How to increase the performance of Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: from cleaning the cache to hidden settings MIUI

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro with its Mediatek Helio G90T processor and 6/8 GB of RAM is still one of the most popular budget smartphones for gaming and multi-tasking. However, over time, even this “iron monster” begins to slow down: applications open for a long time, games are tweaked, and the system suddenly “thinks”, the reasons lie not only in battery wear or overheating, but also in the settings of MIUI, background software and unoptimized processes.

In this article, we will explore the unique Redmi Note 8 Pro acceleration methods that go beyond the banal cache cleaning: We will examine hidden MIUI features, hardware tricks for gamers, alternative firmware, and even physical cooling methods, all of which are tested on current versions of MIUI 12-14 and do not require root rights (except for one section).

1.Diagnostics of current performance

Before optimizing a smartphone, you need to understand what exactly is slowing it down, using built-in and third-party tools:

• 📊 MIUI Benchmark: Enter #4636## in your phone number and select Testing» → «Benchmarking. Compare the results with the benchmarks for Helio G90T (monothreaded ~2500, multithreaded ~8,000 in Antutu).
• 🔍 CPU Monitor (application): tracks the loading of processor cores in real time. №1-4 constantly loaded on 80%+ — background-software.
• 🌡️ Temperature: Use it AIDA64 or CPU Thermometer, above 50.°C Helio G90T Begins trottling (forced frequency reduction).

Typical "symptoms" for the Redmi Note 8 Pro:

⚠️ Attention: If in AIDA64 You can see that the CPU frequency is fixed at 1.8 GHz instead of 2.05 GHz, which is a sign of hardware trottling. + Replacement of thermopaste (section 6).

System Cleanup: What to Delete First

MIUI is known for its "junk" background software, and even after being reset to factory settings, it generates up to 1.5GB of cache in a week, starting with a safe cleanup.

• 🧹 App cache: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Sort by cache size. Delete the cache from Google Play Services, MIUI System and Browser.
• 🗑️ System garbage: use the built-in Security app → Special attention to the Deep Clean section (deletes residual files after uninstallation).
• 📦 APK-Files and updates: in the folder /sdcard/Download and /sdcard/MIUI/backup often accumulate unnecessary APK weight 500 MB.
• 👻 Duplicates and empty folders: Files by Google finds duplicate photos/videos and suggests combining them.

For advanced users:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.analytics # Removes the MIUI statistics collector


adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.midrop # Removes MIUI Drop (if not used)

⚠️ Note: Do not remove system applications through ADB, If you're not sure what they're doing, for example, deleting com.miui.securitycenter could lead to a system crash!

3. MIUI Optimization: Hidden Settings for Speed

MIUI 12-14 contains dozens of hidden performance-impact parameters, most of which are hidden in the developer menu and secret codes:

• ⚡ Animation: Enable Developer Mode (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → Tap 7 times, then in Settings → Additionally. → For developers, disable: Windows animation (select No animation) Transition animation (off) Animation scale (0.5x)
• 🔄 Background activity: In the same developer menu, limit background processes to 2–3 (default 4).
• 🎮 Performance mode: enter in dial ##4636## → «Battery information» → In the menu (three points), select Performance mode.
• 📶 Network: Turn off automatic search for Wi-Fi networks and mobile data in Settings → Wi-Fi → Additionally.

For gamers:

In Game Turbo (called by swipe sideways in the game) activate:

• Productivity → Tall.
• Tactile recoil → Enhanced (for shooters)
• Locking touch buttons (to avoid falling out of the game)

💡

If after the update MIUI smartphone began to slow down, try to roll back to the previous version via fastboot.

4. Operational Memory Management (RAM)

The Redmi Note 8 Pro has 6 or 8GB of RAM, but MIUI aggressively kills background processes.

• 🔄 Turn off the autoclean. RAM: Settings → Battery and productivity → Memory management → Autocleaning → turn off.
• 📱 Lock apps in memory: in multitasking, swipe down on the app icon and select “Preserve».
• 🚫 Blacklist for cleaning: in Safety → Cleanup → Settings add to the exceptions messengers and navigators.
• 🔧 Manual swap setting: If you have a memory card installed, activate Settings → Additionally. → Virtual memory (requires microSD formatting as internal memory).

To check the effectiveness, use the command:

adb shell dumpsys meminfo

Look for MemFree – if the value is less than 500 MB, the system is experiencing a memory deficit.

5. Firmware and alternative firmware

Stock MIUI is often overloaded with unnecessary services, and alternative firmware can deliver up to 30% performance gains, but requires unlocking the bootloader.

• 🔄 Update to the last MIUI: Check the current version in the settings → The phone. → System Update: Redmi Note 8 Pro Latest Stable Version — MIUI 14 (Android 12).
• 📦 Pixel Experience: pure Android without bloatware, but lost features MIUI (LineageOS: stable but without full camera support (requires a separate module) ANX Camera). Xiaomi.EU: MIUI without Chinese software, with advanced performance settings.
• ⚠️ Risks: Unofficial firmware can lead to loss IMEI or camera problems (especially on Helio) G90T).

Instructions for installation of Xiaomi.EU:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires an account binding Mi).
2. Install TWRP for begonia (codename Redmi Note 8 Pro).
3. Download the firmware from Xiaomi.eu and run through TWRP (wipe Dalvik/Cache before installation).

Hardware methods: cooling and replacement of thermal paste

Helio G90T It's known for its heat generation, and for long periods of time (games, video rendering), temperatures can reach 70 to 80.°C, what causes trottling. Solutions:

• 🧊 External cooling: Use a radiator with a fan (such as Black Shark FunCooler Pro). paste the heat pad on the back cover (thickness 1-1.5 mm).
• 🔧 Replace the heat paste: Disassemble the phone (requires a mediator and a hair dryer to peel off the lid). Remove the old paste from the processor and apply a new one (Arctic). MX-4 Check the heat pads on the memory chips, which often dry out.
• 🔋 Battery calibration: If the phone turns off at 30-40%, complete the full discharge/charging cycle (0-100%) 2-3 times.

To check the temperature, use:

adb shell cat /sys/class/thermal/thermal_zone*/temp

Normal values:

• thermal_zone0 (CPU): before 50°C in plain, until 70°C under load.
• thermal_zone1 (GPU): before 65°C in games.

⚠️ Note: When replacing the thermopaste, do not use liquid metal (for example, Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut) - it conducts electricity and can close contacts on the Redmi Note 8 Pro board!

7. Firmware rollback and factory reset

If all methods failed, the last chance is a full reset or rollback to the old version of MIUI. This is true if the lags appeared after the update.

Resetting instructions:

1. Save data (photos, contacts) to your PC or cloud.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select “Erase all data” and confirm.
4. After the reboot, don’t restore the backup – set up the phone as new.

For the rollback of firmware via fastboot:

fastboot flash boot boot.img


fastboot flash system system.img




fastboot flash vendor vendor.img




fastboot reboot

Download the correct version MIUI From the official website (select) begonia_global).

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A retracement to MIUI 12 instead of MIUI 14 can give you up to 15% performance, but you’ll lose new features like Super Wallpaper and an improved camera.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the performance of the Redmi Note 8 Pro