Cleaning up RAM on Xiaomi Redmi 5: from manual methods to hidden MIUI features

Xiaomi Redmi 5, released in 2017 with 2/3/4 GB of RAM, is still a popular budget smartphone. But over time, even on MIUI 12-14, users experience brakes due to overloaded RAM. Unlike flagships, where the system itself optimizes background processes, the Redmi 5 with its Snapdragon 450 and aging firmware requires manual intervention.

This article is not about the standard "Clean" click in the multitasking menu. We'll look at 7 proven methods, from basic to little-known MIUI tricks that actually free RAM without harming the system. Importantly, all methods are tested on Redmi 5 with original firmware (including the global and Chinese versions). If your device was flashed by custom ROM, some points may not work.

Why is Redmi 5 “suffocating” from a lack of RAM?

Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 processor paired with 2-4 GB of RAM theoretically should cope with everyday tasks, but in practice users complain about:

• 🐢 Freezes when switching between applications (even if they are not heavy).
• 🔄 Spontaneous reboots when filling RAM by more than 90%.
• 📱 Heating the body when working with 3+ background.
• 🚫 Inability to open a camera or gallery without first cleaning the memory.

The reason lies in three factors:

1. MIUI architecture: The system aggressively caches data but does not manage process priorities well. For example, com.miui.home can take up to 500MB of RAM even in the background.
2. 32-bit OS: Redmi 5 runs on a 32-bit core, which limits effective memory usage (maximum ~3.2 GB of 4 GB is available to applications).
3. Xiaomi’s back-end services, mipush, miui.analytics, and xmsf (synchronization services) are constantly hanging in your memory, even if you’re not using the cloud.

⚠️ Note: If your Redmi 5 suddenly started to brake after upgrading to the MIUI 13+, The problem may be incompatibility of the firmware.The smartphone does not officially support the newer versions. MIUI 12.5 – Check the version in Settings → The phone.

Method 1: Manually free RAM through the multitasking menu

The most obvious, but often misused, method is that many users just swipe apps up in the menu of recent ones, but it doesn't clear the RAM, it just takes the task off the list.

1. Open the menu of recent apps (swipe up from the bottom edge of the late screen).
2. Slip on the icon "Secure" (pin) in the upper right corner of any application you want to leave in memory (for example, messenger).
3. Click on the "Clean All" icon (junk bucket) at the bottom of the screen.
4. Wait 5-7 seconds – the system will complete the background processes.

This method frees up to 30-40% of RAM (depending on the number of background applications), but the effect is temporary: in 10-15 minutes, the memory will be filled again.

Secure important applications (messengers, player)

Clean up the rest.

Wait 5-7 seconds after cleaning

Check the free memory in the task manager

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Method 2: Disabling Auto-Run Unnecessary Applications

MIUI allows you to disable auto-run for individual applications, which prevents them from appearing in RAM. This is especially useful for system services that can not be removed:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the Auto Start tab.
3. Sort the list by “Last Start” to see the most active processes.
4. Turn off autostart for: 📊 MiuiDaemon (analytics service) 🔔 Push service (unless you use Mi Cloud) 🎵 Mi Music (unless you listen to music through a standard app) 📺 Mi Video (video player)

Reboot your phone after shutdown, which saves 200-400MB of RAM continuously, preventing unnecessary services from loading when the system starts.

⚠️ Warning: Do not disable Autoplay for Google Play Services and Services Framework, this will cause Google account and push notifications to crash.

Method 3: Using a hidden developer mode

Redmi 5 has hidden developer settings that allow you to limit background processes.

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the item "Version" MIUI" (A notice will appear saying, “You have become a developer").
3. Return to the main settings menu and open a new section for developers.
4. Find the parameters: 🔧 "Limit background processes" → Select "Maximum 2 Processes". 🔄 "Don't keep up" → Enable (this will prohibit caching of applications actions). 📱 "Shut down. HW-lettering" → Turn on (reduce the load on) GPU, indirectly).

These settings will reduce the number of background processes from 20-30 to 4-6, which will give an increase in free memory by 300-500 MB. However, some applications (for example, messengers) will be longer to open after curtailment.

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If the "Limit Background Processes" item is missing after activating the developer mode, update MIUI Security via Google Play. This is a known bug on older versions of firmware.

Method 4: Cleaning the cache of system applications

The app cache takes up not only internal memory, but also RAM — especially when it comes to system services, cleaning the cache for key applications can free up to 15-20% of RAM:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Open the tab "All applications" and sort by cache size.
3. Clear the cache for: 📱 Launcher (standard shell) MIUI) 🔍 Google Play Services 📊 MIUI System 🎵 Media Storage (unless you use a standard player)

Reboot the phone.

Important: Do not clear the data (only cache!), otherwise the application settings will reset. After cleaning, the system can run slower for the first 5-10 minutes - this is normal, since the cache is rebuilt.

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

Apps like Greenify, SD Maid, or CCleaner promise to clear RAM, but on Redmi 5, they often do more harm than good.

• 🛡️ MIUI Blocks deep optimization without root rights.
• 🔄 Many “optimizers” themselves hang in the background, consuming RAM.
• ⚠️ Aggressive cleaning can kill system processes, leading to a reboot.

If you want to try it, use Greenify in Hibernate mode for unnecessary applications:

1. Install Greenify from Google Play.
2. Provide access to special features (Settings → Special Opportunities → Greenify).
3. Add to sleep mode: 📱 Unnecessary games 📰 News applications (e.g. Mi Browser) 🛒 Store apps (AliExpress, Wildberries, etc.)

"Aggressive Sleeping Regime"

Greenify doesn’t clean RAM directly, but it prevents apps from running automatically, which indirectly saves memory. On Redmi 5 without root, the effect will be moderate – expect a 100-200MB increase in free RAM.

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Xiaomi’s side optimizers work only in tandem with manual settings, and without disabling autostart and limiting background processes, their efficiency is close to zero.

Method 6: Reset the launcher settings (if the desktop brakes)

MIUI launcher (com.miui.home) is one of the most voracious apps on Redmi 5. If the desktop is hanging and the animations are twitching, reset its settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find "Launcher" (or "Home") in the list.
3. Open the "Storage" and click "Clear Data" (NO Cache!).
4. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

After discharge:

• 📱 All icons will return to the standard location.
• 🎨 Desktop wallpaper will be thrown over default.
• 📁 Folders and widgets will disappear.

But the launcher will stop eating 500+ MB of RAM. To restore personalization, use a backup from Settings → Additional → Backup (if any).

Method 7: Extreme measure - reset to factory settings

If all the previous methods didn't work, and the smartphone slows down even after the reboot, it's hard reset. It's a radical way, but it's guaranteed to clean up the RAM from the garbage.

Save your contacts in a Google account

Copy photos/videos to PC or cloud

Write down logins / passwords from applications

Make sure the battery is charged >50%

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Resetting instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset.
2. Select "Settings Reset."
3. Check “Clear internal memory” (optional if you want to delete all files).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

After discharge:

• 📱 RAM will be cleared of all background processes.
• 🔄 The system will return to factory condition (MIUI The version that was used when buying).
• ⚠️ The first day the smartphone can work slower – this is normal (the system indexes files).

⚠️ Attention: Redmi 5s MIUI 11+ After the reset, the section for the second part may disappear. SIM-To return it, go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Settings SIM-cards and activate the second slot manually.

FAQ: Frequent questions about RAM cleaning on Redmi 5