How to speed up Xiaomi Redmi 7A: from simple tricks to deep optimization

Xiaomi Redmi 7A is still a popular budget smartphone due to its reliability and low price. However, over time, even this modest device begins to “brake”: applications open for a long time, animation twitches, and the system hangs when multitasking. The reason for this is a weak Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 processor, only 2/3 GB of RAM and clogged memory. But do not rush to write off the phone from the account: with the right settings, it can be brought back to life!

In this article, we’ll look at 10 proven ways to speed up the Redmi 7A, from basic (cache cleansing, animation shutdown) to advanced (developer setup, factory reset), and focus on the hidden features of MIUI 12/14, which Xiaomi doesn’t advertise, but which give performance gains of up to 30%. All methods are tested on current firmware in 2026 and do not require root rights.

1.Diagnosis: Why is your Redmi 7A slowing down

Before optimizing, you need to understand the root of the problem. The Redmi 7A has three main bottlenecks:

• 🔋 RAM shortage: 2 GB of RAM is quickly clogged with background activity of applications.
• 🗃️ Overflowing storage: when filling up memory at 90%+ system begins to lay.
• 🤖 Outdated firmware: MIUI 11 and below poorly optimized for modern applications.

To determine exactly the culprit of the brakes:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. If the version is older than 12.5, the update will give +15-20% performance.
2. Check the free memory in Settings → Storage. If less than 1 GB, immediately clean!
3. Run Settings → Applications → Run. If there are more than 15 processes on the list, background activity strangles the system.

Critical: If the phone heats up above 45°C for simple tasks (e.g. messengers), it is a sign of thermal throttling, the processor artificially slows down to cool, in which case only replacing the thermopast (Section 7) will help.

2. Cleaning the system: remove garbage and cache

The first and easiest step is to make room for memory. On the Redmi 7A, with 16/32 GB of storage, every megabyte counts.

1. Open the Security app (shield icon).
2. Press Cleaning → Deep Cleaning.
3. Select all items (Cash, Unused Files, Residual Files) and click Clear.

For manual cleaning:

• 📂 Remove the cache of individual applications in Settings → Annexes → [Select the application] → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
• 🗑️ Go through the files. DCIM (Photos, Downloads (downloads) and WhatsApp/Media — Gigabytes of unnecessary files are often accumulated there.
• 🎵 Transfer music and video to the memory card (if any). → More. → Move it.

Attention! Do not manually delete folders with names like Android, MIUI or data, this will cause a system failure. For deep cleaning, use only built-in MIUI tools or proven applications like SD Maid (available on Google Play).

3. MIUI Optimization: Hidden Settings for Speed

MIUI hides several features that can speed up the Redmi 7A.

3.1. Cancel animation

Animations make the interface look more beautiful, but they slow down the weak devices to turn them off.

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the items: Window animation scale → Disable the animation scale of the transition → Disable the animator duration → Disable

Limitation of background processes

By default, MIUI allows you to work in the background of up to 20 processes - this is too much for 2 GB of RAM. The optimal value for the Redmi 7A is 2-3 processes:

1. In the Developer Settings, find the Process Limit.
2. Select a maximum of 2 processes in the background.

💡

After disabling animations, the phone will appear faster on the phone. 20-30%, And even if the actual performance doesn't change, it's a psychological effect, but it works!

Switching to a lightweight topic

Dark themes and animations in MIUI consume additional resources.

1. Settings → Screen → Themes.
2. Choose Standard or Light.
3. Turn off the animation of switching themes.

If you decide to upgrade, follow the exact instructions:

1. Download MIUI 14 Fastboot for pine (codename Redmi 7A) from the XDA Developers forum.
2. Unlock the bootloader via Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Xiaomi account and wait 7 days).
3. Install firmware through the Mi Flash Tool in Clean All mode.

💡

Updating your firmware is the biggest performance boost, but it comes with risks, and if you're not confident, you'd better stay on the official MIUI 12.5 and optimize it according to the instructions above.

6.Reset to factory settings: when it really helps

If all previous methods fail, it's a hard reset, which will bring the phone back out of the box, removing all user data and settings. Redmi 7A is noticeably faster after reset, but there are nuances:

When a discharge is justified:

• 🐢 Phone brakes even after cleaning the cache and turning off animations.
• 📱 Applications spontaneously close or fly out.
• 🔄 The system takes longer to load. 2-3 minute.

How to do the reset correctly:

1. Save important data (photos, contacts, messages) to a memory card or cloud.
2. Go to Settings → About Phone → Resetting → Erase all data.
3. Choose Clear everything and confirm the action.
4. After the reboot, do not restore data from the backup – this will return old problems.

⚠️ If after resetting the phone again started to brake after a week, the problem is in the hardware (wearing out memory, faulty battery or overheating of the processor), in this case, only repair will help.

7 Hardware Methods: When Software Optimization Does Not Help

If the Redmi 7A is slowing down even after all the settings, it's the hardware.

Replacement of thermopaste

Over time, the heat paste between the processor and the radiator dries up, leading to overheating and thermal throttling.

• The phone is heated even when it is simple.
• Performance drops after 5-10 minutes of play.
• Charging is slow (due to the shutdown of fast charging during overheating).

To replace:

1. Buy a thermopaste Arctic MX-4 or KPT-8.
2. Take the phone apart (needs a mediator and a T3 screwdriver).
3. Clean the old paste with alcohol, apply the new thin layer.

7.2. Increase memory via microSD card

If you have a 16GB model, you can extend it with a microSD card (up to 256GB), but there’s a caveat: the Redmi 7A doesn’t support Adoptable Storage, so:

• Use an A1 or A2 class card to speed up reading.
• Transfer only media files (photos, videos, music) to it.
• Don’t install apps on the map – they’ll run slower!

Replacement of the battery

A worn-out battery (capacity below 70%) can cause sudden shutdowns and brakes, and you can check the status of the battery through the AccuBattery app or from the engineering menu:

#4636### → Information about the battery

If the wear level is more than 30%, it's time to change the battery.The original battery for the Redmi 7A is BM47 (3000 mAh).

8. Alternative firmware: is it worth putting a caste

If you're willing to take risks, you can install custom firmware like LineageOS or Pixel Experience, which is lighter than standard MIUI and doesn't contain any unnecessary Xiaomi services.

The advantages of custom firmware:

• ⚡ Higher productivity (up to 40% increase).
• 🆕 Security updates (monthly patches).
• 🚫 No advertising and unnecessary applications.

Cons:

• ⚠️ Loss of guarantee.
• ⚠️ Risk of “bricking” (turning the phone into a “brick»).
• ⚠️ Certain functions (e.g, IR Blaster may not work.

If you decide, follow the instructions with XDA Developers or 4PDA. For Redmi 7A, Android 10/11 firmware is suitable.

⚠️ Before installing custom firmware, be sure to make a NANDroid backup through TWRP Recovery. Without it, it's impossible to restore your phone if it crashes!

FAQ: Frequent questions about Redmi 7A acceleration