How to Increase Speed on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Optimizing MIUI

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones are slowing down over time, even on flagship models, for reasons ranging from overloaded memory to unoptimized background processes, but 90% of the time, the problem can be solved without flashing or buying a new device.

This article is not just a collection of tips, but a step-by-step algorithm explaining why each method works. We will examine both software tricks (hidden MIUI settings, disabling unnecessary services) and hardware constraints (thermodrosselling, wear and tear of flash memory), especially the Redmi Note and POCO models, which are most often affected by lags due to aggressive pricing policies of Xiaomi.

Important: all methods are tested on current versions of MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS. If your smartphone runs on an older firmware, some items may not be on the menu - we will warn you about this in advance.

1.Diagnostics: why Xiaomi started to slow down

Before optimizing, you need to understand the root of the problem. Brakes on Xiaomi are divided into 3 categories:

• 🔋 Hardware: battery wear (reduces performance at a discharge below 20%), processor overheating, degraded flash memory (typical for budget models after 2-3 years of use).
• 📱 Software: overloaded cache, MIUI background processes, viruses, unoptimized applications.
• 🔄 System: outdated firmware, Android kernel failures, conflicts after updates.

To determine your case:

1. Start Settings → About Phone → System Status → Diagnostics. Pay attention to the CPU Use and Temperature.
2. Install the Throttling Test CPU app from the Play Market – it will show if the system is limiting performance due to overheating.
3. Check the space available in the Settings → Storage section. If less than 10%, it is critical.

Critical information: on models Redmi Note 8/9 Pro and POCO X3 often found defect of the memory controller, which leads to "freezes" when recording video in 4K. This is a hardware problem - optimization of software will not help.

System Cleanup: What Can Be Removed Without Risk

The first step is to make room and remove debris, but it's important not to overdo it: MIUI is actively using cache to speed up work.

• 🧹 App cache: Clean only for programs that are clearly slowing down. Complete cache cleanup in Settings → Storage → Cleanup will delete authorization data and temporary messenger files.
• 🗑️ Unnecessary APK: The /sdcard/Download folder often stores outdated versions of applications. Delete them through any file manager.
• 📁 Duplicate photos: Use the built-in Gallery app → Control → Duplicates. On HyperOS models, this feature works more accurately.
• 🎮 Gaming Cache: Games like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile can take up to 10GB. Clear the cache through Settings → Apps → [game name] → Storage.

⚠️ Warning: Do not delete the /sdcard/MIUI folder completely, as this will cause the themes and system sounds to fail, and avoid cleaning the /sdcard/Android/obb folder unless you plan to reinstall games.

3. MIUI Optimization: Hidden Performance Settings

MIUI has a lot of hidden features that Xiaomi doesn’t advertise, some of which directly affect the speed of work.

Activate these options through Settings → Special features → Developer settings (if there is no item, tap 7 times on the MIUI version in the About Phone section):

• ⚡ Disable animation: Set all three animation settings (Window Animation Score, Transition Animation Score, Animator Duration) on Off or 0.5x.
• 🔄 Limit background processes: Select Process Maximum 2 (for 4 GB of RAM) or Process Maximum 3 (for 6+ GB of RAM).
• 📶 Turn off automatic synchronization: This will reduce the load on the processor when running in the background.
• 🔋 Enable "Do not turn off the screen while charging": Useful for performance testing.

For models on HyperOS (e.g. Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70):

1. Go to Settings → Battery → Performance mode.
2. Choose High Performance (instead of Balanced).
3. Activate the Game Turbo Mode even if you are not playing – it optimizes resource allocation.

⚠️ Warning: On devices with a battery capacity below 3000 mAh (e.g., Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite), enabling high performance mode will reduce battery life by 20-30%. Use it only when connected to charging.

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If after changing the developer settings, the smartphone began to overheat, return the “Restriction of Background Processes” option to the default value and instead turn off auto-start for unnecessary applications manually.

4.Manage autoload and background processes

One of the main reasons for MIUI brakes is aggressive auto-run of system and third-party applications, which, even after closing, continue to operate in the background, consuming RAM and battery power.

How to fix it:

1. Turn off autoplay for unnecessary apps: Settings → Applications → Application Management → [select app] → Autorun Pay special attention to: Mi Video, Mi Browser, GetApps, Mi Pay, Mi Community.
2. Limit your work in the background: In the same app management menu, select Permissions → Background work and set Restricted for all applications except messengers and navigators.
3. Turn off notifications: Many apps wake up to check notifications. Go to Settings → Notifications and turn off unnecessary ones.

For advanced users:

• 🛠️ Use ADB for deep optimization: adb shell cmd appops set [package_name] RUN_ANY_IN_BACKGROUND deny Replace [package_name] to the name of the application package (can be found through App Inspector).
• 📊 Install Greenify (requires root or ADB) for forced hibernation of applications.

5. Firmware Update: When It Helps and When It Harms

MIUI updates often bring not only new features but also lag fixes, but there are also cases in which the reverse is true – for example, after upgrading to MIUI 14, many Redmi Note 10 Pro users complained about the increased response time of the interface.

Safe Update Rules:

• 🔄 Check the reviews on the 4PDA, XDA Developers forums before installing a new version. Look for topics that mention your model.
• 📥 Download the full firmware package (1.5-2.5GB), not an incremental update. This reduces the risk of errors.
• 🔋 Charge the battery to 50% and plug in charging during the process. Interrupting an upgrade on Xiaomi often results in a "brick."
• ⏳ Wait 2-3 a day after the release of a new version — usually in the early days come out "hot" fixes critical bugs.

If after the update, the smartphone began to work worse:

1. Make a cache reset via Settings → About Phone → System Update → Three Points → Reboot to Recovery → Wipe Cache.
2. Reverse to the previous version via the Mi Flash Tool (instruction below).

⚠️ Warning: On devices with a locked bootloader (Redmi for the Russian market), a firmware rollback may result in a Mi Account blocking. Before the procedure, check the bootloader status with the fastboot oem device-info command - Device unlocked: true means that rollback is possible.

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Updating through Recovery is safer than Fastboot, but requires manual firmware downloads from Xiaomi’s official website.

6. Hardware restrictions: what to do if the software is not to blame

If all the software methods have been tried and the smartphone is still slowing down, the problem may be in the hardware.

To check the status of the battery:

1. Enter the dialer code: ##4636##
2. Select Battery Information.
3. Compare the value of Level (current charge) and Health (capacity). If your health is below 70%, it's time to change the battery.

For models with UFS 2.1/2.2 (Redmi Note 11 Pro+, POCO F4), you can try reassigning memory units through the Storage Check app. This will temporarily restore read/write speed, but will not solve the problem forever.

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If your Xiaomi is equipped with eMMC 5.1 (for example, Redmi 9A or POCO M3), avoid frequent transfer of large files (video, games) – this accelerates memory degradation.

7. Alternative firmware: when to switch to caste

If standard methods didn't work, and the smartphone is supported by the community, you might consider installing custom firmware. It's a radical method, but it does:

• ⚡ Increased performance by removing bloat MIUI.
• 🔄 More frequent security updates.
• 🎨 Ability to fine-tune the kernel and task scheduler.

Popular firmware for Xiaomi:

Instructions for installing Xiaomi.eu (the most balanced option):

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Mi Account binding and wait 7 days).
2. Download the firmware from the official website xiaomi.eu (choose the version for your model!).
3. Install it through TWRP (Castom Recovery).
4. After the first download, reset the settings (Wipe → Format Data in TWRP).

⚠️ Warning: On models with a MediaTek processor (Redmi 10C, POCO M4 Pro), unlocking the bootloader may result in loss of IMEI and problems with the mobile network. Before the procedure, save NVRAM and IMEI via MTK Engineering Mode.

Extreme measures: discharge and replacement of components

If all previous methods have failed, there are radical solutions that should only be used in the case of critical brakes when the smartphone is not usable.

• 🔄 Hard Reset: Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Delete all data Before reset, save data via Mi Cloud or Google Drive. Note that some models (Redmi Note 8 Pro) may require reauthorization of Mi Account after reset.
• 🔧 Thermopaste replacement: Relevant for models with Snapdragon 865/870/888 processors (POCO F3, Xiaomi Mi 11) that are prone to overheating. Service center cost: 1000-2000 ₽.
• 💾 Flash memory replacement: On eMMC models (Redmi 8A, POCO C3), memory wear manifests itself as "freezes" when recording videos or copying files. The solution is to replace the memory chip (3000-5000 ₽).

After the hard reset:

1. Do not restore data from the backup immediately – first check the speed of the clean system.
2. Install applications one by one, testing performance after each installation.
3. Turn off automatic app updates in the Play Market.

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If you've had the brakes reset, it's a hardware problem, and 60 percent of the time, it's the battery or the flash memory.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi acceleration