶 Disabling Automatic Synchronization: in Settings → Accounts and sync disable sync for unnecessary accounts (e.g. Mi Account if you are not using the Xiaomi cloud).
• 🔄 Forced. GPU-Acceleration: Enable Forced Use in Developers GPU (It can help on weak chipsets, but sometimes causes artifacts).

For TVs with 2GB of RAM (like the Redmi Smart TV X50), it is critical to disable automatic app updates in Google Play:

1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. Go to Settings → Auto-Update applications.
3. Choose Never.

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If after changes in the developer mode, the TV began to work unstable (for example, the sound disappeared or the launcher stopped opening), reset the developer settings: go to Settings → For developers and click Reset settings in the upper right corner.

5. Transfer of applications to an external drive

Xiaomi's built-in memory TV (Usually 8-16 GB) fills up quickly, especially if you have a lot of applications installed. When there's less than 1 GB of free space, the system starts to slow down. USB-storage SD-card (if the TV supports the TV).

How to move applications:

1. Connect a flash drive to the TV or SD-map (recommended) USB 3.0 or UHS-I speed).
2. Format the drive in FAT32 or exFAT (via computer).
3. Go to Settings → Storage → External devices and select your drive.
4. Click Transfer Data (not available on all models).

If you don’t have a port option (for example, on Mi TV 4A), use the workaround:

• 📱 Install the app App2SD or Link2SD via Send Files to TV (You will need to connect to Wi-Fi from your phone).
• 🔗 In the application settings, select the option to create a connection (symlink) to transfer part of the data to an external disk.

Important: Not all apps support portability, such as Netflix and YouTube blocking this feature because of the lack of support for portability. DRM-Also avoid porting system applications (e.g. com.google.android.tvlauncher) – this can cause crashes.

6.Reset to factory settings

If all previous methods failed, the last chance to get back to speed is a complete reset, which will delete all installed applications, accounts and user data, but often solves problems with lags caused by system errors or software conflicts.

How to Reset a Xiaomi TV:

1. Go to Settings → Device → Reset.
2. Select Settings Reset (not Network Reset!).
3. Enter. PIN-code (by default 0000 or 1234 if not changed).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

After discharge:

• 🔄 Do not restore data from backup – this can bring back old errors.
• 📥 Install only the necessary apps (avoid junk programs like memory cleaners – they are useless on Android). TV).
• 🔧 Turn off automatic app updates on Google Play immediately.

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Resetting to factory settings is the most effective way to eliminate software lags, but it won’t help if the brakes are caused by hardware limitations (such as a lack of RAM or a weak processor).

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi TVs with Android TV 9 and older (e.g. Mi) TV 4S) After the reset, access to some streaming services may disappear (for example, Disney).+ Apple TV+) This will require a reauthorization or a re-region in the settings.

7. Alternative launchers and firmware

If the standard Xiaomi launcher is unbearably slow, you can try installing an alternative launcher or even custom firmware (for advanced users).

The best launchers for Android TV on Xiaomi:

• 🏠 ATV Launcher: Minimalist launcher with no ads, supports voice search. Installed via Send Files to TV (file APK).
• 🎯 HalLauncher: Optimized for weak devices, consumes less RAM than a standard launcher.
• 🔍 Leanback Launcher: the official launcher from Google, devoid of the “chips” Xiaomi, but more stable.

To install an alternative launcher:

1. Download. APK-Launcher file on the phone (for example, with APKMirror).
2. Install Send Files to TV on your phone (available on Google Play).
3. Send. APK-TV file via Wi-Fi.
4. On the TV, open the file and install the launcher (requires permission to install from unknown sources in Settings → Security).
5. Launch a new launcher and select it as the default launcher in the settings.

For power users, there is an option to install custom firmware (for example, LineageOS for TV), but this requires unlocking the bootloader and may deprive you of warranty. At the moment (2026), stable custom firmware exists only for the following models:

• Mi TV 4X (models with Amlogic S905X processor)
• Mi TV 4S (2020, Amlogic T972)
• Redmi Smart TV X50 (only for versions with 2 GB of RAM).

Instructions for installing custom firmware are searched for on topic forums (such as XDA Developers), but remember: this is a risky procedure that can lead to a blink (completely inoperable) of the TV.

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Before installing an alternative launcher, check it is compatible with your TV model. Some launchers (like Nova Launcher) are not optimized for Android TV and may run worse than standard.

FAQ: Frequent questions about speeding up Android TV on Xiaomi