How to speed up a Xiaomi phone: a complete guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often experience device slowdowns some time after purchase. This is a natural process: the accumulation of system garbage, background processes and application updates gradually load the processor and RAM. However, the ecosystem MIUI and the new shell HyperOS provide powerful tools to solve these problems without the need for flashing.

In this article we will look at a comprehensive approach to restoring performance. We will touch on both standard cleaning methods available to every user, as well as advanced settings for developers that are hidden from the eyes of the average user. Proper optimization can extend the life of your gadget for several years, making the interface smooth and launching games instantly.

Basic cleaning and application management

The first step should always be a revision of installed apps. Many users forget to uninstall apps they no longer use, but they continue to take up space and consume resources in the background. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications and carefully study the list.

Pay special attention to social networks and instant messengers. Applications such as Telegram or VK grow to gigabyte sizes over time due to the cache of media files. Regularly clearing the cache through the built-in application menu or the “Security” system tool significantly reduces the load on the memory drive.

If you notice that the phone slows down immediately after turning it on, check the startup. The Xiaomi shell has a function for limiting the launch of applications:

• 🚀 Open the "Security" application (shield icon).
• 💾 Go to the "Acceleration" or "Cleaning" section.
• ⚙️ Find the autorun settings and disable everything that is not critical important.
• 🔋 In the “Battery” section, limit background activity for heavy games and services.

The system algorithm MIUI Optimization sometimes can be too aggressive, closing the necessary apps, or, conversely, too soft. Experiment with power saving settings for each application separately, choosing the “No restrictions” mode only for instant messengers, so as not to lose notifications.

Secret settings for developers

For those who want to squeeze maximum smoothness out of animations, there is a “For Developers” menu. To activate it, you need to quickly click on the build number in the About phonesection seven times. After the notification appears, return to the main settings menu and find a new item in the “Advanced” category.

Here we are interested in three parameters that are responsible for the speed of interface rendering: “Window Animation”, “Transition Animation” and “Animation Duration”. By default they are set to 1x. Changing the animation scale by 0.5x or disabling it completely (Off) creates the illusion of instant system operation.

⚠️Attention: Disabling animations completely can make the interface jerky and less visually pleasing. It is recommended to start with a value of 0.5x for a balance between speed and aesthetics.

Also in this menu you should find the “Background processes” item. Set the limit to "No more than 2 processes" if you have little RAM (up to 4 GB). This will prevent the accumulation of “heavy” applications in the background that eat up processor resources.

Optimizing storage and memory operation

The speed of a smartphone directly depends on the free space on the internal storage. When the memory is more than 90% full, the speed of writing and reading data drops significantly, which causes freezes and long loading times. Try to keep at least 10-15% of the total volume free.

Use cloud services or a computer to transfer photos and videos. The built-in Xiaomi gallery can automatically free up space by deleting duplicates already uploaded to the cloud, but this function must be activated manually in the synchronization settings.

For advanced users, the TRIM function is available, which optimizes the operation of flash memory. In modern versions of Android, it works automatically, but you can force optimization via ADB if you connect the phone to a PC:

adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.ACTION_POWER_CONNECTED

This command emulates connecting a charger, which in some firmware triggers background storage optimization processes. However, it is easier to use the standard cleaning tool, which is often ignored by users.

Data type	Impact on speed	Recommended action
Application cache	High (slows down startup)	Clean once a week
.thumbnails files	Medium (slows down the gallery)	Delete via file manager
Download folder	Low (takes up space)	Sort and delete old ones
Remains of deleted games	Medium (fragmentation)	Check manually in Android folders

Disabling advertising and system services

One of the reasons for the system load in Xiaomi shells is built-in advertising and analytics services (MSA). They run in the background, load banners and consume traffic. Disabling these services will not only speed up your phone, but also increase your privacy.

First, disable ad personalization. Go to Settings → Passwords and security → Privacy → Advertising and turn off “Personalized Ads”. Then you need to find the system application msa (MIUI System Ads) in the list of all applications and revoke its permission to access the Internet or completely remove updates, if possible.

It is also worth checking the settings of system applications, such as "Music", "Themes" and "Browser". In each of them, in the settings there is a “Receive recommendations” switch, which is responsible for loading the news feed and advertising blocks. Disabling these options reduces the load on the processor when opening the corresponding apps.

⚠️Attention: The interface and names of menu items may differ depending on the version of MIUI or HyperOS. If you do not find the “msa” item, look for applications called “Advertising Services” or “System Daemon”.

What to do if advertising returns?

Sometimes after a global firmware update, the settings are reset. In this case, the procedure for revoking consent (Authorization & Revocation) must be repeated. You can also use third-party DNS filters, such as AdGuard DNS, in your private DNS settings.

Managing power consumption and overheating

Throttling, or forced reduction of the processor frequency due to overheating, is a common cause of sudden lags. If your phone is hot to the touch, the system automatically slows it down to protect components. Temperature control is critical to maintaining stable performance.

Avoid using heavy applications while charging, especially fast charging. The combination of heat from the processor and battery creates peak temperatures. If you play demanding games, remove the case for better heat dissipation.

In the battery settings, enable Performance mode only when really necessary. In the normal "Balanced" mode, the system better controls heat dissipation. For gaming sessions, use the built-in Game Turbo, which optimizes the allocation of resources for a specific game.

Radical measures: Reset and flashing

If software optimization does not help and the phone continues to slow down even after cleaning, you should consider a full reset to factory settings. This removes all accumulated system junk and configuration file conflicts.

Before performing this procedure, be sure to back up all important data to the cloud or to your computer. Resetting will delete all photos, contacts and apps. It is performed through the menu Settings → About phone → Reset settings → Delete all data.

In extreme cases, when even resetting does not help (for example, if the data partition is damaged), you need to flash the device via a computer using the utility Mi Flash Tool. This is a complex process that requires unlocking the bootloader, which can take from 7 to 15 days of waiting.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Will installing third-party accelerator applications (Clean Master and analogues) help?

In most cases, no. Modern versions of Android and the MIUI shell effectively manage RAM themselves. Third-party “cleaners” often work in the background, consuming resources and displaying advertisements, which only makes the situation worse. It’s better to use the built-in “Security” application.

Why did the phone start to slow down after updating to HyperOS?

After a major update, the system indexes files and optimizes applications in the background. This process can take from several hours to a couple of days. During this period, the phone may heat up and work slower. Give the device time by leaving it connected to the charger overnight.

Is it possible to overclock the processor on Xiaomi for games?

Theoretically, this is possible if you have root access and use special modules, but in practice this is highly not recommended. Overclocking leads to critical overheating, rapid battery wear and unstable system operation. The built-in Game Turbo mode already provides the most secure performance boost.

Does full memory affect Internet speed?

Memory does not have a direct effect on connection speed, but a full drive prevents the browser and applications from saving cache and temporary files. This can lead to long page loads and application crashes when trying to buffer content.