How to clean RAM on Xiaomi Redmi: effective methods

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are famous for their price-performance ratio, but even powerful devices become slower over time. Often the cause of brakes and sudden closures of applications is overcrowded RAM. When RAM is busy with background processes, the system does not have enough resources to start new tasks.

Users often notice that after hours of active operation, the phone starts to “hang” when switching between browser tabs or messengers, a sure sign that RAM is full, and releasing this resource is the first step to restore the performance of your gadget without the need for complex flashing.

MIUI and its new version of HyperOS have a lot of memory management tools that many people don’t even know about, and using the built-in features to extend the life of the device and avoid buying a new phone, and in this article we’ll look at all the cleaning options available, from simple buttons to hidden developer settings.

Use of the built-in MIUI accelerator

The most obvious and affordable method that's already on your phone is the standard Security app, preinstalled on all Xiaomi devices and works as a central hub for system optimization, and clicking on the Cleanup button in this app forcibly closes the background processes, releasing RAM instantly.

But it's a temporary thing, and Android is designed to get the services back up in a short time, but for a one-time acceleration before a heavy game is launched, it's perfect, it's safe, and it doesn't require third-party software.

⚠️ Warning: Don't rely on the Clear button as a panacea. If memory is released but the phone is still slowing down, the problem may be overheating of the processor or a lack of free permanent memory.

To get a deeper setup, you can go to the settings of the Security app itself, which often hides autorun settings that prevent certain programs from starting with the system, which helps keep RAM free immediately after the screen is turned on.

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Set up auto-run applications in the Security menu to prevent unnecessary programs from running with the system and consuming resources in the background.

Manually closing applications through the task menu

Many users ignore the basic window management mechanism, preferring automatic cleaners. However, manually closing tabs in the menu of recent applications is the most controlled way to free up resources. To get there, you need to swipe from the bottom up and hold your finger (or press the menu button, depending on navigation).

In the list that opens, you'll see all the programs that are running. You can swipe left or right (or click on a cross) to close a particular application. If you want to free up as much space as possible, there's often a Close All button or a cross at the bottom of the screen, and this action forcefully unloads the processes from the RAM.

• 📱 Click the “Menu” button or swipe to call a task list.
• 🗑️ Click Close Everything for Instant Cleanup or Swipe Unnecessary Tabs.
• ⚙️ Press the app icon in the task list to pin down important programs (they won’t be closed when cleaned completely).
• 🔒 Use the “Clock” function to protect frequently used applications from unloading.

It's important to note that MIUI works by aggressively unloading applications from memory to save battery life. So manually closing all tabs can cause notifications from messengers to stop coming in on time. Customize this process wisely, leaving only what you really need right now in your memory.

Set up background activity restrictions

One of the main reasons for RAM overflow is the activity of apps in the background: Social networks, marketplaces and news aggregators constantly update content even when you are not using them. Xiaomi has a powerful tool to control this behavior, which is in the battery settings.

Go to Settings → Battery and Performance (or simply Battery) and select the mode of operation for each application you install. The best choice for programs you rarely use is to either limit background activity or freeze, which will keep the program from consuming CPU and RAM resources until you open it.

Also worth noting is the memory extension feature, which allows you to use part of the permanent memory (ROM) as a virtual RAM, and while this does not increase the physical speed of the chip, the system gets more space for temporary files, which reduces the number of reboots of heavy applications.

Delete cache and temporary files

Cache accumulation is another factor that indirectly affects system speed and resource allocation. Although the cache is stored in permanent memory, processing it when running applications loads the processor and requires buffering in RAM. Regular cleaning helps keep the system in good shape.

The built-in cleaner in the Security app can find and delete temporary files. However, for more careful cleaning, you can use the settings of specific applications. Go to Settings → Apps → All applications, select a “heavy” program (such as Telegram or TikTok) and click “Clear” → “Clean cache”.

Don’t confuse cache cleaning with data cleaning. If you choose Clear All (or Reset), the app will return to state immediately after installation, and you’ll lose logins, correspondence, and settings. Use only the cache clearing option to delete temporary pictures and scripts.

Hidden functions for developers

For advanced users who want to gain full control of RAM, there is a Developer Menu, which is hidden by default, but activating it gives access to the finer settings of the system. To turn on the menu, you need to quickly click on the build number in the About Phone section 7 times.

In the menu that opens, look for the "Background Process Limit" option, which is the default "Standard Limit," but you can change it to "No Background Processes," or limit the number of processes to 1-2, which will radically free up memory, but can disrupt normal multitasking.

It also has a service startup feature that shows which system services are using the most resources right now, and it's a useful diagnostic tool: if you see an unknown service that's eating a lot of memory, it might be time to check your phone for viruses or malware.

⚠️ Warning: Changing the settings in the Developer Menu can cause system instability. Do not turn off system services that you are not sure of 100 times%.

Comparison of Memory Cleaning Methods

The choice of method depends on your goal: whether you need to start the game instantly or you want to prevent lags in the long run. Below is a table comparing the effectiveness of different approaches to cleaning RAM on Redmi devices.

As you can see from the table, the most balanced approach is the combination of manual control and background tuning. Using the developer mode is only justified on very old models with a small volume of RAM (less than 3 GB), where every megabyte counts.

Remember that modern versions of Android and MIUI can manage memory very efficiently, and interference with the system should be justified, and if the phone is fast, you don't have to try to "clean" the memory for the sake of beautiful numbers in the task manager.

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The optimal strategy is to adjust the background activity once and periodically reboot the smartphone, instead of constantly using “accelerators”.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)