Increased RAM on Xiaomi Redmi 9A: myths and real ways

Owners of budget smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi 9A often face a lack of free resources when running heavy apps. The interface begins to slow down, games fly to the desktop, and background processes cease to persist. These are classic symptoms of a shortage of RAM, which in the basic version of the device is only 2 or 3 GB.

Many users are looking for ways to physically increase their volume. RAM, But in today's smartphones, it's technically impossible without sophisticated hardware, but there are software optimizations and virtual expansion technologies that allow you to make the most of the hardware. MIUI radicalize.

It is necessary to immediately mark the boundaries of the possible: it is not possible to turn 2 GB into 8 GB software, but it is quite possible to stabilize the system. Next, we will take a detailed look at how the paging mechanism works, whether it is worth using third-party utilities and what risks deep modification of the system hides.

The Reality of Physically Increasing RAM in Smartphones

The first thing to understand is that the architecture of today's mobile devices is very different from older computers. In Xiaomi Redmi 9A, the RAM chips are soldered directly on the motherboard in a single case with the processor, which is designed for compactness and energy efficiency, but makes it impossible to physically replace or add modules at home.

Attempts to sell RAM chips in specialized services often end up with the device failing, since the memory controller is rigidly tied to a specific configuration during production. Even if a technician can solder a more capacious chip, the system may simply not start without flashing the bootloader at the iron level, which is not provided for this model.

⚠️ Attention: Attempts to physically intervene on your smartphone will result in loss of warranty and a high risk of complete failure.

There is a misconception that installing microSD cards can magically turn them into RAM. Although some older versions of Android supported Adoptable Storage, it is designed to expand application storage, not to replace high-speed RAM. The microSD card read speed is not comparable to the speed of internal memory, which will only lead to even greater lags.

Memory Extension in MIUI

Xiaomi has implemented a technology in the MIUI shell that allows you to use part of the embedded storage (ROM) as additional RAM, a feature called Memory Extension or Memory Extension, which works on the principle of a swap file in Windows, creating a buffer for background applications.

Activation of this option is not available on all global firmware at once, but is often present in Chinese versions or can be added through a region change. To check for the availability of the feature, go to the Settings menu → About Phone → MIUI version and click on the build number several times to activate additional developer options if they are hidden.

Once hidden capabilities are activated or if the feature is available by default, the path to setup is as follows: Settings → Advanced Settings → Expanded Memory. Here you can choose the amount of memory you add, usually 1 or 2 GB. The system will require a restart to apply the changes.

It is important to understand that using virtual memory increases the load on the device’s flash memory. Constantly writing and overwriting temporary files can theoretically shorten the life of the drive, although in today’s operating environment this risk is minimal for the average user.

Optimizing the developer settings for Redmi 9A

If the standard memory expansion is not enough, you can try to optimize the existing RAM through the menu for developers, which will not increase the physical volume, but will force the system to more aggressively manage processes, freeing up resources for active tasks.

To enter the menu, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on the MIUI version 7 times. After the message “You became a developer”, a new section will open in advanced settings. We are interested in the item “Limit of background processes”.

Changing this setting limits the number of applications that can run in the background, setting a value of "No background processes" or "No more than 1-2 processes" will free up a significant amount of RAM, but this will lead to the fact that messengers can stop sending notifications instantly, and the music will stop when folded.

Also on the developer menu, you can find the option "Do Not Activity": When you turn on this feature, Android will destroy the app as soon as the user leaves its screen, a radical method that keeps RAM clean, but requires constant restart of applications.

Use of optimization applications

There are many utilities in the Google Play store that promise to increase RAM, most of which work as Task Killers, by shutting down processes, such as Greenify, Files by Google, or the built-in cleaner in MIUI.

Greenify works differently than standard cleaners, not only shutting down processes, but freezing them from running in the background until you open the application yourself, and it's an effective way to save battery life and free up RAM without constant user intervention.

⚠️ Warning: Avoid installing dubious apps with names like «RAM Booster Pro, or Memory Maximizer, often consumes resources and displays intrusive advertising without any real benefit.

Xiaomi’s built-in Security tool also has a memory cleaner feature. Regularly using the Cleanup button in the desktop widget helps reset the cache and complete the hanging processes. However, you shouldn’t rely on it alone, since Android itself can manage memory quite efficiently.

💡

Use the Memory Cleanup widget on your desktop for quick access, faster than searching for the feature in the deep settings menu every time.

Radical methods: Root rights and Swap files

For advanced users willing to risk system stability, there is a method of creating a Swap partition, which requires obtaining superuser rights (Root) through utilities like Magisk, the essence of the method is to create a special file on the internal drive, which the system perceives as additional RAM.

To implement this method, you need to unlock the bootloader of the device. This process is officially authorized by Xiaomi, but requires a wait (usually from 3 to 7 days) and a complete data reset. Once unlocked, custom recaps (TWRP) and root rights are installed.

adb reboot bootloader


fastboot oem unlock

Once root is granted, you can use applications like SWAP No Root (which also works with root) or a script in the terminal. You create a paging file up to 2-4 GB. However, as with the official extension, this puts a high load on memory and can lead to rapid wear and tear.

The main risk here is the possibility of obtaining a brick if you make an error in the unlocking or firmware process, and many banking and cheat-proof games will stop working on a root-enabled device, requiring complex manipulations to hide them.

💡

Getting Root Rights is the only way to actually create a Swap file, but it voids the warranty and reduces data security.

Comparison of methods and final recommendations

To sum up, there is no magic pill to turn the Redmi 9A into a flagship. Each method has its pros and cons, and the choice depends on your technical skills and willingness to compromise.

For most users, the best solution would be a combination of the official memory expansion function (if available) and the right setup of animations, which will give performance gains without the risk of losing data or disrupting the system.

If the device is used as a navigator or media player, aggressive background cleaning is the best choice, and owners who are not afraid to experiment may be advised to explore custom firmware, which often work lighter and faster than stock MIUI.