How to speed up Xiaomi Redmi 8: from cache cleaning to deep MIUI optimization

Xiaomi Redmi 8

MIUI

If your Redmi 8 is slower, don’t rush to buy a new phone. 90% of the time, you can solve the problem with software — without disassembling the device or replacing components. In this article, we’ll take a look at step-by-step instructions for speeding up your smartphone, from basic (cleaning the cache) to advanced (disabling MIUI system services), and also tell you which settings to change first.

It’s important to understand that the brakes on Xiaomi Redmi 8 are not often associated with “weak hardware” (the Snapdragon 439 and 3/4 GB of RAM processor cope with everyday tasks), but with improper optimization of the system. Even after upgrading to MIUI 14 (if available), many users face lags due to background activity of applications and system services, which are turned on by default for collecting telemetry and displaying ads.

Before you start settings, check if your Redmi 8 is overheating. Run a heavy app (like a game) and after 5-10 minutes touch the back cover next to the camera. If the phone is hot, the problem may be thermothrottle (automatically reduced performance due to overheating), in which case, first follow the instructions from the Temperature Optimization section, and then return to the rest of the tips.

1. Cleaning up garbage and cache: the first step to speeding up

The most common reason for brakes is clogged memory. On the Xiaomi Redmi 8 with 32 or 64 GB of storage, free space quickly runs out due to the cache of applications, temporary files and duplicate photos. When less than 10% of memory remains, the system begins to slow down when opening new programs.

Start with the built-in cleaning tool:

1. Open the Security app (the shield icon).
2. Go to the Cleanup tab.
3. Press Deep Clean and wait for analysis.
4. Delete unnecessary files, especially in the Cash Applications and Garbage Files sections.

If the built-in utility failed, use third-party tools:

• 📱 SD Maid – Deletes residual files after uninstalling applications.
• 🗑️ Files by Google – Finds duplicate photos and large, unnecessary files.
• 🧹 CCleaner – clears the cache and optimizes autoboot.

Once cleaned, restart the phone, which will help the system recalculate the space and free up RAM.

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Do not remove the cache of system applications (e.g. com.android.systemui) manually through Settings → Applications. This may cause MIUI to crash.

2. Optimization of autoboot and background processes

Many of the apps on Xiaomi Redmi 8 run automatically when the phone is turned on and continue to run in the background, consuming RAM and battery power. Disabling unnecessary services can increase speed by 30-40%.

How to manage autoload:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the Auto Start tab.
3. Turn off autoload for all applications except instant messengers and system services (e.g. Google Play Services).

To limit background activity:

• 🔄 In the same menu (Application Management), select the Permissions tab and turn off Work in the background for unnecessary programs.
• ⚡ Enable Power Saving Mode in Settings → Battery – this will limit background activity for all applications.
• 🚫 Use Greenify (requires root rights) to freeze background processes.

Disable Auto-Run for Games and Rarely Used Apps

Limit background work for social networks (VK, Facebook, Instagram)

Leave auto-run only for messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram)

Check notification permissions for unnecessary applications-->

After this, check how much RAM is available. To do this, open Settings → About Phone → Memory Status. If RAM is more than 1 GB free, you are on the right track.

3. Updating the firmware and kernel: why it matters

An outdated version of MIUI or the Linux kernel could be the cause of the brakes. Xiaomi regularly releases updates that optimize the performance of the Snapdragon 439 processor and fix errors in memory management.

How to update firmware:

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

If automatic updates don’t help, try manual firmware through Recovery:

• 📥 Download the latest stable version MIUI for Redmi 8 from Xiaomi’s official website.
• 📁 Move the firmware file (.zip format) to the root folder of internal memory.
• 🔄 Reboot the phone to Recovery Mode (Plug the Power). + Loudness up).
• 🛠️ Select Install update.zip and confirm installation.

After the update, reset the system cache:

1. Go to Recovery (as described above).
2. Choose Wipe cache.
3. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

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Updating the firmware is the most effective way to eliminate system lags, but only if you install the official version of MIUI. Custom firmware (like LineageOS) can speed up the phone, but will deprive you of warranty and some features (like cameras).

4. Optimization of animation and MIUI interface

The MIUI system uses smooth transition animations by default that look beautiful but slow down on weak devices like Redmi 8. Disabling or accelerating these effects will make the interface more responsive.

How to speed up animation:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the points: The window animation scale -- set 0.5x or turn off. The transition animation scale -- set 0.5x. The animator duration scale -- set 0.5x.

Additional settings to speed up the interface:

• 🎨 Turn off the effects of transitions to Settings → Screen → System animation.
• 🔄 Set a light theme (no heavy visuals) in Settings → Themes.
• 🖼️ Turn off the live wallpaper — it consumes up to 15% of the CPU.

If the interface is too sharp after these changes, return the animation scale to 0.75x, a trade-off between speed and smoothness.

5. RAM Management: How to Free RAM

Xiaomi Redmi 8 was released with 3 or 4 GB of RAM. Over time, RAM is clogged with background processes, and the system does not have enough resources for new tasks.

Methods of cleaning RAM:

• 🧹 Enable Auto-clean Memory in Settings → Applications → Memory Cleanup.
• 🔄 Use the Memory Cleanup widget on the home screen (added via long-pressing on the desktop).
• 📱 Install the RAM Booster application (no root rights required) for automatic optimization.

If there is a critically low amount of free memory (less than 500 MB), perform a forced cleanup:

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Show all processes.
3. Close all unnecessary applications manually.

For advanced users, if you have root access, install Magisk with RAM Expander, which creates virtual RAM from a portion of internal storage, but this method can reduce the life of flash memory due to frequent write operations.

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Don't use Google Play's RAM accelerators, which promise to "free 100% of memory." Most of them are empty, and some even contain malicious code. Trust only proven utilities like SD Maid or Greenify.

6.Temperature Optimization: Why Overheating Brakes Your Phone

Xiaomi Redmi 8 is prone to overheating due to the compact body and Snapdragon 439 processor, which warms up at high load. When the temperature exceeds 45 ° C, the system automatically reduces performance (thermodroselling), which leads to lags.

How to lower the temperature:

• ❄️ Remove the case while charging or playing - it blocks the heat sink.
• 🔋 Do not use your phone while charging (especially for games or videos).
• 🌡️ Install the AIDA64 application for temperature monitoring.
• 🔄 Turn off Automatic Brightness and set it to 50-60% manually.

If your phone is warm even in a simple situation, do the following:

1. Check if there are any “heavy” processes running in the background (e.g., app updates).
2. Clear the system cache through Recovery (as described in Section 3).
3. If the problem persists, replace the thermopaste (disassembly of the device is required).

For games and resource-intensive tasks, use Game Turbo (the built-in utility MIUI), which optimizes performance and cooling:

1. Open Settings → Special features → Game Turbo
2. Add the game to the list and activate the mode.
3. Enable the option of Performance Optimization.

7.Reset to factory settings: Last chance

If none of these things work, you'll have to reset completely, delete all the data, but return the speed to the factory.

• 📁 Save photos and videos on PC or in the cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud).
• 📱 Export contacts to.vcf via Contacts → Settings → Export.
• 🔑 Write down logins and passwords from accounts (they will be deleted!).

How to perform the reset:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset.
2. Select Settings Reset.
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

After discharge:

• 🔄 Do not restore data from a backup right away – check the speed of a clean system first.
• 📱 Install applications gradually, keeping track of performance.
• ⚠️ Don’t update all programs right away through Google Play — it can clog up memory again.

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Factory reset helps in 95% of cases where the brakes are caused by software errors. If the lags are left after reset, there is a problem in the hardware (for example, a worn flash memory or a faulty processor).

8. Alternative firmware: should you switch to caste?

If standard methods fail, some users consider installing custom firmware (such as LineageOS, Pixel Experience or Havoc-OS) that lacks MIUI services and often runs faster.

The advantages of custom firmware:

• ✅ No Advertising and Unnecessary System Applications.
• ✅ More recent versions of Android (e.g. Android 13 instead of Android 10 in the standard MIUI).
• ✅ Ability to fine-tune productivity.

Cons and risks:

• ❌ Loss of warranty (if it is still valid).
• ❌ Possible bugs with camera, sensors or mobile communications.
• ❌ Installation difficulty (requires unlocking the bootloader and TWRP Recovery).

If you decide to cast, follow this algorithm:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock Tool (requires a binding Mi Account and wait 7 days).
2. Install TWRP Recovery via Fastboot.
3. Download the firmware from the XDA Developers forum (codenamed olive for Redmi 8 only).
4. Run a full backup through TWRP before installation.

After installing custom firmware, check:

• 📶 Mobile network and Wi-Fi.
• 📷 Camera (some firmware requires a separate GCam installation).
• 🔋 Battery life (castoms can drain the battery faster).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the acceleration of Xiaomi Redmi 8