Xiaomi has started to slow down: a complete guide to cleaning and optimization

Your Xiaomi has slowed to open apps, scroll through menus, or overheat? These are classic signs of a clogged system. Even powerful models like the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ or POCO F5 lose performance over time due to accumulated digital debris: app cache, remnants of deleted programs, fragmented files and background processes. 80% of the time, the problem is solved without radical measures, just clean the device competently.

In this article, we will look at all the cleaning methods, from standard MIUI tools to hidden features for power users, how to free up memory, disable unnecessary Xiaomi services, and even how to reset correctly if other methods did not work. We will focus on safe methods that do not damage data or disrupt the system.

How to determine the cause of brakes: diagnosis before cleaning

Before you clean a smartphone, it's important to understand what's holding it back. MIUI has built-in diagnostic tools that show you:

  • 📊 Occupation of memory (RAM) — If less than 20% is free, the system begins to slow down».
  • 🗑️ The storage is full, and the storage is more 90%) Read/write speed drops in 2-3 once.
  • 🔥 Overheating of the processor – if the temperature is above 50°C, triggers trottling (forced productivity decline).
  • 📱 Background applications – some programs (such as instant messengers or games) consume resources even when folded.

To check these parameters:

  1. Open Settings → About the phone → System status.
  2. Scroll to the Memory and Warehouse section - occupied space is displayed here.
  3. For more information, click Use of RAM and Storage Analysis.
  4. To see the CPU temperature, install the CPU Monitor app (available on Google Play).
📊 Your Xiaomi is slowing down most often in what situations?
When the games are launched
While scrolling the tape in social networks
When the camera opens
Multitasking (multiple applications at the same time)
Constantly, regardless of the actions

If you see that more than 70% of the memory in the RAM Usage section is occupied by System Processes or Background Services, this is a sign of system clogs, in which case cleaning the cache and disabling unnecessary services will help, and if the problem is in a filled storage (for example, 28 GB out of 30 is occupied), you will have to delete the files or transfer them to the memory card.

⚠️ Note: If the processor temperature is constantly above 60°C even without a load, the problem may be a worn-out battery or thermal paste, in which case cleaning will not help - a diagnosis is required at the service center.

Cleaning of cache and garbage with standard MIUI tools

MIUI has a built-in cleaning tool called Security (the shield icon in the app menu) and it removes:

  • 🧹 Application cache – temporary files that accumulate when using programs.
  • 🗑️ Residual files – “tails” from remote applications.
  • 📁 Unnecessary APK — Program installers that remain after updates.
  • 🔍 Log files are system logs that take up space but are not needed by the user.

How to start cleaning:

  1. Open the Security app (or Optimize in newer versions of MIUI).
  2. Press Cleaning (in some firmware – Deep Cleaning).
  3. Wait for the analysis to be completed (usually 10-30 seconds).
  4. Click Clean and confirm the action.

For more thorough cleaning, go to Settings → Storage → Cleanup. You can manually choose which file types to delete. For example, if you take a lot of photos, it is useful to clear Sketch (miniature images that take up to 1-2 GB).

☑️ Checklist before cleaning

Done: 0 / 4

In MIUI 14 and later, we have Intelligent Cleanup, which automatically deletes unnecessary files once a week. To turn it on, go to Settings → Storage → Auto Cleanup and activate the slider.

Removing unnecessary applications and disabling system services

Many Xiaomi users are faced with the fact that the smartphone has a lot of applications that can not be removed in the standard way, these are so-called bloatware, programs from Xiaomi and partners that take up space and consume resources, these include:

  • 🎵 Mi Music and Mi Video – if you use YouTube Music or Spotify.
  • 📰 Mi Browser – if you prefer Chrome or Firefox.
  • 🛒 GetApps, Mi Pay, Mi Credit – if you don’t use Xiaomi services.
  • 🎮 Game Turbo – If you don’t play mobile games.

To remove or disable these applications:

Method 1: Disconnection through settings

  1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
  2. Select an unneeded app (such as Mi Browser).
  3. Press Disable (if the Remove button is inactive).
  4. Confirm the action. The app will disappear from the menu and stop working in the background.

Method 2: Remove via ADB (for power users)

If you are ready to use a computer, you can completely uninstall system applications using ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

  1. Turn on Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone).
  2. Activate Debugging by USB in Settings → Additional → For developers.
  3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.browser

Replace com.android.browser with the batch name of an unnecessary application (e.g. com.miui.player for Mi Music). The full list of packages can be obtained by adb shell pm list packages.

⚠️ Note: Removing system applications can lead to unstable firmware. Do not remove services called com.android., com.qualcomm. or com.miui.home are critical components of the system.

💡

Before uninstalling applications through ADB, back up to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. This will allow you to restore the system if something goes wrong.

Optimizing Autoboot and Background Processes

One of the main reasons for the brakes is that apps automatically start when you turn on your phone, and many programs (messengers, social media, games) are added to the autoboot and continue to work in the background even when you're not using them, which eats up RAM and battery power.

To turn off autoboot:

  1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
  2. Select an app (like Facebook or AliExpress).
  3. Press Autostart and turn off the slider.
  4. Repeat for all unnecessary programs.

It is also useful to limit background activity:

  1. In the same application management menu, press the Battery.
  2. Choose Background Limitation or Battery Optimization.
  3. Set a limit for applications that don’t have to work in the background (like TikTok or Wildberries).

For more in-depth optimization, use Performance Mode:

  1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Performance Mode.
  2. Choose High Performance (increases performance but reduces battery life) or Balance (optimum for most users).
Regime.Impact on productivityImpact on the batteryRecommendations
Battery savings↓ Reduces the CPU clock frequency↑ Extends working hours to 30%For rare use
Balance= Optimal ratio= Standard flow rateFor everyday tasks
High productivity↑ Maximum frequency CPU/GPU↓ Quick discharge (on the 15-20%)For games and resource-intensive tasks

Cleaning Storage: Deleting Large and Unnecessary Files

If your Xiaomi has 64 or 128 GB of storage, but constantly shows notification Not enough space, the problem lies in hidden large files.

  • 📸 Cash Cameras - Photos and Videos in a Folder DCIM/.thumbnails (may take up 5 GB).
  • 🎬 Downloads - old ones APK, Documents, archives in the Download folder.
  • 🎮 Game data - Genshin Impact cache, PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty (up to) 10-15 GB to play).
  • 📥 Telegram cache – media files from chat rooms (can weigh tens of gigabytes).

How to find and delete these files:

Method 1: Built-in storage analyzer

  1. Open the Settings → Storage → Storage Analysis.
  2. Wait for the scan to be completed (may take 1-2 minutes).
  3. Click on the category (such as Large Files or Downloads).
  4. Mark unnecessary files and click Delete.

Method 2: Manually cleansing through file manager

  1. Open the Files app (or any other file manager, such as Solid Explorer).
  2. Go to the folders: DCIM/.thumbnails — Photo and video sketches. Download - downloads from the browser. Android/data — cache of games and applications. Telegram/Telegram Images - media from Telegram.

Android/data

How to clear Telegram cache without deleting chats?
Open Telegram, go to Settings → Data and Memory → Storage Usage. Here you can select chats and delete downloaded media without touching the messages.

If you are actively using messengers, we recommend setting up autocleaning media:

  • In Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Autodelete media (set 3-7 days).
  • On WhatsApp: Settings → Storage → Storage Management (delete files older than a month).

Resetting to factory settings: when it really needs to

If all previous methods have failed, and Xiaomi is still slowing down, the last resort is a hard reset, which will delete all data, apps and settings, returning the phone to the “out of the box” state.

  • 🐢 The phone's getting stuck on. 5-10 Seconds to open any application.
  • 🔄 Rebooting takes more time 2-3 minute.
  • 📱 The system is not performing any errors like the process of com.android.systemui is stopped.
  • 🗃️ Cleaning and optimization do not work.

How to reset:

  1. Back up important data (photos, contacts, messages) through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
  2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
  3. Select Reset all settings (or Delete all data in new MIUI versions).
  4. Enter a password (if required) and confirm the action.
  5. Wait for the process to be completed (it will take 5-15 minutes).

⚠️ Warning: After resetting, the phone will require resetting, including linking your Mi Account. Make sure you remember your login and password! If you forget your account details, the reset may block the device (activation of Mi Cloud Lock).

If the phone still brakes after reset, the problem may be in the hardware:

  • 🔋 Worn-out battery – when degraded below 70% of capacity, the processor limits performance.
  • 💾 Damaged flash memory – if the phone overheats frequently and “slows down” when writing files.
  • 🔧 Maternal board malfunction - requires diagnosis in the service center.

💡

Factory reset is a last resort, and 90% of the time, cleaning the cache, removing unnecessary applications and optimizing the boot is enough.

Additional Tips for Maintaining Productivity

To prevent your Xiaomi from slowing down in the future, follow these guidelines:

1. Regular firmware updates

Xiaomi is releasing updates not only to add new features, but also to optimize performance.

  1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
  2. Click Check for updates.
  3. If a new version is available, download and install it.

2. Use of lightweight alternatives to standard applications

Some MIUI system applications consume a lot of resources, and replace them with lighter ones:

  • 🌐 Instead of Mi Browser, Chrome Lite or Brave.
  • 📷 Google Camera instead of the standard Camera (for some models).
  • 🎵 Instead of Mi Music — VLC or musicolet.

3. Disable animation and visual effects

The transition animations and MIUI effects look beautiful, but slow down the weak devices to turn them off:

  1. Enable Developer Mode (as described above).
  2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
  3. Find parameters: The scale of the animation window - set off.. The scale of the animation transition - set off.. Duration of the animator - set off..

4. Transfer applications to a memory card

If you have a microSD card, transfer some applications to it:

  1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
  2. Select an app (such as Facebook).
  3. Click Warehouse → Change → Memory Map.

FAQ: Frequent questions about brakes on Xiaomi

My Xiaomi has been slowing down since the MIUI update.
Updates sometimes contain bugs that affect performance.Try: Clear cache through Settings → Warehouse → Clean. Reset application settings to Settings → Annexes → Application management → ⋮ → Reset application settings. If the problem persists, roll back to the previous version. MIUI via Fastboot (instructions are available on the forum) XDA Developers).
Can I clear the cache for a single application without touching the others?
Yes. To do this: Go to Settings → Apps → App Management. Select the app you want (like Instagram). Click Storage → Clear cache. This will delete temporary application files, but will not affect your data (like logins or game saves).
Why do the brakes come back after a few days?
This is normal — cache accumulates again when you use applications. To slow this process: Turn off auto-run unnecessary applications (as described above). Use lighter versions of programs (for example, Facebook Lite instead of regular Facebook). Set automatic cleaning in Settings → Storage → Auto-clean. If the cache accumulates too quickly (for example, 1-2 GB per day), check the phone for viruses using Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light.
Will it help to replace the battery if the phone brakes?
Yes, but only if the brakes are associated with trottling due to overheating. A worn-out battery (capacity below 70%) can cause: Accidental reboots under high load. Decrease in performance due to system constraints. Overheating (as the battery heats up more when it degrades). If the brakes are left behind after the battery replacement, the problem is not with it. Check the CPU boot in Settings → Phone → System Status.
Can Xiaomi be Speeded Up With Root Rights?
Yes, but it's risky. With root access, you can: Delete all system applications (including com.miui.analytics), use Greenify to deep freeze background processes, install a custom core to overclock the processor (like FrancoKernel). However, there are risks: Loss of warranty; MIUI failure (like gestures or the camera) and the ability to "brick" the phone if you're a beginner, you'd better get by without root and use standard optimization methods.