The Redmi Note 9 series is well-deservedly popular for its excellent price-performance ratio. However, like any Android device with a MIUI shell, it is subject to the accumulation of temporary files and background processes, which over time leads to lower interface response speed and slowdown in games.
Users often notice that the phone starts to “think” when switching between applications or running “heavy” programs. This is a direct signal that RAM is full and requires immediate offloading. In this article, we will discuss all available methods for freeing up system resources.
Effective RAM management not only brings the device back to its former spontaneity, but also contributes to more economical battery consumption. The processor heats up less when it doesn't have to constantly switch context between dozens of active tasks. Let's look at the tools that the manufacturer provides.
Standard MIUI Optimization Tools
Xiaomi has built a powerful built-in tool called "Security" into its shell, which is where you start diagnosing and cleaning your system, and it automatically scans your device for debris and suggests ways to speed things up.
To start the process, you need to find a shield icon on your desktop and run the application. The system will perform a rapid analysis and show the percentage of memory occupancy. Pressing the "Clear" button will force the background applications to close and release the cache of system services.
It's important to understand that standard cleaning is temporary, and MIUI has the ability to quickly restore background processes to achieve what's called "multi-tasking," so it's good for quick one-off care, but it doesn't solve the problem.
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Use the Security widget right on your desktop for quick access to cleanup with a single touch, without entering the settings menu.
Manual control of running applications
The easiest way to free up resources is to manually close programs through the task menu. On the Redmi Note 9, this is done by swiping from the bottom up with a finger retention or pressing the Menu navigation button.
In the list that opens, you'll see cards of all running applications. A swipe left or right (depending on the MIUI version) will close the program on the card. At the bottom of the screen, there's often an "X" or "Clean All" button that completes the processes en masse.
However, be careful with applications you use all the time, such as messengers, which can take more CPU resources to run again than they would be in the background, and only close those programs that are not needed right now.
- 📱 Open the menu of running tasks with a swipe or button.
- ❌ Click "Clean All" to Closing Programs.
- 🔒 Use a lock for important applications so they don’t close accidentally.
- ⚙️ Press and hold the app card to access settings.
Configuring the limitation of background processes
To get a deeper setup, you need to go to the "Developers" section, and if this is hidden, you need to activate it by clicking on the build number several times in the "About Phone" section, and here are the keys to controlling the behavior of RAM.
Find the "Background Process Limit" option. The default setting is "Standard Limit," which allows the system to decide how many applications to keep in memory, and changing that to "No Background Processes" or "No More than 2 Processes" will cause the system to aggressively unload all the extra.
⚠️ Attention: Setting a strict limit on background processes can lead to incorrect notifications from messengers and social networks.
There's also a "Do Not Save Action" option on this menu, which if activated, the system will destroy the activity of the application as soon as the user leaves the screen, which radically frees up RAM, but causes applications to load again every time they log in, which can be annoying.
Use of Extended Memory Extension (Memory Extension)
Modern versions of the MIUI firmware for the Redmi Note 9 have a memory extension feature that allows you to reserve a portion of the embedded storage (ROM) and use it as an addition to RAM (RAM).
This technology, known as virtual memory, helps the system keep more applications open, and you can activate it in the "Memory Extension" section of the basic settings or in the "About Phone" menu, and you will need to restart the device once you turn on.
It's worth noting that virtual memory is faster than physical RAM. So the performance gains in games may be small, but overall multitasking will improve.
How does virtual memory work?
Comparison of Memory Cleaning Methods
Different cleaning approaches have their pros and cons. Standard tools are safe but superficial, while developer settings give complete control but require caution. Below is a table to help you choose the best method.
| Method | Efficiency | Security | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annex "Security" | Low. | Tall. | Neutral. |
| Manual closing | Medium | Tall. | Positive. |
| Process limit | Tall. | Medium | Positive. |
| Expansion of memory | Medium | Tall. | Neutral. |
The choice of the method depends on your goals, and if you just want to start a heavy game right now, a standard cleaning is enough, and if the phone is slowing down all the time, you should re-evaluate the settings of the background processes.
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The combination of manual cleaning and competent setting of background processes gives a better result than using only one method.
Checklist for maintenance of Redmi Note 9
To make your Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 work quickly and stably, it is recommended to periodically carry out comprehensive maintenance.
☑️ Monthly maintenance
Regularly restarting the device is a simple but effective way to reset all system errors and clear the memory of accumulated “garbage” – just do it once a week.
Also keep an eye out for system updates. Xiaomi engineers are constantly releasing patches that optimize MIUI and fix memory leaks. Installing an up-to-date firmware version can solve performance problems without additional action.
Don't install questionable cleaner applications from third-party sources. There's more than enough built-in MIUI. Third-party programs are often the source of advertising and unnecessary workload on the processor.
⚠️ Warning: Avoid installing apps that promise to “speed up your phone 200%” and often simply duplicate system features and display intrusive advertising, consuming resources.