Have you ever noticed a mysterious label on your Xiaomi desktop that says “Accelerate” and wondered why it was needed? This MIUI element is often confusing: some users find it useless, others find it a magic button to overclock a smartphone. In fact, the “Accelerate” feature (or “Turbo Mode” in international versions) hides a whole range of optimization tools that can both improve and worsen the device’s performance, depending on how you use them.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what Acceleration actually does on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, how it affects hardware and software, and when to activate it and when to turn it off. We’ll analyze hidden settings that aren’t visible at first glance, and give practical recommendations for fine-tuning for scenarios ranging from gaming to battery savings. We’ll focus on myths and real-world performance tests, because not all of MIUI’s promises are true.
If you want to get the most out of your Xiaomi without risking overheating your CPU or shortening your battery life, this guide is for you. And if you’ve already tried to turn on Acceleration and haven’t noticed the difference, we’ll explain why and what to do to make the effect clear.
What is “Acceleration” on Xiaomi: the official explanation and reality
According to Xiaomi’s documentation, the Acceleration feature (in the international firmware – Game Turbo or Performance Mode) is a set of optimizations aimed at improving performance in resource-intensive tasks, primarily:
- 🎮 Games – increase the frequency of the processor and graphics accelerator, reduce delays (latency) when touching the screen.
- 📱 Multitasking – more aggressive caching of frequently used applications in RAM.
- 🔋 Energy consumption – dynamic power distribution between processor cores to balance performance and battery life.
However, in practice, the operation of this mode depends on the model of the smartphone, the version MIUI And even regional firmware, like flagships like Xiaomi. 14 Ultra or POCO F6 The “acceleration” can actually increase the 10-15% FPS In games, while on budget Redmi Notes, the effect is often reduced to zero due to hardware constraints. MIUI (Especially on older devices, this mode can even impair performance due to the malfunctioning of optimization algorithms.
It is important to understand that Acceleration is not a magic button, but a comprehensive tool that affects:
- 🔄 Task Planner – Changes the priorities of processes in the system.
- ⚡ Clock frequency CPU/GPU — It can be fixed at maximum values or, conversely, limit it to save energy.
- 🗑️ Cleaning Memory – More Aggressively Liberating RAM for active applications.
- 🌡️ Thermal control – regulates overheating thresholds (in some models, this leads to faster throttling).
Where is “Acceleration” and how to turn it on: step-by-step instructions
Depending on the MIUI version and smartphone model, the path to Acceleration settings may vary, and we have compiled the current ways for MIUI 14 and later (2023-2026).
Method 1: Through the notification panel (fast access)
- Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
- Find the "Acceleration" label (a lightning or rocket icon) and if it's not there, click on the pencil (Edit) and add it manually.
- Slip the label to activate the mode. In some firmware, a pop-up with a profile selection will appear (“Game”, “Balance”, “Economies”).
Method 2: Through system settings
- Open Settings → Special features → Acceleration (on some models, the path may be Settings → Additional → Optimization).
- Choose one of the modes: 🚀 Maximum performance – fixes frequencies CPU/GPU at maximum, disables heating restrictions (risk of overheating!). ⚖️ Balance – dynamic power distribution (recommended for most users). 🔋 Energy savings – limits background processes and clock speed (useful when battery power is low).
Click Apply and restart your smartphone (on some models, changes only take effect after a reboot).
Close all background applications
Connect the charger (recommended for game mode)
Check the temperature of the processor (should be below 40°C)
Turn off energy saving modes in battery settings-->
Method 3: Hidden settings for advanced users
Some models (such as the Xiaomi 13T or POCO X6 Pro) have advanced options that are not visible in the standard interface.
- Enter the phone code in the app: ##4636##
- Go to the Battery Information or Usage Statistics section.
- Tap 5 times on the Performance profile label – a menu with additional profiles will open (for example, “Extreme Performance” for benchmarks).
Another little-known fact: on devices with AMOLED-screens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Lite or Redmi) K60) Acceleration mode automatically increases brightness to 100% and activates the mode DC Dimming to reduce flickering. This is useful for gaming, but can cause discomfort with prolonged use.
What happens to the processor in Acceleration mode?
Some firmware (such as MIUI China) also activates a hidden power profile in Acceleration mode, which disables background activity restrictions for selected applications, meaning instant messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp will be updated in real time, but at the cost of increased battery consumption (up to 15% per hour when used actively).
When Acceleration is Harming Your Xiaomi: 5 Dangerous Scenarios
Despite the obvious benefits, Acceleration mode can harm your device if you use it in a way that is not intended.
- Low battery charge (less than 20%) When activating "Acceleration" on a near-depleted battery, the smartphone can suddenly turn off even if the indicator shows 10-15%.
- Hot environment (temperature above 30°C) If the smartphone is already heated (for example, after charging or being under the sun), turning on "Acceleration" can cause an emergency shutdown due to overheating, especially for devices with a plastic case (Redmi 10C, POCO M5).
- Background tasks (file downloads, updates) The mode aggressively limits background processes, which interrupts downloads, does not receive notifications from messengers, and cloud backups (for example, Google Photos) are not synchronized.
- Long-term use (over 1 hour) According to XDA Developers tests, continuous operation in Acceleration mode for more than 60 minutes leads to a degradation of the battery by 0.5-1% of its capacity (measured by AccuBattery).
- Older devices (released before 2020) On smartphones like the Xiaomi Mi 9 or Redmi Note 8 Pro, the Acceleration mode often doesn’t work properly due to outdated drivers. Instead of increasing performance, users note lags and occasional reboots.
⚠️ Note: If you notice that after activating the “Acceleration” smartphone began to reboot or issue an error “The process com.android.systemui stopped”, immediately disable the mode and reset the settings through Settings → Annexes → Application management → Three points. → Resetting. This will help restore stability to the system.
💡
Acceleration mode is only useful for short high-load sessions (games, benchmarks, video rendering) and for everyday tasks, it is better to turn it off so as not to reduce the life of the battery and processor.
Alternatives to Acceleration: How to Overclock Xiaomi without Risk
If you need to increase your productivity but don’t want to use the regular Acceleration mode due to its side effects, consider these alternatives:
- 🛠️ Manually configure the processor through Performance Control Applications like Kernel Adiutor (requires root) or CPU Tuner allows you to fine-tune core frequencies, voltage and governor. For example, you can set the maximum frequency only for 1-2 cores, leaving the rest in economical mode.
For gamers, there is another lifehack: many modern games (such as Genshin Impact or Honkai: Star Rail) have built-in graphics settings that can be optimized manually, for example, reducing the render resolution from 100% to 80% gives an increase in FPS by 20-30% without noticeable loss of quality on screens with high PPI.
Frequent Acceleration Problems and How to Fix Them
Xiaomi users often encounter Acceleration-related bugs, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The “Acceleration” label disappeared from the desktop | MIUI update resets settings or launcher conflict | Add a shortcut manually through Settings → Apps → App Management → Accelerate or reinstall Launcher |
| The smartphone overheats and brakes after switching on the mode | Thermopaste malfunction or conflict with the custom core | Turn off Acceleration, clear the cache in Settings → Storage → Clear the cache. If it doesn't help, reset the settings to factory. |
| The battery goes down 2 times faster | The mode fixes the maximum frequencies CPU/GPU even in plain | Switch to Balance profile or turn off Acceleration completely. Check background processes through Settings → Battery → Battery use |
| The games started to lay harder. | Conflict with graphics settings in the game itself or GPU drivers | Reset your graphics settings to standard. Update drivers through Settings → About Phone → Software Update |
| Notifications from messengers do not work | Mode blocks background activity of applications | Add messengers to exceptions: Settings → Applications → Application Management → Autorun and Without Limitations |
If none of these methods worked, try resetting the Acceleration settings to the standard:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find the Acceleration app (com.miui.turbomode).
- Press Warehouse. → Clear the data.
- Reboot your smartphone.
⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi) 12T, POCO X5 Pro) Resetting the Acceleration application data may result in resetting all personal performance settings, including power consumption profiles. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.