How to speed up games on Xiaomi: what can be removed without harming the system

Xiaomi smartphones are one of the most popular devices for mobile gaming due to the powerful hardware and optimized firmware MIUI. However, even on flagships like Xiaomi 13 Ultra or POCO F5, games begin to “brake”, hang or give a low FPS. The reason most often lies not in a weak processor, but in clogged memory, background software and incorrect system settings.

In this article, we’ll look at what you can remove on Xiaomi to free up resources for games without breaking the system. We won’t recommend radical measures like a full reset or root rights — only safe and proven methods that work on all models (from budget Redmi Notes to top Mis), and you’ll learn which system processes can be turned off and which ones should not be touched, so as not to lose functionality.

Important: All instructions are current for MIUI 12/13/14 and HyperOS (2023-2026). If you have an older firmware version, update it first through Settings → About Phone → System Update.

Why Games Are Slowing Down on Xiaomi: The Main Reasons

Before you delete something, you need to understand what is eating up performance. On Xiaomi (as on other Android devices), games can be laid because of:

• 📱 Overloaded memory: game cache, temporary files, remnants of remote applications take up space and slow down reading / writing.
• 🔄 Background processes: MIUI Likes to keep in mind unnecessary services (e.g. com.miui.analytics or com.xiaomi.market).
• 🔋 Thermal trottling: If the phone overheats, the processor automatically lowers the frequency, leading to a drawdown FPS.
• 🎮 Unoptimized graphics settings: Many games default to high quality, although the smartphone doesn’t physically pull it without lags.
• 📶 Weak Internet: In online games (for example, PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty: Mobile ping above 100ms causes delays.

The most common user error is to delete everything through the “Cleanup” in MIUI. This not only does not help, but can also delete important data (for example, saving games).

What can be removed on Xiaomi without harming the system

So, to start with, the safest thing is manual garbage removal, which doesn't affect the system, but it takes up space and slows down the smartphone.

1.Cash of games and applications

Cache is a temporary file that creates games and programs for fast downloads, and over time, it grows to gigabytes, for example, Genshin Impact can accumulate up to 5-7 GB of cache, and Free Fire can accumulate up to 2-3 GB.

How to clean:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select a game (e.g. PUBG Mobile) → Storage → Clear cache.
3. For mass cleaning, use Settings → Storage → Cleanup → Cache of applications.

💡

Do not clear the cache through third-party cleaners (such as CCleaner or SD Maid) and often delete important files, which causes games to take longer to load or give out errors.

2. Unnecessary APKs and Remnants of Remote Applications

When removing programs through MIUI Often there are “tails” – folders with data and APK-files can be found and deleted manually.

Where to look:

• 📁 folder /sdcard/Android/obb/ — This is where you store additional game data (e.g., textures for Call of Duty) and only delete folders that you deleted long ago.
• 📁 folder /sdcard/Android/data/ — If you delete the game, but the folder with its data is still there, you can clean it.
• 📁 folder /sdcard/Download/ — There are often old ones here. APK-file.

Outdated. APK download|Remote game folders in /Android/obb/|Cache of unused applications|Data residues in /Android/data/-->

3. System debris and log files

MIUI creates many service files that take up space over time, and can be deleted through built-in tools.

1. Go to Settings → Storage → Cleaning.
2. Choose Deep Cleaning and Mark: 🗑️ Unnecessary files (log files, temporary data). 📄 Downloads (if there are no important files). 🔍 Remains of annexes.

Clean up

Do not delete:

• ❌ Application data (this is game saving!).
• ❌ System updates (can break firmware).

What System Applications Can Be Disabled to Speed Up Games

MIUI is known for imposing a lot of background services that eat up RAM, some of which can be turned off or frozen to free up resources for gaming. Important: don't delete system applications completely (this requires root rights and can break your phone).

List of safe applications to disable:

How to turn it off:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Show all the processes.
3. Find the application from the table above → Disable.

⚠️ Warning: Do not disable processes called mediaserver, android.process.acore or com.qualcomm... this can lead to loss of communication, sound or complete system collapse.

Optimizing MIUI settings for gaming

Even after cleaning up the garbage, games can be slowed down due to incorrect system settings. MIUI There are hidden features that help speed up productivity.

Activation of the performance mode

The new versions of MIUI and HyperOS have a special game mode that optimizes resources for games:

1. Open Settings → Special Opportunities → Performance Mode.
2. Choose Game Mode or Maximum Performance.
3. Activate the optimisation option for games.

2. Disable animation and visual effects

The beautiful transitions and animations in MIUI eat up the CPU resources.

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Set: Window animation scale → Disable. Transition animation scale → Disable. Animation duration → 0x.

3. Customizing graphics in games

Many games (like Genshin Impact or Honor of Kings) automatically choose high graphics settings that Xiaomi doesn't always pull without lags.

To change the graphics settings:

1. Start the game and open the settings menu.
2. Choose Graphics or Quality.
3. Set the values from the table above.

💡

On Xiaomi with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor (like Xiaomi 13), you can turn on 120 FPS in most games, but only when connected to charging – otherwise the phone will quickly run out of power.

How to Prevent Your Phone From Overheating During Play

One of the main reasons for FPS drawdown is thermal trottling, where the processor reduces frequency due to overheating, especially on Xiaomi because of its compact housings and weak cooling system (except Black Shark).

Ways to reduce heat:

• ❄️ Use a cooling case or stand (e.g. Black Shark FunCooler).
• 🔌 Play on charging (but don't use fast charging - it's better to limit to 18W).
• 🌡️ Turn off background processes through Settings → Battery → Energy saving regime → Choice of applications.
• 📴 Reduce the brightness of the screen to 50–70%.

If the phone is still overheating, check the thermal paste (relevant for devices older than 2 years). On Xiaomi, it can be replaced yourself - you need to:

• T3/T4 screwdriver.
• Thermopaste Arctic MX-4 or Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut.
• Plastic blade for a careful opening of the body.

⚠️ Warning: When replacing thermopaste, do not use metal tools - they can damage the battery plumes or display. If you are not sure about your abilities, contact the service center.

Additional ways to speed up games on Xiaomi

If after all the manipulations, the game is still slowing down, try these methods:

1.Use of Game Turbo

Game Turbo is Xiaomi’s proprietary game optimization utility that automatically closes the background processes and allocates resources.

How to turn on:

1. Open Settings → Special features → Game Turbo
2. Add the game to the list.
3. Activate options: 🎯 Optimization FPS. 📵 Blocking notifications. 🔋 Energy saving (disables background tasks).

2. Update of graphics drivers

On Xiaomi with Qualcomm processors (e.g. Snapdragon 888/8 Gen 1/2), you can update Adreno drivers for better performance:

1. Download the latest version of drivers from the official Qualcomm website.
2. Install it through ADB (instruction below).

adb devices


adb shell




su




dd if=/sdcard/Download/adreno_drivers.img of=/vendor/firmware/adreno.a630.zap

Warning: This method requires an unlocked bootloader and root rights. Without experience, it is better not to take risks!

3. factory reset (extreme case)

If nothing works, try a full reset, which will delete all the data, but return the phone to a "clean" state.

How to do this:

1. Save important data (photos, game saves).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select Delete all data.

💡

After reset, don't restore the data from the MIUI backup, it will bring all the garbage back.

FAQ: Frequent questions about speeding up games on Xiaomi