How to Increase Xiaomi Phone Performance: A Complete 2026 Guide

Your Xiaomi is slowing down, apps are slow to open, and animations are twitching? That's no reason to run to the service center. In 90% of cases, the problem is solved by software methods - without disassembling the device and replacing components. Even the low-end Redmi or Poco models can run faster if you set them up properly. MIUI and optimize background processes.

Smartphone performance depends on three key factors: RAM load, storage state, and firmware efficiency. In this article, we’ll look at unique techniques for Xiaomi that don’t work on other Android devices — such as hidden settings. MIUI Optimization or cache management features in the shell, you will learn how to bring back the old “shwing” even older models like the Redmi Note 5 or Mi 8, without resorting to radical measures like flashing.

Important: All methods tested on current versions MIUI 14/15 (Android 13/14) and compatible with most of the brand's devices. 2019 Some items may require adaptation - we will warn about this separately.

1.Diagnostics: Why Xiaomi is slowing down?

Before optimizing, you need to understand the root of the problem. Xiaomi often suffers from:

• 🔋 Overloaded autoload — MIUI aggressively adds apps to auto-run, even if you don’t use them.
• 🗑️ Clogged cache - system cache (/data/dalvik-cache) and the cache of applications can take up to 5-7 GB.
• 🔄 Background activity — MIUI Hiding part of the process from the standard task manager.
• 🛠️ Unoptimized animations – the shell defaults to heavy transitions that slow down on weak chips.

To accurately identify the bottleneck, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI and tap 7 times on the "Kerole" line - this will turn on the developer mode.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers and find Process Statistics (or Use of RAM).
3. Look at which apps consume the most memory in the background, if there are messengers or social networks at the top, there is a problem with booting, if system processes (com.miui.home, android.system) need to clear the cache.

The critical point: if you see the statistics of the processes kswapd0 or kworker with a high load on CPU — This is a sign of a degradation of flash memory, and in this case, only replacing the drive or completely resetting with flashing will help.

2. Cleaning the system: remove garbage and cache

MIUI It's known for actively cacheing data, but rarely cleaning it automatically. 6-12 A smartphone can choke on unnecessary files for months of use. Here's how to fix it without losing data:

Clearing the application cache

The safest way is to remove the cache for all applications at once:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select Sort by size.
3. Select apps with large cache (usually YouTube, Telegram, Google Play Services) and click Clear Cache.

For deep cleaning, use a hidden function MIUI:

Enter the dialer in ##4636##


Select "Use Statistics" → "Use of RAM"




Click Clear Cache (this will remove dalvik-cache, which is equivalent to rebooting in recovery with wipe cache)

System debris disposal

MIUI creates temporary files that are not automatically deleted:

• 📁 Use a file manager (such as Mi File Manager) and go to the folder /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/ — delete all contents.
• 🗑️ Find it in the same file. /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/ and delete the folders of applications that you have deleted long ago (they can stay and take up space).
• 🔍 To search for large files, use the command in ADB: adb shell du -ah /sdcard/ | sort -rh | head -n 20 It'll show the top.-20 the heaviest files on the device.

💡

If you clean the cache, it's normal to slow down the applications, and the system will restore the data that it needs. 1-2 The day of use, but without the "junk" residues.

2.3 Cleaning through Safe Mode

If the smartphone is slowing down so much that it does not respond to commands, try safe mode:

1. Press the power button before the off menu appears.
2. Press and hold the “Switch off” option – a suggestion will appear to go to Safe Mode.
3. This mode has disabled all third-party apps, and if the phone is fast, it's one of the apps that you've installed that's to blame.

Backup of important data|Check the battery charge (minimum 50%)|Remember logins/passwords from accounts|Disable two-factor authentication for 1 hour (in case of blocking)-->

3. MIUI Optimization: Hidden Performance Settings

MIUI It has hidden functions that are not visible in the standard interface, and activating them can significantly speed up the smartphone.

3.1. Shutdown MIUI Optimization

This feature is designed to be smooth in animations, but on weak devices, it only slows down the system.

1. Activate the Developer Mode (as in Section 1).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Find the items: Disable MIUI Optimization (or) MIUI Optimization) Limit background processes (set “No background processes” or “Maximum 2 processes”) Window animation, transition animation, animation scale – set the value to Disable animation or 0.5x

Attention: on some firmware disconnection MIUI Optimization can cause themes to fail. If the theme is lost after the reboot, return the settings and use alternative methods.

Configuring the task scheduler

MIUI It kills the background aggressively, but sometimes it interferes with multitasking:

Change in performance mode

V MIUI There are hidden performance profiles that can be activated through ADB:

adb shell settings put global power_profile 1 # Economy mode


adb shell settings put global power_profile 2 # Balanced (default)




adb shell settings put global power_profile 3 # Performance




adb shell settings put global power_profile 4 # Game mode (maximum frequency CPU/GPU)

For continuous use of the game mode (relevant to the Poco F-series or Black Shark):

adb shell settings put global force_game_mode 1

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Changing the productivity profile through ADB It resets after the reboot. Use Tasker or MacroDroid automation for permanent effect.

4.Manage autoload and background processes

One of the main reasons for the brakes is the auto-run of unnecessary applications. MIUI By default, it allows autoloading of almost all programs, including Xiaomi system services, which are often not needed.

Manual shutdown of the autoload

Method 1: Through Security Settings

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Autorun.
2. Sort the applications by the date of last use.
3. Turn off autoplay for all apps you don’t use daily (especially Facebook, AliExpress, Mi Video, and other heavyweight services).

Method 2: ADB (for advanced users)

adb shell cmd appops set < application package > RUN_ANY_IN_BACKGROUND deny


Example for Telegram:




adb shell cmd appops set org.telegram.messenger RUN_ANY_IN_BACKGROUND deny

4.2.Use of Greenify (without root)

Greenify allows you to freeze background processes without superuser rights.

1. Install Greenify from Google Play.
2. Activate the no root mode in the application settings.
3. Add to the list of “winter” messengers, social networks and other applications that should not work in the background.
4. Enable the Aggressive Doze option (required) ADB): adb shell dumpsys deviceidle force-idle

Limitation of synchronization

Background synchronization is one of the main causes of battery and brake discharge, and disable it for unnecessary accounts:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Synchronization.
2. Select an account (such as Mi Account or Google).
3. Turn off sync for unnecessary data (e.g. Mi Cloud Photos or Google Play Music).

Use of swap zone (Swap)

If you don't have enough RAM (2-3 GB, you can create a paging file on internal memory, and it's not a substitute for physical RAM, but it can help you avoid killing background processes.

Instructions (root or Magisk required):

1. Install a terminal (e.g., Termux).


2. Enter commands:




su




dd if=/dev/zero of=/data/swapfile bs=1M count=1024




mkswap /data/swapfile




swapon /data/swapfile




3. To make swap constant, add a line to /etc/fstab:




/data/swapfile none swap sw 0 0

Attention: a swap file on flash memory will speed up the wear of the drive. Do not use this method constantly - only in emergency cases (for example, to start a heavy game — 1-2 GB.

Dalvik optimization and ART

Android system uses the Dalvik/ART Optimizing these components can speed up the launch of programs on the 15-20%:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slap three points. → Show system-based.
3. Find Dalvik Cache and ART, clean their cache and data.
4. Restart the phone – the system will reassemble the cache, which may take 5-10 minute.

6 Hardware Methods: When Software Optimization Does Not Help

If all of these methods fail, the problem may be in the hardware, and here's what you can do without disassembling the device:

Checking the status of the storage device

Degradation of flash memory (eMMC or UFS) — The reason for the brakes on old Xiaomi is frequent. ADB:

adb shell


su




cat /sys/block/mmcblk0/device/life_time

Compare the values obtained with the table:

Replacement of heat-conducting paste

Overheating of the processor (Snapdragon or Mediatek) leads to trottling - artificially reduced performance.If your Xiaomi heats up above 60°C in simple tasks may have dried thermopaste.

Signs of a problem:

• 🌡️ The phone is heating up even in standby mode.
• ⚡ Productivity is falling through 10-15 play-off.
• 🔋 The battery is discharged for 2-3 hourly with minimum load.

So the solution is to replace the heat paste.

1. Buy a high quality paste (such as Arctic) MX-6 Or the Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut).
2. Disassemble your phone (see YouTube for instructions for your model for “disassembly model”).
3. Clean the old paste from the processor and radiator (use isopropyl alcohol).
4. Apply the new paste in a thin layer (as thick as a sheet of paper).

Warning: Disassembling your phone is not warranty-free. If your device is warranty-free, contact your service center with a complaint about overheating, which is legally required to replace the heat paste free of charge if the problem is confirmed.

Disconnection of unused modules

Xiaomi often has hardware modules that you don’t use, but they consume resources:

• 📡 NFC — If you do not use contactless payments, disable in Settings → Connections → NFC.
• 📶 5G — on budget models (Redmi Note 10) 5G) module 5G It increases energy consumption. 4G In Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Type of network.
• 🎮 Game Triggers – on Poco and Black Shark, turn off Settings → Additionally. → Gaming functions.
• 🔊 Second microphone – if you don’t use stereo recording, turn off the engineering menu: ##36446337## → Audio → Mic Setting → Mic Mode → Mono

7. Alternative firmware: when MIUI self-retard

If all the techniques didn't work, it might be the firmware itself that's to blame. Xiaomi is known for downloading MIUI a lot of unnecessary services (especially on global versions:

7.1. Transition to EU-version MIUI

Xiaomi.eu is a modified version of the MIUI No bloatware, and better optimization:

• 🚀 No Advertising in System Applications.
• 🔒 More privacy settings.
• ⚡ Updates are more common than on the global version.
• 🛠️ Built-in tools for cleaning the system.

How to determine:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (instructions on the official website).
2. Download the firmware from Xiaomi.eu (choose the version for your model!).
3. Install it through TWRP (Castom Recovery).

Note: Some models (Redmi Note 11 and later) require a 7-day Mi Account to be linked to the device to unlock the bootloader.

Installation of custom firmware (AOSP)

If MIUI It is not very good, you can install a clean Android (AOSP) Or firmware like LineageOS, Pixel Experience:

• 📱 No unnecessary services Xiaomi.
• 🔄 More smooth animation.
• 🔒 Better privacy.

Cons:

• ⚠️ The camera may not work (you need separate modes like this). ANX Camera).
• 🔋 Possible deterioration of autonomy.
• 🛠️ No official support (updates coming from community).

List of supported devices and instructions look for XDA Developers.

Recoil on the old version MIUI

Sometimes new versions MIUI If you've got the brakes after the upgrade, you can roll back:

1. Download the required firmware version from miuirom.org.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
3. Slap the icon «⋮» → Select a firmware file and specify the downloaded file.
4. Confirm the rollback (the data will not be erased, but it is recommended to make a backup).

💡

Reverse to the old version MIUI It can only be done within a single major update (e.g., with a MIUI 14.0.5 by 14.0.3) Moving to an older branch (e.g. with MIUI 15. MIUI 14) requires full flashing via fastboot.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi optimization