How to Free RAM on Xiaomi: The Complete 2026 Guide

Your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO are slowing down, apps are spontaneously shutting down and animations are twitching? 90% of the time, it’s because of overloaded RAM. Even flagship models with 12GB of RAM are facing resource shortages over time due to MIUI and background processes. But don’t rush to drop the phone to factory settings – we’ve compiled all the current ways to unload RAM that work on devices from 2020 to 2026.

In this article, you will find not only standard tips like cache cleaning, but also hidden MIUI features that Xiaomi does not advertise in the official documentation. We tested each method on models from Redmi Note 10 Pro to Xiaomi 14 Ultra — all solutions are safe and do not require root rights. And for advanced users, we added a bonus section with settings through ADB.

Why Xiaomi is eating away at RAM?

The performance of MIUI smartphones is often criticized for aggressive memory management, because the system by default reserves some RAM for background tasks — this is called Memory Optimization. On the one hand, this approach speeds up switching between applications, on the other, leads to an artificial memory shortage, with only 100-300 MB of 6-8 GB free.

The main “eaters” of RAM on Xiaomi:

• 🔄 Background processes MIUI: Synchronization services (Mi Account, Mi Cloud), system monitors and even the Theme Store work in the background.
• 📱 Auto-run apps: instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), social networks (TikTok, Instagram) and games (Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile) blocks memory release.
• 🗑️ Cache and junk files: Temporary app data can take up to 1-2 GB of RAM if not cleaned for months.
• 🤖 Viruses and malware: Some applications from third-party sources masquerade as system processes (e.g. com.android.system).

Interesting fact: on Xiaomi 13T Pro with 12 GB of RAM after restarting free ~7 GB, but after a day of use is only 1-1.5 GB. This is not a defect — this is how the Dynamic RAM Expansion (DRE) algorithm works, which artificially “inflates” RAM due to the internal drive. But if free memory is less than 500 MB, lags begin.

Method 1: Manual cleaning of RAM through the MIUI menu

The fastest method is to use the built-in memory cleanup function, which removes unused processes, but does not touch system services and applications with auto-run.

How to clean the RAM manually:

1. Open the settings → About the phone → Memory.
2. Put RAM on the schedule.
3. Click Clear (in some versions of MIUI, the button is called Free).
4. Confirm the action if a request appears.

This method frees up ~300-800 MB of memory, but the effect is temporary - after 10-15 minutes, the background processes will again fill the RAM. For a permanent result, you need to disable the autorun of unnecessary applications (more about this in the next section).

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If the Clean button is inactive, there are no processes that can be safely closed at this point. Try to roll all applications down with the recent button (square on the right).

Method 2: Disabling Autostart and Background Activity

Auto-run apps can wake up even after manually cleaning the RAM, such as Facebook or AliExpress when connected to Wi-Fi or mobile, and Mi Video when connected to headphones, to prevent them from wasting memory:

Instructions for MIUI 14 (relevant to Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5):

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as TikTok).
3. Slip AutoRun and turn off the slider.
4. Go back and select Permissions → Background Activity, then set Restricted.

For mass shutdown of autostart:

• 📌 Use the settings. → Battery and productivity → Battery management → Choice of applications.
• 📌 Enable Energy Saving Mode for Unnecessary Applications – This Will Automatically Limit Their Background Activity.

Warning: Do not disable auto-run for system applications (MiuiDaemon, Security, Google Play Services) this can cause malfunctions in the smartphone.

Disable auto-start for social networks and instant messengers |

Limit background activity for games |

Check permissions for applications with location access |

Reboot your phone after the changes-->

Method 3: Use of Light Mode

MIUI 12-14 has a hidden function, Light Mode, which reduces the consumption of RAM by simplifying animations and turning off background processes. This mode is useful on devices with 4-6 GB of RAM (Redmi 9A, POCO M3, Xiaomi Mi A3).

How to turn on:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times).
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the option Light Mode and turn it on.
4. Reboot the phone.

Effect:

• ✅ Reducing RAM consumption by 200-500 MB.
• ✅ Accelerate the opening of applications by 10-15%.
• ❌ Some visual effects are turned off (smooth transitions, icon animations).

Method 4: Cleaning up cache and junk files

Application cache and system temporary files can take up to 1-3 GB of memory. Unlike these applications, the cache can be deleted without risking loss of important information.

Clearing the cache of individual applications:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (like Google Chrome).
3. Click Clear Cache (not to be confused with Clear Data!).

Mass cache cleanup:

• 🧹 Use a built-in cleaner: Safety → Cleanup → Deep cleaning.
• 🧹 For advanced cleaning, install SD Maid (requires root for full functionality).

Removal of garbage files:

• 🗑️ Go to the files. → Categories → Garbage and remove unnecessary files.
• 🗑️ Check the Download folder - often there accumulate unremoved APK and media files.

Attention! Don't manually delete files from folders:

• /data/dalvik-cache is the cache of the Android virtual machine.
• /system – System files (you can damage the firmware).
• /efs is the IMEI data and modem.

Method 5: Optimization through Developer Settings

Hidden settings for developers allow fine-tuning memory management, which are not intended for ordinary users, but when used correctly can significantly improve performance.

Key parameters for optimizing RAM:

• 🔧 Limitation of background processes: Settings → For developers → Background Limitation: Set a Maximum 2 process (for devices with 4-6 GB of RAM) or Maximum 3 process (for 8-12 GB).
• 🔧 Disabling animations: set the scale of the animation window, the scale of the animation transition and the duration of the animator on 0.5x Or off. That'll reduce the load on the processor and RAM.
• 🔧 GPU-Acceleration: Enable Forced Use GPU (It can help with gaming, but it increases battery consumption).

Attention! Sloppy changes in the developer settings can lead to:

• ⚠️ Data loss while limiting background processes for system applications.
• ⚠️ Unstable interface operation if all animations are disabled.
• ⚠️ Overheating during forced use GPU routinely.

It is recommended to change the settings one by one and test the stability of the phone throughout the day.

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The setting "Limit background processes" is most effective for devices with 4-6 GB of RAM. On flagships with 8+ GB, it is better to leave the default value (4 processes).

Method 6: Advanced Optimization through ADB (without root)

If standard methods don’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) It's a way of doing this, and it doesn't require root rights, but it requires a computer and a computer. USB-cable.

Step 1: Preparation

1. Download ADB Tools for Windows/macOS/Linux.
2. Turn on USB Debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (7 taps) → Settings → Additional → For developers → Debugging over USB.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your trust in your computer.

Step 2: Commands to optimize RAM

Open the Terminal in the ADB folder and type:

adb shell


su -c "settings put global hidden_api_policy 1" # Unlock hidden API




su -c "settings put global low_ram true" # Low RAM consumption mode




su -c "settings put global stay_on_while_plugged_in 0" # Turning off constant charging activity

Step 3: Limiting Background Services

To disable unnecessary system services (e.g., MiuiAnalytics):

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.analytics


adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.market # Disables Mi App Store

Attention! Do not disable services whose names include:

• android. (e.g. com.android.phone)
• Google. (e.g. com.google.android.gms)
• Qualcomm. or mediatek. (processor drivers)

After you use the commands, restart the phone.

• ✅ Reducing RAM consumption by 300-700 MB.
• ✅ Increase in Autonomous Work Time by 10-15%.
• ❌ Possible problems with updates MIUI (If you have Mi App Store disabled).

Method 7: Alternative launchers and lightweight applications

The standard MIUI Launcher uses up to 300-500MB of RAM due to animations and widgets, and replacing it with a lightweight alternative could free up additional resources.

The best lightweight launchers for Xiaomi:

• 🚀 Nova Launcher (configurable, consumable) ~150MB of RAM).
• 🚀 Lawnchair (open source) optimized for weak devices).
• 🚀 Smart Launcher 6 (Automatic Application Sorting, ~200MB of RAM).

Lightweight versions of popular applications:

How to install the launcher:

1. Download APK from the official website (for example, Nova Launcher).
2. Install the file by allowing installation from unknown sources.
3. Click Home and select a new launcher as your primary.

Attention! Some MIUI features (such as Super Wallpapers or Control Center) may not work with third-party launchers, and avoid launchers with suspicious permissions (access to SMS, calls).

FAQ: Frequent questions about RAM offloading on Xiaomi