How to increase RAM on Xiaomi Redmi 9A: Real ways and life hacks

Xiaomi Redmi 9A — One of the most popular budget smartphones, but its modest 2GB of RAM often becomes a bottleneck when multitasking. If your phone slows down, apps spontaneously close or the system issues a notification “Not enough memory”, do not rush to buy a new gadget. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to increase RAM on Redmi. 9A — From software optimization to hardware modifications, including little-known chips MIUI.

It is important to understand: physically replace RAM in Redmi 9A It's impossible -- the RAM chip is soldered into the motherboard, but there are legal and not-so-too-compliant methods to effectively expand the available memory for applications, and we tested each method on a real device and weeded out myths (like "cache cleaning once an hour"). Only working solutions with detailed instructions, risk warnings and a comparative performance table are included.

We warn you right away: some methods require unlocking the bootloader or root rights, which makes it impossible to guarantee, but even without them, you can free up to 1 GB of additional memory for applications - just follow our optimization recommendations. MIUI Use of hidden functions of Android 10.

1. Optimization MIUI: Hidden settings to release RAM

System system MIUI 12 (and newer versions) on Redmi 9A It has built-in memory management tools that are disabled or hidden by default, and activating them can give you 300-500 MB of free RAM without installing third-party applications.

The first thing you need to do is turn off auto-runs of unnecessary applications.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select AutoRun.
3. Turn off auto-run for all applications except system (e.g. Phone, Messages).

The second step is to activate the performance mode in the laboratory. MIUI:

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → About the phone and 5 times tap on the version MIUI, to enable the developer mode.
• 🔄 Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
• 🚀 Find the Optimization option MIUI and turn it on.
• 📱 In the same menu, activate Memory Fix – this prevents RAM leaks.

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If after optimization the phone began to overheat, disable the option of Windows animation in the developer settings - this will reduce the load on the processor.

The third hidden tool is manual background cleaning. MIUI there is a function of forced cleaning of RAM without closing the active application:

1. Open the notification panel and hold your finger in a free place.
2. Put it on the icon. 🧹 Cleaning (appears after being held).
3. Select Clear Background – this will remove unused processes but save the current application.

2. Virtual RAM: How to add 1-3 GB of RAM due to internal memory

Redmi 9A Supports virtual technology RAM (RAM Expansion, which allows you to use part of the internal drive as RAM, which is officially introduced in the system. MIUI 12.5+ and gives an increase of up to 3 GB of virtual RAM (depending on the free space on the disk).

To activate the virtual RAM:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Memory.
2. Slip on the Expansion. RAM (or virtual RAM newer).
3. Choose the virtual memory capacity: 1 GB, 2 GB or 3 GB (recommended 2 GB for the balance between performance and free space).
4. Confirm and restart the phone.

Important: virtual RAM It works like a swap file in Windows – it is slower than physical memory, but helps to avoid unloading applications from RAM:

• ✅ Ideal for multitasking (e.g., switching between Telegram, YouTube and game).
• ⚠️ It doesn’t help in heavy games (Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile) – you need physical memory.
• ❌ Reduces free disk space (1 GB of virtual space) RAM = 1GB is occupied on the drive).

Clear the app cache in Settings → Memory.

Charge your phone at least 50%

Create a backup copy of important data

Make sure that you have at least 5GB of free disk space.-->

If the option is Extension RAM It is not on the menu, so:

• You have an outdated version. MIUI (Update through Settings → Updating the system).
• Phone does not support function (check model in Settings) → The phone. → The model should be Redmi. 9A with a MediaTek Helio processor G25).

3.Use of SD-Cards as an additional RAM (Adoptable Storage)

Android supports Adoptable Storage, which allows you to format a microSD card as internal memory and use it to caching applications, which indirectly unloads RAM, since some of these applications are stored on the card.

Advantages:

• 📈 Increases the available space for applications (up to 128 GB when using a class card) A2).
• 🔄 Part of the application cache is transferred to SD, lighten.

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ The card becomes “tied” to the phone – it can not be retrieved without losing data.
• ❌ The speed is lower than that of the internal memory (even with the UHS-I map).
• 🔋 Increased battery consumption due to constant operation SD.

Instructions for Adoptable Storage:

1. Insert a microSD card (recommended class) A2 or UHS-I 32GB).
2. When a notification appears, select Set Up → Internal Memory.
3. Confirm the formatting (all data on the map will be deleted!).
4. After formatting, go to Settings → Memory. → SD-map and select Data Transfer.

⚠️ Note: Once activated, Adoptable Storage card cannot be used on other devices without full formatting. Also avoid cheap microSDs - they quickly fail when you write intensively.

To verify effectiveness:

1. Install the CPU Monitor app from Google Play.
2. Run multiple apps (like Chrome) + Instagram + Music).
3. Compare the loading of RAM before and after transferring data to SD.

Rooting and modification of the system: risks and opportunities

If you want to maximize RAM, you can go to radical measures to get root rights and modify system files.

• 🔧 Remove system applications (bloatware) that occupy RAM.
• 📤 Change swappiness settings (setting up the use of the paging file).
• 🔄 Install a custom core with optimized memory management.

However, there are critical risks:

• ❌ Loss of warranty (if the phone is warranty, Xiaomi will refuse repairs).
• ⚠️ The ability to “brick” (turn the phone into a “brick”) when you make an error.
• 🛡️ Vulnerability to malware (root access opens access to system files).

If you are prepared for the risks, follow the instructions:

After rooting, we recommend:

• 🧹 Uninstall system applications via Titanium Backup (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music, Browser).
• 🔧 Change vm.swappiness to 60 (default 100) for more aggressive swap use:

echo 60 > /proc/sys/vm/swappiness

To save the changes after the reboot, add a line to the file. /etc/sysctl.conf.

⚠️ Warning: Do not delete system applications called com.android. or com.miui. this will cause your phone to fail. TWRP.

5. Alternative Methods: What Really Works and What Is a Myth

There are dozens of "advice" on the Internet to increase RAM, but most of them are useless or harmful. 9A And they made a table:

The most effective lifehack without rooting is using Lite applications and turning off background activity.

• 📱 Replace Facebook with Facebook Lite – saving up to 200MB of RAM.
• 💬 In Telegram, turn off Media Autoload in Settings → Data and memory.
• 🎵 On YouTube, use the web version via Chrome with a request for the desktop version (saves up to 150 MB of RAM).

Another little-known trick is to limit processes in the background:

1. Activate the Developer Mode (as described above).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Find the Process Limit option and select Process Maximum 2 in the background.

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The best way to “increase” RAM without risks is a combination of virtual RAM (2 GB) + Lite applications + optimization MIUI. This gives an increase of up to 1 GB of free memory for active tasks.

Hardware modifications: is it possible to solder additional memory?

Theoretically, replacing the RAM chip with Redmi 9A It is possible, but in practice it is:

• 🔧 Requires professional equipment (sweeter station, microscope, BGA-riball).
• 💰 The cost of work exceeds the price of the phone (from 5 000) ₽ service-centre).
• ⚠️ Risk of damage to the motherboard - 70% (according to statistics of repair services).

Technical details:

• Redmi 9A chip LPDDR4X 2GB soldered into MediaTek Helio G25.
• You need a compatible chip to upgrade. LPDDR4X 4GB (such as Samsung) K4U66664A), But it's hard to find at retail.
• After replacement, the modified boot image is required to be firmwareed, as the system may not recognize the new memory capacity.

If you still decide to upgrade, look for masters with experience with Xiaomi on the forums:

• 🔗 4PDA (redmi 9A)
• 🔗 MIUI Superforum

⚠️ Warning: Replacing RAM is warranty-free and can lead to unstable phone performance (overheating, occasional reboots). 90% of the time, it is more profitable to buy a new smartphone with 4 GB of RAM (for example, Redmi). 10A), How to modify Redmi 9A.

7. Method comparison: what to choose for your tasks

The choice of how to increase RAM depends on your goals:

For most users, a combined approach is optimal:

1. Activate the virtual RAM 2GB.
2. Install Lite versions of social networks and instant messengers.
3. Disable auto-run of unnecessary applications.
4. Use Adoptable Storage to transfer cache.

If you want to be stable, just stick to the first two. If you're willing to experiment, add rooting and swap.

FAQ: Frequent questions about increasing RAM on Redmi 9A