The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9, launched in 2020, was originally marketed as the “king of the mid-range,” offering an impressive battery and a balanced screen. However, as time goes on, the Android operating system is getting more features and the MIUI shell is getting heavier, inevitably slowing down even the once-flagship devices. Users often notice slowdowns in the interface, long launches of applications and sudden drawdowns in games, which is especially annoying when using the gadget.
There are many software methods to get your device back to speed without having to replace hardware or flash it with custom assemblies. System optimization starts with deep cleaning of junk files and competent management of background processes that consume the resources of the Helio G85 processor. In this article, we will discuss proven ways to significantly increase the responsiveness of the interface.
Before any manipulations are initiated, it is important to understand that some changes may affect the usage scenario. Disabling MIUI system services can cause standard functions such as second space or design themes to malfunction. We will look at both safe methods for the average user and more advanced settings for those who are willing to sacrifice some functionality for maximum performance.
Basic cleaning and memory management
The first and most obvious step is to free up RAM and internal memory. When free storage falls below 10-15%, the speed of writing and reading data is significantly reduced, which causes “freezes.” Xiaomi’s standard Security app is able to remove cache, but it often leaves a lot of extra garbage in the system folders.
For a deeper cleaning, it is recommended to manually check the folders of messengers such as Telegram and WhatsApp, which have been accumulating gigabytes of media files for years. It is also worth removing unused applications, since even in sleep mode they can take up RAM resources. Regularly restarting the device at least once a week helps to reset accumulated errors in memory management.
☑️ Checklist for quick cleaning
Manual control avoids removing important system logs or card cache that speeds up navigation loads. Good file system management is the foundation on which other Redmi Note 9 speedups are built.
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Free space on the internal drive directly affects the speed of the operating system and the speed of application launch.
Disabling animations and visual effects
MIUI is famous for its smooth but heavy animations that create the illusion of speed, but actually make the processor do extra work. Disabling or shortening the duration of these effects is one of the most effective ways to make the interface visually responsive. It won't add power to the processor, but it will remove the delay between pressing and responding.
To access hidden settings, activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on MIUI seven times. Then the "For Developers" option will appear in the "Additional" menu. Find the section related to scaling there, and change the values of "Window animation", "Switch animation" and "Animation Duration" to 0.5 or completely disable them.
⚠️ Warning: Completely disabling animations can make the interface twitchy and less pleasing to the eye, so it is recommended to first scale down to 0.5x.
It's also worth disabling the memory extension feature if it's active, which takes some of the slow internal memory and uses it as a RAM, which on the budget memory controllers installed in the Redmi Note 9 often backfires, slowing down the system when multitasking is active.
Combating Advertising and Systemic Garbage (MSA)
One reason Xiaomi smartphones can be slower is the background activity of advertising services.Msa (MIUI System Ads) system process consumes processor resources and Internet traffic, even if you do not see pop-ups.
To remove ads, go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Access to personal data. Find the msa service in the list and turn off the slider. The system will try to dissuade you by showing a countdown timer of 10 seconds — wait for it to end and confirm the withdrawal of permissions. This procedure is better repeated 2-3 times, since the service may not turn off the first time.
In addition to msa, you should limit other system applications that you don’t need, such as if you don’t use a standard browser or music player from Xiaomi, take away their data access rights and background activity, which will reduce the load on RAM and reduce the number of background processes.
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After disabling the msa, restart the phone so that the changes take effect and the freed up resources are redistributed.
Optimization of work with applications
Modern applications are becoming more demanding and older versions of software may not work as well, but installing lightweight versions of popular services (Lite versions) can significantly offload the Helio G85 processor, which takes up less space and consumes less RAM.
It is also important to control the auto-run of applications. There is a section on the Security menu called Permissions» → «Autorun. Leave only messengers that you need instant notifications from, social networks and stores should be excluded from autorun, opening them manually as needed, this will prevent constant load on the CPU in the background.
Remember to regularly update system components through the GetApps store or Google Play. Often, security and performance optimizations come in updates that fix bugs before!
Version. However, if it starts to work slowly after updating a particular application, try clearing the cache or reinstalling it.
| Type of application | Recommendation | Impact on speed |
|---|---|---|
| Social media | Use the Lite version or the web version | High (RAM savings) |
| Antiviruses | Remove (enough built-in) | Average (reduced background load) |
| Launchers | Use standard or lightweight (Niagara) | High (interface drawing) |
| Games | Close completely after the game | Critical (resource release) |
Resetting and radical measures
If the software methods didn’t work, it may require a factory reset, which removes all user data, apps, and settings, bringing the smartphone back out of the box, often addressing problems caused by deep system errors or software conflicts.
Before you reset, make sure to back up your important data. Go to Settings → About Phone → Settings → Reset → Erase all the data. The process will take 5 to 15 minutes. Once turned on, the phone will work much faster, as all the accumulated “digital garbage” over the years of use will disappear.
What if the phone doesn’t turn on after resetting?
⚠️ Warning: Full reset irreversibly deletes all photos, contacts and files. Make sure your sync with your Google account is successful.
It is also a radical measure to abandon heavy shells in favor of custom firmware such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience.They are devoid of advertising and unnecessary Xiaomi services, which creatively transforms the Redmi Note 9. However, installing such firmware requires unlocking the bootloader, which is officially possible only after a wait of 168 hours (7 days).
Effects of battery temperature and condition
The MediaTek processors installed in the Redmi Note 9 are sensitive to overheating, and when critical temperatures are reached, the system forcibly reduces the clock speed (trottling) to avoid damage, which leads to a sharp drop in performance in games and heavy applications.
Watch the battery. A worn-out battery may not deliver the required current under load, which also causes unstable operation and sudden shutdowns. If the phone is over 3-4 years old, replacing the battery can have a positive effect not only on autonomy, but also on the stability of the processor.
Use original chargers and cables. Cheap analogues can cause power surges and overheating of the power controller, which indirectly affects the overall performance of the system. During charging, especially fast, it is better not to run resource-intensive tasks.
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Trottling the processor due to heat is the main cause of sudden lags in games, not a lack of RAM.