How to use all the cores of the processor on Xiaomi smartphones: safe and risky ways

Multitasking, heavy gaming, or resource-intensive apps often lead Xiaomi users to look for ways to speed up the device. One myth that floats around the forums is that "turning on all the CPU cores" will supposedly unlock the hidden power of the smartphone. But is that really true? And why does the manufacturer default to limit the CPU?

In fact, multi-core processors (such as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 or Dimensity 9000+) in Xiaomi smartphones always use all available cores - just not at the same time. Modern chips work on the principle of big.LITTLE: powerful cores (Cortex-X3) are activated for heavy tasks, and energy-efficient (Cortex-A510) - for background processes. "Enable all cores" in manual mode can lead to overheating, accelerated battery wear or even hardware failure of the power controller on some models (for example, the 12 Pro with the Snapdragon 8 1).

In this article, we will discuss what exactly is meant by “turning on the cores”, which methods really work (and for what purposes), and which are a waste of time or a direct path to a service center.

Why Xiaomi “disables” the core of the processor: myths and reality

Many users mistakenly believe that the manufacturer artificially locks some of the cores to slow down the smartphone or extend the life of the smartphone, in fact, this is a dynamic load distribution, which is responsible for the Linux kernel and the MIUI firmware.

Here's how it works in practice:

• 🔋 Energy saving: with simple surfing on the Internet, only 1–2 low-powered nuclei (Cortex-A55/A510), reduces battery consumption.
• ⚡ Performance: in games (Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile) or video rendering, all cores are activated, but with different frequencies.
• 🌡️ Thermal control: when overheating, the system forcibly shuts off part of the cores to avoid damage to the chip.

So, you can't turn on all the cores in the classical sense -- they're already on as needed, but there are ways to change the CPU management policy to make the smartphone use powerful cores more often, but there are pitfalls.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models with Snapdragon processors 888/8 Gen 1 (Like Mi. 11 Ultra, Black Shark 4 Pro) manually changing core parameters can lead to thermal throttling, which automatically reduces performance due to overheating, and in the worst cases, it detachs the chip from the board.

Method 1: Engineering menu (#4636##) - safe but limited

The simplest method, which does not require root rights or PC connectivity, is suitable for most Xiaomi models based on MIUI 12-14.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##.
2. In the menu that appears, select Battery Information (on some firmwares - Usage statistics).
3. Scroll down to the CPU usage section – this shows the current kernel boot.

Note that you can't force the cores on in the engineering menu, but you can see how they work in real time. If you notice that only 2 to 4 cores out of 8 are involved in the load, the problem may be:

• 🔄 Thermodrossellation (protection against overheating works).
• 📉 Restrictions MIUI (for example, in the mode of energy saving).
• 🛠️ Power controller malfunction (less often but requires diagnosis).

💡

If the engineering menu only displays 4 cores instead of 8, check the processor model in Settings → About Phone. Your Xiaomi may have a hybrid-architecture chip (e.g., the Snapdragon 778G has 4 powerful and 4 energy efficient cores).

Method 2: ADB-policy change teams CPU

A more advanced method that allows you to change the governor, you'll need a computer and USB debugging enabled.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC, install ADB-tools and execute the command: adb shell su echo performance > /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_governor

This command puts the first kernel into performance mode. To apply the setting to all kernels, repeat the command for cpu1, cpu2, etc.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro (Snapdragon) 732G) Using performance-governor for more than 30 minutes reduces the maximum core frequency by 20 to 30 percent due to overheating.

Enable the developer mode

Install ADB-drivers on PC

Download platform-tools

Connect your phone to the original cable

Make a backup copy of the data-->

Method 3: Root access + cores and firmware (for experienced)

If you are willing to take risks, unlocking the bootloader and installing a custom core (such as FrancoKernel or Kiriskernel) gives you full control of the CPU. However, this voids the warranty and can lead to a brick (turning the phone into a brick).

What can be done with root:

• 🔧 Install Kernel Adiutor or EX Kernel Manager for fine-tuning frequencies and governors.
• 🔥 Use undervolting (reducing the voltage at the cores) to reduce heating.
• ⚙️ Disable thermothrottle (dangerous!).

Example of settings in Kernel Adiutor:

1. Open the CPU section.
2. Select Governor → Performance for all clusters.
3. In Boost CPU, set the input boost freq to the maximum value.

Important: On Xiaomi Poco F3 (Snapdragon 870) after installing the custom core, users encounter a bug "hotplug" - the accidental shutdown of the cores at high load.

Method 4: Alternative Acceleration Methods without Risk

If your goal is simply to improve performance, there are safer ways to do this:

• 🚀 Turn it off. MIUI-Optimization: Go to Settings → Special opportunities → Remove restrictions MIUI (hidden in some regions).
• 🗑️ Clear the cache: in Settings → Warehouse → Clear the app cache.
• 🔄 Reset the graphics settings: in Settings → Display. → Select the Color Mode Standard (not Saturated).
• 🔋 Use the performance mode: in Settings → Battery → Select Power Modes for High Performance.

It's also worth checking if the thermal throttle is working in the background.

1. Install the Throttling Test CPU from Google Play.
2. Run the test - if the frequency of the cores falls below the maximum during load, then the protection is triggered.
3. Try cooling your phone (for example, by removing your case) and repeat the test.

💡

On the Xiaomi 13 Pro and newer, the system automatically reduces performance at temperatures above 41°C, even if the cores are not 100% loaded, a hardware limitation that cannot be circumvented without root.

Xiaomi models, on which "including cores" is most dangerous

Some Xiaomi smartphones have problems with thermal control or power, so experiments with the CPU on them are fraught with consequences:

If your smartphone is on this list, it’s best to opt out of manual CPU settings and use alternative optimization techniques (see section above).

What to do if the phone overheats or brakes after changes

If you’ve experimented with settings and encountered problems, follow the following steps:

1. Reset the governor's settings through ADB: adb shell su echo ondemand > /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu*/cpufreq/scaling_governor
2. Clear the cache in the recovery menu: Turn off the phone. Press Power + Volume Up before the MI logo appears. Select Wipe → Wipe Cache.
3. Return the stock core if you used custom: Download the original firmware for your model from the official Xiaomi website.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, after resetting the settings through recovery, sometimes the camera settings are confused. To restore them, you need to reflash the camera module through the Fastboot with the flag --camera.

FAQ: Frequent questions about processor cores on Xiaomi