How to Clean Up Xiaomi’s RAM: From Handheld Methods to Hidden MIUI Features

Your Xiaomi has started to slow down, applications spontaneously close, and interface animation twitches? 90% of these problems are overloaded RAM (RAM). Even flagships like Xiaomi 13 Ultra or POCO F5 Pro accumulate garbage over time: background processes, application cache and “hung” MIUI services. But don’t rush to reset the phone to factory settings – we have collected all the current ways to clean RAM, including hidden features that the official documentation does not mention.

In this article, you will find methods for all versions of MIUI (12 to 14), including devices with 4GB of RAM or less. We will discuss how to free up memory without root rights, which system tools really work and which are a waste of time. And most importantly, you will learn why the standard Clean button in the multitasking menu is useless 80% of the time.

Why Xiaomi’s RAM is clogged faster than other Android devices

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones use MIUI, which aggressively optimizes the operation of background processes, on the one hand, it saves battery power, on the other - leads to artificial "suffocation" of RAM. Here are the key reasons:

• 🔄 Aggressive task manager: MIUI Closing applications through 5-10 minutes of inactivity, but their cache remains in memory.
• 📦 Built-in services: com.miui.analytics, com.xiaomi.midrop and other system processes take up to 500 MB RAM even on standby.
• 🎮 Gaming turbo mode: On devices with 6 GB+ RAM (Black Shark 5 is backed up to 1GB for speeding up games, but this memory is not automatically released.
• 📱 Duplicate processes: Some applications (such as Facebook or Tinkoff) run on the Internet. 2-3 background services.

MIUI 13/14 also introduced a feature called Memory Extension, which uses a portion of the internal drive as a virtual RAM, which masks the real memory shortage, but does not solve the problem – physical RAM is still overloaded.

Method 1: Manually Clean Up Multitasking Menu (and Why It Doesn't Always Work)

The most obvious method is to swipe apps up in the menu of recent tasks, but there are nuances:

1. Open the multitasking menu (swipe up with a delay of 0.5 seconds).
2. Click on the "Secure" icon (pin) in the upper right corner of the app card if you want to keep it from being cleaned.
3. Swipe up on unnecessary apps or click "Clear All."

⚠️ Note: This method only removes visible processes. MIUI And the cache of the apps remains intact. For example, after this cleaning, Chrome can release the app. 150 MB, but com.android.systemui will continue to occupy 300-400 MB.

Save important data in the clipboard

Close all tabs in the browser

Disable VPN (if used)

Check if the files are downloaded-->

Method 2: Hidden Deep Cleaning in MIUI (not available on all models)

MIUI 12.5+ has a hidden tool that removes all background processes, including system processes, to activate it:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 5 times in a row on the line MIUI version until the notification “You became a developer!” appears.
3. Return to the main settings menu and open Additional → for developers.
4. Find the option "Deep Memory Clean" (in English firmware - "Deep memory clean") and turn it on.
5. Now, the “Deep Clean” button will appear in the multitasking menu (near the “Clean All” button).

🔍 Important: This feature is not available on 3GB devices RAM (Like Redmi. 9A) And then after you use it, the first launch of the apps will be slower, which is normal, because the cache is reassembled.

Method 3: Cleaning through Safe Mode

If the phone is slowing down and doesn't respond to standard methods, try Safe Mode, which only downloads system applications, allowing you to:

• 🛑 Stop viral or damaged processes.
• 🧹 Remove the cache of applications that cannot be closed in normal mode.
• 🔧 Diagnose which application is overloading RAM.

How to log in to Safe Mode:

1. Press the power button until the shutdown menu appears.
2. Hold your finger and hold it on the “Switch Off” option (or “Reboot” on some models).
3. Confirm the transition to safe mode (the inscription "Safe mode" will appear in the lower left corner of the screen).

In this mode:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Sort by "Use of RAM."
3. Stop ("Stop") suspicious processes.
4. Clear the cache for applications that are >100 MB.

⚠️ Warning: Safe Mode disables all third-party applications, including Google Services. Do not remove anything from System Apps, which may result in loss of functionality (e.g., the camera or mobile network will stop working).

Method 4: Use ADB-Compulsory cleaning (for advanced cleaning)

If you’re ready to connect your phone to a PC, ADB (Android Debug Bridge) allows you to perform a complete RAM cleanup, including system processes that are not available through the interface.

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 5 times) → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (preferably original).

Cleanup commands:

adb shell


su




echo 3 > /proc/sys/vm/drop_caches # Cache cleaning




Killall -9 com.miui.home # Launcher Restart




am broadcast -a android.intent.action.CLOSE_SYSTEM_DIALOGS

📌 What do these teams do:

• echo 3 > /proc/sys/vm/drop_caches — Clears the cache of the kernel and file system.
• Killall -9 com.miui.home - forcefully restarts the MIUI shell (an analogue of a reboot, but faster).
• am broadcast... closes all system dialogs (e.g. low memory notifications).

⚠️ Attention: Teams with Killall -9 This method can lead to the loss of unsaved data in open applications. Do not use this method if you have running transactions in banking applications or unsaved documents.

💡

If so, ADB-commands the phone began to work slower, restart it manually - this will restore optimal caching settings.

Method 5: Optimize boot (disabling unnecessary services)

Many apps automatically start when the phone is turned on and hang in the background, occupying RAM. MIUI has a hidden boot control menu:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select "Stop".
3. Turn off auto-run for unnecessary apps (such as games, social networks, which you rarely use).

🔍 What applications can be safely disabled:

• 🎵 Music services (Spotify, Yandex Music) – they cache songs in the background.
• 📺 Video services (YouTube, TikTok) – up to 200 MB RAM even in a folded state.
• 🛒 Store apps (AliExpress, Wildberries) – constantly update data in the background.

❌ What can't be turned off:

• com.android.phone is responsible for the mobile network.
• com.google.android.gms – Google Services (disabling will cause errors in the Play Market).
• com.miui.securitycenter is the MIUI security center.

Method 6: Reset the partition cache (without data loss)

If previous methods didn’t work, try cleaning the partition cache, which will delete the temporary files of all applications, but will not affect your data (photos, messages, accounts).

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the power button + volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select the language (if you have a choice).
4. Go to Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
5. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.
6. Reboot your phone (Reboot → System)

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO X3 Pro, Redmi K40) After this procedure, you can reset the authorized autoload of applications. → Annexes → Permits → Auto-start.

📊 Efficiency of the method:

• 📈 Frees him. 300-800 MB RAM (Depends on the number of installed applications).
• 🔄 Eliminates lags when switching between applications.
• ⚡ Accelerates the first program launch after the reboot.

💡

Resetting the partition cache is the only method that clears the system cache (for example, from MIUI updates) that is not available through standard settings.

Method 7: Installation of light firmware (for power users)

If your Xiaomi is older than 2020 (like the Redmi Note 8 Pro or Mi 9T), the brakes may be caused by outdated firmware with accumulated bugs.

• 📱 MIUI Lite – official lightweight version from Xiaomi (available for Redmi) 9/10 series).
• 🔧 Pixel Experience – firmware based on pure Android (suitable for POCO F1, Mi A2).
• ⚡ LineageOS - stable firmware with minimal consumption RAM.

🔧 How to install:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool.
2. Install TWRP Recovery for your model.
3. Download the firmware with XDA Developers.
4. Sweat through TWRP (instructions are in the themes of firmware).

⚠️ Attention: Installing custom firmware voids the warranty and may result in data loss if you don't backup. on some models (Xiaomi) 12S Ultra) unlocking bootloader blocks data encryption, which reduces security.

What NOT to do when cleaning up Xiaomi RAM

The web is full of tips that not only don't help, but also hurt your phone.

• ❌ Use "boosters" RAM" From Play Market, by Clear Master, DU Speed Booster: These applications take up memory and often contain advertising software.
• ❌ Disable system processes through adb without knowing the consequences. For example, killing com.android.systemui will lead to a perpetual reboot.
• ❌ Clean up RAM Android is optimized to work with filled memory – constant cleaning increases the wear and tear of the drive.
• ❌ Install "optimizers" from unknown developers, many of which contain mining scripts or spyware.

💡 The Right Approach: Clean up RAM It's only when the phone is actually slowing down, not "for prevention — 1 time 2-3 day or after heavy use (e.g., games).

FAQ: Frequent questions about RAM cleanup on Xiaomi