How to Make Xiaomi Smoother: A Complete Guide to Smartphone Optimization

Your Xiaomi is slowing down, apps are slowing down, and animations are twitching? This is a common problem, especially on the budget models of Redmi and POCO after a year of use. The reasons can vary from overloaded memory to outdated firmware. In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to return the smartphone to its former smoothness — without unnecessary technical details, but with specific instructions.

It's important to understand that not all methods are equally effective, for example, cleaning the cache will give a temporary effect, and resetting to factory settings or replacing the firmware with custom ROM can dramatically improve performance. We'll start with simple solutions and gradually move on to more complex ones - choose one that suits your level of training.

If you're a Xiaomi user on MIUI 14/15 or HyperOS, consider that newer versions of the shell are often optimized better than older ones, but require more resources. Paradox? Not quite - below we explain how to work with this.

1. Cleaning the system: remove garbage and cache

The first thing you need to do is to make room in the memory of the device, and even 1-2 GB of free space can speed things up a lot.

• 🧹 Cleaning the application cache: go to Settings → Annexes → App management, select frequently used programs (e.g. Chrome, Facebook) and click Clear Cache».
• 🗑️ Remove unnecessary files: Use the built-in Cleanup app (Security) → Clean up) or Files by Google to find duplicates and large files.
• 📱 Disabling background activity: In the same app settings, limit background work for programs you don’t use daily.

Pay special attention to MIUI Optimized Storage, a feature that automatically deletes unused files, to enable it:

1. Go to Settings. → Memory.
2. Slip on "Optimize storage."
3. Enable the option and select a file category (such as “Downloads” or “Sketches”).

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If the app is slower after cleaning the cache, don't worry. It's temporary: the cache data will recover the next time it runs, but without any debris.

⚠️ Note: Do not clean the cache of system applications (e.g. com.android.systemui) manually through ADB Or Root. This can cause a shell malfunction. MIUI.

2. MIUI optimization: disabling animation and unnecessary functions

MIUI is known for its chips, but many of them slow down the system, like transition animations or constant data synchronization in the background.

• ⚡ Reduce animation: activate the developer mode (7 times tap on "Version") MIUI» In Settings → About the phone, then in Settings → Additionally. → For developers, set: The scale of the window animation → Off or 0.5x Scale of transition animation → Off or 0.5x Duration of the animator → Off.
• 🔄 Disabling Autosynchronization: Settings → Accounts and synchronization → Autosynchronization of data → Disable unnecessary accounts (Google, Mi Account).
• 📊 Background Process Limit: In the developer settings, set the Background Process Limit to a Maximum 2 of the process (but note, this may close applications when switching).

Another hidden brake is MIUI Optimization, a service that supposedly optimizes the system but on weak devices (Redmi 9A, POCO M3) often backfires to turn it off:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.powerkeeper

This command requires an ADB connection and an unlocked bootloader. Without experience, it's best not to experiment.

3. firmware update: when it helps and when it hurts

MIUI updates often include optimizations, but not always. For example, switching from MIUI 12 to MIUI 13 could speed up the Redmi Note 10 Pro, but slow down the POCO X3 NFC due to new features.

How to upgrade safely:

1. Make a backup through Settings → About Phone → Backup.
2. Connect to stable Wi-Fi (not mobile data!)
3. The battery should be at least 60% charged.
4. Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update and click “Check Updates”.

⚠️ Warning: If after the update, the smartphone began to warm or discharge quickly, reset the cache via Recovery: Turn off the device. + Volume up until the Mi logo appears. Select Wipe Cache Partition (Manage volume buttons).

4.Reset to factory settings: a radical but effective method

If nothing works, a full reset can return the smartphone to its original smoothness, which will delete all the data, so:

• 📎 Backup your contacts, photos and apps (Mi Cloud or Google Drive).
• 🔐 Remember your account passwords (Mi Account, Google).
• 📱 Make sure you know the username/password from the attached Mi Account – after reset, you will need confirmation!

Resetting instructions:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select “Erase all data”.
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

After reset, do not restore data from the backup immediately - first check the smoothness of the "clean" system. Often the lags return precisely because of the restored settings or applications.

Make a backup copy|Remember passwords from accounts|Payment cards (Google Pay, Mi Pay)|Check the battery charge (minimum 50%)|Delete SIM-map SD-map (optional)-->

5. Install custom firmware: for advanced users

If standard methods did not help, custom firmware (for example, LineageOS, Pixel Experience or Xiaomi.eu) can give a second life to the device.

• ✅ No extra software from Xiaomi (Mi Browser, Mi Video, etc.).
• ✅ More recent versions of Android (such as Android 14 for Redmi Note 9 Pro).
• ✅ Best Optimization for Weak Processors (Snapdragon) 6xx, Helio Gxx).

But there are risks:

• ❌ Loss of warranty (if the device is under warranty).
• ❌ Possible bugs (not working) NFC, camera trouble).
• ❌ Difficulty of installation for beginners.

Minimum installation requirements:

1. Unlocked bootloader (via Mi Unlock Tool)
2. Installed TWRP Recovery.
3. Remain and modem backup (in case of network loss).

Popular firmware for Xiaomi:

⚠️ Note: On devices with a MediaTek processor (Redmi 9, POCO M3) Unlocking the bootloader can lead to loss IMEI. Before the firmware save it through the app MTK Engineering Mode.

Hardware solutions: when software methods do not help

If the smartphone slows down even after all the manipulations, the problem may be in the iron:

• 🔋 Worn-out battery: when degraded below 80%, the processor limits performance. Check status in ##4636## → «Battery information».
• 🔥 Overheating: Clean the charging connector and vents (on gaming smartphones) POCO F or Black Shark).
• 🛠️ Damaged Memory: If applications crash with an “Insufficient Memory” error, it may be damaged eMMC/UFS-- The storage device. ADB: adb shell dumpsys meminfo

Decisions:

• 🔄 Replacement of thermopaste (relevant to the POCO F1, Mi 8 – These models are heated due to poor heat sink).
• 🔋 Replacement of the battery (cost) ~1500-3000 ₽ service-centre).
• 💾 Replacement of the drive (only for models with removable memory, for example, Redmi Note) 4X).

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If the smartphone is older than 3 years and slows down even after reset, most likely the problem is hardware wear, in which case it is cheaper to buy a new model than to repair the old one.

7.Alternative launchers and lightweight applications

The MIUI shell itself can slow down, so the solution is to install the launcher.

• 🚀 Nova Launcher – fast, with animation settings.
• ⚡ Lawnchair – lightweight, with gesture support.
• 📱 POCO Launcher – Optimized for weak devices.

Also replace heavy apps with lighter versions:

To completely disable MIUI Launcher:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.home

After that, install an alternative launcher from Google Play. You can return the standard by command:

adb shell pm enable com.miui.home

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's smoothness