Redmi series smartphones deservedly popular due to excellent price-performance ratio, but over time, even the reliable Xiaomi Redmi 7 can start to work slower. The main reason for the decline in performance is often overflow of RAM (RAM), which is especially critical for devices with a capacity of 3 or 4 GB. When free resources run out, the MIUI system begins to forcefully close the background processes, which leads to constant reboots of applications and delays when switching between tasks.
Owners of budget and mid-budget devices often face a situation where the phone is “thought” when the camera or navigator starts, because modern Android applications consume significantly more resources than a few years ago. Graphics shells, social networks and instant messengers actively use background services, which do not always correctly free up busy memory after work is completed.
Fortunately, MIUI architecture provides users with a wide range of tools to manage system resources without the need to obtain superuser rights. Competent setting, timely cleaning of cache and disabling unnecessary services can restore the former agility of your gadget. In this article, we will detail proven methods that will help to maximize the efficiency of freeing RAM and extend the comfortable use of the device.
Analysis of the current state of RAM
Before we start doing any active cleaning, we need to objectively assess the current situation, and the standard MIUI interface hides detailed information about resource consumption, so the first step is to activate the advanced display mode, which allows us to see the real percentage of free memory in real time, rather than relying on guesswork.
To enable this feature, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on MIUI Version several times (about 7-10). Once the notification “You are a developer” appears, go back to the main settings menu, select Additional → For Developers. Find the memory-related section and activate the display of RAM usage. Now you will see exact numbers in the menu of running applications.
⚠️ Attention: Don't aim for a "0MB" of free memory. Android is designed to keep frequently used applications in memory for quick launch. Complete cleanup can lead to the opposite effect - higher power consumption when you re-run programs.
Analyze the process list to identify resource eaters. Often, it turns out that a significant portion is occupied by Google Play Services system services or Xiaomi built-in components that can be safely limited. Understanding which processes consume resources is the key to effective optimization.
Use of built-in MIUI optimization tools
Xiaomi has built a powerful built-in tool called Security, which combines antivirus and memory optimizer, the first line of defense that should be used regularly, automatically analyzes running processes and suggests clearing up the garbage, freeing up valuable megabytes.
However, standard cleaning is often superficial. For a deeper result, open the Safety → Cleanup app. After scanning, click on the cleaning button and then go to Speed up, where the system will force the background applications to close, freeing up RAM. Regular use of this method helps maintain the stability of the system.
- 🚀 Click the Clean button in the desktop security widget for quick access.
- ⚙️ Set up automatic acceleration in the Security app settings».
- 🗑️ Use the Deep Clean feature to delete residual files.
- 📱 Turn off auto-run for unused apps in the optimizer menu.
Importantly, aggressive optimization can sometimes shut down the messengers you want, causing notifications to come with a delay. To avoid this, add important applications to the exclusion list (whitelist) in the battery or auto-run settings, which will allow them to work in the background while less important programs are unloaded from memory.
☑️ Daily prevention
Manual control of autoloading and background processes
One of the main reasons for the memory shortage on Redmi 7 is the excessive number of applications running with the system, and many programs prescribe themselves to boot without the user's knowledge, consuming resources even when you are not using them, and controlling this process is a mandatory step of optimization.
Go to Settings → Apps → Permissions → Auto Run. Here you will see a full list of programs that start automatically. Leave only messengers (for notifications) and system-critical services on. Social networks, games, stores and browsers can be safely turned off - they will start on your request, but will not be hanging in memory constantly.
| Type of application | Recommendation | Impact on RAM |
|---|---|---|
| Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) | Leave it on. | High (notification required) |
| Social media (VK, Instagram) | Shut down. | Very high. |
| Games | Shut down. | Medium/High |
| Google services | Don't touch it. | Critical to the system |
Also worth paying attention to is the Memory Extension feature (if available in your firmware version), which is part of the internal memory for virtual RAM. While this may help in multitasking, using slow internal flash memory instead of fast RAM can lead to micro-latency. Redmi 7 with its 3-4 GB of physical memory is better to rely on competent management of real resources.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling system processes in the boot section can lead to unstable operation of the phone. If you are not sure about the purpose of the service, it is better to leave it on or search for information about it online beforehand.
Cleaning the cache and removing system debris
The accumulation of temporary files and application cache is a natural process that over time leads to “bloating” of the volume occupied. Cache is designed to speed up the load of frequently visited pages and functions used, but its excess can conflict with the current operation of the system, taking up space in RAM when trying to index.
For manual cleaning, go to Settings → Memory. Here the system will prompt you to clear the cache of all applications with a single click. This is a secure operation that will not delete your personal data, logins or passwords, but will free up space. It is also recommended to periodically go to the settings of “heavy” applications (for example, TikTok, YouTube, Telegram) and clear their cache individually through the Apps menu → Application Management.
What is a Thumbnail file and how to delete it?
Special attention should be paid to the Download folder and downloaded files in instant messengers. Often users forget about downloaded APK installation files, documents and videos that lie dead weight. Their removal will not only free up internal memory, but also indirectly affect the speed of the system, since Android uses part of the internal memory for the paging file.
Disabling Visual Effects and Animations
The MIUI graphics shell is known for its beautiful but resource-intensive animations. On devices with limited RAM, such as the Redmi 7, rendering complex transitions can cause slowdowns. Turning off or shortening animations is an easy way to make the interface more responsive.
Go back to the developer menu we activated earlier. Find the drawing section and change three settings: window animation, transition animation, and animation duration. Set 0.5x for acceleration or Disabled for maximum performance. Visually, the interface will become less smooth, but the responses to touch will become instantaneous.
- 🎨 Reduce the scale of fonts in screen settings to display more content.
- 🌑 Use a dark topic if you have a AMOLED-screen (although on the Redmi 7) IPS, It'll save you a charge, but it won't. RAM).
- 📉 Disable “Live Wallpaper” that consumes significant processor and memory resources.
- 🚫 Remove widgets from the desktop that are updated in real time (weather, news).
Also worth considering is the possibility of turning off system effects, such as vibration when typing or pressing navigation buttons. While this will not free up much memory, it will reduce the overall load on the processor, which, in combination with other measures, will give a tangible result.
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Use Lightweight Applications (Lite): Many popular services, such as Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite or Google Go, consume significantly less RAM and work faster on older devices.
Radical measures: Resetting and reflashing
If the software cleaning methods did not bring the desired result and the Xiaomi Redmi 7 continues to slow down, it is possible that the system has accumulated critical errors or software conflicts, in which case the most effective solution would be a complete reset to factory settings, which will return the device to the state “out of the box”.
Before you do this, make sure to back up all your important data, as it will be permanently deleted. Go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Erase all your data. Once you reboot, you will get a clean system without the excess software “junk” accumulated over the years.
In extreme cases, when even a reset doesn’t work, enthusiasts resort to custom firmware installations (like LineageOS or lightweight versions of MIUI) that remove heavy Xiaomi and Google system applications, making the system much easier. However, this requires unlocking the bootloader and carries the risk of losing warranty or breaking the device if you do not do it properly.
⚠️ Attention: Flashing your device is a complex process that requires you to follow instructions accurately. Incorrect firmware can turn your phone into a brick.
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A comprehensive approach to memory cleaning gives a better result than one-time actions. Regular maintenance of the system prolongs the life of the smartphone.