If you own a Xiaomi, Redmi or a smartphone POCO, I’m sure you’ve noticed it in the settings or interface. MIUI Quick Application is a reference to "fast applications." But what is it really about? Why do some programs open instantly and others take longer to load? And most importantly, how does it affect your device's performance?
Many users mistakenly think that Quick Application is just preloaded apps or widgets, but in fact, it works more complicated: it’s part of optimization. MIUI, It speeds up the launch of frequently used services by caching data in RAM, and not all applications support this mode, and some may even conflict with it. Next, we will understand how it works under the hood, what are the pros and cons of the technology, and how to manage it for the maximum benefit.
Quick Application is not a separate application – it is a system function. MIUI, It automatically analyzes your habits (which programs you run more often) and optimizes their performance, for example, instant messengers like WhatsApp or Telegram can open almost instantly if the system recognizes them as “priority.” Uncontrolled use of fast applications can eat up excess RAM, which is critical for budget models with 3-4 GB of RAM.
In this article you will find:
- 🔍 What is Quick Application and how it differs from conventional applications
- ⚡ How to turn on/off fast apps on different Xiaomi models
- ⚖️ Pros and cons of technology: when it is useful, and when it is better to turn it off
- 🛠️ Solving problems if Quick Application slows down your phone or doesn't work
- 📱 List of apps that are better to add to a quick start (and which can not be)
Quick Application on Xiaomi: Technical Explanation
From an architectural perspective MIUI, Quick Application is a mechanism for preloading part of the application data into RAM (RAM). When you click on a program icon, the system doesn't waste time fully initializing from scratch, but rather uses processes that have already been prepared. It's similar to the "hibernation" mode on a PC, but with a key difference: data is not saved to disk, but is held in RAM.
The technology works on the basis of two components:
- Quick-start cache – temporary files that store the state of the application (for example, the latest chats in instant messengers or downloaded thumbnails in the gallery).
- Priority processes — MIUI assigns higher priority to selected apps, keeping them partially active even when closed.
It’s important to understand that not all apps support Quick Application, for example, games or heavy editors (like Adobe Photoshop) are usually excluded from the list because they would take too much memory to preload, while system utilities (Camera, Phone, Messages) almost always work in this mode by default.
How MIUI Determine which programs to add to a quick start-up?
- 📊 Frequency of Use: If you open an app every day, the system will automatically list it.
- ⏱️ Startup time: Slow programs (such as Facebook or Instagram) take priority.
- 🔄 Background activity: Messengers and email clients often remain in “sleep” mode for instant notifications.
⚠️ Note: On smartphones with 4GB of RAM or less, excessive use of Quick Application can lead to forced closure of background processes. If you notice that music or navigator suddenly fly out, check the settings of fast applications.
How to turn Quick Application on or off
Fast App Management Hidden in the Depths of Settings MIUI. The path to the menu may vary depending on the firmware version, but the general logic is maintained. Here is a universal guide for most Xiaomi, Redmi and other models. POCO (relevant MIUI 12–14):
Step 1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
Step 2. Slip on the three points in the top right corner and select Special Access. → Quick App Launch (or Quick App Launch in English).
Step 3. Here you'll see a list of apps with switches. Turn on or off the option for the programs you want.
Open "Settings → Applications → Application Management"
Select “Special access” → Quick launch"
Turn on/off switches for the desired applications
Reboot your phone to apply changes-->
On some devices (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro or POCO F5) The path may be different: Settings → Battery and productivity → Battery management → Quick launch of applications.
If there is no such item in your firmware, it means:
- 📱 You have an outdated version. MIUI (Update the firmware through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system).
- 🔧 The feature is disabled by the manufacturer for your model (relevant for some budget devices like Redmi). A1).
- 🛠️ You use custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS) where Quick Application may not be available.
⚠️ Note: After changing the Quick Application settings, restart your phone. Some changes only take effect after the reboot, especially if you have disabled the quick start for system applications (such as Cameras or Calls).
Pros and cons of Quick Application: Should I use it?
Like any optimization technology, Quick Application has its strengths and weaknesses, and let's take a look at them through some examples.
| Advantages | Deficiencies |
|---|---|
| ⚡ Instantly launch frequently used applications (saving 1-3 seconds on each opening). | 🐢 Increased RAM consumption: 300-500 MB more than without Quick Application. |
| 🔄 Preserving the status of some programs (for example, tabs in the browser are not closed). | 🔋 Increased battery consumption (5-10%) due to background activity. |
| 📱 Better Multitasking: Quick Return to Previous Tasks. | ⚠️ Conflicts with certain applications (e.g, VK Or TikTok can slow down). |
| 🎯 Automatic optimization without manual settings. | 🔧 It is difficult to disable for individual applications on some firmware. |
Who should turn on Quick Application?
- 📱 The owners of flagships (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, POCO F4 GT) 8+ GB RAM - memory will be enough, and the speed of work will increase.
- 💬 Active users of instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber) – notifications will come faster.
- 🎮 Gamers who often switch between games and chat rooms.
Who better turn it off?
- 🔋 Owners of budget models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) from 2-3 GB of RAM – each megabyte counts.
- 🔄 Those who notice self-reboots or drop-offs of applications.
- 🛡️ Paranoid Security: Some Apps Can Save Data in Cache for Longer.
💡
Quick Application is useful for flagships and active users of instant messengers, but can slow down budget smartphones.
What apps should be added to Quick Application (and which ones should not)
Not all programs are equally useful in fast start mode. Some only lose. Here are recommendations by category:
✅ I'll add it:
- 💬 Messengers: Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber – for instant notifications.
- 📞 Calls and contacts: system application Phone and Contacts.
- 📷 Camera: not to miss the moment for a photo.
- 🌐 Browser (Chrome, Mi Browser) – if you open links often.
- 📅 Calendar and Notes (Google Keep, Mi Notes).
❌ Better not add:
- 🎮 Games: PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact – They take up a lot of memory.
- 🎵 Music Players (Spotify, YouTube Music) – background playback works without Quick Application.
- 📺 Video players (MX Player, VLC) — Video caching only clogs memory.
- 🔧 Service utilities (File Manager, Settings) – they already open quickly.
- 📊 Social media (Facebook, Instagram) – often conflict with a quick launch.
A critical nuance: if you use banking applications (SberBank Online, Tinkoff), it is better to keep them OUT of Quick Application. Some banking programs block a quick launch for security reasons (the risk of saving sessions in cache).
How to check which apps are already in fast mode?
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Select any application (such as Telegram).
- See the Memory section. → Quick start. If the option is active, then the program is running in this mode.
Solving problems with Quick Application
Sometimes fast apps start to behave strangely, slowing down, not opening up, or eating up too much memory.
Problem 1: The application does not open after the Quick Application is enabled.
- 🔹 Solution: Clear the app cache in Settings → Annexes → [Title of the annex] → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
- 🔹 If it doesn’t help, turn off the quick start for this app and restart your phone.
Problem 2: The phone slows down after the Quick Application is activated.
- 🔹 Solution: Limit the number of fast applications to 5-7 pieces. Turn off background activity for unnecessary programs in Settings → Battery → Choice of applications.
- 🔹 For devices with 4 GB of RAM, it is better to leave Quick Application only for instant messengers and system utilities.
Problem 3: Fast apps eat up the battery.
- 🔹 Solution: Enable Power Saving Mode for Individual Applications: Settings → Battery → Energy saving for applications.
- 🔹 Turn off quick start for programs you rarely use.
Problem 4: After the update MIUI Quick Application is missing from the settings.
- 🔹 Solution: Reset application settings: Settings → Annexes → Resetting application settings.
- 🔹 If it doesn’t help, check if the function is disabled in Settings. → Additionally. → Laboratory (on some firmware).
What if Quick Application doesn’t work at all?
If none of these methods worked, check to see if you have modified versions of the apps (e.g. Telegram X instead of the official Telegram). MIUI.
Quick Application Alternatives: How to Speed Up Your Phone Without It
If Quick Application is not suitable for your device or you want additional optimization, try these methods:
1. Manual application caching
- 🔹 Enable the option of Locking in memory for important applications: Settings → Annexes → [Name of name] → Additionally. → Locking in memory.
- 🔹 This will force the system to keep the application in RAM even when there is a lack of memory.
2. Use of Lite versions of applications
- 🔹 Install lightweight versions of messengers: Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite, Twitter Lite.
- 🔹 They consume less resources and open faster even without Quick Application.
3. Optimization MIUI manually
- 🔹 Include ultraeconomic mode in Settings → Battery (helps on weak devices).
- 🔹 Disable interface animation: Settings → Additionally. → Developer → The scale of window animation (off.).
4. Third-party utilities for acceleration
- 🔹 Greenify – suspends unnecessary background processes.
- 🔹 SD Maid – Clears cache and junk files that slow down the system.
💡
If your Xiaomi smartphone is slower after the update MIUI, Try rolling back firmware to the previous version. Sometimes new optimizations (including Quick Application) work worse than old ones.