How to speed up Xiaomi 9T: From software tweaks to hardware upgrades

Xiaomi 9T (codename K20 In India, even after 5 years after the release remains relevant smartphone thanks to the powerful chipset Snapdragon 730, AMOLED-But over time, any Android device starts to slow down, apps open for a long time, animations twitch, and the battery goes down in half a day, because of clogged memory, fragmented file system, and bloated shell. MIUI.

In this article, 10 proven ways to speed up Xiaomi 9T, From basic (cache cleaning) to advanced (replace firmware with Pixel Experience), we'll figure out how to get your smartphone back to speed without losing data and with minimal risk. MIUI 14 and Android 13, but will be suitable for older builds.

⚠️ Important: Before any manipulation of the system, check the battery health in the Settings menu → Battery → Battery status. If the capacity has dropped below 70 percent, replace the battery first, because the low charge itself causes lags.

1.Diagnostics: Why Xiaomi 9T brake?

Before you optimize, you need to identify bottlenecks. 90% of the time, the brakes are caused by:

• 📱 Overloaded memory: less than 1 GB of free space on the system partition.
• 🧹 Clogged cache: temporary application files take up gigabytes.
• 🔄 Background processes: MIUI aggressively keeps apps in memory.
• 🔋 Trottling processor: due to overheating or weak battery.
• 🤖 Outdated firmware: bugs in MIUI or Android kernel.

To pinpoint the problem precisely:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI and press 5 times on the "Korea" - the developer mode will turn on.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers and activate CPU statistics.
3. Install the app CPU Monitor from Google Play – it will show the download of cores in real time.

If CPU Monitor, you can see that the cores are loaded 100 percent even in the simple — the problem is the software. If the download jumps when you open the applications — there is not enough RAM. If the smartphone heats up for no reason, it may be the battery or thermopaste.

System cleanup: cache, debris and unnecessary applications

The first step is to make room and remove the digital junk. on Xiaomi 9T s 64/128 GB of memory is critical to have a minimum 3-5 GB of free space on the system partition. Otherwise, Android will start to "glutch».

Cleaning the application cache

Cash speeds up the software, but eventually it becomes a dump.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Sort by size and select the heaviest (e.g. Facebook, Instagram, Google Play Services).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

⚠️ Warning: Do not clear the cache of system applications (MIUI System, Android System – This can cause crashes!

Removal of unnecessary annexes

MIUI He likes to pre-install junk: Mi Browser, Mi Music, Mi Video and Google backup services:

• 🗑️ Through Settings. → Apps: Click on the Unnecessary App → Delete.
• 🔧 With help. ADB (for system applications: connect your phone to your PC and execute: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.browser Complete list of packets to remove: XDA Developers.

Optimization of the storage facility

Use the built-in MIUI tool:

1. Settings → Warehouse → Cleanup.
2. Press Deep Clean and wait for analysis.
3. Delete residual files, duplicates, and large files (such as undeleted videos from instant messengers).

For advanced cleaning, install SD Maid (requires root) or Files by Google (works without superuser rights).

3. set up MIUI for maximum performance

MIUI It's optimized for beauty, not speed, by default.

3.1. Disabling animations

Reducing animation time visually speeds up the interface:

1. Activate the Developer Mode (see Section 1).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Find the settings: The window animation scale → Off. Transition animation scale. → The animator duration scale → Off.

Optimization of background processes

MIUI It's aggressively holding apps in memory, but it's not always useful:

• 🔄 B Settings → Battery → Battery mode select Performance (increases heat but speeds up work).
• 🚫 B Settings → Annexes → Permits → Auto Start Disable Autoboot for Unnecessary Programs.
• ⚡ B Settings → Additionally. → Optimization Click Clean (remove background processes).

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If the smartphone is slower after cleaning the background processes, return the settings back. Some applications (for example, messengers) require background work for notifications.

Moving to a lightweight topic

Dark themes and minimalist wallpaper reduce the load on the processor:

1. Open Topics → My subjects.
2. Choose a topic marked AMOLED or dark.
3. Install static wallpaper instead of living.

Critical information: on Xiaomi 9T s AMOLED-Dark themes not only speed up work, but also save up to 20% of battery life.

Update of firmware: official and custom options

Outdated firmware is one of the main causes of brakes. Xiaomi regularly releases updates to the software. 9T, But they don't always install automatically.

Update through OTA

Check the relevance of the version:

1. Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. If you have an update, download it and install it.
3. After the update, reset the cache (Settings) → Warehouse → Cleanup → Cash).

Manual installation of firmware through Recovery

If the OTA is not working:

1. Download the latest stable firmware for Xiaomi 9T (davinci code from en.miui.com.
2. Rename the file to update.zip and place it in the root of the memory.
3. Reboot to Recovery (Off. → Keep food on. + Loudness up).
4. Select Install update.zip → Reboot.

Installation of custom firmware (for advanced)

If the stock MIUI It is slowing down even after the update, consider alternatives:

⚠️ Attention: installing custom firmware requires unlocking the bootloader, which will reset all data and may deprive you of warranty: XDA Developers.

5 Hardware Improvements: What You Can Replace in Xiaomi 9T

If the software methods did not help, it is time to think about upgrading the “iron”. 9T It has a modular design that allows you to replace:

• 🔋 Battery: Original Capacity — 4000 After that. 2-3 In the years of operation, the real capacity falls to 60-70%, What causes processor trottling.
• 💾 Storage: UFS 2.1 degrades over time. Replacing the new module will return the read/write speed.
• 🧊 Thermopaste: dries through 3-4 Years of overheating and reduced productivity.

Replacement of the battery

Signs of a worn-out battery:

• The smartphone is turned off when 20-30% charge.
• Charging is jerking or interrupted.
• B Settings → Battery → Battery condition capacity below 80%.

Cost of replacement at the service center: ~2000-3000 ₽ (Self-replacement is possible but requires care (risk of damage to the display plume).

Replacement of thermopaste

If Xiaomi 9T It overheats even when it's lightly loaded (like YouTube), and it's the heat paste that's to blame:

1. Disassemble the smartphone (need a mediator and a hair dryer to soften the glue).
2. Clean the old paste with the processor alcohol.
3. Apply a new thermal paste (Arctic) MX-4 Or the Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut).

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Replacing the thermopaste gives you up to 15 percent performance gains by reducing trottling, especially in games and long-term camera use.

6.Operation and fine tuning (requires root)

For maximum performance, you can overclock the processor, but it will shorten battery life and increase heat. All the actions are done at your own risk!

Carriage through the core

With Kernel Adiutor (requires root):

1. Install Magisk and get root access.
2. Download Kernel Adiutor from Google Play.
3. In the CPU section, select Governor Performance.
4. Increase the maximum frequency of the cores by 10-15% (for example, 2.2 GHz 2.4 GHz).

⚠️ Warning: Overclocking reduces the life of the processor and can lead to overheating over 70°C, which will cause an emergency shutdown.

Optimization of the I/O scheduler

To speed up the work with memory:

1. In Kernel Adiutor, go to the section I/O Scheduler.
2. Select CFQ or Duration instead of the standard kyber.
3. Activate Dynamic FSync for smooth interface.

6.3.Switching off MIUI Optimizations

MIUI It has hidden optimizations that sometimes slow down the system. ADB:

adb shell settings put global miui_optimization_disabled 1

After completing the command, restart the smartphone. Effect: reduce the number of background processes and improve responsiveness.

7. Alternative launchers and shells

Stock launcher MIUI It consumes a lot of resources. It's an easy alternative:

• 🚀 Nova Launcher: Minimalist, supports gestures and animations.
• ⚡ Lawnchair: Open source based on Pixel Launcher.

How to determine:

1. Download the launcher from Google Play.
2. Click Home and select the new launcher as the main one.
3. Turn off animations in the launcher settings.

For maximum productivity:

• Turn off the widgets (they load the processor).
• Use static wallpaper instead of living.
• Reduce the number of desktops to 1-2.

Bottom line: What gives you the greatest speed gain?

Summarize the effectiveness of the methods (from the most effective to the least):

1. Replacement of the battery/thermopaste – before +30% productivity (eliminates trottling).
2. Installation of custom firmware (Pixel Experience) - before +25% (Pure Android without Bloat).
3. Cleaning up cache and debris - up to +15% (frees up memory).
4. Disabling animations and background processes - before +10% (visual acceleration).
5. CPU acceleration to +8% (but increases heat).

For most users, a combination of items is sufficient. 2-4: cleaning the system, updating the firmware and setting up MIUI. If the smartphone is older 3 Years - Consider replacing the battery and heat paste.

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The safest and most efficient way to speed up Xiaomi 9T — install custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience) + Replace the heat paste, which will increase to 40% without risking iron.

FAQ: Frequent questions