How to increase RAM on Xiaomi: from virtual RAM to hardware upgrade

Your Xiaomi has started to slow down when you run a few apps? Games are crashing with an error "Not enough memory"? The reason is often due to limited RAM. Unlike internal storage, which can be expanded with a memory card, RAM is tightly tied to the hardware of the smartphone. But that doesn't mean that the situation can't be fixed.

In this article, we will look at all the ways available to increase RAM on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, from official MIUI features to radical methods for advanced users. It is important to understand that some solutions will increase performance by 10-30%, others can reduce battery life or lead to loss of warranty. We will honestly talk about the pros and cons of each approach so that you can choose the best option for your model.

1. Virtual memory (RAM Expansion) – the official way from Xiaomi

Starting with MIUI 12.5, Xiaomi has added a virtual augmentation of RAM to the firmware from the device’s internal memory, essentially backing up some of the flash memory (1 to 8 GB) and using it as a buffer for temporary application data. This is not real RAM, but allows you to keep 1-2 more applications in the background.

How does it work in practice? Imagine you have a Redmi Note 11 with 4GB of RAM. Activating a virtual +3GB will make it look like a smartphone has 7GB of storage. However, the data processing speed in virtual RAM is lower than in physical RAM, as you can see when you start heavy games or multitasking.

• ✅ Pros: does not require root, works on all models with MIUI 12.5+, reversible
• ❌ Cons: Takes up space in internal memory, small productivity gains
• 🔧 Compatibility: Xiaomi 11/12/13 series, Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO F3/F4/F5 newer

To activate the function:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → All the characteristics
2. Tap. 5-7 once on the line “Version” MIUI", to unlock the Developer Mode
3. Go back to the main settings and open additionally. → Memory.
4. Select RAM Extension and set the desired volume (we recommend starting with 1-2 GB)
5. Reset the device

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If you activate the virtual RAM smartphone began to warm up more, reduce the volume to 1 GB or turn off the function altogether. Virtual memory creates an additional load on the processor.

Optimizing current memory: what to do before upgrading

Before you resort to radical measures, check whether it is possible to free up existing RAM. Many users do not suspect that up to 30% of RAM eat background processes that can be turned off without compromising the smartphone.

Starting with basic cleaning, MIUI has a built-in Memory Cleanup tool, but it only removes the application cache. Deeper optimization requires manual adjustments:

• 📱 Turn off auto-run of unnecessary apps: Settings → Annexes → Autostart control
• 🔄 Limit background activity: Settings → Battery → Choice of battery mode → Setting up → Background activity
• 🚫 Ban work in the background for social networks and instant messengers (except those that you use constantly)
• 🔄 Enable Adaptive Cleaning in Settings → Special opportunities → System settings

Remove unused applications | Turn off auto-start for 10+ applications |Limit background activity |Enable adaptive cleaning |Reboot device-->

Pay special attention to system applications that can't be removed but can be put to sleep, such as Mi Video, Mi Music or GetApps, which are often left in the background when nobody uses them.

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.mi.videoplayer


adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.mi.android.globalFileexplorer

These commands are executed via ADB (computer and USB debugging required). Be careful - disabling system applications can lead to unstable operation!

Once a day | Once a week | Only when it starts to brake | Never clean |I don't know how to do it-->

3. Root access and modification of system files

For risk-taking users, there are ways to actually increase the available RAM by changing system parameters, which requires root rights and doesn't work on all models, but can increase to 1-1.5 GB due to the backup memory that MIUI hides "in reserve."

The most popular method is to edit the build.prop file. You will need:

1. Unlocked bootloader (bootloader)
2. Installed Custom Recavery (TWRP)
3. Root access (via Magisk)
4. Backup of all data

Instructions:

1. Download a file manager with root access (e.g. Root Explorer)
2. Open the file /system/build.prop
3. Add at the end of the line: dalvik.vm.heapsize=512m ro.config.low_ram=false
4. Save the changes and restart the device

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect editing build.prop can lead to bootloop ( looped reboot).Before changes, back up through TWRP Make sure you have the original build.prop file to restore.

Another way is to use a Magisk module called RAM Expander (SWAP), which creates a paging file on internal memory that the system uses as additional RAM, but this method severely wears out flash memory and shortens its lifespan.

4. Hardware increase in RAM: when nothing helps

If the software methods do not produce the desired result, there is a physical increase in RAM, which is only possible for some Xiaomi models with a severable housing and modular architecture. For example, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra or Black Shark 4 Pro theoretically allow you to replace memory chips, but in practice this is:

• 💰 Very expensive (the cost of work can exceed the price of a smartphone)
• 🛠️ Requires professional equipment (sweeter station, microscope)
• ⚠️ High risk of damage to motherboard
• 📉 Loss of warranty (if it is still valid)

Here are the approximate prices for hardware upgrades in service centers in Moscow (for 2026):

Before you agree to such an upgrade, consider:

⚠️ Attention: Replacing the RAM chips requires flashing the device, as the new memory may not be recognized by the original firmware. Without proper firmware, the smartphone will either not turn on or will work with errors.

Alternatively, you can buy a smartphone with a large amount of memory in the secondary market. For example, Xiaomi Mi 11 with 12 GB of RAM can be found cheaper than upgrading the 8-gigabyte version.

5. Alternative solutions: when to increase RAM is impossible

If your Xiaomi model doesn’t support any of the above methods (e.g. older devices like the Redmi 4X or Mi A1), you can optimise your current memory experience.

• 🎮 For gamers: use Game Turbo in the settings MIUI — It allocates additional resources for games, temporarily "freezing" background processes.
• 📱 Install light firmware: custom builds like Pixel Experience or LineageOS are consumed on the Internet 20-30% Less RAM than Standard RAM MIUI
• 🔄 Turn on Green Mode in the battery settings – it limits background activity, freeing up memory
• 🛠️ Use apps like Greenify to freeze unnecessary services

An interesting life hack for POCO and Black Shark owners: In the engineering menu of these devices, there is a hidden Performance Mode option that forcibly allocates more memory to the active application.

1. Please dial in the dialer ##4636##
2. Select Battery Information
3. Slip 3 times on the inscription "Usage time" (time of use)
4. In the menu that appears, select Performance Mode → High

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Even without increasing RAM, the right optimization can give performance gains of 15-40%, for example, disabling animations in the developer settings speeds up switching between applications, creating the illusion of “additional memory”.

6 Myths about increasing RAM: what not to do

There are dozens of “magic” ways to increase Xiaomi’s RAM that are either useless or harmful on the Internet.

• 🚫 "Cleaners RAM Smartphone Acceleration – Apps like Clean Master or DU Speed Booster only creates extra workload. Android manages memory more efficiently than any "optimizer".
• 🚫 "SD-Maps are like RAM — unlike older Windows phones, Android doesn't know how to use a memory card as a RAM.
• 🚫 "Shutdown MIUI Optimization" - in the developer settings there is an option to Disable Optimization MIUI, But it's designed for testing, and it actually impairs memory management.
• 🚫 "Increase SWAP "Terminal" -- commands like swapon run only on custom kernels and require a deep knowledge of Linux.

Another dangerous piece of advice is to overclock the processor to compensate for memory shortages, and yes, it can temporarily speed things up, but:

⚠️ Attention: Overclocking through an engineering menu or applications like SetCPU increases heat output by a small amount of energy. 40-60% And it reduces the life of the processor. On Snapdragon chips, this can lead to thermal throttling).

7. How to choose a Xiaomi smartphone with the optimal amount of RAM in 2026

If you are planning to buy, you should choose a model with enough RAM right away, and in 2026 the following recommendations are relevant:

Note the type of memory: Xiaomi’s current flagships use LPDDR5X, which is 30% more energy efficient and faster than LPDDR4X in budget models. For example, Xiaomi 14 with 12 GB LPDDR5X will run smoother than the POCO X5 with 12 GB LPDDR4X, despite the same volume.

Also check if the model supports dynamic memory allocation (Dynamic). RAM). This technology automatically reassigns some of the unused memory to the needs of the processor. 13T With 8GB of physical memory, the system can “borrow” up to 3GB from the GPU for common tasks.

FAQ: Frequent questions about increasing RAM on Xiaomi