Expanding RAM in Xiaomi Phone: How Does It Work and Should It Be Included?

Xiaomi smartphone owners often encounter the term “expanding RAM” in device settings. This feature, which appeared in MIUI 12.5 firmware and newer versions, promises to increase RAM through the phone’s internal memory. But how exactly does this work? Is the smartphone really starting to run faster, or is it just a marketing ploy? And most importantly, is it safe to enable this option on your Redmi, POCO or Xiaomi 13/14?

Many users mistakenly believe that this is a physical increase in memory — as if another RAM chip were added to the phone. In fact, a technology called Memory Extension (or RAM Expansion in global firmware) uses part of the internal drive (usually UFS 2.2/3.1) to create virtual RAM. This is similar to a swap file in Windows, but adapted for mobile devices. However, there are nuances: not all applications work equally well with such “additional” memory, and in some cases, its activation can even worsen performance.

In this article, we will discuss:

✅ How exactly does the RAM extension work and how it differs from real RAM.

✅ What Xiaomi models support the feature (spoiler: not all, even flagships).

✅ Pros and cons of technology – when it is useful, and when it is better to disable.

✅ Step-by-step instructions for setting up taking into account the features of your device.

✅ What to do if after turning on the phone began to brake - real cases and solutions.

What is the RAM extension in Xiaomi and how does it work

Memory Extension (in some firmwares, such as RAM Boost or Virtual RAM) was first introduced in MIUI 12.5 and is being pushed into the latest versions of the shell, where it reserves some internal memory (usually 1 to 3 GB) and uses it as a buffer to temporarily store application data, which allows it to trick the system into thinking that the phone has more RAM than it actually does.

But here’s the catch: virtual memory is slower than physical memory. If real RAM (like LPDDR4X or LPDDR5) has read/write speeds of tens of gigabytes per second, even fast UFS 3.1 flash memory is 5 to 10 times behind, which means that applications using virtual RAM can slow down when switching between them or when they are under high load.

Key points of technology:

• 🔹 It does not replace physical memory: virtual RAM is only a “crutch”, not a complete solution.
• 🔹 It only works with supported applications: the system decides which processes to send to virtual memory.
• 🔹 Takes up space on the drive: 1 GB of virtual RAM = 1 GB less for your files.
• 🔹 The effect depends on the processor: on weak chips (for example, Snapdragon). 4xx) Minimal productivity gains.

It’s important to understand that the RAM extension won’t make a budget Redmi 10A a flagship device; it can help with multitasking (for example, when you quickly switch between messengers and the browser), but it won’t speed up games or heavy apps like Lightroom or Genshin Impact.

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If your phone already has 8+GB of RAM, it doesn’t make sense to include a memory extension – there’s enough physical reserve for most tasks.

What Xiaomi models support the expansion of RAM

Memory Extension is not available on all Xiaomi devices, but here are the main criteria:

• 📱 Firmware: required MIUI 12.5 or later (including HyperOS).
• 🖥️ Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon chips (series) supported 6xx, 7xx, 8xx) MediaTek Dimensity (1000)+ Budget Helio G or old Snapdragon 4xx They don't support the function.
• 💾 RAM: on devices with 4 GB of memory, the option may be missing or work unstable.

Below is a table with popular models and their support for RAM expansion:

Critical: on devices with eMMC 5.1 memory (such as Redmi 9A or POCO M3), the expansion of RAM can lead to noticeable lags due to low read/write speed. Before activating the function, check the type of drive in the characteristics of your model.

Pros and cons of expanding RAM

Before you turn on the feature, weigh its advantages and disadvantages, and we tested the technology on several devices, and here's what we found:

Advantages:

• ✔️ Better multitasking: apps are less likely to reboot when switching (e.g. Telegram or Chrome stay in the background longer).
• ✔️ Free upgrade: you don’t have to buy a new phone to get more RAM.
• ✔️ Useful for 4-6 GB RAM: on budget models, the increase is more noticeable than on flagships.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Speed reduction: virtual RAM is slower than physical, which can lead to microlaggs.
• ❌ Memory wear: Frequent data overwriting accelerates the degradation of the flash drive (relevant to eMMC).
• ❌ 1-3 GB is 10-15 thousand photos or several hours of video in a single video 1080p.
• ❌ Not all apps are supported: games and heavy programs (like CapCut) ignore virtual memory.

Conclusion: the function is justified only on devices with 4-6 GB of RAM and UFS-To the owners of flagships with 8+ GB RAM Or phones on eMMC, it is better to turn it off.

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Expanding RAM will not speed up games or video rendering, but can help with everyday tasks (messaging, browser, social networks).

How to turn on or off the RAM extension on Xiaomi

If you decide to try the feature, follow this instruction. Importantly, close all applications before activating and make sure that the battery is more than 30%.

Steps to include:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Slip on the line All parameters (or additionally in global firmware).
3. Select Memory Extension (or Memory Extension)
4. Activate the slider and select the amount of virtual RAM (we recommend starting with 1 GB).
5. Reboot the phone.

To disable the feature, repeat the steps and select 0GB in the extension settings.

Warning: once the function is turned on, the system can restart itself, which is normal. Don't interrupt the process!

⚠️ Note: On certain devices (e.g, POCO F4) after activation of the RAM extension, the possibility of recording video in the 4K@60fps. This is due to the system's backup. If you shoot video often, check the camera after the feature is turned on.

What to do if after switching on the phone began to brake

If you notice lags, hanging, or overheating after activating Memory Extension, follow these guidelines:

1. Reduce the amount of virtual RAM

Start with 1GB instead of a maximum of 3GB. Excessive expansion can overload the memory controller, especially on budget chips like the Snapdragon 680.

2. Clear the cache.

Go to Settings → Storage → Clear cache. This will help the system “reboot” data in virtual memory.

3. disable the function for individual applications

Some programs (like Facebook or TikTok) aggressively use RAM to eliminate them from virtual memory:

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Select the problem app.
3. Limit background activity.

4. Reset the settings.

If the lags have not disappeared, return the settings for the RAM extension to the factory:

Settings → System → Resetting settings → Resetting application settings

⚠️ Note: On devices with eMMC 5.1 (e.g. Redmi 9), long-term use of virtual RAM can lead to accelerated memory wear due to a limited number of overwrite cycles. If you plan to use the phone for more than 2 years, it is better to turn off the function.

Alternatives to RAM Expansion: How to Optimize Memory Without Virtual Crutch

If the RAM extension doesn’t fit your device or is causing problems, try these optimization techniques:

1. Manual background cleaning

MIUI has a built-in tool to close unnecessary processes:

• 🔄 Swipe up and hold your finger to call the multitasking menu.
• 🔄 Slip on the icon Close everything (or Clean it up).
• 🔄 For selective cleaning, swipe left/right on application cards.

2. Shutdown of autostart

Many applications (such as AliExpress or Wildberries) run automatically and take up RAM.

Settings → Applications → Autostart Management → Disable for unnecessary programs

3. Use of "Light" versions of applications

Replace heavy applications with lightweight analogues:

• 📱 Facebook Lite instead of Facebook.
• 📱 Messenger Lite instead of Messenger.
• 📱 Chrome (Lightweight Mode) or Brave instead of the standard browser.

4. Firmware update

The new MIUI and HyperOS versions have optimized memory.

Settings → About the phone → System update

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On devices with 4 GB of RAM, the best performance gain is not provided by virtual memory, but by turning off background processes and using “light” applications.

FAQ: Frequent questions about expanding RAM in Xiaomi