Why Xiaomi is starting to “slow down” and how it relates to RAM
Have you noticed that your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO has become slower to respond to touch, apps take a long time to open and animations twitch? 90% of the time it is overloaded RAM. Even flagships like Xiaomi 14 Ultra or POCO F6 Pro accumulate background processes, cache and “junk” tasks that eat up resources. But unlike permanent memory, RAM can be instantly cleaned – and the phone will become responsive again.
In this article, you will learn 5 proven ways to reset RAM on any Xiaomi smartphone (including models on MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS).We will break down both standard methods through settings and hidden features for power users. Importantly, cleaning RAM does not delete your files or applications - it just frees up memory for current tasks. But there are nuances that many people do not know about...
For example, did you know that Xiaomi with 8GB of RAM and above automatically reserves 2-3GB for background processes? or that some applications (especially Chinese) can block memory cleanup?
Method 1: Quick cleaning with Quick Settings (in 2 seconds)
The simplest method that works on all Xiaomi models – from the budget Redmi A2 to the top-end Xiaomi 13T Pro. You do not need to dig into the settings: just swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar, and:
- Swipe down twice to open the full panel.
- Find the Memory Cleanup icon (usually looks like a broomstick or a memory graphic).
- Slip on it – the system will instantly close all background processes.
⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI Global) this button can be hidden. To return it, click on the icon «⚙️» in the upper right corner of the notification bar and enable the option “Show Memory Cleanup».
This method cleans up to 60-70% of background processes, but does not affect system services (for example, miui.analytics or com.xiaomi.mipicks).
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On the POCO F5 and newer models, the memory cleanup button may be called the “RAM Booster” and it’s the same, but once pressed, it also optimizes RAM usage 10-15 minutes ahead.
Method 2: Deep Cleaning through Settings (for MIUI and HyperOS)
If a quick cleanup doesn't work, it's time to use the built-in MIUI tools, which removes all unnecessary processes, including those that usually remain after swiping applications in multitasking.
- Open Settings → About Phone → Memory (on HyperOS: Settings → Storage → Memory).
- Slip on the schedule "Use of RAM".
- Click "Clear" at the bottom of the screen.
- Confirm the action if a request appears.
On the screen, you'll see how much memory has been released. For example, on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ with 8 GB of RAM, 1.2-1.8 GB is released after this cleaning.
⚠️ Note: Some system applications (e.g. com.miui.securitycenter) automatically restart after 5-10 minutes. To avoid this, open the application you want after cleaning, and it will receive priority in memory allocation.
On HyperOS (new firmware for Xiaomi 14, 13T, etc.), the path is a little different:
Settings → Applications → Application Management → MemoryClose all important applications (the data will not be saved!)
Connect your phone to charge (if the charge is below 20%)
Disable mobile data (some processes will restart when you connect to the network)
Check the free space in the permanent memory (less than 1 GB can slow down the cleaning)-->
Method 3: Hidden function "Extended cleaning" (for experienced)
Few people know, but MIUI has a hidden cleaning mode that removes all processes, including system ones, which is useful if the phone is lagging heavily or does not respond to touch, but beware: after such a cleanup, some functions (such as notifications or widgets) may temporarily not work.
You can activate it in two ways:
- 📱 Open the Phone app and type ##36446337 «CIT», Where to choose from Memory Clean».
- 🔧 Through ADB: Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.CLOSE_SYSTEM_DIALOGS Next: Adb shell input keyevent 187 (This simulates pressing the memory cleanup button at the system level).
⚠️ Note: Xiaomi with Snapdragon processors 8 Gen 2/3 (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra) the first method may not work due to manufacturer limitations. ADB or move on to the Method 4.
After the extended cleaning, the phone can restart, which is normal. Don't interrupt the process even if the screen goes out for 10 to 15 seconds.
What if the phone is even slower after cleaning?
Method 4: Automatic cleaning on schedule (for lazy people)
If you're tired of manually cleaning RAM, set up automatic optimization. MIUI and HyperOS have a built-in scheduler that can clean up memory:
- 🕒 Every hour;
- 🔋 When connected to charging;
- 🔄 When screen locks.
How to turn on:
- Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Optimization.
- Turn on the "Autocleaner" slider.
- Slip on Settings next to you and select triggers (such as Clear When Locked).
On POCO and some global firmware, this section may be called “Security” → “Optimize.” Also note the “Deep Clean” option – it is more aggressive, but can close the background tasks of messengers (for example, Telegram or WhatsApp).
| Cleaning regime | What cleanses | Impact on the battery | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy. | Background applications | Low (+1–2% of expenditure) | For daily use |
| Deep. | All processes, including system | Average (+3-5% of expenditure) | If the phone is slowing down a lot |
| When charging. | Background tasks | No influence. | Optimal for night cleaning |
| When blocked | Application cache | Minimum | To save memory |
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Autocleaning is no panacea: if you have less than 4GB of RAM (like on the Redmi 9A), it's better to clean the memory manually.Automotion can restart processes too often, which eats up battery power.
Method 5: Cleaning through Safe Mode (if the phone freezes)
If Xiaomi is so stuck that it doesn’t respond to touch, and the screen flickers or shows “System is not responding,” try clearing RAM in Safe Mode. This mode only loads system processes, allowing you to “unload” memory.
How to log in to Safe Mode:
- Press the power button until the shutdown menu appears.
- Press and hold the “Switch off” (or “Switch off power”) option for 3-5 seconds.
- Confirm the transition to safe mode.
In Safe Mode:
- 🧹 Clear RAM through the notification panel (Method 1).
- 🔍 Check which apps are calling the lags (they will show up marked “Disabled»).
- 🔄 Restart your phone in normal mode.
If the problem persists after you exit Safe Mode, it's probably one of the apps installed to find it:
- Get back to Safe Mode.
- Remove suspicious apps (the ones you installed in the last month).
- Reboot and check the performance.
⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi with HyperOS (e.g. Xiaomi 14), the Safe Mode login may be different: instead of holding the off button, you need to press the power button. + Volume up when turning on the phone.
What to do if cleaning the RAM does not help?
If you’ve tried all the ways, but Xiaomi is still slowing down, the problem could be deeper.
- 🔋 Battery: Worn-out battery (capacity) <80%) It causes performance drawdowns. Check through ##4636## → «Battery information».
- 🛠️ Firmware: An outdated version MIUI or HyperOS may conflict with applications. Update via Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
- 🧠 Storage: If free <1 GB of permanent memory, the system starts to "glutch." Clear the cache through Settings → Warehouse → Clean up.
- 🦠 Viruses: Some malware (e.g. com.android.fakeapp) masquerades as system and loads RAM. Check your phone through Google Play Protect.
If nothing works, the last chance is to reset to factory settings.
- Make a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup.
- Remember the Mi Account (confirmation will be required after the reset).
- Go to Settings → About Phone → Reset settings and select “Reset all settings”.
On Xiaomi with MediaTek chipsets (like the Redmi Note 12 or POCO M6 Pro), the reset can take up to 10 minutes – don’t interrupt the process even if the screen is out.