Xiaomi phone slows down and lags: what to do in 2026?

Is your Xiaomi slow to open apps, hang around scrolling or suddenly “thinking” in the middle of a game, POCO Mi after 1-2 years of use, and the reasons can be either overloaded memory or firmware errors. MIUI or even hardware problems.

In this article, we will discuss 10 Proven ways to speed up Xiaomi - from basic (cleaning the cache, turning off animations) to advanced (reset to factory settings, flashing» MIUI 14/15, We're going to show you how to get around them without rooting. 2020–2026 years, including the Redmi Note 12/13, POCO X5/F5 Xiaomi 13/14.

Before you start settings, answer the question: brakes appeared suddenly (after updating or installing the application) or gradually (smartphone “ages”)?

1.Diagnostics: Why is Xiaomi slowing down?

The first step is to determine the source of the brakes. MIUI There are built-in tools for performance analysis:

1. Checking CPU boot: Go to Settings → The phone. → Status of the system → If the schedule is constantly “clogged” by 80-100% without active tasks, the problem is in the background process or virus.
2. Memory analysis: In the same menu, see Memory. If less than 1-1.5 GB is free, the system forcibly closes applications, which causes hang-ups.
3. Storage Speed Test: Install the App A1 SD Bench (free on Google Play) If the read speed is below 100MB/s, the drive may be worn out (relevant for budget models with eMMC).

The typical “culprits” of the brakes on Xiaomi:

• 🧹 Cache scored (especially in the MIUI Launcher and Google Play Services).
• 📱 MIUI-Bloatware: Pre-installed apps (Mi Video, Mi Browser, GetApps) consume resources in the background.
• 🔋 Energy Saving Mode: Aggressive Optimization MIUI It kills processes, causing applications to reboot.
• 🛠️ Firmware errors: bugs in MIUI 14/15 (For example, memory leakage in miui.analytics).
• 💥 Depreciation of the drive: cheap eMMC memory in Redmi 9/10 degrade 1–2 years of active use.

If the brakes appeared after the update MIUI, Check the reviews on the forums (for example, 4PDA Xiaomi Community – the problem is probably massive and has already been fixed in the next version.

System Cleanup: Cache, Garbage and Unnecessary Files

Start with basic cleaning -- it helps 60 percent of the time. MIUI There's a built-in tool, but it doesn't remove everything:

Clearing the application cache

Cache speeds up the software, but it grows over time to gigabytes, so it can be cleaned without deleting the data.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner → Sort by size.
3. Select cache apps > 100 MB (e.g. YouTube, Telegram, MIUI Launcher) → Clear the cache.

Use for mass cleaning SD Maid (requires root) or Files by Google (free):

• 📁 Open Files by Google → purification.
• 🗑️ Select App Cache and Downloads (remove unnecessary files).
• 🔍 Press Free Place.

System debris disposal

MIUI creates temporary files that are not always deleted automatically:

1. Install CCleaner or AVG Cleaner (free versions are sufficient).
2. Start a Deep Cleanup (not to be confused with Quick!).
3. Remove files from Residual Files and Empty Folders.

⚠️ Warning: Don't use Optimization features in cleaners - they often kill useful processes.

3. Disconnection MIUI-blobate and background processes

Xiaomi is known for its abundance of pre-installed apps (bloats) that can’t be removed without root rights, but can be disabled to keep them from consuming resources:

3.1 Disabling unnecessary system applications

List of the most “gluttonous” services MIUI:

To disable:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the app from the list above → Deactivate (not “Delete»!).
3. Confirm the action. The app will disappear from the menu and stop working.

Restriction of background activity

MIUI It aggressively optimizes the background, but sometimes it backfires, and it's constantly rebooting applications to balance things out:

1. Open Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Management
2. Select Application Choices → Find the right application (for example, Telegram).
3. Set the No Limits mode (for messengers) or the Intellectual Limit (for others).

⚠️ Please note: Do not disable optimization for Google Play Services and MIUI System – This can cause system failures.

💡

If after disabling the bloat phone began to work faster, but the function (for example, themes) disappeared, return the application via Settings. → Annexes → Show off.

4. Optimization of animation and interface

MIUI It uses a lot of animations that are visually beautiful but slow down weak processors (e.g. Redmi). 9A or POCO M3). You can turn them off through the developer mode:

Initiation of the developer mode

Activates like this:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the line version MIUI (A notification will appear saying, “You have become a developer»).
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.

4.2. Disable animations

In the Developer Menu, find:

• 🔄 Window animation scale → install animations disabled.
• 🔄 Transition animation scale → Animation disabled.
• 🔄 The length of the animator → Animation disabled.

It is also recommended that:

• 🎨 Disable Wallpaper Animation (in Settings) → Wallpaper).
• 📱 Install a lightweight launcher (like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair) instead of the standard launcher MIUI Launcher.

These changes will make the interface instantaneous, but visually less fluid. If you care about beauty, leave the animations, but reduce their duration to less than a few hours. 0.5x.

💡

Disabling animations gives an increase in speed to 20% on weak smartphones (Snapdragon) 4xx/6xx), It has little effect on the flagships (Snapdragon). 8 Gen 2/3).

5. Reset to factory settings: when and how to do

If previous methods didn't work, and the phone slows down noticeably even after cleaning, it's time to consider a hard reset, which will delete all the data, but return the performance to the factory state.

5.1. When do you need a reset?

Reset if:

• 🐢 The phone is slowing down even in the settings menu.
• 📉 After updating MIUI There were permanent lags.
• 🔄 Cleaning the cache and disabling the bloat did not give results.
• 🦠 There is a suspicion of a virus (for example, advertising in the status bar).

Step-by-step instructions

Before discharge, it is mandatory:

1. Save photos, contacts and files to Google Drive or computer.
2. Write down the logins/passwords from the accounts (they will erase!).
3. Make sure you know the data from the Mi Account (required to unlock after reset).

The dump itself:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose to erase all data.
3. Enter your password (if any) and confirm.
4. Wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

After discharge:

• 🔄 Do not restore data from backup MIUI — It can contain garbage.
• 📱 Install applications gradually, watching the performance.
• ⚙️ Disable unnecessary services immediately (see Section 3).

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi Note) 8/9) After reset, you may need to unlock the bootloader via the Mi Unlock Tool. make sure you have access to the Mi Account tied to the phone!

6 Advanced methods: firmware and software replacement

If the reset didn't help, the problem could be the firmware. Xiaomi often releases bug updates, especially in Global versions. MIUI. Let's look at two options:

Update MIUI last-minute

Check the relevance of the firmware:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. If you have an update, download it and install it.
3. After installation, perform a cache reset (Settings) → Memory. → Clear the cache).

If the update does not come automatically:

• 🌍 Check the firmware region: Settings → Additionally. → For Russia, choose Russia or Global.
• 🔄 Forced to check for updates via Mi Community or Xiaomi Firmware Updater (Xiaomifirmwareupdater.com).

Installation of custom firmware (for experienced)

If official MIUI brakes, you can set:

• 📱 MIUI EU (European version without bloat).
• 🤖 LineageOS or Pixel Experience (Pure Android).
• 🔥 Custom ROM (For example, ArrowOS or HavocOS).

⚠️ Note: To install custom firmware will be required:

1. Unlock Bootloader (via Mi Unlock Tool, requires a wait of 7-15 days).
2. Install TWRP Recovery (Castom Recovery)
3. Make a backup NANDroid (full copy of the system).

Instructions for firmware look for on 4PDA or XDA Developers are specific to your model! The wrong firmware can turn your phone into a 'brick».

7. Hardware problems: when the "iron" is to blame

If the software didn't work, the brakes could be caused by the hardware.

7.1. Depreciation of the drive (eMMC/UFS)

Xiaomi budget models (Redmi) 8/9, POCO M2) They are equipped with cheap eMMC memory, which degrades after the 1–2 years of active use:

• 🐢 Slow download of applications (even after resetting).
• 💾 Errors when writing files (for example, photos are not saved).
• 🔄 The phone freezes for 10 to 30 seconds for no reason.

Check the health of the drive through the DiskInfo application (shows) S.M.A.R.T.-If the value of Reallocated Sector Count > 10 – memory is worn out, and its replacement will cost almost the cost of the phone.

Overheating and trottling

Xiaomi often saves on cooling, which causes the processor to trottlit (reduces frequency) when heated.

• 🌡️ Install. CPU Monitor AIDA64 Look at the temperature of the processor under load.
• 🔥 If the temperature > 70°C - remove the case, clean the charging connector from dust (it blocks the heat sink).
• 📉 B Settings → Battery → Select Balance Mode instead of Performance.

Discharged battery

If the battery is worn out (Battery Health) < 80% in AccuBattery, the phone can arbitrarily limit performance to save charge:

• 🔋 Replace the battery (cost) ~1500–3000 ₽ service-centre).
• ⚡ Turn off the Adaptive Battery in Settings → Battery.

If none of the methods worked, it may be the processor’s fault (e.g., the Snapdragon defect). 660/665 Redmi Note 8/9) Or RAM, and in that case, you just have to sell the phone or use it for easy tasks.

FAQ: Frequent questions about brakes on Xiaomi