The “Accelerator” function on Xiaomi: hidden opportunities and how to use it

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphone owners often face a cryptic notification that says, “Accelerate program activated.” It appears after a MIUI update or when the device is first turned on, but what is really behind this feature? Spoiler: it’s not just a marketing ploy, but a real optimization tool that can both speed up your phone and cause unexpected problems.

In this article, we will take a closer look at what Acceleration is on Xiaomi, how it works at the system level, what processes it affects and when to turn it off. You will learn why some applications start to work faster and others start to slow down after activating this feature. We will also analyze which Xiaomi models support Acceleration in 2026 and which ones are better not to use (for example, on the budget Redmi 10A with 2 GB of RAM).

Important: the information in this article is relevant for MIUI 14/15 and later. If you have an older firmware version, some settings may not be available.

What is Xiaomi’s Acceleration Program and Why You Need It

Speed Boost (or Performance Mode in global firmware) is an integrated optimization engine that dynamically allocates CPU, RAM and storage resources to improve performance. Unlike manual modes (such as Game Turbo), this feature works automatically, analyzing user behavior and system load.

The main objectives of the programme are:

  • 🔄 Background cleaning: Closes unused processes, freeing up RAM for active tasks.
  • ⚡ Prioritizing applications: speeds up the launch of frequently used programs (messaging, social networks, games).
  • 📉 Optimizing energy consumption: reduces battery load during resource-intensive operations.
  • 🛠️ Storage defragmentation: organizes files for quick access (relevant for eMMC devices).

It’s essentially the equivalent of a smart boost in Samsung or Oppo smartphones, but with unique algorithms from Xiaomi.For example, the feature can preload data for apps you normally open in the morning (like Telegram or YouTube) so they run instantly.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F5 Xiaomi 13T) «Acceleration is activated automatically after major updates MIUI. If after that the phone began to warm or quickly discharge – check the settings!

How Acceleration Works at a Technical Level

To understand why a function sometimes backfires, let’s look at its mechanics:

  1. Activity monitoring: The system tracks which apps you use most often and assigns them high priority in the Task Manager.
  2. Data caching: Frequently requested files (such as thumbnails in a gallery or Instagram cache) are stored in fast memory (RAM or UFS).
  3. Background Process Limitation: Applications that have not been used for a long time are transferred to Deep Sleep.
  4. Adaptive CPU/GPU frequency: The processor accelerates to maximum frequencies when running games or rendering video, but reduces power to idle.

The problem is that on weak smartphones (like the Redmi Note 11 with a Snapdragon 680 processor), aggressive optimization can lead to:

  • 🐢 Slowing down background services (for example, no notifications from Viber).
  • 🔥 Overheating at a long load (due to forced acceleration of the nuclei) CPU).
  • 📉 Accelerated battery wear (if "Acceleration" is on continuously).
📊 You have noticed an improvement in performance after activating the “Accelerator»?
Yeah, the phone's getting faster.
No, I didn't feel the difference.
On the contrary, there were lags.
I don't know, I didn't pay attention.

On which devices Xiaomi has the function of “Acceleration”

The feature is available on most smartphones with MIUI 12.5+, but its implementation depends on the model and hardware platform.

ModelSupport for AccelerationFeatures
Xiaomi 13/13 Pro, 14 Series✅ Complete.Adaptive boost for Snapdragon 8 Gen 2/3, Game Turbo support
POCO F5/F5 Pro, Xiaomi 12T✅ Complete.Optimized for Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 and Dimensity 8100 processors.
Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO X5 Pro✅ PartialIt works only for games and multimedia, and background optimization is limited.
Redmi 10C, POCO M5⚠️ Cut down.Only cleaning RAM, without adaptive overclocking of the CPU (can slow down the system).
Xiaomi Pad 6, Pad 5✅ Complete.Additional optimization for WQHD+ screen and multitasking.

On devices with 4GB of RAM or less (like the Redmi A2+), the function may not work smoothly, and in such cases it is better to manually disable it, as we will discuss later.

Why aren’t some Xiaomis “accelerating”?
On budget models (e.g. Redmi 9A or POCO C50), the feature is missing due to weak iron and can also be removed in regional firmware (e.g. Europe or India) due to power consumption restrictions.

How to turn on or off “Accelerator” on Xiaomi

The control function is hidden in the performance settings. Instructions are relevant for MIUI 14/15:

  1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
  2. Tap 5-7 times on the item "Version" MIUI» (A message will appear saying, “You’ve become a developer»).
  3. Return to the main settings menu and select Additional → For developers.
  4. Scroll down to the Performance section and find:
MIUI Acceleration (or "Performance Mode")


Cleaning up memory when blocking




Optimizing application launches

To turn off the "Acceleration", it is enough:

  1. Remove the tick from the item "Adaptive optimization".
  2. In the “Memory Cleanup” section, select “Standard” instead of “Aggressive”.
  3. Reboot the phone.

☑️ Verification of the work “Acceleration»

Done: 0 / 4

If the phone became more stable after the shutdown, it means that the function conflicted with your use cases. For example, on Xiaomi 11 Lite NE, users complain that Acceleration interferes with the Google Camera due to aggressive cache cleaning.

When Acceleration is Harmful: 5 Signs That It’s Time to Turn Off

Despite the promised optimization, in some cases, Acceleration only worsens the experience.

  1. Apps “fly out” of memory: For example, WhatsApp or 2GIS close when switching to another window.
  2. Notifications come with a delay: Messages in Telegram or VK only appear after opening the app.
  3. The phone overheats to simple: The processor temperature rises above 45°C without load (checked in Settings → Battery condition).
  4. Fast battery discharge: Overnight, the phone loses >10% of its charge (when Wi-Fi and mobile data are turned off).
  5. Lags for multitasking: When switching between applications, the screen will “freeze” for 1-2 seconds.

If you have any of these, try turning off Acceleration for 2-3 days and compare the behavior of your phone. On the POCO X3 Pro with a Snapdragon 860 processor, users note that FPS has become more stable in games after deactivating the FPS function (without drawdowns every 10-15 minutes).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI For example, the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G) «Acceleration may conflict with Google Play services. If the applications stopped updating after activation, clear the Google Play Services cache.

Alternatives to Accelerate: How to Optimize Xiaomi Without Built-in Feature

If standard optimization is not good, try these methods:

  • 🧹 Manual cache cleaning: Once a week, clean the cache through Settings → Warehouse → On Xiaomi 13 Ultra, this frees up to 3-5 GB.
  • 🔧 Turn off animation: Enable "Developers" and set "Window animation scale" on 0.5x.
  • 📱 Use Lite versions of apps: Replace Facebook with Facebook Lite and Twitter with X Lite.
  • 🔄 Reset graphics settings: In games (such as Genshin Impact) reset the graphics settings to "Balanced».

For advanced users:

  • 🛠️ Install Kernel Auditor (root required) and manually configure governor CPU ondemand or conservative.
  • 📊 Use Greenify (no root) to hibernate unnecessary background processes.

💡

If your Xiaomi is slowing down due to a lack of RAM, try activating “Memory Extension” in Settings → Additional → Memory. The feature uses part of the internal storage as a virtual RAM (up to 3 GB).

Frequent Questions About Xiaomi’s “Acceleration” Feature

❓ Why After Updating MIUI «Acceleration's on its own?
In newer versions of MIUI (starting with 14.0.4), the function is activated automatically for “Optimize after Update”; this is a temporary mode that should shut down after 24-48 hours. If this does not happen, reset manually (see the instructions above).
❓ Can you use Acceleration with Game Turbo?
On flagships (Xiaomi 14, POCO F6 Pro), the functions complement each other: Game Turbo optimizes games, and Acceleration is overall performance. On budget devices (Redmi Note 11), both modes can overheat simultaneously.
❓ Is “acceleration” harmful to the battery?
With constant use, yes. The feature increases the load on the processor, which accelerates battery degradation. According to GSMArena tests, on the Xiaomi 12 Pro with active “Acceleration”, the battery capacity decreases by ~5% faster in a year, and we recommend turning it on only when necessary (for example, before starting a heavy game).
❓ Why the phone started to run slower after the “Accelerator” shutdown?
This is a temporary effect. The system is used to aggressive optimization, and after it is turned off, it may take 1-2 days to rebuild. If the lags persist, check the CPU load in Settings → Battery Condition → Battery Use. It may not be Acceleration, but the background application (for example, Mi Video or Cleaner).
❓ Is there an “acceleration” on Xiaomi tablets?
Yes, on the Xiaomi Pad 6 and Pad 5, the feature works similarly to smartphones, but with additional settings for the WQHD+ display, for example, it optimizes rendering when watching 4K videos or working with Adobe Photoshop.

💡

On devices with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and later ("Acceleration" works more stable due to improved temperature control and power consumption. On older chips (for example, Snapdragon 732G in POCO X3), it is better to turn off the function.