Xiaomi Redmi 9 remains a popular budget device, but over time, owners often notice a decrease in the response speed of the interface. the MIUI operating system installed on the device is overgrown with temporary files, and background processes begin to consume more RAM resources, which leads to the fact that applications open longer, and page scrolling becomes intermittent.
In this article, we'll take a comprehensive approach to reanimating your gadget's performance, not just running a standard cleaner, but delving into system settings that are hidden from the average user, and intelligent optimization will allow you to return to your previous responsiveness without having to buy a new device.
Analysis and release of internal memory
The first and most obvious step is to check the storage capacity, and when the free space runs out, the Android system starts to run slower because it doesn't have enough space for temporary paging files, and you need to free up at least 15-20% of the total storage capacity for stable operation.
Use the built-in Security app to do the initial cleanup. However, the standard analyzer often skips heavy folders from messengers. Go to Settings β Storage and carefully study what takes up the most space. Often it is the cache of video services or old files in the Download folder.
β οΈ Warning: When cleaning memory manually, be careful with system folders. Deleting files with unknown names at the root of the disk can lead to errors in the operation of applications.
For deep cleaning, consider transferring photos and videos to a memory card or cloud storage, which will free up the internal drive, the read speed of which directly affects the speed of the interface. WhatsApp/Media, where gigabytes of unnecessary images often accumulate.
Optimization of RAM operation
The Redmi 9 often comes with 3 or 4 gigabytes of RAM, which may not be enough for today's heavy-duty applications.The MIUI system aggressively manages processes, but sometimes background programs continue to "eat" resources. Regular cleaning of RAM helps reduce the load on the processor.
Enable the Extended Memory feature if available in your firmware version. This technology allows you to use part of the internal storage as virtual RAM. Activates the option in the Memory Extension menu in the device settings. Once turned on, the phone will need to restart.
- π Close unused apps through the multitasking menu by swiping them down.
- π Turn off autostart for apps you donβt use daily.
- π Use the Cleanup mode in the notification curtain before launching heavy games.
Do not keep dozens of tabs open in your browser unless you need them. Every open page is a memory consumption. Browsers with traffic saving can also help reduce the load on the system when surfing the Internet.
βοΈ Weekly maintenance procedure
Speeding up the interface through animation settings
The visual smoothness of MIUI is created by animations of transitions between windows. On low-end processors like the Helio G80 in Redmi 9, rendering these effects can take time, creating a sense of lag. Decreasing the duration of animations instantly makes the interface more responsive.
To access these settings, activate the developer mode. Go to Settings β About Phone and quickly click 7 times on MIUI Version. Once the notification βYou became a developerβ appears, go back to the main settings menu and find the section Additional β For developers.
In the menu that opens, look for the items related to the scale of the animation. We're interested in three parameters: "Window animation", "Jump animation" and "Animator duration." These are set to 1x by default.
The scale of window animation: 0.5x
Transition animation scale: 0.5x
Duration of animator: 0.5xβ οΈ Attention: Setting the value "No animation" can make working with the phone less comfortable, as the visual connection between the actions disappears β 0.5x.
When you change your settings, the changes take effect immediately, and you'll notice that the windows open almost instantly, and this is one of the most effective ways to subjectively speed up your smartphone without losing functionality.
What is the limit of background processes?
Removal of system advertising and heavy widgets
One reason budget smartphones are slowing is built-in advertising and telemetry collection: MSA (MIUI System Ads) services consume Internet traffic and processor resources even in the background. Disabling ads will not only remove banners, but also unload the system.
To disable ads, go to Settings β Passwords & Security β Access to Personal Data. Find msa on the list and turn off the switch. The system will try to discourage you by offering to wait 10 seconds β be patient and click βCancelβ.
Itβs also worth checking the settings of specific applications, such as Music, Video and Explorer, which often have a separate βGet Recommendationsβ option in their settings, which should also be deactivated, preventing heavy content from being uploaded to the home screen.
| Service | Where to turn off | The effect |
|---|---|---|
| msa | Access to personal data | Blocking system advertising |
| GetApps | Application settings | Disabling store notifications |
| MIUI Daemon | Access to personal data | Decrease in statistics collection |
| Analytics | Access to personal data | Termination of reporting |
Removing heavy widgets from the desktop also helps to improve productivity. Live wallpaper and news widgets are constantly updated, loading the processor. Replace them with static images for maximum speed.
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Use third-party launchers like Nova Launcher, which are often lighter and faster than standard MIUI shells, especially on older phone models.
Resetting network settings and software updates
Internet speed issues can be mistaken for the general slowness of the phone. If pages load for a long time, it may be because of network settings failures. Network resetting won't affect your personal files, but will return the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings to factory values.
You can reset via the Settings menu β Connection and Sharing β Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. After this procedure, you will need to re-enter passwords from wireless networks. This helps eliminate driver conflicts.
Donβt forget to check regularly for system updates. Xiaomi engineers release patches that often contain performance optimizations and security bug fixes. Way to check: Settings β About Phone β MIUI version.
β οΈ Before upgrading your firmware, make sure that the battery is at least 50% and the device is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network to avoid interruption.
If the phone hasnβt received updates in a long time and the current version is unstable, waiting for the next major update can sometimes help.However, support may already be limited for Redmi 9, so itβs important to use the latest official version available.
Crucial measures: complete data reset
If the software methods have not worked, the last and most effective way is a full reset to the factory settings (Hard Reset), which completely clears the internal memory of user data, applications and accumulated debris, returning the phone to the state of βout of the boxβ.
It is critical to back up all contacts, photos and documents before reset, as it will be impossible to recover deleted files after this procedure.
The procedure is done via the Settings menu β About Phone β Settings Reset β Erase all data. The phone will reboot and start the cleanup process, which can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. Once turned on, you will get a clean system without third-party software.
- π₯ Remove all viruses and malware if they have been.
- π₯ Free up 100% of disk space.
- π₯ Reset all system errors and configuration conflicts.
Don't install all the applications at once after resetting, set the minimum and keep track of the speed, and often it's one particular conflict application that causes the brakes throughout the system.
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Regular restart of the phone (at least once every 3-4 days) prevents the accumulation of errors in RAM and prolongs the stable operation time without resetting.