How to speed up and overclock Xiaomi phone without harming the system

Xiaomi MIUI-based smartphones are known for their price-performance balance, but over time, even flagship models start to slow down. The reasons range from overloaded memory to unoptimized system settings. Overclocking the phone does not necessarily mean changing the CPU frequencies or stitching custom software. In 80% of cases, it is enough to competently optimize the software part, clean the background and adjust energy saving parameters.

It's important to understand that overclocking is a broader term for smartphones than it is for PCs, and it's a set of measures here, from turning off unnecessary Google and MIUI services to fine-tuning the kernel through an engineering menu. We'll break down safe methods that don't require root rights, and advanced techniques for power users. But first, diagnostics: if your Redmi Note 12 or POCO F5 became slower after the upgrade, the problem may be in the background, not in the hardware.

1. Diagnostics before overclocking: why does the phone brake?

Before you start optimizing, identify bottlenecks. Use built-in MIUI tools or third-party utilities:

• 📊 Performance Monitor: Go to Settings → The phone. → System status. This is the loading display. CPU, RAM and the temperature. CPU constantly loaded at 70%+ In simple – look for background processes.
• 🔍 Memory Analysis: C Settings → Memory see which apps take up the most RAM. Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) and social networks often hang in the background.
• 🔥 Heat sensors: If your phone is warming without load, check Settings → Battery → Battery condition: Overheating leads to trottling (automatically lowering processor frequencies).

Typical causes of brakes:

⚠️ Warning: If you see a high-load mediaserver in System State, it's a sign of a damaged media cache. → Annexes → All applications → Media storage → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

System Cleanup: Removing garbage and background processes

The first step to overclocking is freeing up resources. MIUI is known for its "love" for the background processes that eat up RAM and CPU. Start with basic cleaning:

• 🧹 Application cache: Settings → Memory. → Clean the cache. Do this once a week -- especially after updates.
• 🗑️ Unnecessary files: use the built-in Cleanup utility (broom sign on the desktop). Delete residual files, duplicate photos and unused ones APK.
• 🚫 Autoboot: Settings → Annexes → Permits → Autorun. Turn off autoboot for all applications except instant messengers and system services.

For deep cleaning:

1. Install SD Maid (requires root for full functionality) or Files by Google.
2. Check the /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/ folder – log files (.log,.tmp) are often accumulated here.
3. Clear the cache of Google Play Services: Settings → Apps → All apps → Google Play Services → Storage → Clear the cache.

Remove the cache of all applications|Clear the Download folder|Disable the autoload of unnecessary applications|Check the log files in /MIUI/|Clear the Google Play Services cache-->

After cleaning, restart your phone. If you have more free memory, but you have lags, move on to performance settings.

3. set up MIUI for maximum speed

MIUI offers hidden options for speeding up, but they're hidden in the developer menu and engineering settings. Activate the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.

Now optimize the system:

• ⚡ Animation: Set the scale of the animation window, the scale of the animation transition and the duration of the animation on 0.5x or disable (no animation available).
• 🔄 Background Processes: Limit to 2-3 processes in Developers → Process limit.
• 📶 Data Transfer: Disable Mobile Data Always Active and Autosynchronize to Google Accounts.

For Snapdragon models (e.g. POCO F4 or Xiaomi 12T):

adb shell settings put global force_high_performance true

This command forcibly includes a high performance mode (ADB and USB debugging are required).

⚠️ Note: On budget models (Redmi) 10A, POCO M4) Turning off animations can cause artifacts when scrolling. Test the changes one by one!

Qualcomm Snapdragon|Mediatek Helio|Mediatek Dimensity|Other-->

4. Battery optimization and energy saving

Aggressive power saving settings in MIUI often cause brakes, the system restricts the background activity of applications, which leads to delays in opening them.

• 🔋 Performance mode: Settings → Battery → Battery mode → Performance (not available on all models).
• ⚙️ Exceptions for applications: c Settings → Battery → Battery optimization add messengers and frequently used programs to exceptions.
• 🌙 Adaptive Brightness: Turn it off in Settings → Display. → Brightness – Adaptive algorithms eat up to 5% CPU.

For advanced users:

adb shell dumpsys deviceidle force-idle


adb shell dumpsys battery reset

These commands reset the energy saving settings to default (helps after failures).

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If after changes the battery discharges too quickly, return the settings of energy saving to factory through Settings → Battery → Reset settings.

5. Firmware and core: advanced overclocking methods

If software optimization has failed, consider alternative firmware or kernel modifications, which are risky methods that require unlocking the bootloader and potentially unwarranted.

Options:

• 📱 Custom firmware: LineageOS, Pixel Experience or Xiaomi.EU (optimized version) MIUI The latter retains its functionality. MIUI, It removes unnecessary services.
• 🔧 Modified cores: for example, FrancoKernel or Kiriskernel for Snapdragon devices. CPU/GPU, but they need root.
• 🔄 Reverse to the old version MIUI: If the lags appeared after the update, go back to the previous firmware via Fastboot.

Instructions for installation of Xiaomi.EU:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires a binding Mi Account and wait 7-15 days).
2. Download the firmware from the official website xiaomi.eu.
3. Go to Fastboot (click Volume Down + Power), connect the phone to the PC.
4. Run the script. fastboot_update_rom.bat (Windows or./fastboot_update_rom.sh (Linux/Mac).

⚠️ Note: On models with Mediatek (Redmi Note 11, POCO M5) Unlocking the loader can lead to problems with IMEI or modem, save before the procedure NV-data-driven MTK Client.

6. Acceleration through the engineering menu (for experienced only)

The engineering menu (#4636##) and hidden Qualcomm/Mediatek settings allow for fine-tuning performance. Wrong changes can knock the phone out!

What can be changed:

• 📈 Frequency CPU/GPU: EngineerMode → Hardware Testing → CPU (Not available on all models. 10–15% Increases the heat in games, but increases the heat.
• 🔄 Task planner: shift CFQ on Performance or Ondemand in the /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_governor (root).
• 📡 Modem settings: in ##4636## → Phone information can be changed to network type LTE Only for stable signal.

Example of a team to change the scheduler (root):

echo performance > /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_governor


echo performance > /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu4/cpufreq/scaling_governor

Use CPU Monitor or AIDA64 to control the temperature, and if the temperature is above 65°C in the idle, acceleration is contraindicated.

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Engineering menus and manual overclocking are extremes, and 90 percent of devices are good enough to clean up the system and optimize MIUI.

7. Alternative methods: cooling and hardware modifications

If software methods are exhausted and the phone still overheats and brakes, consider physical improvements:

• 🧊 Thermopaste: on models older than 2 years (Redmi Note 9 Pro, POCO X3) Replacement of thermopaste reduces the temperature by 5-10°C. Use Arctic MX-4 Or the Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut.
• 🪛 Dust cleansing: dust in speakers and connectors degrades heat sink. Use a compressed air spray or a soft brush.
• 🔌 Type-C Hub: Connecting peripherals (mouse, keyboard) through the Hub reduces the load on built-in controllers.

For gaming smartphones (Black Shark, POCO F4 GT):

• 🎮 Game triggers: physical buttons on the body unload the touch screen.
• ❄️ Coolers: External coolers (such as Black Shark FunCooler Pro) reduce temperatures by 15-20°C.

⚠️ Warning: Disassembling the phone to replace the thermal paste voids the warranty. On models with adhesive screen mount (for example, Xiaomi 13) there is a high risk of damage to the plumes.

FAQ: Frequent questions about overclocking Xiaomi