Acceleration on Xiaomi: What it is and how to manage it

If you own a Xiaomi, Redmi or a smartphone POCO, You've probably encountered the term "acceleration" in your system settings, and this feature often raises questions about what it does, why it's needed, and why it's sometimes better to turn it off. In this article, we will discuss in detail what acceleration is on Xiaomi, how it works at the system level, what pros and cons of this technology, and also give step-by-step instructions for setting up for different use cases.

Now, to put it right away, acceleration is not just a marketing term, it's a real performance optimization mechanism that's behind it. MIUI It's used to improve the user experience, but in some cases, it can have unexpected consequences, from increased battery consumption to lag in games, so it's important to understand how it works and when to turn it off.

What is “acceleration” on Xiaomi and how does it work?

Acceleration on Xiaomi is a set of technologies integrated into the shell MIUI, which automatically optimize the operation of the processor, graphics accelerator and RAM to improve performance in games and resource-intensive applications. Unlike standard operating mode, where the system distributes resources evenly, "acceleration" prioritizes tasks requiring maximum return on iron.

Technically, this is done through:

  • 🔄 Dynamic change of processor frequency – the system automatically accelerates the cores CPU and GPU When launching games or heavy applications.
  • 🧠 Optimization of task planner — MIUI redistributes process priorities, giving more resources to active applications.
  • ⚡ Thermothrottle management – temporarily relaxes heating restrictions to avoid drawdowns FPS.
  • 🗑️ Aggressive background cleaning – closes unnecessary processes to free up RAM primary.

It's important to understand that acceleration is not about overclocking, it's about contextual optimization, and it analyzes which application is running and it applies the settings to that application. PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact you will get maximum performance, and in messengers or browser overclocking will not turn on.

📊 You are using acceleration on your Xiaomi?
Yeah, always on.
Play only.
I'm overheated.
I don't know what that is.

Where is the acceleration setting in MIUI

Depending on the version MIUI And the way to speed up the smartphone model may be different:

MIUI versionThe path to settingsTitle of paragraph
MIUI 14 and newerSettings → Special facilities → Acceleration"Performance acceleration"
MIUI 12–13Settings → Additionally. → Laboratory"Productivity mode"
MIUI for POCOSettings → Battery and performance → Acceleration"Game acceleration"
Older versions (up to MIUI 11)Settings → All settings → Productivity"Game optimization"

If you don’t have the “Accelerate” item displayed, it may be hidden in the lab. MIUI. To activate it:

  1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
  2. Tap 5-7 times on the MIUI version until the notification “You became a developer” appears.
  3. Go back to the basic settings and find a new section for developers.
  4. Activate the option Show the laboratory MIUI.

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On some models (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro or Redmi Note 11 Pro)+) The acceleration can be tied to the game mode. Check the settings in Game Turbo!

Pros and cons of using acceleration

Before you turn on or off acceleration, weigh its advantages and disadvantages. We have collected the key points in the table:

AdvantagesDeficiencies
✅ Enhancement FPS 10-30% (depending on the model)❌ Increased battery consumption (up to 15-20% per hour of play)
✅ Smooth animation in resource-intensive applications❌ Risk of overheating with prolonged loads
✅ Automatic optimization without manual settings❌ Possible lags when leaving the game (due to background cleaning)
✅ Support for most popular games (the list is updated)❌ Does not work with some emulators and unoptimized applications

Critical nuance: on smartphones with Snapdragon processors 8 Gen 1/2 (for example, Xiaomi 13 or Redmi K60 Pro) acceleration can lead to thermotrottling, which is a forced frequency reduction due to overheating. FPS You will get the opposite effect: performance drawdowns through 15–20 play-off.

How do you check if the acceleration is working?
To make sure the acceleration is actually activated, use the app. CPU Monitor or GameBench. Launch the game and watch the CPU frequencies: No acceleration: frequency CPU It's usually 1.8-2.2 GHz. With acceleration, it goes up to 2.8-3.2 GHz (depending on the model). If the frequencies don't change, it's possible that your app isn't on the supported list. MIUI or acceleration blocked by battery settings.

When to turn off the acceleration

Despite the obvious advantages, there are scenarios in which acceleration is better deactivated:

  • 🔋 Long gaming sessions – if you play for more than an hour, the risk of overheating and performance drawdowns increases.
  • 📉 Battery-powered: Acceleration significantly reduces battery life (by 20-40% in games).
  • 🤖 Emulator use – some emulators (e.g. BlueStacks or LDPlayer) conflict with optimizations MIUI.
  • 📱 Multitasking – if you switch between apps frequently, aggressive background cleaning will get in the way.
  • ⚠️ Heating problems – if the smartphone warms up even in simple tasks, the acceleration will make the situation worse.

⚠️ Note: On devices with MediaTek Dimensity (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) Turning off acceleration can, on the contrary, improve performance in games, due to the features of frequency management in MediaTek chips, where the standard mode sometimes works more stable.

If you decide to turn off the acceleration, do it through:

Settings → Battery and performance → Acceleration → Switch the slider to the “off” position.

How to adjust the acceleration to your needs

Acceleration in MIUI It's not limited to just turning it on or off. You can fine-tune it to specific applications or scenarios:

Add the game to the list of optimized applications|Select a Performance Profile (Balance/Performance)|Set up heating restrictions|Check the screen refresh rate

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1. Adding annexes to the acceleration list

By default. MIUI It only optimizes popular games to add its own app:

  1. Go to Settings. → Special facilities → Acceleration → List of annexes.
  2. Click “Add App” and select the one you want from the list.
  3. Set a priority: “High performance” or “balance.”

2. Set up performance profiles

V MIUI 14+ 3 profiles available:

  • 🟢 Balance – Moderate acceleration with battery consumption optimization.
  • 🔴 Performance – maximum acceleration, but with the risk of overheating.
  • 🔵 Battery savings – Minimal acceleration, suitable for long sessions.

Manual frequency control (for advanced)

If standard settings are not enough, you can use applications like Performance Control or Kernel Adiutor (root rights required).

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect kernel settings can lead to a device blink or permanent reboots. If you're not sure, don't experiment!

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even with the right setup, the acceleration can not work properly. Let's consider the typical problems and ways to fix them:

Problem.Possible causeDecision
Acceleration does not automatically startApp not on the list of supportedAdd it manually in acceleration settings
Smartphone is very warmToo aggressive profile or clogged ventsSwitch to Balance and clean the case of dust
Lags on exitAggressive background cleaningTurn off the “Memory Cleanup” option in acceleration settings
Fast battery dischargeAcceleration works in the background for unnecessary appsCheck the list of optimized apps and remove the extra ones

If after turning off the acceleration of the game began to lay, try:

  1. Clear the game's cache in Settings → Annexes → [Game] → Warehouse.
  2. Reset the graphics settings in the game itself (sometimes incorrect parameters are retained).
  3. Update MIUI Up to the latest version – in new firmware often fix bugs with optimizations.

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If the performance has dropped after the acceleration has been turned off, check if the power saving mode is activated in the battery settings. It can artificially limit the power of the processor.

Alternative ways to accelerate without built-in function

If the built-in acceleration doesn’t suit you, there are alternative methods to optimize performance:

  • 🛠️ Using Game Turbo is Xiaomi’s proprietary game mode that offers more flexible settings than standard acceleration.
  • 📱 Developer Mode Activation – allows you to manually limit background processes (Settings) → For developers → Process limit).
  • ⚡ Boost applications - for example, GFX Tool or Game Booster 4x Faster (caution: some may contain malicious code!).
  • 🔄 Cleaning the system – regular cleaning of cache and debris through Settings → Warehouse → Cleaning can give productivity gains without overclocking.

For owners of devices with root rights, more radical methods are available:

  • Installation of a custom core (e.g., FrancoKernel or Perseus).
  • Magisk modules for fine-tuning frequencies (PowerHAL or Kiriskool)

⚠️ Attention: Installing custom cores or modifying system files is warranty-free and can lead to unstable operation of the device. TWRP!

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Does acceleration work only in games or in all applications?
By default, the acceleration is activated only for games and resource-intensive applications (for example, Adobe Premiere Rush or Lightroom). MIUI.
Can you use acceleration on weak smartphones (e.g. Redmi)? 9A)?
Technically, yes, but the effect will be minimal or negative. 4xx Or Helio Gxx acceleration more often leads to overheating and lag due to a weak cooling system.
How do I know if my model supports acceleration?
The feature is available on all smartphones Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO s MIUI 11 Except for some budget models (e.g. Redmi). A1 or POCO C50), where acceleration may be simplified or absent.
Does acceleration affect autonomy in normal mode (not in games)?
Not if the acceleration is not activated (for example, you do not run games), the system optimizes only active processes, and in the background battery consumption remains standard, but if you add messengers or a browser to the optimization list, the consumption can increase slightly.
Can you return the standard settings if after turning off the acceleration, the games began to lie down?
Yes, go to Settings. → System system → Resetting settings → Reset the application settings. This will return default optimization options without losing data. Also check if the power saving mode is activated in the battery settings.