Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro, released in 2018, is still a popular device due to the successful balance of characteristics and price, but over time, even powerful hardware begins to experience difficulties with modern heavy applications. Users often notice that the interface begins to slow down, and the launch of games takes longer than before, which is a natural process of accumulation of system debris and the obsolescence of software algorithms. device owners are in no hurry to buy a new gadget, preferring to prolong the life of their favorite device with the help of competent software optimization and cleaning.
In this article, we will discuss proven methods that will help you get back to speed without having to flash or replace hardware components. We will touch on both standard settings of the MIUI shell and hidden system parameters available through the developer menu, which will allow you to comprehensively approach the problem of low performance.
Analysis and release of internal storage
The first and most critical factor affecting the speed of any Android smartphone is the internal memory filling, as a crowded drive leaves the system no room for temporary files and cache. When free space falls below 10-15%, the speed of writing and reading data is sharply reduced, which causes friezes and long downloads of applications, so regular cleaning is a must. You need not just remove unnecessary photos, but also check which applications take up the most space.
To clean up effectively, use the built-in Security → Cleanup tool, which automatically finds duplicates, large files and remnants of deleted programs. However, automation does not always see everything, so it is worth manually checking the folders of messengers such as Telegram or WhatsApp, where gigabytes of watched videos and images often accumulate.
☑️ Memory check
Special attention should be paid to the cache of applications, which can grow to unimaginable sizes, taking up precious gigabytes. Clearing the cache through the settings of a particular application or through the storage menu allows you to instantly free up space without erasing your personal data and logins.
⚠️ Warning: Don’t use the dubious accelerator apps from Play Market that promise miraculous acceleration, which consume the system’s resources and often contain intrusive advertising, which will only make the performance situation worse.
Optimization of animations and MIUI interface
The MIUI shell is known for its beautiful but heavy animations that, on a mid-range processor, can create the illusion of a slow system. Disabling or shortening the duration of these effects is the easiest way to visually speed up the Redmi Note 6 Pro without losing functionality.
To access hidden speed settings, you need to activate the developer mode. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7 times on the MIUI version until you see a message about successful activation. After that, a new section “For Developers” will appear in the “Additional” menu.
Within this section, find the subsection related to drawing or animation, and change the settings for Windows Animation, Transition Animation, and Animation Duration. Set 0.5x or completely disable animation (No animation), which will make the menu work more sharp.
- ⚡ Windows animation: responsible for the speed of opening and closing applications.
- ⚡ Transition animation: Affects switching between desktops and menus.
- ⚡ Animator Scale: Determines the overall duration of the system’s visual effects.
Also on the developer menu, you can find the option “Background Process”, where you can limit the number of applications running in the background. Setting the limit “No more than 2 processes” will help free up RAM, but note that this can lead to more frequent reboot of background programs such as a navigator or music player.
Managing Autoboot and Background Processes
Many Android apps tend to run automatically when the system starts or stay active in the background to receive notifications, which puts a constant strain on the processor. On the Redmi Note 6 Pro with its RAM capacity, this can be critical, so controlling autoboot is an important part of optimization.
In the battery settings, look for the “Energy Saving” or “Applications” option where you can adjust the behavior of each program. For rarely used applications that do not need to work constantly (such as games or photo editors), set the “No Limits” mode with caution, but rather select “Limit background activity”.
Google's Hidden Services
Don't forget to check the AutoRun section of the Security app, where you can manually disable apps you don't need right after you turn on your phone, which will significantly speed up the operating system's loading and reduce initial battery consumption.
| Type of application | Recommended status | Impact on speed |
|---|---|---|
| Messengers | Allow auto-start | High (notification required) |
| Games | Banned | Medium (savings RAM) |
| Social media. | Prohibit (unless notification is required) | High (constant data exchange) |
| Banking applications | Banned | Low (launched on demand) |
Disabling Advertising and System Services
One of the features of the MIUI shell is the built-in advertising in system applications, which not only annoys, but also consumes traffic and CPU resources to download banner ads. Disabling advertising services is a must for the owner of Xiaomi, who wants to increase the responsiveness of the interface.
To do this, you need to disable the MSA (MIUI System Ads) service. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Access to personal data, find in the msa list and turn off the slider. The system will try to dissuade you several times, insisting on the need for service, but you need to wait 10 seconds and confirm the disconnection.
You should also go through the built-in applications such as Music, Themes, Explorer and Downloads, and find the Receive Recommends or Show Ads switch in their settings, and disabling these options will make working with system software cleaner and faster.
💡
After disabling the msa service, Internet advertising in folders and system windows will disappear, but in the browser and third-party applications it can remain - this requires separate solutions, for example, in the browser and third-party applications, DNS-filter.
In addition, it is recommended to disable unnecessary system widgets and live wallpaper, which constantly consume GPU resources.Static wallpaper and minimalist desktop are the best choice for accelerating an old device.
Resetting settings and clean installation of updates
If the software cleaning didn’t produce the desired results, it may be that critical errors or file conflicts have accumulated in the system after multiple updates, in which case the most radical but effective method is a complete factory reset.
Before performing this procedure, be sure to back up all important data, as all photos, contacts and installed apps will be deleted in the process. Once reset, the phone will return to the state it was in immediately after purchase, which often works wonders with performance.
An alternative to a full reset is to manually update your firmware through Recovery. Download the current version of the software from the official website, place the archive at the root of internal memory, and select the "Select File" option in the update menu. Reinstallation of the system on top of the current one can fix corrupted system files without losing data.
⚠️ Warning: Before resetting, make sure the battery is at least 60% charged. Interrupting the reset or flashing process due to battery discharge may make it impossible to turn on the device.
Using Developer Mode for Games
For gamers trying to make the most of the Redmi Note 6 Pro, there are a few specific settings on the developer menu.While this smartphone is not a gaming flagship, the right configuration can add a few FPSs in heavy scenes.
Find the Preferred Mode or Game Launcher option (if available in your MIUI version) and make sure that the game is running on performance mode rather than power saving. You can also try turning off HW overlay, forcing the GPU to always use its power for rendering, although this will increase battery consumption.
Another useful setting is “Do Not Save Actions” in the Applications section, and if you activate this option, the system will completely unload the application from memory as soon as you leave it, which will free up maximum resources for the game that is currently running, but will require you to reload the applications every time you switch.
Physical maintenance and temperature
We must not forget that software acceleration is meaningless if the device suffers from physical problems such as overheating or battery degradation. Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro — the device is not new, and over the years of operation the thermal paste inside could dry and radiators clogged with dust.
When the processor overheats, it automatically reduces its frequencies (trotling) to avoid burning, which manifests itself in sharp falls in FPS and interface lags. If the phone warms even in simple, you should think about cleaning the internal components or replacing the thermal interface in the service center.
Also, a worn-out battery may not produce the necessary current under load, causing sudden shutdowns or slowdowns. You can check the status of the battery through an engineering menu or special applications, and if you have a severe degradation (residual capacity below 70%), replacing the battery will return the phone to a second life.