Cleaning up RAM on Xiaomi Redmi 9 Note: the full guide

Xiaomi Redmi 9 Note with its 4 GB of RAM (in the basic version) often faces problems of slowing down after 1-2 years of active use. the reason lies not in the “weak hardware”, but in the features of the management of RAM system MIUI. Android default keeps applications in the background for quick switching, but on budget devices this leads to “memory leaks” due to aggressive background optimization from Xiaomi.

Unlike flagships, where RAM allows you to “not notice” background processes, on the Redmi 9 Note every megabyte counts. This article is not about the mythical “freeing 100% of memory” (which is bad for the system!), but about competent management of resources so that the phone works steadily without lags. We will analyze both mechanical cleaning methods and system settings that 90% of users ignore.

Why does Redmi 9 Note slow down with free memory?

Paradox: in Settings → About Phone → Memory status you see 1-1.5 GB of free RAM, but the interface twitches, and the applications open for 3-5 seconds. What's the matter?

The reason is three layers of problems:

• 🔄 Aggressive swap file: MIUI It uses some of the internal memory as a “pump” for RAM, but on the slow eMMC 5.1 (in the Redmi 9 Note), this creates delays.
• 🧹 «Apps’ garbage: even after closing, instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) and social networks leave cache processes in memory.
• 🤖 Xiaomi system services: com.xiaomi.mipicks, com.miui.analytics and other background tasks are eaten up to 300-500 MB of RAM is constant.

The solution is not to kill all processes (this will only make things worse because of reboots), but to optimize the background and clean up properly. Next, concrete steps.

Method 1: Manual cleaning through the “Safety” menu

The most obvious but often misused method is that many users click "Clean" in the Safety menu without realizing what it does.

How to clean properly:

1. Open the Security app (shield icon).
2. Slip on the Cleanup.
3. At the top of the screen, select the RAM tab (not “Storage”!).
4. Click Clean, but don’t close the app right away – wait for the “Cleanup Complete” notification.

⚠️ Note: if after cleaning the memory is again filled for 5-10 Minutes is the problem with background processes, not with garbage. 3.

Close all active applications (swipe up in multitasking)

Disable Wi-Fi/mobile data (so that background processes don’t restart immediately)

Check vacant storage space (less than 1 GB aggravates lags)

Do not clean the RAM more often than 1 time in 2-3 hours (this harms the battery)

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Method 2: Disabling Auto-Run Unnecessary Applications

MIUI by default allows all installed applications to start at the start of the system and work in the background. Even if you haven’t opened AliExpress or the game in a long time, they can hang in memory.

How to limit auto-start:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → Autostart.
3. Sort the list by Last Start and disable Auto Run for apps you don’t use daily.
4. For critical applications (messengers, banks) leave auto-run, but limit background activity: go back to the list of applications → select the application → Limit background activity.

💡 Useful tip: after you turn off autostart, restart your phone.

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If you can't find an app in the autorun list, it can be hidden by the system. Try typing its name into the search at the top of the screen.

Method 3: Using Developer Options to optimize

Hidden developer settings allow you to fine-tune memory management.

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version (you will be notified “You became a developer”).
3. Return to the main Settings menu → find a new section Additional → For developers.

Now we will set the key parameters:

⚠️ Note: Do not save actions can lead to loss of data in applications (for example, unsaved drafts in messengers.

Method 4: Cleaning the cache of system applications

MIUI system applications (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music, GetApps) often accumulate cache that is not cleared by standard methods, which can take up to 500-800 MB of RAM in the background.

How to clean:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Tap it on three points. → Show all the processes.
3. Find system applications (the icon with the gear wheel) and select:

Warehouse → Clear the cache

⚠️ Warning: Do not click Clear data for system applications – this can reset their settings or cause errors in the system MIUI.

Method 5: Use of third-party optimizers (with caution!)

Apps like CCleaner, DU Speed Booster or Greenify promise "magic cleanup," but in practice they often do more harm than help.

• 🔄 They aggressively kill all background processes, including system processes, which leads to high battery consumption (apps have to reboot).
• 🛡️ Many “optimizers” themselves become a source of advertising and background tasks.
• 📉 Nana MIUI They conflict with built-in optimization, which can cause freezes.

If you decide to use it, choose only these:

• 🌿 Greenify (requires root or ADB For full operation – freezes applications without killing them.
• 🛠️ SD Maid (for cache cleaning only, do not touch the RAM section»!).

💡 Useful tip: before installing the optimizer, check its rating on 4PDA or XDA Developers – many popular apps on Google Play contain malware.

Method 6: Advanced Cleaning through ADB (for experienced)

If previous methods didn’t work and the phone is still slowing down, you can manually kill unnecessary system processes through ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

Step-by-step:

1. Download ADB Tools and unpack it into the C:\adb folder.
2. Enable USB Debugging in Developer Settings (see Method 3).
3. Connect Redmi 9 Note to your PC and execute:

adb devices

(Your device should appear)

adb shell

Now you can kill processes. For example, to stop Xiaomi analytics:

pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.analytics

List of safe processes to disable:

com.xiaomi.mipicks # Advertising Mi


com.miui.analytics #Analytics




com.miui.bugreport # Error Reports




com.android.browser # Built-in browser (if not used)




com.miui.videoplayer     # Mi Video

⚠️ Warning: Do not disable processes with names like Android., Media., Bluetooth. or Wifi!

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ADB-The commands are valid until the next restart of the phone. To turn the process off permanently, use pm uninstall. -k --user 0 Packet name (requires superuser rights).

Method 7: Reset to factory settings (last chance)

If all methods are tried and the Redmi 9 Note is still slowing down, it will be hard reset, which will delete all data, but return the phone to a "clean" state.

How to do the reset correctly:

1. Save important data (photos, contacts, messages) to your PC or cloud.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select Erase All Data (not “Settings Reset”!).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

💡 Useful tip: after reset, do not restore data from the backup - this will return old problems. Install applications selectively and monitor the state of RAM.

⚠️ Note: Redmi 9 Note reset does not delete data from SD-It can reset the application settings that are installed on it.

FAQ: Frequent questions about RAM on Xiaomi Redmi 9 Note