How to increase RAM on Xiaomi: an expert guide

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a lack of free resources when running heavy games or multitasking. Users are looking for ways to increase the RAM on Xiaomi to speed up the interface and prevent application crashes. However, it is important to understand that physically adding gigabytes to memory chips is impossible without soldering, but there are effective software optimization methods.

In Android, which runs MIUI and HyperOS, memory management is very specific, and it tends to keep as many apps in the background as possible, but when there is a shortage of RAM, it forces processes to close, and we'll look at how to trick the system or make it work more efficiently using built-in extensions and third-party tools.

You can't expect miracles if your device has 3 or 4 GB of memory installed initially. The physical limit of RAM is determined by the chip installed in the factory and can't be changed software without emulation. However, competent virtual swap configuration and cache cleaning can significantly improve sensor response and switching speed between tabs.

Virtual memory and RAM extension function in MIUI

Xiaomi’s modern shells offer a standard solution to the problem of resource scarcity, often called Memory Extension or Memory Extension, which allows you to reserve some of the internal storage (ROM) for RAM, which turns a fast flash drive into a paging file that PC users are familiar with.

To activate this option, go to the settings menu. The path usually looks like: Settings → Advanced settings → Expansion of memory. Here the system will suggest selecting the amount of memory you add, for example, +2 GB, +3 GB or +4 GB depending on your smartphone model. After choosing, you will need to reboot the device to apply the changes.

⚠️ Note: Using the memory extension feature increases the load on the internal storage, which can theoretically reduce its lifespan when intensive data recording is performed.

The effectiveness of this method depends on the speed of your drive. If your smartphone uses UFS 3.1 memory, the performance gains will be noticeable. On older models with eMMC, the difference can be minimal or even lead to micro-interface delays due to lower read/write speeds compared to real RAM.

Optimizing processes through the developer menu

A more advanced way to manage resources is hidden in a special engineering menu, and to get there, you need to click on the build number several times in the About Phone section until the notification “You became a developer” appears. → Key settings are hidden for developers.

Find the background limit. The default is "Standard limit," which allows you to limit the number of applications running in the background, but be careful: too strict restrictions can cause messengers to stop sending notifications on time.

Also in this section, you should pay attention to animations. Although they don't add physically megabytes, turning off window and transition animations (the scale of animation) reduces the load on the GPU and the processor, creating the illusion of faster system operation, which is especially true for the low-end models of the Redmi series.

• 🚀 Background Processes: Set a limit of “No More than 3 Processes” for maximum performance in games.
• 🎨 Animations: Set the scale 0.5x or “Disabled” for instant interface response.
• 🔄 Turning applications off in the background can free up resources, but will require rebooting applications when returning.

Using booster apps and cleaning up cache

A powerful optimization tool is already built into the MIUI ecosystem, but third-party utilities can offer more flexible algorithms, and applications like SD Maid or Files by Google help clean up the residual debris that takes up space and indirectly affects the speed of the system.

It is important to distinguish between cleaning RAM and cleaning storage. Closing applications through Task Manager only has a temporary effect: the Android system will still run them again at the first necessary time, spending resources on starting. It is much more effective to regularly clean the cache of heavy applications such as Telegram, Instagram or TikTok.

Some users resort to installing specialized launchers that consume less resources than the standard shell of the POCO Launcher or MIUI Home. Replacing a heavy interface with a lightweight one, such as Nova Launcher, can free up to 200-300 MB of RAM, which is critical for devices with low RAM.

💡

Use the Memory feature in Xiaomi’s Security app to regularly reset background processes, this is the safest built-in method.

Root rights and swap files: for advanced users

For those willing to take the risk of a superuser (Root) license, it opens up the possibility of creating a full swap file, which allows the system to force part of the internal memory to be used as a RAM, ignoring the standard limitations of MIUI.

To implement this method, you will need an application, for example, SWAP No Root (does not work on all models) or Kernel Adiutor if you have Root-rights. The essence of the method is to create a container file that the system perceives as additional RAM. This requires deep knowledge, since improper configuration can lead to bootloop (cyclical reboot).

⚠️ Warning: Getting Root rights voids the device warranty and makes it impossible to use banking applications without additional manipulations with disguise.

Swap creation is especially important for older models that have stopped receiving optimization updates. However, on modern devices with fast UFS memory, the performance gains may not be obvious, since the memory management algorithms in new versions of Android already work quite efficiently.

Comparison of methods for increasing productivity

The choice of method depends on your technical background and the model of the smartphone. There is no universal pill that will turn a public sector employee into a flagship. It is important to assess the ratio of risk to potential benefits.

If your phone is slow, the problem may be not only the amount of RAM, but also the storage capacity or overheating of the processor. A comprehensive approach that includes cleaning the space, updating the software and properly configuring animations will give a better result than trying to squeeze out extra megabytes.

The table below compares the effectiveness of different methods for different use cases.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

💡

The safest and most effective way is to use the standard memory expansion function in combination with regular cleaning of the cache of heavy applications.