Owners of the Xiaomi Redmi 7 smartphone often face slowing down the interface when the system runs out of free space in RAM (RAM).This budget device, released in 2019, originally equipped with 2, 3 or 4 GB of RAM, which for modern heavy applications may not be enough. When RAM is overflowing, the operating system begins to force the background processes to close, which leads to constant reboots of applications and lags.
The problem is that MIUI is actively using resources for its own services and advertising. However, do not immediately think about buying a new gadget. Competent optimization and regular cleaning of the cache can significantly extend the life of your device. In this article, we will discuss proven ways to free up resources without using third-party junk software.
There are several levels of cleaning, from quick reset through the standard interface to deep customization of developer parameters. It is important to understand the difference between data storage and RAM, as the methods of optimization are radically different. Below are step-by-step instructions that will help restore the Redmi 7 to its former speed.
Standard cleaning methods through the Security App
The easiest and safest way to free up resources is to use a built-in system tool, which is handled by the MIUI Security app, which has a distinctive green shield icon, pre-installed on all the brand devices and has access to system processes that are closed to third-party utilities.
To start, you need to launch the application and press the large Speed button located in the center of the screen. The system automatically scans the running processes and shows the amount of memory they occupy. Pressing the cleaning button will forcibly complete the background tasks, making room for the current active program.
However, a standard cleaner often works superficially, and for a deeper setup, you should go to the Cleanup section (broomstick icon), where the system will prompt you to delete temporary files, remnants of deleted applications and advertising debris, and regular use of this feature prevents the accumulation of “digital garbage”.
- 🚀 Click on the shield icon on your desktop to start the scan.
- 🧹 Use the Cleanup function to delete temporary files and cache.
- ⚙️ In the acceleration settings, you can enable automatic cleaning when you reach the threshold of 80%.
- 🔄 Regularly update the databases of viruses and debris within the application for effectiveness.
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Turn on the "Acceleration in the background" function in the "Security" settings of the application so that the system monitors the memory filling itself.
Don't just rely on automated algorithms. In the Settings section of the security application, you can set exceptions for important applications that don't need to be closed, which will keep messengers running while you clear memory of heavy games or browsers.
Manual control of running applications
Automated systems don’t always know which app you need right now and which you can close. Manual control allows the user to decide for themselves what processes should remain active in the background. This is especially true for the Redmi 7 with its limited RAM.
To access the list of running programs, swipe from the bottom up (or click the menu button, depending on the type of navigation) and the window that opens displays thumbnails of recently used applications. The swipe up a particular window closes it, freeing up the occupied resources.
At the top of the task list screen, a number often shows up indicating the amount of free memory (e.g., 1.2 GB/3.0 GB). By clicking on the broom icon next to that number, you close all applications at once except those on the exception list. This is a quick way to prepare the device for the launch of a resource-intensive game.
☑️ Daily cleaning routine
The system spends more energy restarting frequently used programs (such as social media) than keeping them frozen in memory, so only close what you won’t be using in the next hour.
Set up developer parameters to optimize
For advanced users, Xiaomi provides access to a hidden menu of engineering settings, and you can find tools that directly affect the management of memory and interface animations, activating this menu is the first step to deep customization of the system.
To unlock access, go to Settings → About Phone and find the MIUI Version line. You need to quickly click on it 7-10 times in a row until the notification “You became a developer” appears.
Within this section, we're interested in the Apps subsection, and you can find the "Background Process Limit" option here. The default is "No Limits," but for Redmi 7, you should set the "No More than 2 Processes" or "No More than 3 Processes" value, which will severely limit the number of programs running in the background.
| Parameter | Recommended value | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|
| Process limit | 2-3 process | Reduces the load on RAM |
| Window animation | 0.5x or Retraction. | Visually speeds up the interface |
| Background processes | Standard limit | Balance between memory and battery |
Risks of changing the developer’s settings
Also on this menu, you should pay attention to the scale of animation: reducing the value of the window animation scale, the scale of transition animation and the scale of the animator duration to 0.5x or completely turning off will create the illusion of faster operation of the device, as delays will disappear when switching screens.
Cleaning up cache and data heavy applications
Social networks and instant messengers have an unpleasant tendency to grow in size. Telegram, WhatsApp, TikTok and Instagram over time accumulate gigabytes of temporary files that occupy not only permanent storage, but also affect the speed of RAM when indexed.
To clean up, go to Settings → Applications → All apps. Select a heavy app (like Telegram) and press Memory. Here you will see two buttons: Clear cache and Clear everything. The first one is secure and deletes temporary files, the second one will reset the application to the state immediately after installation, deleting correspondence and logins.
The Chrome browser or MIUI Browser, which cache images and scripts for fast loading, becomes huge over time, and cleaning browser data regularly through the Storage menu in the app settings is a must for Redmi 7 owners.
⚠️ Note: Clearing the data (not cache) in messengers will delete all correspondence history if you have not made a backup in the cloud.
Some apps allow you to set up automatic cache removal in your internal settings, for example, Telegram can set a cache usage limit (e.g., 1 GB) and a cleanup frequency (3 days, week) to prevent the app from bloating in the future.
Disabling autoload and background activity
Many apps tend to run with the smartphone on, to send instant notifications or update content. For a device with 2 or 3 GB of RAM, this is critical, since there is no free memory left at all. Autoboot control is a key step in optimization.
In modern versions of MIUI, boot management is often hidden or integrated into battery settings. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance (or simply Battery). Select a problem app and find Auto Start. Disable it for all programs that don’t require instant response (games, stores, editors).
And then there's the "Background Activity Limit" feature, which is the same battery settings menu for each application, you can choose No Limits, Smart Mode or Strong Limits. For programs that are rarely used, you can put a strong restriction on them, which will prevent them from working when you're not using them.
- 🛑 Turn off auto-start for games and tools.
- 🔋 Set a “Strong Limit” for rarely used applications.
- 📵 Leave "No Limits" for messengers and alarm clocks only.
- 🔍 Check the permission list and disable access to geo-position in the background.
You should also check your Google account sync settings and Mi Account. Constant background synchronization of photos, contacts and documents can consume a significant portion of CPU and memory resources.
Use of the “Second Space” regime and discharge
Sometimes software errors lead to memory leakage that cannot be fixed by standard methods, and in such cases, the creation of a Second Space helps, a feature that creates an isolated environment inside the phone, effectively running the second operating system.
Switching to and from the second space often reboots the main profile system services, which can temporarily free up the stuck memory. However, a more radical but effective method is a full reset (Hard Reset) if the phone is unbearably slow.
Before resetting, make sure to back up your data. Go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Erase all data. This will return the Redmi 7 to factory status by removing all the software debris and update conflicts accumulated over the years.
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A complete reset is a last resort, but it is guaranteed to eliminate software errors that cause memory leaks, returning the phone to factory speed.
⚠️ Before performing a full reset, make sure that the battery is at least 50% and all important data is stored on a memory card or in the cloud, as it will not be possible to recover them after resetting.
After a reset, take your time to install all the applications at once, install only the ones you need and observe the behavior of the system. Often, the cause of problems is one particular application that you installed earlier, and install gradually will help identify the culprit.