Owners of the Redmi Note 8 Pro smartphone often face a situation where the device starts to work slower, and applications are unloaded from memory faster than you would like. RAM is a critical resource, on the volume of which depends on the multitasking of the gadget and the speed of switching between running programs. The question of how to add megabytes to the existing 6 or 8 GB, worries many users looking for a way to extend the life of their device.
One of the key technical points to make is that you can't physically increase the amount of RAM in your smartphone because the memory chips are soldered on the motherboard and can't be replaced at home. However, there are software methods for optimizing and expanding virtual memory that can significantly affect system performance. In this article, we'll look at all the available ways, from standard MIUI functions to advanced settings through ADB.
Why is the Redmi Note 8 Pro not enough memory?
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro, released in 2019, originally featured 6 or 8 gigabytes of RAM, which was a great indicator for the time.However, modern applications are becoming more "heavy", consuming more resources for background work. MIUI It also requires a significant amount of RAM To provide all of its visual effects and functions.
When the free space runs out, the system begins to force the background processes to close, which leads to the reboot of applications every time they open, a phenomenon called swapping, or active use of a paging file, where the system is forced to use slow internal memory instead of fast RAM, which the user notices as twitching interfaces and long running games.
⚠️ Warning: Constant shortage of RAM can lead to increased wear of the device’s flash memory due to intensive recording of temporary files.
And many of the programs that are installed contain hidden services that run automatically and eat up resources even when you're not using them. Understanding where your memory is going is the first step to solving a problem. It's not always the hardware that's to blame, it's often the software junk that's the problem.
Memory Expansion in MIUI
Newer versions of the MIUI shell, based on Android 10 and higher, have a standard memory extension feature that allows you to reserve a portion of the embedded storage (ROM) and use it as an addition to RAM. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, this option can be available depending on the firmware version (Global, China or EU).
To check for a function, you need to go to the device settings. The path usually looks like: Settings → About phone → Expansion of memory. If the item is active, the system will prompt you to select the amount of memory you add, for example, 2 GB or 3 GB. Once turned on, you will need to restart the smartphone to apply the changes.
- 📱 Open the “Settings” menu on the main screen.
- 🔍 Find the About Phone section at the top of the list.
- 💾 Click on the "Memory Extension" option).
- ✅ Select the desired volume and confirm the action.
It's important to understand that internal flash memory is still slower than real RAM, so you'll see a noticeable increase in performance, but it won't turn a budget-friendly into a flagship, but it's effective for keeping more applications in the background.
💡
If the Memory Extension option is not on the menu, your version of MIUI may not have received this update yet.
Developer Setup to Optimize RAM
A deeper level of memory management is hidden in the Developer Menu, where you can limit the number of background processes that the system allows you to keep active, which forcefully frees up resources for the current application you're using.
To access this menu, you need to click on the build number several times in the About Phone section. Once the developer mode is activated, a new item will appear in the main settings. Find the Applications or System section and select the Background Process Limit. Here you can set a restriction, for example, No More than 2 Processes.
Settings → Advanced settings → For developers → Limit of background processesAnd there's also a "Do Not Activity" option on this menu, which if you turn it on, the system will destroy the app as soon as you leave the screen, a radical method that is guaranteed to free up all available RAM, but multitasking will disappear completely.
☑️ Checking the developer's settings
Use of the SWAP-Files via Root Rights
For advanced users who are ready to gain full control of the system, there is a method of creating a system. SWAP-This is the equivalent of a swap file in Windows, which allows the system to use part of the permanent memory as a RAM more aggressively than standard Android tools.
This requires SuperUser (Root) rights, without which you can't create a full swap partition, and it involves unlocking the bootloader, installing a custom recap (TWRP) and getting root rights through Magisk, and then using specialized applications.
| Parameter | Standard Android | With Root and SWAP |
|---|---|---|
| Access to memory | Limited by the system | Full control. |
| Paging file. | Automatic. | Customizable size |
| Risk of data loss | Low. | High-pitched |
| Guarantee | It's still there. | Cancellation. |
⚠️ Warning: Getting root rights and unlocking the bootloader on the Redmi Note 8 Pro will void the warranty and may lead to the device “bricking” when errors occur.
One popular tool is the SWAP No Root app (works with both rights and without, but with rights more efficiently) or KSWAPD Manager. These utilities create a virtual drive that the system perceives as additional RAM. However, be prepared for the fact that the write speed to the disk is lower, which can cause micro-freezes.
How to unlock the Xiaomi bootloader?
Cleaning and optimization without third-party programs
Often, the problem is solved not by adding memory, but by properly cleaning the existing one. The built-in cleaner in Xiaomi's Security app does a good job of cache handling, but manual verification gives better results. Delete unused apps and heavy files.
Look at social media and instant messengers, and apps like Telegram, WhatsApp, and Viber tend to grow to giant sizes, taking up hundreds of megabytes of RAM even in the background, and you can limit auto downloads of media files and clear cache in the settings of these apps.
- 🗑️ Go to Settings. → Annexes → All applications.
- 📉 Find the heaviest applications (social networks, marketplaces).
- 🧹 Click “Clean” and select “Clear Cache” (not data!).
- 🚫 Turn off auto-start for unnecessary programs.
It's also worth turning off the interface animation. It won't free up bytes of memory, but it will visually speed up the system, making it more responsive. In the Developer menu, find the Windows Animation, Transition Animation and Animation Duration scales by setting 0.5x or Disabled.
💡
Regularly cleaning the cache of heavy apps frees up more RAM than installing accelerators from the Play Market.
Frequent questions and misconceptions
There are many myths surrounding memory enhancement, and users often believe in miracle apps that promise to double RAM with a single click, and it’s important to separate real optimization from marketing ploys that can hurt a device.
Here are the answers to the most popular questions that will help you avoid mistakes when trying to improve the performance of the Redmi Note 8 Pro. Remember that the physical memory limit can not be avoided, but you can learn how to effectively manage the available resources.