What takes up RAM on Xiaomi: a complete analysis + ways to release RAM

Have you noticed that your Xiaomi has slowed down, apps take a long time to open, and games periodically fly out? 90% of the time it is to blame for overloaded RAM. Even on flagships like Xiaomi 14 Ultra or Redmi Note 13 Pro+ And over time, processes accumulate that subtly eat up resources, but what's taking up memory, and how to deal with it?

In this article, we're not just going to list the standard tips like "close the background apps," but we're going to go into detail about what system and user processes load RAM on Xiaomi, why even after the applications are closed, memory isn't freed up, and what to do about it, and we're going to show you the hidden settings. MIUI, which are not written in the official instructions.

1. Systemic processes MIUI: Why do they take up so much RAM?

Operating envelope MIUI Xiaomi is known for its functionality, but it is also the main "devourer" of RAM. Even on a clean phone without installed applications, the system can take from 1.5 to 3 GB of RAM — and that's normal:

• 🔄 MIUI Daemon is a background process that is responsible for system updates, data synchronization and widgets. It takes up to 300-500 MB.
• 📊 Android System is the core operating system that manages all hardware components, and consumes 800 MB-1.2 GB depending on the model.
• 🛡️ Security Center — built-in antivirus and security monitoring. It works constantly, taking 200-400 MB.
• 🌐 MIUI System UI — shell interface (launcher, notification panel, animations) can "inflate" up to 600 MB when actively used.

Feature MIUI It's aggressively cacheing data to speed up the re-launch of apps, for example, if you shut down Instagram, the system can leave it in memory in case you open it again, which is called "smart memory management," but often works to the detriment of the system.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi smartphones with 4GB of RAM or less, system processes can take up to 70% of the memory in standby mode. This is not a defect - this is how it is designed to save energy».

To check how much system processes take, go to: Settings → The phone. → Memory. → RAM.

There you will see a graph of the use of RAM in real time.

2.Apps in the background: how they steal memory even after closing

You think you swiped the app up? MIUI It just freezes it, leaves it in memory, and it's done to quickly re-start, but it often leads to memory leaks when the application continues to consume resources even though you're not using it.

Here's the top.-5 applications that most often hang in the background and load RAM on Xiaomi:

The biggest problem is the auto-run of applications, and many programs (especially social networks and instant messengers) are pre-written in auto-boot and start immediately after the phone is turned on, to fix this:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as Facebook) → Auto-start → turn off.
3. For full closure, use Clear Cache and Reset Settings (Warning: This will delete app data!).

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If after the game closes, the phone still brakes, restart it. MIUI Completely clears RAM only when rebooting, not when locking the screen.

3.Cash and junk files: hidden memory eaters

Cache is a temporary file that is created to speed up applications, such as YouTube caches videos to avoid downloading them again, and Google Maps saves maps for offline viewing, the problem is that over time the cache grows to giant sizes and begins to take up not only internal memory, but also RAM.

How to check and clean the cache:

• 📱 Manual: Settings → Memory. → Clear the cache (this will remove the cache of all applications).
• 🔍 Individually: Settings → Annexes → [select] → Memory. → Clear the cache.
• 🤖 Automatically: Use the built-in Security app → Cleanup → Deep cleaning.

Pay special attention to the following types of garbage files:

• 🗑️ Residual files – remain after deleting applications (for example, folders) Android/obb play-off).
• 📁 Logs and dumps – created by the system when failures (/data/tombstones).
• 🎵 Media cache – miniatures of photos / videos that are stored in the DCIM/.thumbnails.

⚠️ Note: Do not clear the cache of system applications (for example, MIUI System or Android System manually through a file manager, which can cause a phone malfunction.

Clear the cache of social networks (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok)

Remove unused items APK-files from the Download folder

Check the DCIM folder for duplicate photos

Clear history on Google Chrome/Firefox

Remove old updates MIUI folder /cache-->

4. Viruses and Malware: How They Load RAM

If your Xiaomi suddenly began to slow down, warm up or quickly discharge – perhaps a miner (a program for hidden mining of cryptocurrency) or spyware settled on it. Such applications disguise themselves as harmless utilities, but in the background consume up to 1-1.5 GB of RAM and load the processor.

Signs of infection:

• 🔥 The phone is warming for no apparent reason (even in standby mode).
• 📉 Battery goes down in 3-4 hours with minimal use.
• 🚫 Unknown processes appear in the settings → The phone. → Memory. → RAM.
• 📤 Unauthorized traffic (check in Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Traffic).

How to check and remove viruses:

1. Install Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light from Google Play and run a deep scan.
2. Check the list of installed applications in Settings → Remove suspicious apps (e.g., with names like System Update, Flash Player, Clean Master).
3. Disable installation from unknown sources: Settings → Privacy → Special permissions → Install unknown applications.
4. If nothing helps, reset your phone to factory settings (Settings) → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge).

5. Updates MIUI and background loadings

Many users are unaware that Xiaomi automatically downloads system and application updates in the background, which can take up to 1-2 GB of RAM during boot time, especially if you use mobile Internet.

How to manage updates:

• 📥 Turn off auto-update MIUI: Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → ⚙️ → Auto-update → Off.
• 🔄 Ban background download for Google Play: Settings → Annexes → Google Play Store → Mobile traffic → Background data transmission → Off.
• 🗃️ Clean the folder with downloaded updates: /cache/ota (You need root or file manager permissions with access to system folders).

If you notice that your phone is slowing down after the update, try:

1. Clear the system cache: Settings → Memory → Clear the cache.
2. Reboot your phone in Safe Mode (click the power button) → long tap on "Switch off» → «Restarting in Safe Mode»).
3. Reverse to the previous version MIUI Mi Flash Tool (instructions on the official website of Xiaomi).

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After the update MIUI The phone began to slow down, wait for the next patch - often bugs are fixed within 1-2 weeks.

6 Games and Heavy Apps: How They Eat RAM

Modern mobile games (eg Genshin Impact, Call of Duty: Mobile, PUBG New State) can take up to 3-4 GB of RAM during play, but the problem is not only that, many games leave behind background processes that continue to work even after closing.

How to optimize games:

• 🎮 Reduce the graphical settings in the game (turn off shadows, lower texture resolution).
• 🔄 Enable Performance Mode in Settings → Special facilities → Game mode.
• ❌ Disallow the Auto-Start Game: Settings → Annexes → [play-off] → Auto-start → Off.
• 🗑️ Clean the game cache regularly through Settings → Annexes → [play] → Memory. → Clear the cache.

For Xiaomi owners with 6 GB of RAM and less, it is recommended:

• Do not remember more than 1-2 games at the same time.
• Close all background applications before launching the game.
• Use Game Turbo (built-in utility) MIUI play-optimizing).

If the game still crashes, try:

adb shell setprop debug.egl.hw 0

This command disables hardware acceleration graphics (can help on weak devices, but reduce performance).

7. How to free RAM on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

If you want to free up your RAM as much as possible, follow this algorithm:

1. Close all apps: Swipe up the screen and close all cards. Use the "Close All" button (if any).
2. Clear the cache: Settings → Memory. → Clear cache. For individual applications: Settings → Annexes → [choose] → Memory. → Clear the cache.
3. Turn off autostart: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Autostart. Turn off autostart for all unnecessary applications.
4. Reboot your phone: This is the only way to completely clear the RAM.

Use the performance mode:

• Settings → Battery and performance → Performance mode.

For advanced users:

• 🛠️ Install Greenify (root required) to freeze background processes.
• 🔧 Turn off animations via Developer Settings (Window animation) = 0.5x).
• 📱 Reset your phone to factory settings if the brakes don't disappear.

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On Xiaomi smartphones with 8+ GB of RAM doesn't usually require manual memory cleaning -- the system optimizes resources on its own. But on devices with 4-6 GB of RAM, regular cleaning is mandatory.

8 Myths about RAM on Xiaomi: what not to do

The Internet is full of tips for "optimizing" RAM, which not only does not help, but also harms the phone.

• ❌ «You have to constantly clean RAM manually — it’s pointless. Android and MIUI They manage the memory themselves, and forced cleaning can lead to rebooting processes, which will only increase the load.
• ❌ «Task Killer speeds up the phone — apps like Clean Master or DU Speed Boosters are just intruders. They aggressively shut down processes, which is why the system spends more resources on restarting them.
• ❌ «The more RAM you have, the better,'' which is not true. Free memory is an unused resource. The system specifically stores frequently used data in RAM to speed up the work.
• ❌ «Disabling animations will speed up the phone" - this will give an increase of 0.1-0.3 seconds when opening applications, but will not solve the problem of brakes when there is a lack of RAM.

What really works:

• ✅ Regular phone reboot (1 time in 2-3 days).
• ✅ Disabling Auto-Run Unnecessary Applications.
• ✅ Use lightweight alternatives to heavy software (e.g. Facebook Lite instead of Facebook).
• ✅ Update MIUI Up to the latest version (new versions optimized memory work).

⚠️ Note: Do not use applications to “overclock” RAM or change kernel parameters (for example, RAM Expander or Kernel Adiutor.com on Xiaomi smartphones, this often results in overheating and rapid battery wear.

FAQ: Frequent questions about RAM on Xiaomi