How to free up the memory on Xiaomi: from simple to advanced methods

Your Xiaomi is slowing down, apps are spontaneously shutting down, and the task manager is constantly labeled "Insufficient memory (RAM). Even the Redmi flagship models K70 or POCO F6 Pros eventually start to choke on background activity, but the problem isn't the hardware, it's how the system manages resources.

In this article, we will discuss 10 proven ways to free RAM — From basic (which does not require technical skills) to advanced (including hidden settings) MIUI You'll learn which processes can be safely stopped and which ones shouldn't be touched, why memory cleaners often hurt, and how to get the system to optimize its resources. MIUI 14/15 It works on devices from Redmi Note. 12 Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

1. Diagnosis: how much RAM really busy and

Before you can clean a memory, you need to understand what it is that occupies it. MIUI There are built-in tools for analysis, but they're hidden from the user. Here's how to get the full picture:

Open the Settings. → About the phone and 5 times tap on the item Version MIUI, To activate the developer mode, then go back to the main settings menu, find a new Developer section, and turn on the Debugging option. USB Process statistics. Settings are now on the menu. → Annexes → Application management will appear in the Processes tab where it is displayed:

• 📊 Totally. RAM — The physical amount of RAM your device has (for example, 8 GB or 12 GB).
• 🔄 Used – Current memory load (including cache and background tasks).
• 🚫 Free is a critical parameter. If it's less than 1 GB, it starts to slow down".
• 👤 User processes – applications that you run (messengers, browsers, games).
• 🤖 System processes - services MIUI Android that can’t be turned off without root.

Now, if you look at the RAM column, which shows how much memory each app eats, if you're hanging on Facebook with 500MB or you're hanging on Telegram with 300MB, that's a clear candidate for optimization, but you don't want to touch system processes like com.miui.home or android.process.media.

Basic cleaning: what can be done without technical skills

Start with simple steps that don’t require you to change your system settings, and these methods are safe and work on any device from Redmi. 10A Xiaomi Mix Fold 3.

Cleaning the cache of applications is the most harmless way to release 100-500 MB RAM. The cache stores temporary data (such as thumbnails in a gallery or web pages in a browser) that the system can recreate if necessary:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Choose an app (such as Chrome or Instagram).
3. Slip the vault. → Clear the cache.

For mass cleaning, use the built-in MIUI tool:

1. Open the Security app (shield icon).
2. Go to the Cleanup tab.
3. Click Deep Clean and select the App Cache.

Closing the background applications is another obvious but often ignored step. MIUI There are two ways:

• 👆 Closing gesture: swipe up the screen and hold your finger to open a list of recent apps.
• 🚫 Forced Stop: From the Application Management menu, select the app → Forced stop, it takes him out of the way completely. RAM, but can reset unsaved data (for example, drafts in messengers).

⚠️ Warning: Do not close system processes like Settings, Phone or Google Play Services. This can cause phone malfunctions.

3. Autoboot Optimization: Why Apps Run Themselves

One of the main causes of overload RAM — Auto-run applications: Many programs (especially messengers and social networks) log in to the system so that they start when you turn on your phone, connect to Wi-Fi or even unlock the screen, and as a result, they hang in the background and eat up memory, even if you do not use them.

V MIUI There are two levels of autoloading:

1. Auto-start when turned on – applications start immediately after booting the system.
2. Background activity – programs can be triggered at any time by triggers (for example, Viber wakes up when an incoming call is made).

To turn off autoboot:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as TikTok or AliExpress).
3. Tap AutoRun and turn off both switches: AutoRun and Background Activity.

⚠️ Note: After disabling the startup, some apps may stop showing notifications (for example, about new messages in the app). VK). If it is critical, leave background activity on, but turn off auto-start.

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To quickly find all applications with autorun enabled, use the search in the settings on the request "autorun".

4. Hidden settings MIUI: How to make the system save money RAM

MIUI It has several hidden features that help optimize RAM usage, which are undocumented but work on most Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO.

Performance mode: allows you to manually choose which is more important: speed or battery savings. RAM Select the High Performance mode:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and performance.
2. Select Performance Mode.
3. Set high performance (this will make the system more aggressively clean the background processes).

Limitation of background processes - in MIUI You can manually specify how many applications can be simultaneously hung in the RAM. The default is the Standard Limit, but it can be reduced:

1. Activate Developer Mode (as described in the first section).
2. Go to Settings. → For developers.
3. Find the item Limiting background processes.
4. Choose a maximum of 2 processes (this will free up the process). RAM, But some apps will be rebooted more often).

Disabling animations is not a release RAM Directly, but speeds up the interface, reducing the load on the system:

• The scale of window animation → Off.
• The scale of the transition animation → off.
• Duration of animation → Off.

Critical detail: On devices with MIUI 14+ 12GB RAM (for example, Xiaomi 13T Pro) when setting background limit to a Maximum 2, the system automatically ignores this value for critical services (e.g. Google Play Services or MiuiDaemon), which protects against failures but reduces the efficiency of cleaning.

5. Advanced methods: ADB-Teams and Hidden Opportunities

If the basics didn't work, and the phone is still slowing down, it's time to move to advanced technology, which requires a PC connection or use. ADB (Android Debug Bridge, but it has a much bigger effect.

Cleanup RAM through ADB — This method forcibly kills all unnecessary processes, including those that are not normally seen in Task Manager.

First, turn on the debugging. USB in Developer Settings, then connect the phone to the PC and execute in the command line:

adb shell


su




echo 3 > /proc/sys/vm/drop_caches




killall -9 com.miui.home




killall -9 com.android.systemui

These teams:

1. Clearing the core cache (drop_caches).
2. Restart the launcher MIUI (com.miui.home).
3. Update the system interface (com.android.systemui).

⚠️ Attention: Killall Team -9 If it's done, it's forced to shut down, and if it goes out, or if it's black, don't panic. 30 Seconds, the system will automatically restart critical services.

Disabling unnecessary system applications – in MIUI There are a lot of services that most users don't need (e.g. Mi Pay, Mi Video, Game Turbo) that can be turned off without rooting. ADB:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer


adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.payment




adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.weather2

The complete list of safe packets to remove:

Changing the Lmk (Low Memory Killer) parameter is a system mechanism that automatically kills processes when they are short. RAM. V MIUI And you can adjust the thresholds to make it more aggressive:

1. Install the module through Magisk LMK Tweaks (root required).
2. In the module settings, select the Aggressive profile.
3. Reset the device.

This will cause the system to kill background tasks with 20-30% free. RAM Instead of the standard 10-15%, the effect is noticeable on devices with 6-8 GB of RAM.

6.Alternative firmware and cores: when nothing helps

If you have tried all methods, but the phone still brakes - the problem may be in the firmware itself. MIUI It's known for its heavy interface, which consumes a lot of resources, and in this case, it's worth considering alternatives:

The transition to HyperOS – a new shell from Xiaomi, which has replaced MIUI It's optimized for 6GB to 12GB devices in 2026. RAM It has an improved memory manager to upgrade:

1. Check the availability of the update in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
2. If there is no update, download the firmware from the official Xiaomi website (HyperOS Stable section).
3. Install it via Fastboot or Recovery (instructions are available on the official portal).

Custom firmware installation – if HyperOS is not available for your model, you can try LineageOS, Pixel Experience or ArrowOS. These firmwares do not have a “heavy” interface. MIUI They often work faster:

• 🔧 Requires unlocking the bootloader (resets all data!).
• 📱 Certain functions (e.g, IR Blaster or Always-on Display may not work.
• 🔄 Updates will have to be installed manually.

The kernel is for advanced users, and kernels like FrancoKernel and Kirisakura are optimized to save money. RAM And batteries:

1. Install Magisk and KernelSU module.
2. Download the compatible kernel for your model (check on the forum) XDA Developers).
3. Fly through TWRP or Fastboot.

⚠️ Attention: Castom firmware and cores can lead to loss of warranty, unstable operation or device bribing. TWRP Or Mi Flash Tool.

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The scaling up of the productivity increases to 30%, But it requires technical skills. Beginners should start by optimizing the standard. MIUI/HyperOS.

7. Hardware restrictions: when the problem is in the iron

Sometimes brakes and lack RAM It's not software optimization, it's hardware limitations. Here are some signs that hardware is the problem":

• 📉 The phone is slowing down even after cleaning. RAM.
• 🔥 The processor is constantly warming (for example, Snapdragon). 720G Redmi Note 10 Pro is heated to 60 when loaded°C).
• 🔋 The battery is set down in 3-4 hours with normal use.
• 🎮 Games like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile are even in low settings.

In such cases, software methods will help little. Consider the following options:

Upgrade to a large-volume model RAM — If you have a phone with 4-6 GB of RAM, switching to 8-12 GB will give you a noticeable increase:

Replace the thermopaste – if the processor overheats, it starts tlotting (reduce frequencies), which leads to lags. In the service center, you can replace the thermopaste with a more efficient one (for example, Arctic). MX-6). This is true for devices older than 2 years where the paste has dried.

Checking for storage degradation – if internal memory (eMMC/UFS) It's worn out, it spends more time reading and writing data, and you can check the health of the drive through the DiskInfo app (see Health Status). 80% — It's time to think about replacing your phone.

8. The myths of cleanup RAM: what not to do

The Internet is full of tips for “optimization" RAM, It's actually bad for the phone, or it doesn't work:

❌ Myth 1: “Memory cleaners” (Clean Master, DU Speed Booster speeds up the phone"

Reality: These apps aggressively kill processes, but Android and the likes of the world MIUI They can control their own memory, and after they're cleaned, the system has to reboot the dead processes, which increases the load on the memory. CPU And it drains the battery. In fact, many cleaners are hanging in the background and eating them. RAM.

❌ Myth 2: “You have to close all applications manually"

Reality: Android is optimized for multitasking. When you close an app and then launch it again, the system has to download it from scratch, which wastes more resources than if it stayed in the background. Only close those programs that really interfere (for example, heavy games).

❌ Myth 3: “Switching off animations speeds up the phone a lot"

Reality: Animations are almost not loaded RAM, It depends on productivity. GPU. Disabling them makes the interface visually faster, but doesn't free up RAM. placebo effect.

❌ Myth 4: “Swap file on phone is useful"

Reality: On Android, swap is implemented via zRAM (data compression in the RAM), And it turns on automatically when you don't have enough memory, and manually creating a swap file on the internal drive will speed up memory wear and not give you any noticeable performance gains.

❌ Myth 5: “A Root is needed to clean up” RAM"

Reality: 90% of the methods in this article work without root. Root is only for deep optimization (e.g., removing system applications or changing the kernel), but it is unwarranted and can lead to unstable operation.

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Best optimization RAM — Don't aim for "0% employment": Android keeps frequently used apps in memory so they open instantly.

FAQ: Frequent questions about RAM on Xiaomi