How to speed up the Xiaomi Redmi phone: from cleaning to hidden MIUI settings

Why Xiaomi Redmi is starting to slow down and how to fix it

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are known for their price-performance ratio, but even they eventually start to work slower. The reasons for this are several: from overloaded memory to outdated versions of MIUI firmware. Unlike flagship models, budget and mid-budget Redmi are more likely to suffer from a lack of RAM (especially models with 3-4 GB of RAM) and less optimized iron. However, in 90% of cases, the brakes can be eliminated without going to the service center – it is enough to configure the system correctly.

The main slowdown culprits are background processes, application cache, fragmented memory, and suboptimal power saving settings. For example, the MIUI AutoRun Applications feature allows dozens of programs to run in the background by default, even when they are not in use. And the standard POCO Launcher or MIUI Launcher launcher launcher is often overloaded with animations and widgets. In this article, we will discuss the practical acceleration methods that work on all Redmi models, from Redmi Note 10 to Redmi 12.

It's important to understand that if the phone brakes after a fall, moisture or battery replacement, the problem may be hardware, in which case software optimization will only have a temporary effect, but if the slowdown is gradual, without physical damage, the following methods will return the smartphone to its previous speed.

1. Memory cleanup: remove garbage and cache

The first step to speed up is to free up internal memory. MIUI automatically accumulates temporary files (cache), duplicate photos and residual data from remote applications. For example, after uninstalling the game through Settings → Applications often leaves up to 100-300 MB of junk in the /Android/obb/ folder.

• 🧹 Use the built-in Cleanup (Security) app → Cleaning. It removes the cache of system and user applications, and also finds large files (for example, undeleted videos from instant messengers).
• 🗑️ Manually check the folders: /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails — photo-picture /Android/data/ and /Android/obb/ — game-file /Download/ — Uploaded files that have not been opened in a long time
• 🔍 Install Files by Google from Play Market – it finds duplicate files and suggests combining them.

Pay special attention to the cache of Google Play Services and MIUI System, which can take up to 1-2 GB of temporary data to clear them:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Google Play Services and MIUI System (or MIUI System Settings).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

⚠️ Note: Do not clean data (Clear data) from system applications - this can cause malfunctions in the phone. Cache is safe to delete, but the data contains settings and configurations.

2. Optimization of autoboot and background processes

One of the main reasons for the brakes is background processes that consume RAM and battery power. MIUI has hidden settings to limit the auto-run of unnecessary applications. For example, Facebook, Instagram and many messengers are launched by default when you turn on your phone and continue to work in the background.

To disable autostart:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (like TikTok) and click AutoRun.
3. Turn off the slider. For full effect, also disable Background activity and notification display.

For mass shutdown of autostart:

• 📱 Use the Greenify app (requires root rights for full functionality) to freeze unnecessary apps, preventing them from consuming resources.
• ⚡ Enable Battery Mode and Performance → Performance mode (available on Redmi Note) 11/12 newer).
• 🔄 Reboot your phone once in a while. 2-3 This is a time when the background processes that MIUI not always properly managed.

⚠️ Note: Do not disable auto-start system applications like MIUI Security or Google Services Framework – this can cause errors in the phone’s operation. MIUI Daemon and Android System.

3. Customization of animations and visual effects

MIUI It is known for its colorful animations, but they noticeably slow down the work on weak smartphones (for example, Redmi). 9A or Redmi 8). Disabling or reducing the speed of animations can speed up the interface to the 15-20%. For that:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on MIUI Version. Return to Settings → Additional → Developer.
2. Find the points: Windows animation scale - set 0.5x or Recruitment scale of animation transition - set 0.5x Animator duration scale - set Recruitment.

You can also change the launcher:

• 🎨 Install Nova Launcher or Lawnchair – they are lighter than the standard MIUI Launcher and support animation customization.
• 🖼️ Turn off live wallpaper and weather widgets – they consume up to 10% of the CPU in the background.
• 📱 Enable Easy Mode in Settings → Special opportunities → Easy mode (simplifies the interface, but removes some functions).

On Redmi models with a Snapdragon 4xx processor (such as the Redmi 9C), disabling animations gives a performance boost of up to 25% when opening applications. However, on flagship chips (such as the Snapdragon 7 Gen 2 in the Redmi K60), the effect will be less noticeable.

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If the interface seems too sharp after disabling animations, set the 0.5x value instead of completely disabling – this will smooth the transitions, but will keep the speed.

4. Update firmware and reset to factory settings

Outdated firmware is one of the main reasons for brakes. Xiaomi regularly releases MIUI updates that optimize the processor and memory, for example, MIUI 14 added Ultra Battery Saver, which extends the time and reduces the load on the system.

To update the firmware:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. If the update is available, download and install it (preferably via Wi-Fi).

If the phone is slowing down even after the upgrade, it's a factory reset, which is a radical method, but it removes all the accumulated system errors.

For discharge:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Reset all settings (not Network Reset!).
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

⚠️ Warning: Once reset, the phone will go back out of the box, all apps, photos and settings will be deleted. Do not use this method unless you are sure you have backed up.

5. Memory optimization: data transfer and microSD use

Lack of internal memory is a common problem with Redmi with 32 or 64 GB of storage, and when less than 10 percent of the storage is available, the system slows down because it can't use the memory to caching.

• 📁 Move apps to microSD (if supported): Insert a memory card (recommended) UHS-I Class 10. Go to Settings → Annexes → App management. Select an app (like Spotify) and click Move to SD-map.

• Google Photos to automatically upload photos/video
• Mi Cloud (5GB) is free for Xiaomi users.

Settings → Applications → Permissions → Unused Applications

Important: Not all applications can be migrated to microSD. For example, WhatsApp and Banking apps typically block this feature for security reasons, and memory cards cheaper than Class 4 can slow down the system even more due to the slow read/write speed.

6. Alternative firmware and custom cores

If standard methods don't work, you might want to consider custom firmware installation, like LineageOS or Pixel Experience, which lacks the heavy MIUI interface and often works faster, but this method is only suitable for advanced users, because:

• 🔓 Requires unlocking the bootloader, which resets the phone and cancels the warranty.
• 🛠️ You need to know how to work with fastboot and ADB.
• ⚠️ The risk of “bricking” the phone in case of an error.

For models Redmi Note 10 Pro and newer are popular firmware:

• Pixel Experience is a pure Android with a minimalist interface.
• ArrowOS is optimized for performance.
• MIUI Pro is a modified version of the standard firmware without advertising.

Before installation:

⚠️ Note: Installing custom firmware deprives you of the official warranty Xiaomi, IR-blaster NFC) may stop working. Before you run the firmware, check the feedback in the forums. 4PDA or XDA-Developers.

Hardware methods: battery replacement and heat conductive paste

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

• 🔋 Worn-out battery (capacity below 70% of nominal) – leads to sudden shutdowns and brakes due to performance limitations.
• 🌡️ Overheating of the processor due to dried thermal conductive paste (relevant for phones older than 2 years).
• 💾 Flash memory wear on eMMC phones (instead of UFS) after 3-4 In the years of use, the reading/writing speed drops 30-40%.

Decisions:

• Replace the battery in the service center (cost for Redmi Note – from 1500 to 3000 rubles).
• Change the thermal conductive paste (relevant for the Redmi K40, Redmi Note 11 Pro+ and other active cooled models).
• If the phone is older than 3 years, consider buying a new one – repairs can cost more than the device on the secondary market.