How to increase the performance of Xiaomi Redmi Note 9: the complete guide

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9, released in 2020, is still a popular device due to its balance between price and functionality. However, with the release of new versions of the MIUI shell and the update of heavy applications, owners often notice a decrease in responsiveness of the interface and a drop in the number of frames per second in games.

In this article, we will discuss proven methods that will help to return the device to its former speed without the need to buy a new gadget. System optimization is a comprehensive approach that includes software settings, cleaning storage and competent management of background processes. Even on a budget processor MediaTek Helio G85, you can achieve stable operation if you configure the software environment correctly.

Before we go to radical measures like a full reset, we should try the less aggressive methods of tuning. Reducing the animation of the interface to 0.5x visually doubles the perceived speed of the smartphone. Let's take a detailed look at each step of acceleration of your device.

Analysis of the current state and cleaning of the storage

The first step in the struggle for performance is to free up RAM and RAM, which is when internal storage is over 85% full, the speed of writing and reading data drops critically, causing friezes and long downloads of applications. Android uses some of the free memory as a buffer to caching frequently used data, and the lack of this space slows down all work.

Owners of Redmi Note 9 need to regularly check the Download folder and cache of messengers such as Telegram or WhatsApp, which can take up several gigabytes of useless space. Xiaomi’s standard Security app does a good job of basic cleaning, but for deep analysis it is better to use specialized snails or manual method through the file manager.

The effect of bloated application cache on overall system stability should not be ignored, and periodic cleaning of heavy programs helps to eliminate errors in their operation, which often manifest themselves in the form of hangings.

• 🗑️ Remove unused apps that you haven’t run for more than a month – they often have background services.
• 📸 Transfer photos and videos to a cloud service or computer, freeing up at least 5 GB of internal drive.
• 🧹 Use the Cleanup feature in a standard security application, but don’t abuse aggressive memory cleaners. RAM.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete system files or folders with unknown names at the root of internal memory manually, this can lead to unstable work. MIUI and the need for reflashing.

Optimizing the MIUI interface and disabling advertising

MIUI shell is famous for its functionality, but is also known for having built-in advertising and heavy widgets that load the processor.MSA (MIUI System Ads) advertising service consumes processor resources and Internet traffic, even when you just flip through the desktop.Switching off ads is not only a matter of comfort, but also a real way to improve the performance of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9.

First, you need to disable personalized recommendations in system applications, this is done through the settings of the Mi Account and in the menu of each system application separately, and you should also remove the heavy live wallpaper and high-resolution weather widgets, as they constantly poll. GPS-module and network, interfering with background tasks.

💡

Use static dark wallpaper on AMOLED-screens (if screened) AMOLED) or just black wallpaper for LCD, to reduce the load on the graphics processor when drawing the desktop.

Visual effects such as blurring the background in the menu or complex transitions also take computing power away from the PowerVR GE8320 graphics accelerator.Simplifying visual style will make navigation through the menu more instantaneous.

• 🚫 Shut down the service. MSA in the settings "Password and security" →"Access to personal data".
• 🌐 In the "Security" application, find the settings and disable "Receive recommendations".
• 🎨 Install a Classic or Lite theme that consumes less resources than standard animation themes.

⚠️ Note: When system advertising services are disabled, the interface may become less responsive in the first seconds while the system rebuilds the cache, but in the long run this will give an increase in speed.

Secret settings in the menu "For developers"

The hidden developer menu contains tools that allow you to fine-tune the behavior of the Android operating system. By default, these settings are hidden from the ordinary user to prevent accidental damage to the system, but activating them correctly changing is the key to accelerating the Redmi Note 9. To log in, you need to click several times on the build number in the About Phone section.

One of the most effective measures is to scale animations. The standard 1x means that the transitions between windows last for standard time. Reducing this value to 0.5x or completely shutting down makes the interface "twitchy" but incredibly fast to the touch. You can also limit the number of background processes, which will free up RAM for active applications.

Another important parameter is the choice of the OpenGL driver or the rendering setting. For game scenarios, you can try to force on 4x MSAA (aliasing), but on a budget processor Helio G85, this can, on the contrary, reduce performance in heavy games due to overheating, so this option requires testing.

Managing Autoboot and Background Services

Many apps that are installed by the user prescribe themselves to boot, which means that they start working immediately after the smartphone is turned on, consuming valuable CPU and RAM resources. In the Redmi Note 9 environment, where RAM is often 3 or 4 GB, each megabyte counts.

MIUI has a built-in auto-run control mechanism that prevents unnecessary programs from running with the system, and it’s worth checking application permissions: if a flashlight requires geolocation access and a calculator requires contacts, this is not only suspicious from a security standpoint, but also indicates poor software optimization.

It is recommended to audit installed applications and disable auto-run for anything that is not critical (messaging, alarm, antivirus).Social networks and games should not work in the background unless you expect them to provide instant notifications in real time.

• 🚀 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Autostart and turn off all the excess.
• 🔋 In the Battery menu, set the power saving mode for background applications on the Hard Limit".
• 📱 Remove pre-installed bLOATWARE (Unnecessary software from Google and Xiaomi, if you have root rights or use it ADB.

⚠️ Note: Do not disable system services that you do not know the name of (for example, MIUI Daemon or Google Play Services, otherwise the phone may go into a cyclical reboot or stop catching the network.

Game Optimization and Game Turbo

For gamers, Xiaomi has a Game Turbo mode that aggregates system resources for running a game, and when activated, the system prioritizes gameplay, limiting the background activity of other applications and clearing memory, which allows you to squeeze the maximum out of the PowerVR graphics chip.

In Game Turbo settings, you can add manually even apps that the system did not recognize as games, and within the mode, you can adjust the touchscreen sensitivity and block notifications, which is critical for a comfortable game, and you can activate network acceleration, although its effectiveness depends on the quality of the operator's signal.

But you have to understand the physical limitations of the device. The Helio G85 is not a flagship, and in heavy projects like Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile, it will heat up at high settings. When the critical temperature is reached, trottling will go off, and the FPS will fall.

• 🎮 Add the game to Game Turbo via the sidebar to activate performance profiles.
• 🌡️ Remove the case during long gaming sessions for better heat sink.
• 📉 In the game schedule settings, select priority High FPS", not "High resolution".

Cardinal measures: Resetting and flashing

If the software methods didn't work, the last and most effective way is to completely reset the factory settings (Factory Reset), which deletes all user data, settings and applications, returning the smartphone to a "store-like" state. Often, it is the accumulated file system errors that cause the lags over the years.

Before you reset, make sure to back up your important data to your Mi Cloud or computer. The process takes about 10-15 minutes, after which you get a clean system. The alternative is to install custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), which lacks the heavy shell of MIUI and works much faster on old hardware.

💡

Complete resetting of settings through Recovery Mode is the most effective way to eliminate software conflicts that have accumulated over the long time of using a smartphone.

Installing custom firmware requires unlocking the bootloader, which is officially possible through the Xiaomi website, but takes time (from 7 days), which extends the life of the device for a year or two, allowing you to get fresh versions of Android, which official support no longer provides.

• 💾 Backup contacts, photos and messages before resetting.
• 🔓 Unlocking the bootloader voids the warranty (if it is still relevant) and requires waiting.
• 🔄 After reset, do not install all applications at once - only put what is necessary so as not to overload the system again.