How to Free RAM on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9: The Complete Guide

As modern applications become more demanding, even the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 with 4 or 6 gigabytes of RAM sometimes begins to experience difficulties. Users often notice that the MIUI interface begins to slow down, and background applications are unloaded from memory faster than they would like. This does not necessarily mean that there is a malfunction, but signals that the system needs optimization.

In this article, we will look at proven ways to help you free up RAM and increase overall responsiveness of your smartphone. We will not use dubious third-party software-cliners, since the MIUI shell already has powerful mechanisms for managing resources that just need to be configured correctly.

You don't need to be a mobile expert to do this, and the steps below are safe and available in the standard settings menu, and good resource management will make your device run more stable even after years of active use.

Diagnostics of Resource Consumption in MIUI

Before you start cleaning, you need to understand what is eating up the available resources of your Redmi Note 9. The MIUI shell provides built-in monitoring tools that are often ignored by users. Knowing the enemy in the face is the first step to optimizing.

The standard Security app has detailed statistics, and this is where you see a list of the processes that consume the most RAM. Often, it turns out that the lion's share of memory is not occupied by games, but by heavy social networks or messengers with cache.

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Don’t blindly trust third-party apps from the Play Market that promise 3x acceleration. The built-in MIUI engine is more efficient and does not put unnecessary strain on the processor.

To get an accurate picture, you need to activate the hidden developer menu if you want to see processes in real time, but standard tools are enough to start with. Note that the system always reserves some memory for stable operation of the kernel, so 100% free memory can not be, and do not need.

• 🔍 Open the Security app on the home screen.
• 📊 Go to Acceleration or Memory section.
• 📉 Click on the Clean button to reset the cache of background processes.
• ⚙️ Click on the gear icon to access acceleration settings.

⚠️ Warning: The constant forced cleaning of memory with the "Accelerate" button can backfire, the system is forced to reopen closed applications, which consumes battery power and loads the processor.

Disable MIUI Optimization for Advanced Users

One of the most effective yet hidden features for freeing up resources is to disable MIUI optimization, which is designed for developers, but disabling it allows the system to more aggressively manage background processes and not “freeze” them as much as the standard algorithm does.

To access this setting, you need to do several sequential actions, first you need to activate the developer mode by clicking on the build number in the About Phone section, and then the desired switch will appear in the Developer menu.

Now, it's worth noting that once you turn on this option, the system can alert you to the risks, and don't worry, it's safe for the average user, and the key is to understand that memory management is now going to be more manual, and automation will interfere less with running applications.

Settings -> About Phone -> (7 times press "MIUI Version") -> Settings -> Advanced Settings -> For Developers -> Enable "Enable MIUI Optimization" (turn off the switch)

This method is especially relevant for Android 10 and 11, which is based on the Redmi Note 9, and allows the system to keep in mind unnecessary services that are often imposed by the Xiaomi ecosystem.

Memory Extension (Memory Extension)

Newer versions of the Redmi Note 9's MIUI firmware include RAM Extension, which allows you to reserve a portion of the embedded storage (ROM) and use it as an addition to the physical RAM.

While it doesn't increase speed in the way that adding a real memory chip does, it helps keep more applications open in the background.The system will unload inactive tabs into this virtual buffer, freeing up fast RAM for ongoing tasks.

To activate this feature, go to the settings and find "Memory Extension" where you can select the amount of memory you add, and it is recommended not to set the maximum value if you have little space on the device, as this can slow down the recording of data.

Remember that using internal memory as RAM increases the wear and tear of the drive. For the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 with its UFS 2.1 memory type, this is not critical, but it is worth keeping in mind, especially if you plan to use the phone for several years.

Managing Autoboot and Background Processes

Many apps tend to start immediately after the phone is turned on and stay active in the background. This not only eats up RAM, but also consumes battery power. Control over autoboot is the key to a long battery life and performance.

MIUI has a special section to manage this behavior, so you can prevent unnecessary programs from running themselves, for example, banking applications or document editors don't need to be stuck 24/7 in your memory if you're not using them right now.

And you should also look at the ad blocker feature, which is built in the ad blocker mechanism in the Security app, which also consumes resources by scanning traffic. DNS-filters, built-in can be turned off to save resources.

• 🚫 Go to Settings -> Annexes -> Permits -> Auto-start.
• ✅ Leave only messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) enabled to avoid missing messages.
• ❌ Turn off auto-run for games, stores and news feeds.
• 🛡️ Check the Security section -> Block ads and disable if not used.

⚠️ Note: Do not disable system processes with names that contain System","MIUI","Cloud" or "Security" This can cause sync and notifications to work incorrectly.

Checking the autoboot list regularly will help keep the system clean. When installing a new app, always check if it has been added to the list automatically.

Cleaning cache and removing heavy files

The accumulated cache of applications is another hidden reserve that can be released: Over time, messengers, browsers and social networks accumulate gigabytes of temporary files. Although cache speeds up the load of frequently visited pages, its excess slows down the file system.

Cleaning can be done either through the built-in Security app or manually through application-specific settings, the second option being more accurate, as it allows you to save important data (such as logins) by removing only debris.

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Cache cleaning does not delete your personal photos, contacts or correspondence, it only affects temporary files that can be restored.

Particular attention should be paid to the Download folder and messenger folders (for example, Telegram), which often save all the videos and photos viewed. Transferring media files to the cloud or to the computer is a great way to free up space, which indirectly affects the speed of RAM, since the system has a place to “deploy” for swap files.

Use the built-in storage analyzer to find the largest files, often with forgotten high-resolution videos or duplicate photos that can be safely deleted.

Developer mode: limitation of background processes

For those who want to get maximum control over the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9, there is a strict restriction of background processes.This setting is on the developer menu and allows you to force the application to close as soon as you switch to another.

This option is located along the way: Settings -> Advanced Settings -> Developers -> Background Process Limit. By default, it is "No Limits", but you can choose "No More than 2 Processes" or "No Background Processes".

Selecting a strict limit can significantly speed up the work in games, since all RAM will be given to one active application. However, this will lead to the fact that the music can stop playing in the background, and downloading files will be interrupted when the screen is turned off.

• 🎮 Perfect for gaming sessions when you need all the power.
• 📉 Not recommended for everyday use with many tasks.
• ⚙️ Requires re-configuration after each reboot in some versions MIUI.
• 🔋 It can have a positive effect on battery life.

Use this method with caution. For a normal use case, it is best to leave standard memory management, combining it with periodic manual cleaning through a widget on the desktop.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)