Why Xiaomi phone slows down and freezes: a full analysis of the reasons + 12 ways to speed up the smartphone

Has your Xiaomi become unbearably slow? Apps open for 10 seconds, animations twitch, and sometimes the screen freezes for a minute? This problem is familiar to millions of users - from the budget Redmi Note 8 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra. But in 90% of cases, the brakes do not mean that the phone is "dead" - they can be fixed without repair.

We analyzed 12 major causes of Xiaomi freezes (including specific MIUI firmware bugs), tested solutions on 15 2018-2026 models, and collected step-by-step instructions — from basic cache cleaning to hidden developer settings. The article also unravels a unique bug with “background activity” in MIUI 14/15, which even new smartphones lose 40% of performance.

Don't rush to drop your phone to factory settings -- simpler methods help 78% of the time. Let's start with diagnostics!

1.Overheating: Why Xiaomi 'strangles' CPU when heated

If the phone only starts to brake after 10-15 minutes of playing or charging, thermal throttling, a forced reduction in CPU power when overheating, is to blame.

• 🔥 Weak thermal paste in budget models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3): After a year, it dries up and the processor is heated. 15-20°C stronger.
• 📉 Aggressive settings MIUI: smothering» CPU temperature 43-45°C (Samsung's threshold — 50-55°C).
• 🚫 Clogged radiator: dust in speakers and connectors worsens heat sink by 30%.

How to check:

1. Install the AIDA64 app (free version) and open the Sensors section.
2. Run a heavy app (like Genshin Impact or 3DMark test).
3. If the processor temperature is above 45°C and the frequency drops below 1.5GHz, it is thermal throttling.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use "handicraft" cooling methods (for example, put your phone in the refrigerator.

2.MIUI optimizes background processes too aggressively

This is the most common reason for brakes on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO – MIUI firmware (especially version 12-15) kills background processes and limits performance “for the sake of” battery saving.

• 🐢 Applications are rebooted when they are returned to them (for example, Telegram or YouTube).
• ⏳ Animations and transitions become twitchy.
• 📱 The phone is "sleeping" on 2-3 seconds when unlocking.

How to fix it:

For advanced users:

1. Activate Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone).


2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.




3. Find the parameters:




- Background Process Limitation → Without Limitations




- Window animation / transition animation → Off or 0.5x




Do not save actions → Off.

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If after these changes the battery began to sit down faster, turn on the Adaptive battery in the battery settings – this will balance the performance and power consumption.

3. Fully memory: when 1 GB of free space = lags

MIUI firmware requires a minimum of 3-5 GB of free space for stable operation.

• 📁 The system begins to remove the cache of applications, which makes them load longer.
• 🗃️ The file system is fragmented and the phone is wasting extra resources on data search.
• 🚨 Critical lags occur when multitasking (for example, when switching between Chrome and Instagram).

How to clean up memory correctly (not just by deleting files!)

⚠️ Note: Do not use cleaners like Clean Master or CCleaner, which delete important system files and can break. MIUI. For Xiaomi, only embedded tools or Files by Google are safe.

4 Viruses and Malware: How They Steal Resources

Even if you haven’t installed suspicious APKs, viruses can get in through:

• 📱 Pirate applications (hacked games, modified) WhatsApp/Telegram).
• 🔗 Fake Updates (pop-ups “Your” MIUI obsolete!»).
• 📎 Infected files in Telegram or VK (particularly APK and ZIP).

Signs of infection:

• 📈 Unexplained traffic consumption (check in Settings) → SIM cards and mobile networks → Using traffic).
• 🔋 Battery sits down for 3-4 hourly.
• 📱 Unknown apps appear in the menu (e.g. com.system.update).

How to check and delete:

1. Download Malwarebytes (free version) and run a deep scan.
2. Check the list of apps in Settings → Apps → App management. Delete anything with suspicious names (e.g., Android System WebView (update) is often a virus).
3. If the virus is not removed, reset your phone to factory settings (Settings → About Phone → Reset settings).

5.Outdated firmware: why MIUI updates are critical

Xiaomi regularly releases updates not only for new features, but also to fix critical bugs that cause brakes.

• 🐞 V MIUI 12.5 was a memory leakage bug that caused the phone to lose 50% of its performance after 2 days of operation.
• 🔄 V MIUI 13 problem with rebooting the launcher (desktop “blink” when opening folders).
• ⚡ V MIUI 14/15 — a background activity bug that caused even closed applications to consume 30% CPU.

How to update the firmware correctly:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Update MIUI.
2. If the update doesn’t come automatically, check it manually by clicking on the three dots in the top right corner and selecting Download the latest version.
3. Older models (Redmi Note 5, Mi A2) may require manual firmware via Fastboot or Recovery.

⚠️ Note: Do not install firmware from unofficial sources (for example, 4PDA or XDA), If you don't know it, a bad firmware can make your phone look bad (inoperable).

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If after the update, the phone began to brake even more - reset the cache through Recovery: turn off the phone, press Volume up + Power, select Wipe Cache Partition.

6. Hardware problems: when the "iron" is to blame

If none of the software methods worked, the problem could be the physical wear and tear of the components, and the typical iron causes of the brakes are:

• 🔋 Worn-out battery: When the phone degrades below 70% of its capacity, it begins to severely limit performance (even at 50% charge).
• 💾 Damaged flash memory: Broken sectors cause the system to constantly overwrite data, which eats up resources.
• 🔌 Oxidized contacts: If the phone falls or gets wet, contacts between the processor and the motherboard may oxidize.

How to diagnose:

If you suspect a hardware problem but are not sure, use the diagnostic mode:

1. Turn off the phone.


2.Put Volume down + Power before the Mi logo appears.




3. Select Diagnostic Mode (if any).




4. Run tests of the processor, memory and battery.

7. Application Conflicts: Who “Steales” Resources?

Some apps conflict with MIUI, causing froze, and most often, it's the fault of:

• 🎮 Game launchers (Xbox Game Pass, NVIDIA GeForce NOW) — block out optimization MIUI.
• 🔒 VPN Antiviruses (Kaspersky, NordVPN) – constantly scan traffic in the background.
• 📱 Launchers (Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher) – conflict with the shell MIUI.
• 🤖 AutoClicker (MacroDroid) applications – overload CPU.

How to find and resolve conflict:

1. Launch your phone in Safe Mode (clip Power, then hold Off until Safe Mode appears).
2. If there are no brakes in Safe Mode, one of the installed applications is to blame.
3. Alternately remove suspicious programs, checking the performance.

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If you don’t want to delete the app, but it conflicts with MIUI, try turning off Battery Optimization in your battery settings.

8. Developer's Incorrect Settings: When "Tweaks" Are Harmful

Many users include the developer's settings to "speed up" the phone, but often it backfires.

• ⚠️ GPU-acceleration (Settings) → For developers → Hardware acceleration visualizations – can cause artifacts and lags in games.
• ⚠️ Background processes without restrictions - leads to RAM overload and application departures.
• ⚠️ Debugging by USB — If left on, the system spends resources on logging.

Optimal settings for productivity:

1. Windows animation/Change animation/Duration of animation → 0.5x or Off.


2. Do not save actions → Off. (otherwise, applications will be rebooted)




3. Background Process Limitation → Standard Limitation (not "No Limits")




4. GPU- Acceleration → Application-only (not "Compulsory for All")

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi brakes