How to Clean RAM on Xiaomi: Effective Methods for All Models

Why Xiaomi is “slowing down” and how it relates to RAM

Have you noticed that your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO are slowing down? Apps are slow to open, videos on social networks are hanging up, and games are starting to “float”? 90% of the time the problem lies in the loaded RAM. Even on top models like Xiaomi 14 Ultra or POCO F6 Pro accumulate background processes, cache and “junk” tasks that eat up resources.

RAM (or RAM) is the smartphone’s “short-term memory” where active application data is stored. When it clogs, the system begins to force program closure, which causes slowdowns. But don’t be quick to blame the manufacturer: users often provoke the problem by installing dozens of apps that run in the background, such as instant messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp, auto-update games (Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile), or even MIUI system services like com.miui.analytics.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to clean RAM, from basic (for beginners) to advanced (for advanced users), and also find out why manual cleaning through Task Manager often harms performance, and how to optimize memory without harming your smartphone.

Method 1: Built-in RAM cleaning in MIUI

The manufacturer has put in MIUI a tool for quick memory cleanup, "Security," which requires no root rights and works on all models, starting with the Xiaomi Mi 8 (2018) and later.

1. Open the Security app (the shield icon).
2. Go to the Optimization tab (or Acceleration in older versions of MIUI).
3. Click the “Clear” button next to the RAM section.
4. Confirm the action if the system requests permission.

This method frees up to 30-40% of memory, closing the background processes, but it has a disadvantage: after 10-15 minutes, many applications (Facebook, Instagram, VK) will start again in the background.

Open “Security” → “Optimization”

Hit three points (⋮) top-right

Select "Deep Cleaning"

Confirm the action and restart the smartphone-->

Deep cleaning resets the cache of some system applications, so after rebooting the first 2-3 minutes, the smartphone can run slower than usual - that's normal.

Method 2: Manually Cleaning Task Manager (and Why It’s Not Always Useful)

Many users are used to shutting down applications through Task Manager (a bottom-up, latency swipe call), but this method can degrade performance if used incorrectly. MIUI (like Android in general) is optimized to work with background processes. Forced application closure forces the system to waste resources on re-runs.

However, manual cleaning is justified in two cases:

• 🎮 Before the launch of resource-intensive games (Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile, Honkai: Star Rail).
• 📱 If the smartphone overheats (background processes load the processor).

How to properly close tasks:

1. Open Task Manager (swipe from the bottom up with a pause).
2. Close only the apps you see at the top of the list (they consume the most RAM).
3. Don’t touch system processes like com.android.systemui or miui.home, which can cause disruptions.

⚠️ Note: If the app opens again immediately after closing (e.g. Mi Video or Mi Browser), it is protected by the system. → Applications can cause errors in operation MIUI.

Method 3: Disable Auto-Run Unnecessary Applications

One of the main RAM eaters is apps that automatically start when you turn on a smartphone or connect to the Internet, for example, AliExpress, Wildberries, or even Google Play Store can consume up to 200-300 MB of RAM in the background to turn them off:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as TikTok) and tap “Outstart.”
3. Turn off the Auto Start and Second Run sliders.
4. Repeat for all unnecessary programs.

For convenience, we have compiled a table of applications that can be safely disabled without harming the system:

💡

If you are not sure if you can disable the auto-run of the application, check it in Google Play. System services (such as Google Play Services) usually have the phrase “Do not delete this application” in the description.

Method 4: Using third-party optimizers (pros and cons)

There are hundreds of apps on Google Play that promise to "speed up your smartphone 2x," but most of them are empty spaces that just take up space.

• 🛠️ Greenify – “sedates” background apps without root rights. Suitable for Xiaomi on Android 10+.
• 🔄 SD Maid - clears cache and junk files, freeing RAM. Requires root for full functionality.
• 📊 Developer Options (Hidden Android Menu) – allows you to limit background processes manually.

How to enable Developer Options and limit background processes:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version until the notification “You became a developer” appears.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Find the "Background Process Limit" item and set the "Maximum 2 Process" value.

⚠️ Attention: Limitation of background processes to 1-2 This can cause notifications from messengers (WhatsApp, Viber) to arrive with a delay. 4 process».

Built-in optimization in MIUI

Manual closure of applications

Shutting down autostart

Third-party applications (Greenify, CCleaner, etc.)

I'm not cleaning.-->

Method 5: Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If all previous methods have failed, and the smartphone is still “braking”, perhaps the problem lies not in the RAM, but in the debris firmware, in which case a full reset will help. But remember: this will delete all data (photos, contacts, messages), so make a backup first.

How to reset Xiaomi to factory settings:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset.
2. Select "Settings Reset."
3. Check the box to “Clear internal memory” (optional if you want to delete all files).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

💡

Resetting to factory settings is a last resort: 80% of the time, it is enough to clean RAM through “Safety” and disable auto-run unnecessary applications.

Frequent errors in cleaning RAM (and how to avoid them)

Many Xiaomi users make mistakes that not only don't improve performance, but also make it worse.

• ❌ Permanent closure of all background applications → Android is optimized for multitasking, and forced shutdown forces the system to waste resources on restarting.
• ❌ Use of cleaners such as CCleaner or Clean Master → These applications often become a source of “junk” and consume RAM.
• ❌ Disconnection of system services through ADB root → It can lead to disruptions in work. MIUI (For example, notifications will stop coming).
• ❌ Ignoring updates MIUI → In new versions of firmware often fix memory leaks.

To avoid these mistakes, follow simple rules:

• ✅ Clean the RAM only when it is really necessary (for example, before starting the game).
• ✅ Regularly update the firmware (Settings) → Updating the system).
• ✅ Do not install applications from unverified sources – they may contain viruses that consume RAM.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions