How to speed up Xiaomi Redmi 7A: a complete guide to optimization

Xiaomi Redmi 7A even 5 years after the release remains a popular budget smartphone thanks to reliable hardware and support for MIUI. But over time, any device begins to “brake”: applications open for a long time, animation twitches, and the battery sits down in half a day. The reasons are not in the weak Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 processor, but in the debris of the system, the background activity of applications and outdated settings.

In this article, 7 proven ways to speed up the Redmi 7A without root rights and complex manipulations. We will examine how to clear the cache without losing data, which MIUI settings to turn off first, and why standard “performance mode” often hurts more than it helps. All methods are tested on current versions of MIUI 12.5-14 (including global and Chinese firmware).

1.Diagnosis: Why did the Redmi 7A get slow?

Before optimizing, you need to understand the source of the brakes. Redmi 7A has typical bottlenecks:

• 🔋 Worn battery (capacity below 70% → forced performance restriction)
• 🗑️ Clogged cache (system cache + application cache takes 3–5 GB)
• 👻 Background processes (MIUI by default keeps up to 30 applications active)
• 📱 Outdated firmware (bugs in MIUI 11–12 inhibit animation)

To identify the problem:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and check the relevance of the updates.
2. Start Settings → Battery → Battery status (if the capacity < 2500 mAh - it's time to change the battery).
3. Install the CPU Monitor (will show the processor boot in real time).

Critical point: if in Settings → Memory is free less than 1 GB, immediately clean the memory (see section 3). At 500 MB and less, the system begins to forcibly close applications even in active use.

2.Cache and garbage cleanup: the right way

Most of the Play Market cleaners only mask the problem, and sometimes make it worse. Redmi 7A has deep cleaning tools built in:

Clear the application cache in Settings → Applications → Application management

Delete unnecessary APK- files in Settings → Memory → Files → APK

Clear the MIUI cache in Settings → Memory → Cleanup

Disable garbage autoload in Settings → Battery → Selecting battery mode-->

Important: Do not use the Cleanup function in Security – it deletes useful data (for example, login passwords in the browser).

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup and select “Deep Cleanup”.
2. In Files (Settings → Memory → Files) delete: 📁 Download folder (if it has accumulated >1 GB) 🎵 Music and videos that do not use 📸 Duplicate photos (use Google Photos to search)

Settings → Applications → [Select App] → Memory → Clear cache

💡

If an app (like Instagram or Telegram) is slower after cleaning the cache, it's OK. The cache speeds up the re-run, but if it's damaged, it's better to reset it.

To automate the process, install ClearSpace (the official deep cleaning app from Xiaomi).

• 🗃️ Empty folders and temporary files
• 📱 Residual data from remote applications
• 🔍 Duplicate Contacts and Messages

3. MIUI optimization: what settings to disable

MIUI 12-14, by default, includes many "features" that eat up resources.

Pay special attention to the performance mode. In Redmi 7A, it doesn't work properly.

⚠️ Warning: High Performance Mode in Settings → Battery → Battery mode, on the contrary, increases the brakes due to overheating of the processor. Use Balanced or Battery Savings.

For advanced users:

adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1

This command (entered via ADB) unlocks the hidden MIUI settings where you can disable:

• 🔄 Background account synchronization
• 📡 Automatic Wi-Fi Scanning
• 📱 Optimization MIUI for "smoothness" (it artificially limits FPS)

4. Application management: what to remove and freeze

Even after resetting to factory settings, Redmi 7A contains ~50 pre-installed applications, of which 30% are unnecessary bloatware. Here is a list of secure to uninstall system applications (via ADB or Root):

com.miui.analytics


com.xiaomi.ab




com.miui.bugreport




com.miui.cloudservice




com.miui.cloudbackup




com.xiaomi.payment




com.miui.videoplayer

For users without root rights:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find unnecessary apps (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music, Mi Browser).
3. Select “Disable” (not “Delete”!) This will freeze the application, but save system files.

Top-5 applications that slow down Redmi 7A:

• 📱 Facebook and Facebook Lite (background activity even after closing)
• 💬 MIUI Cleaner (independently starts cleaning by consuming CPU)
• 🎮 Game Turbo (useless on weak iron, but works in the background)
• 📊 Security (antivirus MIUI, eats up to 15% of the processor)
• 📰 Mi Browser (built-in adverts and trackers)

5. Firmware update: should you switch to caste?

Official updates to the Redmi 7A stopped in 2022, but MIUI 12.5 remains the most stable version for the device.

• ✅ MIUI 12.5 (V12.5.3.0) — optimal choice (fixed bugs with animation).
• ⚠️ MIUI 13/14 — Unofficial ports that may be slowed down due to lack of optimization under Snapdragon 439.
• 🚀 Castom firmware (e.g. LineageOS 18.1) – gives performance gains, but loses support for the camera and NFC.

If you choose to update:

1. Make a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup.
2. Download firmware only from official sources: 🌐 Official website MIUI 📥 Xiaomi Firmware Updater (for manual installation)

Fastboot

here

⚠️ Warning: Firmware through Recovery on Redmi 7A often results in brick due to script errors. Use only Fastboot with verified ROM.

For a pre/post-update performance test, use Geekbench 6 or AnTuTu Benchmark.Mean values for Redmi 7A:

• 📊 AnTuTu: 85,000–95,000 (net) MIUI 12.5)
• 🖥️ Geekbench (Single-Core): 120–140
• 🖥️ Geekbench (Multi-Core): 450–520

6. Hardware restrictions: when it is time to change the phone

If all the optimization methods didn't work, the reason could be hardware wear and tear, and here are signs that Redmi 7A is about to retire:

• 🔋 The battery holds a charge of <2 hours when in active use (capacity <1,500 mAh).
• 🔥 The phone is heated to 50°C when charging or playing.
• 📱 Applications are out even after the cache is cleared.
• 🛠️ Diagnostics (#4636##) shows a "bad state" for memory or processor.

Consider replacing them with:

If you want to extend the life of the Redmi 7A,

• 🔧 Replace the battery (the original costs ~1 200 ₽).
• 🧹 Blow the dust connectors (use a can of compressed air).
• 🛡️ Apply a new thermal paste on the processor (requires disassembly).

💡

If after all the manipulations the phone still slows down in basic tasks (calls, SMS, browser) - the problem is in the hardware. Optimizing the software will not help here.

7. Alternative acceleration methods (for advanced)

If standard methods have failed, try:

• 🔄 Reset to factory settings: Backup (Settings → Additional → Backup). Go to Settings → About Phone → Reset. Select Delete All Data (not Settings Reset!).

⚠️ Warning: Don't restore data from the backup after resetting, MIUI -- that'll bring back all the brakes. Install the applications manually.

Installation GSI-firmware

LineageOS

HavocOS

• Requires unlocking the loader (instruction).
• Pros: pure Android without bloatware, better performance.
• Cons: NFC does not work, camera bugs are possible.

Undervolting the processor

• Use the FrancoKernel or Kiran Kernel kernel.
• Reduces heat and increases the operating time by 10-15%.
• Risk: If the phone is not set up correctly, it will turn off.

For experiments with the core and firmware, we recommend the Xiaomi Redmi 7A Modding channel in Telegram - there they lay out current patches and fixes.

💡

Before installing custom firmware, check compatibility with the Redmi 7A model (codename pine).Some ROMs are designed for Redmi 7 (onc) and won't work!

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions