How to Reset RAM on Xiaomi Redmi: The Complete Guide

The RAM on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is a key resource that determines the speed of the device. When applications start to hang and the system slows down when switching between tasks, the first thought is the lack of free RAM. But unlike permanent memory, RAM can't just be cleaned like cache, it needs to be optimized correctly, and in some cases forced to reset.

In this article, we will understand 5 Proven ways to free RAM on Redmi (including Note models) 12 Pro+, Redmi 10C, POCO X5 Why standard "close applications" often doesn't work, and how to avoid common mistakes that make the problem worse. MIUI 14/15 and do not require root rights or technical skills.

Why Xiaomi Redmi RAM is clogged: 3 main reasons

Many users mistakenly believe that closing background apps through the multitasking menu (swipe up) completely frees up memory.

• 🔄 MIUI aggressively caches frequently used applications even if you have closed them.The system leaves them in "sleep" mode for quick launch.
• 📱 Google Services and Xiaomi services (e.g., com.xiaomi.mipicks or com.miui.analytics) take up to 300-500MB of RAM per day.
• 🎮 Games and heavy apps (e.g. Genshin Impact, PubG Mobile, CapCut) can leak – not free up memory after closing.

Another common problem is memory fragmentation, where when you switch between 10+ applications quickly, the system breaks RAM into smaller blocks, which slows it down, especially on low-end Redmis with 4-6 GB of RAM (like the Redmi 9A or Note 11).

Method 1: Forced resetting of RAM through “Safe Mode”

The most reliable way to get memory released is to reboot in Safe Mode, which shuts down all third-party applications, leaving only system processes.

1. Hold the Power button until the off menu appears.
2. Press the option to turn off (or turn off power) for 3-5 seconds.
3. Confirm the transition to Safe Mode (the inscription will appear at the bottom of the screen).
4. Reboot your phone in the usual way.

After this procedure, RAM will be cleared of all background processes except critical ones (calls, SMS, basic MIUI functions), the effect is similar to a complete cold restart of the system, but without loss of data.

Close all important applications (messaging, banking)

Connect your phone to charge (if charge < 20%)

Save unsaved data (for example, drafts in messengers)

Turn it off. VPN (It can block system processes)-->

⚠️ Note: Fingerprint and Face Unlock are not working in Safe Mode. PIN-code or pattern lock to unlock.

Method 2: Manual cleaning through “Developer Settings”

If your Redmi supports developer mode, you can manually limit background processes.This method is suitable for models with 8+ GB of RAM (for example, Redmi K60 or POCO F5), where standard settings are ineffective.

First, activate the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
2. Tap the MIUI version 7 times in a row until you become a developer!

Now limit the processes:

1. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
2. Find the process limit option (or background process limitation).
3. Select Process Maximum 2 (for memory savings) or Process Maximum 4 (balance between performance and power consumption).

⚠️ Attention: Inactive processes are automatically restored after a reboot. To keep the changes, pin important applications in the multitasking menu (swipe down on the icon).

Method 3: Using the built-in “Memory Optimizer”

MIUI has a hidden RAM cleaner tool called the Memory Optimizer, which isn't available on all models, but it runs on most Redmis with MIUI 12+.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Optimize Memory.
3. Click Clean – the system will close unnecessary processes and free up to 1-1.5 GB of RAM.

If this option is not available, try an alternative route:

Settings → Battery and Performance → Optimization

In some Xiaomi firmware, this tool is called Accelerate or Memory Cleanup, and it is less aggressive than Safe Mode, but it is suitable for regular maintenance.

💡

If the memory optimizer doesn’t appear, upgrade MIUI to the latest version. Old firmware (below MIUI 11) may not have this feature.

Method 4: Automatic Cleaning with Security App

Xiaomi's Security app not only scans viruses, but also controls RAM. Here's how to set up automatic cleaning:

1. Open the Security app (the shield icon).
2. Go to the Optimization (or Acceleration) tab.
3. Activate Auto Clean and set a schedule (e.g., Every Hour or When screen locks).
4. Turn on Deep Cleaning – it will shut down even system processes that can be safely stopped.

The advantage of this method is that you don't have to do anything manually, but it has some disadvantages.

• ⏳ Can slow down the launch of frequently used applications (they will be rebooted from scratch).
• 🔋 Increases battery consumption by 5-10% as processes start over.

Method 5: Reset RAM via ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don't work, you can use ADB commands to force clean, which requires you to connect your phone to your PC, but gives you maximum control over the processes, and is suitable for Redmi with MIUI 13+.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → For developers).
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect Redmi to your PC and confirm your trusted device.
2. Open the Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux) in the adb folder.
3. Enter the command for the list of processes: adb shell ps -A | grep -E 'u0_a[0-9]+' This will show all user applications that take up RAM.
4. To kill a particular process (e.g. Facebook), use: adb shell am force-stop com.facebook.katana
5. For full RAM cleaning (caution!): adb shell "echo" 3 > /proc/sys/vm/drop_caches" This command resets the kernel cache, which is equivalent to a software reboot.

⚠️ Attention: Team drop_caches This can cause unsaved data to be lost in open applications, and do not use it when playing games or working with documents.

💡

ADB-It's the most powerful, but it's the riskiest, and only use it if other methods haven't worked, and you understand the consequences.

What NOT to do when cleaning the RAM on Xiaomi

Many of the "advice" on the Internet not only doesn't help, but it does harm the phone.

• ❌ Use "Task Killer" from Google Play. Such applications (e.g. Clean Master or Google Play) DU Speed Booster aggressively shut down processes, which leads to a cyclical reboot of services and additional battery consumption.
• ❌ Disable system applications through Settings → Applications. It can break functionality. MIUI (Disabling com.miui.securitycenter will deprive you of access to security settings).
• ❌ Resetting your phone to factory settings to clean up RAM is an extreme measure that deletes all data but doesn't solve the background problem.

Another dangerous practice is manually deleting files from the /data folder via Root Explorer, which can lead to bootloop if you delete critical system files.

FAQ: Frequent questions about RAM on Xiaomi Redmi