How to Speed Up Xiaomi Phone: A Complete Guide to Optimizing MIUI

Your Xiaomi is slowing down, apps are slowing down, and animations are twitching? This is a typical problem even for flagship models like the Mi 12 Pro or Redmi K50 after a year of use. The reasons for the slowdown are not only due to the aging of iron, but also due to the features of MIUI firmware, which consumes resources in the background.

In this article, we’ll look at proven acceleration methods that work on all current versions of MIUI (including MIUI 14/15 based on Android 13/14), and we’ll look at both basic methods like cache cleaning and hidden settings that are not mentioned even in the official documentation. Importantly, on models with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/2 processors (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra), some lags are associated with overheating – they are eliminated separately.

Don’t expect miracles from “magic cleaning apps” – most of them only make the problem worse. Instead, follow our step-by-step guide, where every item is confirmed by tests on real devices (including the budget Redmi Note 11 and POCO X5).

1. Diagnostics: Why your Xiaomi is slowing down

Before optimizing, you need to understand the root of the problem. Xiaomi smartphones have 5 main bottlenecks:

• 🔋 Background processes MIUI: firmware aggressively keeps in mind unnecessary services (for example, com.miui.analytics for collecting statistics).
• 🗑️ Trash memory: app cache and junk files from GetApps, Mi Video, Themes.
• 🔄 Auto-updates: MIUI Downloads updates in the background, occupying the channel and processor.
• 🔥 Trottling processor: on heating chips (for example, Snapdragon) 778G into POCO F4) It is a forced restriction of productivity.
• 📱 Unoptimized apps: Some games and software (such as Facebook or TikTok) conflict with the Internet MIUI.

To identify your problem:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap the "Core" line 5 times. This will turn on the hidden diagnostic menu.
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Developer → Processor Monitor (or CPU Usage in English version).
3. Run a problem app and see what process is loading the system. If you see com.android.systemui or miui.home, it's the shell.

Critical: if you see a constant load on the big.LITTLE kernel in the CPU monitor (for example, 4 cores are loaded 80% with simple surfing), the problem is trottling. This requires separate actions (see section 5).

System Cleanup: What Can Be Removed Without Risk

The first thing that the guru says is to drop the phone to the factory settings, but this is a radical method that erases all data, and instead, we'll start with a spot cleaning.

2.1 Deletion of cache and junk files

• 🧹 Application cache: go to Settings → Annexes → Application Management, Choose Each of the Top-10 Click on "Clear Cache" and click on "Clear Cache" -- Google Play Services, Miui Home, GetApps.
• 🗑️ Garbage files: use the built-in Security application (shield icon) → Cleanup → Deep cleaning. Delete everything except System logs (they're for diagnostics).
• 📁 folder MIUI: via any file manager (e.g. Mi File Explorer) go to /storage/emulated/0/MIUI and delete the folders. debug_log, extra_log, bug_report.

Secure removal of system applications

Many MIUI applications cannot be removed in the standard way, but they can be disabled or removed via ADB.

For removal via ADB:

1. Enable USB debugging in the developer settings.
2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.video (replace com.miui.video with the desired package from the table).

Make a backup copy of important data|Check the vacant space (needs to be checked) ≥15%)|Close all background applications|Connect the charger (the process may take place) 10-20 minute)|Disconnect mobile Internet (so that updates do not interfere with the update)-->

Warning: Do not delete applications with com.android. or com.qualcomm packages. this will lead to a bootloop. If in doubt, you should just turn off the application in the settings.

3. MIUI Optimization: Hidden Performance Settings

MIUI has hidden settings that force animations to speed up, disable unnecessary visuals, and even change the task glider, which are undocumented but work on all MIUI 12+ models.

Acceleration of animation

By default, MIUI uses animation delays of 1x, but they can be reduced by:

1. Enable the developer mode (7 taps according to the MIUI version in About Phone).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Find the items: Windows Animation Scale → Set 0.5x. Transition Animation Scale → Set 0.5x. Animator Duration Scale → Disable (Off).

3.2. disabling background optimization MIUI

MIUI aggressively manages background processes, which sometimes leads to forced closure of applications.

1. In the developer settings, find the Background Process Limitation.
2. Set the Standard Limit (or No Limits if you have ≥6 GB of RAM).
3. Turn off MIUI Optimization (switch in the same menu).

6.2.Return to the old version of MIUI

If you've got your phone braked after the upgrade, you can bring back the old firmware.

1. Download the desired version of MIUI from Xiaomifirmwareupdater.com.
2. Rename the file to update.zip and place it in the root of the memory.
3. Go to Recovery and select Install update.zip.
4. After installation, make a Wipe Cache.

Important: rollback to the old version will reset all data if you do not use Fastboot firmware with a flag --save-user-data.

7. Alternative firmware: when to switch to caste

If all methods have been tried and the phone is still slowing down, consider installing custom firmware.

• 📱 Pixel Experience: pure Android without bells and whistles MIUI. Suitable for weak devices (e.g. Redmi Note 8 Pro).
• ⚡ LineageOS: light firmware with a minimum set of applications.
• 🔧 Xiaomi.eu: MIUI without Chinese software and with improved optimization.
• 🎮 Crdroid: Firmware for gamers with improved performance management.

For custom firmware installation:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires an account binding Mi).
2. Install TWRP Recovery for your model.
3. Make a full backup through TWRP (including EFS and Modem).
4. Sweep through firmware and GApps (if you need Google services).

Warning: Installing custom firmware will void warranty and may result in a brick (inoperability) device. On some models (such as Xiaomi 12S Ultra), unlocking the bootloader blocks the wide-angle camera.

8 Hardware Problems: When It's Time to Bring to the Service

If none of the software methods worked, the problem could be the hardware.

• 🔋 Worn-out battery: With capacity below 70%, the processor limits performance. Check wear through AccuBattery.
• 💾 Damaged flash memory: If the phone freezes while writing files, memory cells may be damaged.
• 🔌 Faulty plume: on models with a removable battery (for example, Redmi) 4X) oxidation of plume contacts leads to lags.
• 🌡️ Detached chip: If the phone overheats and turns off, the processor or memory may have detached (typical for Snapdragon) 625/636).

How to check:

1. Run the memory test using adb shell dumpsys meminfo – if you see E/mmc0 errors, the memory is damaged.
2. Check the battery: If the phone turns off at 30-40% charge, you need a replacement.
3. Look at loop-device in logcat (via ADB): Repeated I/O errors indicate storage issues.

Note: if you see MemAvailable: 0 on the memory test (adb shell cat /proc/meminfo), you see a line: 0 is a sign of critical wear on the flash drive, in which case only a replacement motherboard will help.

💡

On models with UFS 2.1/2.2 (for example, Xiaomi 11T) memory wear is manifested by lags when recording video in 4K. If the video is recorded in jerks, check the health of the drive.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions