How to increase RAM on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T: proven methods of 2026

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T

legal and illegal

In this article, you will find 5 working methods, from simple (virtual RAM) to complex (chip overclocking and kernel modification), we will honestly explain the risks of each method, provide benchmark tests "before and after", and give recommendations for optimization for gamers.

If you're not ready to experiment with firmware, start with the first three, which don't require root rights and are suitable for beginners. For advanced users, we've prepared a guide to overclocking the Helio G80 and manually configuring the swap file. And at the end of this article, we've got an FAQ that answers to the most common RAM questions on the Redmi Note 8T.

1. Virtual memory (RAM Expansion) – a standard method from Xiaomi

With the release of MIUI 12.5 and newer versions, Xiaomi has added RAM Expansion (aka “Additional Memory” or “Virtual RAM”). This is not a physical increase in RAM, but using part of the internal memory as a buffer for background processes. On the Redmi Note 8T, the function works stably, but there are nuances.

Virtual RAM is created by allocating 1-3 GB from the built-in drive (depending on the model), the system automatically transfers inactive applications to the storage, freeing up physical memory. According to Geekbench 6, multitasking performance increases by 15-25%, but in games the increase is minimal (1-5%).

How to turn on:

1. Open Settings → About the phone and 7 times click on the MIUI version to activate the developer mode.
2. Return to the main settings menu and select Additional settings → Advanced memory settings.
3. Activate the Slider Additional memory and select the volume (recommended 2 GB for balance of speed and free space).
4. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Attention: Virtual RAM It only helps with the background of applications, but does not speed up games or heavy programs, and it also reduces the life of internal storage (especially on models with 64 GB of memory).

To check if the setting worked, install the CPU-Z app and look at the Total RAM bar. If it shows the amount of physical and virtual memory (for example, 4.5 GB at real 3 GB), everything is set up correctly.

System Optimization: How to Free RAM Without Root

Before you try to increase your memory, try to maximize its efficiency. The Redmi Note 8T has an aggressive background cleaning policy out of the box, but you can customize it to your needs. Here are 3 key settings:

Disabling Auto-Run Unnecessary Applications:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select AutoRun and disable it for instant messengers, games, and social media (except those you use daily).

Restriction of background activity:

In the same Application Management menu, tap any application → Battery Limits → Limit background activity. This will prevent programs from running spontaneously.

Customization of animation (speeding up the interface):

Activate the developer mode (as in the previous section), then:

1. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Developer settings.
2. Find the items Window animation scale, transition animation scale and animator duration scale.
3. Set the 0.5x value or Disable for all three parameters.

Disable Auto-Run for 10+ applications |

Limit background activity of messengers |

Reduce the animation of the interface to 0.5x|

Clean the cache manually (Settings) → Memory)-->

These manipulations won’t increase the physical amount of RAM, but they will save up to 30% of memory in everyday tasks, for example, after disabling the autorun of Facebook and Instagram in the background, there is 200-300 MB more free RAM in the background.

3. Use of microSD as an additional RAM (swap file)

If your Redmi Note 8T has a UHS-I (U3) or higher memory card installed, it can be used to create a swap file, a virtual partition where the system will dump unused data, a method that requires root rights but gives a gain of 1-2 GB of conditional memory.

Pre-launch warnings:

• 🔋 The memory card will wear out faster (especially with frequent records).
• ⚡ Swap speed depends on the microSD class – cheap cards will be lags.
• 🛠️ Need root rights (instructions for obtaining - in the next section).

Instructions for creating swap:

1. Install Swap File Creator (or ROEHSOFT RAM-EXPANDER) from Play Market.
2. Open the app and select Create Swap File.
3. Specify the file size (recommended 1024-2048 MB to start with).
4. Select the swap file system and confirm creation.
5. Reboot the phone.

After swap activation, check for free memory in AIDA64 or CPU-Z. Note: swap does not speed up games, but helps when working with a dozen open tabs in the browser or multitasking with office applications.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone starts to warm or brake after setting up swap, turn off the function immediately. This means that the memory card is too slow for such loads.

💡

Before creating a swap file, format a microSD to the exFAT file system, which will reduce card wear by 15-20%.

4. Getting root rights and overclocking the Helio G80 processor

The most radical way to increase productivity is to overclock the MediaTek Helio G80 chipset and manually adjust the kernel, which gives you a 20-40 percent increase in gaming and multitasking, but requires deep modifications to the system.

Step 1: Unlock the bootloader

Xiaomi officially lets you unlock the bootloader, but the process takes 7 days to wait:

Step 2: Install a custom recaveri (TWRP)

Once unlocked, run TWRP Recovery for the Redmi Note 8T (the version must match the device's code name - willow).

fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.7.0_willow.img


fastboot boot twrp-3.7.0_willow.img

Step 3: Install Magisk for root

Download the latest version of Magisk (v26+) and run through TWRP. After the reboot, check root in the Magisk Manager app.

Step 4: Overclocking the processor

To overclock, use the Perseus Kernel or StormBreaker kernel that supports Redmi Note 8T.

• Increase the frequency of the CPU to 2.1 GHz (standard – 2.0 GHz).
• Activate GPU Rendering in the developer settings.
• Turn off Thermal Throttling (but watch out for overheating!).

⚠️ Attention: Overclocking Helio G80 on the Redmi Note 8T It can cause: overheating above 65°C (critical for battery) Artifacts in games (if you exceed 1050 MHz per GPU). Loss of warranty (if phone is on service) Use Coolify or Thermal Paste Mod to control temperature.

5. alternative firmware (Custom ROM) with optimized memory management

The MIUI stock firmware on the Redmi Note 8T is known for its voracious interface, and alternative firmware like LineageOS, Pixel Experience or CrDroid offer:

• 🧹 Pure Android without Xiaomi background processes.
• 🔄 Flexible settings LMK (trial-killing).
• 🎮 Best performance in games (by shutting down) MIUI-optimization).

Top.-3 firmware for the Redmi Note 8T (2026 year):

Installation instructions:

1. Unlock the bootloader (see the previous section).
2. Sweat TWRP Recovery and back up the current firmware.
3. Download firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience) + GApps (if you need Google services).
4. In TWRP, run Wipe → Advanced Wipe (mark Dalvik, Cache, System, Data).
5. Sweep through the firmware, then GApps, then Magisk (if root is needed).

After installation, check the free memory in MemInfo. On the Pixel Experience at the same 3 GB of RAM is available 400-600 MB more than on MIUI, due to the lack of background processes.

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Custom ROM is the best choice for gamers. For example, on CrDroid Redmi Note 8T gives PUBG Mobile 10-15 FPS more than on stock MIUI.

6. Hardware increase of RAM: is it possible?

Unlike a PC, you can't physically replace or add RAM to the Redmi Note 8T. The RAM chip (LPDDR4X) is soldered into the motherboard along with the CPU (MediaTek Helio G80). Any attempts to re-sweeten memory will result in:

• 💥 Phone breakdown (risk of damage to the toll tracks).
• 💰 Costs exceeding the cost of the phone (price of soldering - from 10 000) ₽).
• ⚠️ Loss of warranty (even if it is still valid).

The only “hardware” way is to buy a model with a large amount of RAM. Redmi Note 8T was available in variants:

• 3/32 GB is the weakest, brakes after a year of use.
• 4/64GB is the optimal balance for most tasks.
• 4/128GB is the best choice for gamers and multitasking.

If your model is 3/32GB, consider upgrading to the Redmi Note 10 or POCO X3 Pro (they support virtual RAM up to 3GB and have 6-8GB of physical memory).

FAQ: Frequent questions about RAM on the Redmi Note 8T