Xiaomi phone is slowing down a lot - what to do? full guide 2026

Why does Xiaomi think like an old computer?

Have you noticed that apps open for 5-10 seconds, animations twitch, and sometimes the screen even “stops” for a few moments? This does not necessarily mean that it is time to throw out the smartphone. Even the flagship models Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi Note 12 Pro+ after 1-2 years of operation can begin to “brake” – and the fault of this is not only “aging” of iron, but also software problems that can be fixed on their own.

In this article, we will look at all the possible causes of slowdown, from overloaded memory to errors in the MIUI firmware, and give step-by-step instructions for each of them. Importantly, 90% of performance problems on Xiaomi are solved without visiting a service center – just follow our guide. Let’s start with the simplest and end with “heavy artillery” for running cases.

Before you start setting up, ask yourself one question: When did the phone start to brake? After the MIUI update? When did you install a new app? Or did you slow down? This will help you diagnose the problem more accurately.

1.Cache and garbage cleanup: the first step to speeding up

The most common cause of brakes is clogged apps and system debris. MIUI is known for actively using cache to speed up work, but over time these files accumulate and begin to slow down the system. Clearing the cache will not delete your data (photos, messages, accounts), but can free up 1-3 GB of space.

How to clean the cache correctly:

• 📱 For individual applications: Go to Settings → Annexes → App management, select the one you want (like Facebook or Telegram) and click Clear Cache. Repeat for all heavy programs.
• 🧹 System cache: Use the built-in Optimization utility (brush icon in the application menu). Click on Deep Clean» → «Clean up».
• 🚀 For Advanced: Enable Developer Mode (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Click 7 times) and activate the “Do Not Save Actions” option in the developer menu (remove the cache after closing the applications).

If the cache is still being cleaned, move on to the next step, but remember: don't clean the cache too often, which can backfire (apps will have to reload the data each time).

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After cleaning the cache, restart the phone – this will help MIUI reassemble system files without unnecessary debris.

2. Closing Background Processes and Killing Unnecessary Applications

MIUI by default keeps dozens of background processes in memory, even if you don’t use them.This is made for quick switching between applications, but on weak smartphones (such as the Redmi 9A or POCO M3) leads to a shortage of RAM and brakes.

How to reduce the load on RAM:

• ⚡ Manual cleaning: Click the "Recent Apps" button (square at the bottom of the screen) and swipe up all unnecessary programs. MIUI 14+ You can click "Clean it all" at the bottom of the screen.
• ⚙️ Limiting background processes: In the developer settings (Settings) → Additionally. → For developers, find the “process limit” item and set the “Standard limit” or “No background processes” value (for weak phones).
• 🔍 Search for "gluttonous" apps: Go to Settings → Battery → Using the battery and see which programs consume the most power – most likely they also load the processor.

Pay particular attention to social networks (TikTok, Instagram, VKontakte) and instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram), which often work in the background even when you are not using them. For example, Telegram can consume up to 30% of the CPU due to background synchronization of chats.

3. MIUI update: why old firmware is slowing down the phone

If your Xiaomi runs on firmware older than MIUI 12, chances are that the brakes are associated with outdated software. The manufacturer regularly optimizes the system, closes the "holes" in the code and adapts it to new applications. For example, MIUI 14 is 20-30% faster than MIUI 11 on the same hardware.

How to update the firmware correctly:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Update MIUI.
2. Click on "Check Updates." If a new version is available, download it (preferably via Wi-Fi).
3. Before installing, be sure to back up the data (Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset).
4. Make sure the battery is over 50% and click “Install”.

If the update doesn’t work or doesn’t work for your model, you can try manual firmware via Fastboot or Recovery. However, this is risky – if you make a mistake, the phone can turn into a “brick.” For models older than 2019 (for example, Redmi Note 7 or Mi 9), official updates may no longer come out – in this case, only custom firmware (for example, LineageOS) will help.

4. Factory reset: a radical solution

If all previous methods failed, it's time to reset completely, delete all data from the phone (photos, contacts, apps), but return it to factory speed, resetting helps in 80% of cases when the brakes are caused by software errors, application conflicts or damage to system files.

How to do the reset correctly:

• 📲 Save important data: Move photos and videos to your computer or the cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud). VCF.
• 🔄 Perform reset: Go to Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset → Reset settings. Select "Erase all data».
• 🔐 After reset: Don't restore data from the backup right away - first check how the "clean" phone works.If there are no brakes, install apps one at a time, watching performance.

If the phone still brakes after reset, the problem may be in the hardware (weary flash memory, overheating of the processor), in which case only repair or replacement of the phone will help.

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Resetting to factory settings is the most effective way to eliminate software brakes, but it should be the last option after all other methods.

5.Memory problems: why Xiaomi slows down when the storage is full

If you have less than 10 percent of the space left in your phone, the system starts to slow down, because MIUI uses the space to cach and make temporary files, and when you don't have enough memory, you have to constantly overwrite the data, which slows down by a factor of 2-3.

How to make room:

If you have a 32GB model (like the Redmi 8A or POCO C3), consider buying an A1 or A2 class microSD card — they’re optimized for application use. However, remember, not all apps can be ported to SD (especially system and gaming).

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To avoid refilling, enable automatic cleaning in Settings → Storage → Autoclean. The system will delete unnecessary files once a week.

6.Overheating and 'trottling': when the phone slows itself down

If Xiaomi only starts to slow down while playing games, shooting videos or charging, it can be overheated. At temperatures above 45°C, the processor automatically reduces performance (this is called trottling) to avoid damage, causing FPS in games to drop, animations to jiggle, and the phone may even turn off.

How to deal with overheating:

• ❄️ Remove the case – it can block the heat sink, especially if made from silicone or dense plastic.
• 🔋 Do not play while charging – this increases the load on the processor and battery at the same time.
• 🌡️ Check the temperature with the application AIDA64 or CPU Monitor: If the processor temperature exceeds 50°C in simple is a cause for concern.
• 🛠️ Replace the thermopaste (for advanced users) and it dries up over time and the heat sink gets worse. It costs 500 to 1500 in the service center. ₽.

If overheating occurs even in normal use (e.g., Chrome or WhatsApp), it may indicate a battery failure or contamination of the phone’s insides (dust, pile), in which case only disassembling and cleaning in the service center will help.

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Overheating is one of the most insidious causes of brakes because it masquerades as "normal lags."Always check the temperature of the phone if you notice sudden slowdowns.

7 Viruses and Malware: A Hidden Threat

Many users are unaware that their Xiaomi may be infected with viruses or miners, which in the background load the processor and Internet traffic.

• The phone slows down even after resetting.
• The battery sits down in 2-3 hours without active use.
• B Settings → Traffic seen suspicious activity (e.g. Facebook consumes 1GB per night).
• Advertisements appear in places where they shouldn’t be (such as settings).

How to check and remove viruses:

1. Install antivirus (Dr.Web, Kaspersky, Malwarebytes) and perform a full scan.
2. Check the list of installed applications (Settings → Apps) for suspicious programs (for example, with names like System Update, Clear Master, or Cyrillic characters).
3. If the antivirus does not find anything, but suspicions remain, do a reset (see section 4).

Be especially careful about apps that are not downloaded from Google Play (for example, APK-These often contain hidden miners or spyware. For example, in 2023, several “hacked” versions of Spotify and TikTok were discovered that mined cryptocurrency in the background.

8. Hardware problems: when nothing helps

If you've tried all the methods, but Xiaomi is still slowing down, the problem could be the hardware.

• 🔋 Worn-out battery - when it degrades below 70% of its original capacity, the phone starts to "glut" and suddenly shut down.
• 💾 Damaged flash memory - if the phone often freezes when reading / writing files, the memory chip may fail. AIDA64 (check-up NAND Flash).
• 🔌 Faulty plume or contacts – if brakes appear when the phone is tilted or after falling, the problem may be in the outgoing contacts.
• 🧠 Damaged processor – if the phone overheats even in the idle and brakes at the slightest load, individual cores may have burned CPU.

In these cases, self-repair is not possible - you need a diagnosis in the service center.

• Battery replacement: 1000–3000 ₽.
• Replacement of flash memory: 3000-8000 ₽ (model).
• Processor soldering: 5000-15,000 ₽ (Sometimes it’s cheaper to buy a new phone).

If your Xiaomi is older than 3-4 years (like the Redmi Note 5 or Mi A2), repairs may not be feasible, and consider buying a new phone – modern models (like the POCO X6 Pro or Redmi Note 13) are 2-3 times faster even in the budget segment.

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Hardware problems are the only time you can't fix the brakes software, and if you've tried all the methods and the phone still does, you should go to the service center or think about replacing the device.

FAQ: Frequent questions about brakes on Xiaomi