How to increase RAM on Xiaomi phone: from virtual memory to hardware tricks

Your Xiaomi smartphone is starting to slow down, apps are spontaneously shutting down, and games are lag’at even at minimal settings? The reason most often lies in a lack of RAM. Unlike flagships with 12-16 GB of RAM, budget Redmi or POCO models often come with only 3-4 GB, which is catastrophically small for modern tasks. But don’t rush to buy a new phone – there are at least 6 ways to increase RAM on Xiaomi, including official MIUI features and little-known tricks.

In this article, we will discuss:

• 🔧 How to activate a virtual RAM customized MIUI (It works on all Android 11 models.+)
• ⚙️ Optimizing the system to free up memory without losing performance
• 📱 Hardware solutions – from connecting external memory to “deception” of the system through ADB
• ⚠️ Risks and limitations of each method (including test data on the Redmi Note 12 and the following: POCO X5 Pro)

Importantly, not all methods are equally effective. For example, virtual RAM only gives a 10-15% increase in synthetic tests (according to GSMArena), but it can save the situation when multitasking. But hardware modifications require root rights and can lead to a loss of warranty. We will honestly tell you what works and what is a marketing ploy.

1. Virtual RAM in MIUI: how to enable and how effective it is

With the release of MIUI 12.5 (based on Android 11), Xiaomi added the RAM expansion feature due to internal memory. In fact, the system reserves 1-3 GB of internal storage for cache, simulating additional RAM. This is not full RAM, but helps to keep in the background 2-3 applications more.

How to activate:

1. Open Settings → About the phone and 7 times click on the MIUI version to enable Developer Mode.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → Advanced settings → Memory.
3. Select RAM Extension (or Virtual RAM in newer versions).
4. Set the value from 1 to 3 GB (maximum depends on the model and version of MIUI).
5. Reset the device.

📊 Test results (conducted on Redmi Note) 11 Pro+ 8/128 GB):

⚠️ Attention: Virtual RAM It reduces internal memory and increases wear and tear on the flash drive (especially on cheap eMMC models.

2. MIUI optimization: freeing up RAM without additional gigabytes

Before you build up your memory, try to free up your existing memory. MIUI is known for its voracious interface, but some of the features can be turned off:

• 🚫 Turn off animation: Go to Settings → Special facilities → Delete the animations. This will speed up the switch between applications by 20-30%.
• 🧹 Clear the cache. MIUI: B Settings → Annexes → App management find Launcher, Security and MIUI System, then click Clear Cache.
• ❄️ Freeze Unnecessary Services: With the Help of ADB disable com.miui.analytics, com.xiaomi.midrop and other background processes (a list for your model can be found on the website of the website). 4PDA).

🔍 Hidden function: B MIUI 14+ There's an undocumented Ultra Battery Saver mode that forcibly restricts background activity## → Usage statistics → Force stop background apps.

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If you still don't have enough free memory after optimizing, check for leaks. For example, Facebook and TikTok can eat up to 1 GB of RAM in the background even after closing.

3.Use of external memory as RAM (root only)

On older Xiaomi models (before the Redmi Note 9) it was possible to emulate RAM via microSD or OTG-Now, this method only works on hardened root devices with a swap-enabled kernel.

Instructions for advanced users:

1. Install Magisk and Swap Enabler.
2. Connect. OTG-storage device (preferably) USB 3.0 with high read/write speed).
3. At the terminal, run su swapon /dev/block/sda1 (where sda1 is your drive partition).
4. Add a line to /etc/fstab for automatic mounting.

⚠️ Note: Using swap on a microSD reduces its lifespan by 3-5 times due to constant overwriting. USB-storage TLC-chips (e.g. SanDisk Ultra Fit).

⚠️ Limitations:

• 🐢 The speed of swap on external media is 10–50 times lower than that of real RAM.
• 🔋 Increases battery consumption by 15-25% due to constant I/O operations.
• 🚨 Risk of data loss in sudden withdrawal of the drive.

4. System cheating: changing RAM parameters through ADB

There is a way to trick Android into showing more RAM than it actually is. This doesn’t add physical memory, but some apps (like games) can start to run more stable, “thinking” that there are enough resources.

How to do this:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and activate USB Debugging in Settings → For Developers.
2. In the command line, execute: adb shell su setprop ro.config.low_ram false setprop dalvik.vm.heapsize 512m
3. For a permanent effect, add lines to /system/build.prop.

📌 What does it mean:

• ✅ Some games (Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile) stop giving the error "Not enough memory».
• ✅ Chrome and YouTube are less likely to reload tabs.

❌ Cons:

• 🔄 With a real lack of RAM, the system will begin to aggressively kill processes.
• 🔧 After updating MIUI setup.

5. Hardware modifications: soldering of chips and replacement of motherboard

For the most desperate, there's a radical way to physically augment RAM by replacing memory chips, which is complicated, expensive and insecure, but theoretically possible on some models.

🔧 How it works:

1. Find a donor motherboard with a large amount of RAM (for example, from the Redmi Note 11 Pro 8/256 GB for the Redmi Note 11 6/128 GB).
2. With the help of the soldering station replace the chips LPDDR4X (equipment is required BGA-rations).
3. You're stitching a modified one. EDL-file with correct memory parameters.

💰 Cost and risk:

⚠️ Attention: Starting with Snapdragon 7xx RAM and CPU chips are often integrated into a single packet (SoC) and Dimensity chips (POCO F4, Xiaomi 12T) It is technically impossible without replacing the entire chipset.

6. Alternative solutions: when to increase RAM can not

If none of these methods are suitable, consider alternatives:

• 🔄 Cloud Rendering: Services Like GeForce NOW Xbox Cloud Gaming allows you to play heavy games on weak devices using a remote server.
• 📱 Lightweight versions of applications: Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite, YouTube Go consume 2-3 times less RAM.
• ⚡ Performance mode: C Settings → Battery → Select High Performance Modes (increases CPU clock speed but reduces battery life).

📊 Comparison of methods for efficiency:

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The most balanced approach is a combination of virtual RAM (1-2 GB) + MIUI optimization, which gives performance gains of up to 20% without risk.

FAQ: Frequent questions about increasing RAM on Xiaomi