Your Xiaomi has become slow, applications spontaneously close, and interface animation twitches? The reason most often lies in overloaded RAM. Even on the new models of the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ or POCO F6, garbage accumulates over time: background processes, application cache and unoptimized MIUI services eat precious megabytes of RAM. Unlike cleaning internal memory, working with RAM requires a different approach โ it is important not just to delete data, but to manage processes correctly.
In this article, we will look at 7 proven ways to free up RAM on Xiaomi, from standard MIUI tools to hidden features for power users. You will learn how to close unnecessary applications without harming the system, disable autoloading โgluttonousโ services and even manually adjust process priorities. Particular attention will be paid to models with 4-8 GB of RAM, where the problem of RAM deficiency is especially acute. All methods are tested on MIUI firmware 14/15 and are relevant for devices from 2020-2026.
Why is RAM clogged on Xiaomi?
RAM (or RAM) is your smartphoneโs desktop, where active application data is temporarily stored. When memory is scarce, the system begins to force shutdowns, leading to hang-ups and reboots. Xiaomi has three key reasons for overloading RAM:
- ๐ฑ Background processes MIUI: Even after the application is closed, many services (for example, com.miui.analytics or com.xiaomi.midrop) continue to work, eating up to 300-500 MB. RAM.
- ๐ Autoload apps: instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), social networks and games automatically start when you turn on your phone.
- ๐๏ธ Cache and garbage: Temporary application files (such as Google Play Services cache) can take up to 1-2 GB of RAM in the background.
Interesting fact: on Xiaomi with virtual memory (RAM Expansion), part of the internal drive is used as additional RAM. However, this is not a panacea - virtual memory is slower than physical and can aggravate lags if you do not set up correctly.
โ ๏ธ Warning: Don't confuse RAM cleaning with internal memory freeing! Deleting photos or apps from storage doesn't affect RAM. RAM We need other methods.
Method 1: Manual cleaning through the "Recent" menu
The fastest method is to close unwanted apps manually, and on Xiaomi, this is done via the multitasking menu:
- Click on the โRecent Appsโ button (square at the bottom of the screen or swipe up with a delay).
- Check out the list of open source programs.
- Close unnecessary apps with swipe up or click Clear All (cross/basket in the lower right corner).
However, this method has limitations:
- โ Not all processes are displayed in the menu (system services remain active).
- โ Apps can restart automatically (especially Facebook, Instagram).
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On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi 12), holding the โRecentโ button opens an extended menu with the option to Block Cleanup for important applications.
Method 2: Optimization with Security App
MIUI firmware has a built-in RAM cleaner, the com.miui.securitycenter, which closes the background and speeds up the system:
- Open Settings โ Applications โ Security.
- Go to the "Optimization" tab (lightning icon).
- Click Clean โ the system will show how much memory can be released.
- For deep cleaning, tap Deep Cleaning (remove the cache of system applications).
Important: After deep cleaning, some apps (Google Maps, YouTube) can take longer to load on the first run, as their cache will be recreated.
| Action. | Freed memory | Implementation time |
|---|---|---|
| Regular cleaning | 200-500 MB | 2-5 seconds |
| Deep cleaning | 500 MB - 1.5 GB | 10-20 seconds |
| Cleaning through ADB | 1-2 GB | 1-2 minutes |
What is Deep Cleaning in MIUI?
Method 3: Disabling Autoboot Applications
Many programs (TikTok, VK, banking apps) run automatically when you turn on your phone, even if you haven't opened them.
- Go to Settings โ Applications โ Application Management.
- Select an application (such as AliExpress).
- Slip AutoRun and turn off the slider.
For mass shutdown, use the developer mode:
- Activate Settings โ About Phone โ MIUI version (click 7 times).
- Back to Settings โ Additionally. โ For developers.
- Find the Background Process Limitation and set the "Maximum 2 Process".
โ ๏ธ Warning: Disabling autoboot for system applications (e.g. com.android.phone) can disrupt your phone!Do not change settings for processes named miui. or android..
Disable auto-start for social networks|Limit background processes in developer mode|Check the list of exceptions in "Security"|Reboot your phone after the changes-->
Method 4: Using ADB commands for power users
If standard methods donโt work, you can manually manage processes through Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that is suitable for users willing to work with the command line.
First, turn on the USB debugging:
- Settings โ About Phone โ MIUI version (7 taps to activate the developer mode).
- Settings โ Additional โ For developers โ Debugging by USB (enable).
Then connect the phone to the PC and execute the commands:
adb shell
su
cmd appops set com.miui.securitycenter RUN_ANY_IN_BACKGROUND allow
killall -9 com.miui.analyticsThese teams:
- ๐ง Give the Security app privileges to manage background processes.
- ๐ซ Xiaomi Analytics Collection Service (com.miui.analytics) is being forced to close).
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ADB-commands allow you to close system processes that cannot be stopped through a standard interface, but misuse can lead to malfunctions. MIUI.
Method 5: Configure virtual memory (RAM Expansion)
Starting with MIUI 12.5, Xiaomi added the RAM extension feature to internal memory. This doesn't increase physical RAM, but lets you use a part of the drive as a buffer for background processes.
- Go to Settings โ Additional โ Expand memory.
- Select the amount of virtual RAM (recommended 1-3 GB for models with 6-8 GB of physical memory).
- Reboot the phone.
Critical nuance: virtual memory on Xiaomi works only with UFS 2.2/3.1 drives (for example, in the Redmi K60 or POCO F5). On budget models with eMMC 5.1 (for example, Redmi 10A), this feature can worsen performance due to slow read/write speeds.
| Xiaomi model | Type of storage | Recommended Virtual RAM Required |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | UFS 2.2 | 2-3 GB |
| POCO X5 Pro | UFS 3.1 | 3GB |
| Redmi 10C | eMMC 5.1 | Not recommended |
Method 6: Resetting cache via Recovery Mode
If the phone is slowing down a lot and standard methods don't help, try resetting the cache through Recovery mode. This won't delete your data, but will clear the temporary system files:
- Turn off the phone.
- Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
- In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Cache (use volume buttons for navigation, power button for selection).
- Confirm the action and restart the phone (Reboot).
This method is especially effective after major MIUI updates, when the system creates redundant temporary files.
โ ๏ธ Note: Do not confuse Wipe Cache with Wipe Data! The second option (Factory Reset) will delete all your data, including photos and apps.
Method 7: Installation of light firmware (for advanced)
On older Xiaomi models (for example, Redmi 5 Plus or Mi A2) with 2-3 GB of RAM, even optimization does not save from the brakes. In this case, installing custom firmware based on Android Go or a lightweight version of MIUI will help:
- ๐ MIUI Lite: Xiaomiโs official lightweight firmware (available for a limited list of models).
Warning: custom firmware installation requires unlocking the bootloader and may deprive you of warranty.
- Backup your data via TWRP or Mi Cloud.
- Check firmware compatibility with your model on the XDA Developers forum.
Frequent errors in cleaning RAM on Xiaomi
Many users are making memory problems worse by following questionable advice.Here's the top-3 Mistakes that should be avoided:
- ๐ซ Use of โboostersโ RAM" Play Market: Apps like Clean Master or DU Speed Booster not only does not help, but also consume RAM in the background.
- ๐ซ Permanent manual shutdown of all applications: Android is optimized for multitasking, and forced shutdown of processes can lead to increased battery consumption (the system will have to reboot data).
- ๐ซ Disabling all background processes in developer mode: this disrupts push notifications and system updates.
The right approach is balance: leave in the background only those applications that are really needed (messengers, music players), and limit the rest through the MIUI settings.