What to do if the Xiaomi phone began to slow down and lag

Your Xiaomi has suddenly become a “brick” with app opening delays, slow animations, and constant hanging? This is a common problem that can occur even on flagship models like the Xiaomi 13 Ultra or the budget Redmi Note 12. The causes of brakes range from overloaded memory to software failures after the MIUI update. In this article, we will discuss 10 proven ways to return the smartphone performance, from basic to radical.

First, determine when the lags appeared: after installing a new application, updating the system or physical damage (for example, a fall), this will help narrow the range of possible causes. If the phone started to “glue” after replacing the battery or repairing, the problem may lie in poor-quality components or damage to the motherboard, in such cases, you can not do without a service center.

For most users, the solution is software-based, and let's start with the simplest and safest methods that don't require any special knowledge.

1. Clearing cache and unnecessary files

The most common cause of brakes is clogged memory. MIUI actively caches application data, which over time leads to slowdown. Start with manual cleaning:

• 📱 Application cache: go to Settings → Annexes → App management, select the “heaviest” app (like Facebook or TikTok) and click “Clear Cache».
• 🗑️ Unnecessary files: Use the built-in Cleanup utility (the broom icon in the settings menu) and it will find temporary files, duplicates and remnants of deleted programs.
• 📁 Downloads: Check the Download folder – often there accumulate gigabytes of forgotten files.

Pay special attention to instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) that automatically save media files that can take up to 10-15 GB of memory, go to the settings of each instant messenger and limit auto-save or clear up your download history.

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If the app becomes unstable after cleaning the cache (for example, it crashes), just restart the phone. The system will restore the necessary data automatically.

For deep cleaning, use third-party utilities like CCleaner or Files by Google, but be careful: they can delete important data if you don’t configure the filters correctly.

2. Optimization of background activity

MIUI is known for aggressive battery optimization, but sometimes it works against the user: it limits background processes so much that applications start to "hang" when switching. On the other hand, too many active processes also slow down the system.

1. Open Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Management
2. Select Balanced Mode (not Energy Saving, if not Critical).
3. In the Background Limitation section, disable optimization for key applications (such as messengers or navigator).

Also check the autoload:

• 🔄 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Autoboot.
• 🚫 Disable Autoplay for Unnecessary Programs (Games, Rarely Used Utilities).

If the lagas remain after these manipulations, proceed to the next step.

3. Update MIUI and firmware

The slowdown may be due to bugs in the current version of MIUI. Xiaomi regularly releases patches to fix performance issues.

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click on "Check Updates."
3. If a new version is available, download and install it (preferably via Wi-Fi).

Important: Before upgrading, make sure that the battery is over 50% and there is enough space (at least 2-3 GB) in the memory.If the update “weighs” more than 1 GB, it is better to download it through the PC and install it manually through Recovery.

If your Xiaomi model is older than 2-3 years, it may no longer receive official updates, in which case consider installing custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience), but this requires unlocking the bootloader and may be unwarranted.

4. Reset to factory settings

If previous methods have failed, it's time to consider a hard reset, which is a radical but effective way to bring the phone back to factory speed.

Backup your contacts (via Mi Cloud or Google Account)>)

Save photos and videos to your PC or cloud

Write down the usernames/passwords from the apps (use Google Password Manager>)

Remove the memory card (if any) to avoid formatting it.-->

Resetting instructions:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select to erase all data (reset to factory).
3. Confirm the action (you may need to enter a pattern lock or password).
4. Wait until the phone is finished (it will reboot several times).

Once reset, the phone will look like new. Don't restore the data from the backup right away -- check if the lags have disappeared first. If the problem is solved, gradually install the apps one by one, monitoring performance.

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Resetting to factory settings deletes all data, including apps, settings and files in internal memory. The memory card (if it has not been formatted) will remain intact.

5. Virus and malware check

Viruses and ad Trojans are a common cause of sudden brakes, especially if you install apps from third-party sources (APK-Even the official Google Play does not guarantee 100% security:

• 🛡️ Use built-in security (Settings) → Security → Scan).
• 🔍 Install a third-party antivirus (Malwarebytes, Bitdefender) and scan the system.
• 📦 Check the list of installed apps for suspicious (unknown names, high battery consumption).

Malware masquerading as system utilities (such as Battery Optimizer or Clean Master) is particularly dangerous.

• 🔄 Run background processes that load the processor.
• 📊 Stealing data and sending it to remote servers.
• 💰 Display hidden advertising that consumes resources.

If you find a suspicious app, delete it and restart the phone. After that, check the resource consumption in Settings → Applications → Battery use.

6. Diagnostics of hardware problems

If the software methods didn't help, maybe the problem is the hardware.

For self-diagnosis:

1. Check battery status via ##4636## (in the Battery Information menu) If the health reading is below good, battery is worn out.
2. Run a performance test using AnTuTu Benchmark or 3DMark. Compare the results with the benchmarks for your model.
3. Look at the temperature of the processor in AIDA64. If it exceeds 60-70°C in simple - requires cleaning or replacement of the heat paste.

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If your phone starts to brake after falling or getting moisture, don't try to disassemble it yourself. Microcracks on the motherboard can cause a complete failure.

7. MIUI Optimization for Weak Devices

If you have a budget model (Redmi 9A, Poco C31) or an outdated flagship (Xiaomi Mi 8), even a clean system can run slowly, in which case disabling visuals and unnecessary functions will help:

• 🎨 Animation: Go to Settings → About the phone, tap 5 times on the version MIUI, To activate Developer Mode. Then to Settings. → Additionally. → For developers, reduce the scale of animation to 0.5x or shut it down completely.
• 🌓 Dark theme: Include it in Settings → Screen. → Dark theme. It reduces the processor's load when you draw the interface.
• 🔊 Sounds and vibrations: Turn off unnecessary system sounds in Settings → Sound and vibration.

Also consider rolling back to a lighter version of MIUI, such as the old MIUI Lite, a lighter, chip-free firmware that can be installed via Fastboot or Recovery, but it takes experience.

8.Alternative solutions: from custom firmware to phone replacement

If none of the methods worked, radical measures remain:

• 🔧 LineageOS, Pixel Experience or HavocOS often run faster than standard firmware MIUI, but require unlocking the bootloader and may deprive the warranty.
• 🔄 Replacement with a new phone: If your model is older than 4-5 years, it may be exhausted.
• 🔋 Upgrade of components: for some models (for example, Poco) F1) You can replace the battery with a more capacious one or install it. SSD-storage device.

Before installing custom firmware:

⚠️ Warning: Unlocking the bootloader will reset all data on the phone, including photos and apps, and it can lead to loss of warranty and risk of “bricking” the device. XDA Developers or Xiaomi Website.

If you decide to replace your phone, pay attention to models with a pure Android One (for example, Xiaomi Mi A3) – they are devoid of the “heavy” shell MIUI and work faster.

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Before you buy a new phone, check it for real-world lags: run multiple heavy apps at the same time, test the camera and games. Even flagship models can slow down due to poor firmware optimization.

FAQ: Frequent questions about brakes on Xiaomi