How to speed up Xiaomi Redmi 5A in 2026: from cleaning cache to hidden MIUI settings

The Xiaomi Redmi 5A is still one of the most popular budget smartphones due to its reliability and maintainability. However, over the years, even this “unkillable” device begins to slow down: applications open for a long time, animations twitch, and the battery dies in half a day, the reason for this is outdated hardware (Snapdragon 425 and 2 GB of RAM) and clogged MIUI firmware, which requires more resources with each update.

In this article, 7 working ways to speed up Redmi 5A, from basic (cleaning cache, turning off animations) to advanced (resetting to factory settings, optimizing background processes). All methods are tested on current versions of MIUI and do not require root rights. And you will learn which MIUI settings eat up to 30% of smartphone performance - and how to turn them off in 2 minutes.

1.Diagnosis: Why is Redmi 5A slowing down?

Before you start optimizing, it’s important to understand the true cause of lags. Redmi 5A usually has three:

• 📱 Overloaded memory: less than 1 GB of free space on the internal drive leads to malfunctions MIUI.
• 🔄 Background processes: Autoboot of Xiaomi messengers, social networks and system services (for example, mipush or miui.analytics) eats up to 50% of RAM.
• 🔋 Worn-out battery: with a capacity below 70% of the nominal value, the smartphone forcibly limits performance (Battery Saver function in the smartphone). MIUI).

To check the status of the phone:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Battery status. If the capacity is below 1800 mAh (originally 3000 mAh), it is time to change the battery.
2. Go to Settings → Applications → Working. If there are more than 15 processes on the list, they need to be optimized.
3. Check the vacant space: Settings → Storage. The critical threshold is less than 10% of the total.

⚠️ Warning: If your smartphone overheats for simple tasks (e.g. messengers), the problem may be a thermal paste or a bloated battery, in which case software methods won’t help – you need repairs.

2. Cleaning the system: remove garbage and cache

The first step to speed up is to free up memory. On the Redmi 5A, with 16GB of storage, even 500MB of free space can bring back smooth interfaces.

Clearing the application cache

Cash speeds up the software, but eventually it turns into digital junk to remove it.

1. Go to Settings → Storage → Cleaning.
2. Click Clear Cache (do not delete app data!).
3. For deep cleaning, select Deep Cleaning and confirm the removal of unnecessary files.

Removal of unused applications

MIUI likes to install pre-loaded applications (bloatware) that can't be removed by standard means, but they can be disabled:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an unneeded app (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music, Browser).
3. Click Disable (if the button is inactive – first click Remove Updates).

List of safe to disable system applications:

⚠️ Warning: Do not disable com.android.phone, com.miui.home or com.miui.securitycenter, this will cause the system to fail!

3. MIUI Optimization: Hidden Settings for Acceleration

MIUI hides a few useful features that can speed up a smartphone, most of which do not require root rights and are available through standard menus.

3.1. Cancel animation

Animations make the interface look more beautiful, but they slow it down on weak devices.

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 items: Windows animation scale → select No animation. Size of transition animation → select No animation. Animation time → set 0.5x.

Limitation of background processes

MIUI by default allows applications to run in the background that eats up RAM. To limit them:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as Facebook or VKontakte).
3. Press Limit Background Activity.

For a global limitation:

1. Enable the Developer Mode (see 3.1).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For Developers → Process Limitation.
3. Select a Maximum 2 process (this will reduce multitasking but speed up current tasks).

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If notifications from messengers have stopped coming after limiting background processes, add them to Settings → Applications → Special Rights → Autostart and allow autoboot.

3.3. disabling MIUI analytics and advertising

Xiaomi collects data about smartphone usage, which loads the processor, to stop it:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Diagnostics and reviews and turn off all switches.
2. Open Settings → Additional → Advertising and disable Personalized Recommendations.
3. In the same menu, click Reset Advertising ID.

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Disabling MIUI analytics not only speeds up the smartphone, but also increases battery life by 10-15% due to a decrease in background activity.

4. Data transfer to SD-map

The Redmi 5A supports microSD up to 256GB, and transferring data to it can free up to 5-10GB of internal memory.

• 📁 Applications can only be ported partially (not all support this feature).
• 📸 Photos and videos are completely lost.
• ⚠️ Do not transfer system files or data of messengers (for example, WhatsApp) – this can disrupt their work.

How to transfer data:

1. Put it in. SD-map (format) FAT32 exFAT).
2. Go to Settings → Storage → Internal Memory.
3. Select a category (such as Images or Videos) and click Move to SD-map.

For the portability of applications:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as Google Maps).
3. Press Warehouse. → Change. → choose SD-map.

⚠️ Attention: If you pull out SD-map, ported applications will stop working! Use this feature only for rarely used programs.

5. Resetting to factory settings: a radical method

If all the previous methods didn't work, you'll have a hard reset, which will delete all the data, but it will return the original speed to the smartphone.

• 🔄 Backup your contacts, photos and messages (for example, through Google Account or Mi Cloud).
• 📝 Write down logins/passwords from accounts (they will disappear!).
• 🔋 Charge your phone at least 50%.

Resetting instructions:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Reset all settings.
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (taken 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 (no more) 5-10 day) to avoid overloading.

6. Alternative firmware: should you switch?

Some users are trying to speed up the Redmi 5A with custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience).

If you do decide to use the firmware, follow the exact instructions for Redmi 5A (codename riva):

1. Unblock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi website (you will need a Mi Account and wait 7 days).
2. Install TWRP Recovery via fastboot: fastboot flash recovery twrp.img fastboot boot twrp.img
3. Make a backup of the current firmware in TWRP (in case of rollback).
4. Sweep through custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS 16).

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 5A 16 GB of memory is not recommended to install firmware based on Android 10 and newer – they take up too much space and will slow down.

7. Hardware improvements: what can be done?

If the software methods are exhausted, hardware upgrades remain. There are two options available for the Redmi 5A:

Replacement of the battery

The worn-out battery not only discharges quickly, but also brakes the smartphone (MIUI limits performance at low charge).The new battery (BL-5A, 3000 mAh) costs about 500-800 rubles and is installed in 15 minutes.

Signs that the battery should be changed:

• 🔋 Phone's running out of power. 2-3 hourly with moderate use.
• 🔥 The hull warms even in plain.
• ⚡ Charging jumps (for example, from 30% immediately to 1%).
• 📉 B Settings → The phone. → Battery condition capacity below 2000 mAh.

Increased internal memory

The Redmi 5A came in versions with 16GB and 32GB of memory. If you have 16GB, you can try replacing the memory chip with 32GB or 64GB.

• 💰 It's worth it. 1500-3000 RUB (depending on the volume).
• 🔧 Requires rations (needs an experienced master).
• ⚠️ The risk of losing data (you have to search the phone).

The alternative is to use SD-Card as internal memory (Adoptable Storage function in Android:

1. Put it in quick. SD-map A1 or A2).
2. When you first connect, select Use as internal memory.
3. Confirm the formatting (the data on the map will be erased!).

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Battery replacement is the most efficient hardware upgrade for the Redmi 5A. It not only eliminates the lags, but also brings autonomy back to the level of a new phone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Redmi 5A acceleration