Tracing system on Xiaomi Redmi: a full analysis of the function for experienced users

Tracing the system on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is a little-known but powerful feature that allows you to record all system events, errors and processes in real time. It is designed primarily for developers and technicians, but it can be useful for advanced users who want to understand the operation of their device. Unlike standard logs, trace provides advanced information about the interaction of Android components and the use of the tracing system. MIUI, Helps diagnose complex failures or optimize performance.

However, not all Redmi owners know that this feature exists and how to use it correctly. Moreover, uncontrolled tracing can lead to system overload, leakage of sensitive data or even soft-brick (software “brick”) of the device. In this article, we will discuss what tracing is, why it is necessary, how to activate it on different Xiaomi Redmi models, and what precautions you need to take to avoid harming the smartphone.

What is a system tracing and why is it needed?

Tracing (or system track) is the process of recording detailed information about the operating system, Linux kernel, drivers and applications. Unlike regular logcats, which only record application events, tracer captures:

• 🔹 Calling system functions (for example, accessing the kernel or drivers)
• 🔹 The job of the task scheduler (how the processor allocates resources between processes)
• 🔹 Real-time events (delays, locks, interruptions)
• 🔹 Interaction with iron (e.g., access to a camera module or GPS)

On Xiaomi Redmi, tracer is implemented through built-in Android tools and additional utilities from Xiaomi, such as MiTrace or Perfetto.

• 🛠️ Diagnostics of complex bugs that are not visible in standard logs (e.g., random reboots or friezes).
• 📊 Performance optimization – finding bottlenecks in the work of the processor, memory or graphics accelerator.
• 🔍 Security analysis – detecting suspicious activity of the kernel or system services.
• 🤖 Designing custom firmware - tracing helps to understand how MIUI interacts with iron.

It's important to understand that tracing is not a magic wand, but a tool for professionals. On some Redmi models (like the Redmi Note 10 Pro or Redmi). K50) enabling root-righted tracing can lead to bootloader locking due to the anti-rollback trigger, so you need to study the documentation for a particular model before using it.

Types of tracing on Xiaomi Redmi: which method to choose?

On Xiaomi Redmi devices, there are several trace methods available, differing in depth of analysis and device requirements.

For most Redmi users, the best option is ATrace or Perfetto, as they do not require root rights and provide enough data for diagnostics. FTrace is designed for experienced developers who are willing to risk the stability of the device.+ With the Dimensity 1080 FTrace processor, it can help identify problems with clock control, but improperly configuring it can cause overheating or sudden reboots.

Xiaomi is actively restricting access to low-level tools in the latest versions. MIUI (starting MIUI For example, on Redmi. K60 To enable FTrace, you may need to roll back to an older firmware or use a patched core. Therefore, before starting tracing, it is recommended to check the compatibility of your model with the chosen method.

⚠️ Note: On devices with a locked bootloader (most Redmi out of the box), trying to activate FTrace via sysfs can cause the DM-Verity protection to go off and the system cannot boot.

How to turn on tracing on Xiaomi Redmi: step-by-step instructions

So let's look at the tracing activation process with ATrace, the safest method available without root rights.

• 📱 Xiaomi Redmi smartphone with debugging enabled USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to unlock the developer menu, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 💻 Computer with installed ADB Fastboot (you can download from the official website of Android Studio).
• 🔌 Cable USB (It is preferably original to avoid connection problems).

Steps to enable tracing:

1. Connect Redmi to your computer and confirm your debugging permission USB smartphone-screen.
2. Open the command line (or Terminal) macOS/Linux) and execute the command to check the connection: adb devices The list should display your device.
3. Run the tracing with the command (for example, to record the events of the graphic stack): adb shell atrace -z -t 10 gfx view input dalvik Where: -z — squeeze out; -t 10 — derivate tracing duration in seconds; gfx view input dalvik - event categories (can be replaced by sched freq idle for processor analysis).

Upon completion of the trace, the file with the logs will be saved in the folder /sdcard/ under the name trace.txt.

Debugging is on. USB|Installed ADB and Fastboot|Smartphone connected with original cable|Backup of important data is made|Battery Charging (minimum 50%)

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For more in-depth analysis (e.g., on Redmi) K40 You can use Perfetto with a Snapdragon 870 processor, and this tool provides a graphical interface to visualize the tracing:

1. Download Perfetto from the official Google website.
2. Connect Redmi and execute: Adb shell perfetto --txt -c - -o /sdcard/perfetto_trace
3. Open the file in the desktop version of Perfetto UI analyse.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 13+ Long tracing through Perfetto can cause overheating due to high CPU loads.°C, the system will automatically suspend recording. Monitor the status of the smartphone through the application CPU Monitor.

Tracing Logs: What to Look for in Files?

Tracing files (usually with the.txt or.trace extension) contain a huge amount of data that is difficult to interpret without preparation.

• ⏱️ Time tags show when the event occurred.Look for delays between calls (for example, if more than 16 ms between SurfaceFlinger and RenderThread, this may indicate interface lags).
• 🔄 Cyclic dependencies, where one process waits for another to complete, leading to a "hang." In logs, it looks like repeating lines with the same pattern. PID.
• 🚨 Errors of the kernel - messages marked E/ (Error or W/ (Warning, for example, E/ion: Failed to allocate memory signals a shortage of RAM.
• 📉 Load peaks - sharp jumps in use CPU or GPU. In Perfetto, they appear as red bars on the graph.

For convenience of analysis, you can use specialized tools:

For example, if your Redmi Note 11 Pro began to brake after upgrading to the MIUI 14, in the trace logs, you can find that the process miui.guardprovider, which consumes up to 30, is to blame% CPU This is a typical problem for devices with a Snapdragon 695 processor, and the solution is to disable unnecessary Xiaomi services through the use of a mobile phone. ADB.

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If you see repeated errors in the tracing logs, E/ANDR-PERF-MPCTL, This may indicate problems with the control of the CPU cores. Try resetting the power saving settings in Settings. → Battery → Performance mode.

Risks and precautions when tracing

While useful, tracing the system on Xiaomi Redmi comes with a number of risks that many users are unaware of.

• 🔋 Fast battery discharge – continuous recording of system events increases the load on the processor, which can reduce battery life on the processor. 30-50%.
• 📱 Overheating of the device – on smartphones with passive cooling (for example, Redmi) 10A) Tracing for more than 5 minutes in a row can cause trottling (decreased performance).
• 🔒 Leakage of confidential data – logs may contain information about running applications, geolocation or even passwords (if they were transmitted in plain form).
• 🚫 Locking the bootloader – on some models (for example, Redmi) K30 Pro) incorrect use of FTrace results in anti-rollback.

To minimize the risks, follow these rules:

1. Always back up your data before tracing (e.g., via Mi Cloud or other TWRP).
2. Use tracer only when connected to the charger (especially on models with a battery less than 4000 mAh).
3. Limit the recording time – no more 2-3 minute-by-minute.
4. After the tracing is complete, delete the log files if they contain sensitive information.

Special care should be exercised by owners of Redmi with MediaTek processors (for example, Redmi). 9T helio G85). On these chips, tracing through FTrace can conflict with proprietary drivers, resulting in graphic artifacts or complete image loss.

Examples: When does tracing really help?

Not all problems on Xiaomi Redmi require traceability — often standard logs or resets are enough, but there are situations where you can not do without it.

Case 1: Diagnostics of random reboots on Redmi Note 10 Pro

The user complains that the smartphone spontaneously reboots 2-3 Standard logcats don't show obvious errors:

1. Activate tracing through Perfetto with a focus on core events: adb shell perfetto -c - --txt -o /sdcard/perfetto_trace
2. We wait for the next rebate and analyze the log.
3. We find that before each reboot there is an error. E/thermal-engine: Overheat stage 3 — overheating protection.
4. Checking the temperature through CPU Monitor and find out that the background process com.miui.analytics, which downloads, is to blame CPU 100%.
5. Solution: Disable Xiaomi analytics through ADB: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.analytics

Case 2: Lags in Redmi games K50 Gaming

On a powerful gaming smartphone Redmi K50 Gaming with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor user watches friezes in Genshin Impact:

1. Starting a trace with an emphasis on the graphics stack: adb shell atrace -z -t 30 gfx view input
2. We see that every 5-7 There is a delay in the second 100+ MS due to the surfaceflinger process.
3. Check the display settings and find that the adaptive screen refresh mode (120 Hz) is enabled → 60Hz), which conflicts with the game.
4. Solution: fix the refresh rate at 120 Hz through the engineering menu (#4636##).

These examples show that tracing is not a universal solution, but in the hands of an experienced user it can reveal the causes of problems that cannot be diagnosed by standard methods.

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Tracing is only effective for diagnosing complex system failures. For most problems (such as slow interfaces), it is enough to clear the cache or reset settings.

Alternatives to Tracking: When Can You Do Without It?

Before you resort to tracing, it is worth assessing whether you can solve the problem in simpler ways. Here are some alternative diagnostic methods for Xiaomi Redmi:

• 📱 Safe Mode – allows you to check if the problem is caused by a third-party application. Press the power button and select Reboot Safe Mode".
• 🔄 Cache reset - section cleaning /cache Recovery often solves lag problems without losing data.
• 📊 Built-in tools MIUI: Settings → The phone. → Error report - sends logs to Xiaomi for analysis. → Battery → Battery use - shows voracious processes.
• 🔍 ADB-commands for diagnosis: adb shell dumpsys meminfo - analysis of memory use; adb shell dumpsys cpuinfo - load on the processor on the cores.

For example, if your Redmi 9 is slow, check first:

1. Free space in memory (Settings) → If it's less than 1 GB, clear the cache.
2. Background processes via adb shell ps -A. Look for suspicious applications with high PID.
3. Processor Temperature (Adb Shell Cat) /sys/class/thermal/thermal_zone*/temp). Values above 50000 (i.e. 50°C) indicates overheating.

Only if these methods didn't work, does it make sense to resort to tracing. For example, on the Redmi Note 8 Pro with a Helio processor. G90T lag-lag PUBG Mobile may not be caused by game optimization, but by a defect in the graphics accelerator driver. Mali-G76. In this case, tracing through FTrace will help identify the problem, but will require root rights.

FAQ: Frequent questions about tracing on Xiaomi Redmi