Many users of Xiaomi smartphones are faced with a situation where the device suddenly starts to work slower, applications are unloaded from memory, and interface animations slow down. The main cause of such problems is most often a lack of random access memory (RAM). Owners of budget and mid-budget models are often looking for ways to expand this resource, hoping to return the gadget to its former performance.
It is important to immediately clarify a fundamental point: physically add memory chips to an already assembled smartphone impossible. Unlike personal computers, where you can buy additional RAM, in mobile devices the chips are soldered directly onto the motherboard. However, there are a number of software methods that allow you to optimize the use of the available space or create the illusion of expansion using internal flash memory.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the available methods: from the built-in memory expansion function in MIUI and HyperOS to advanced settings for advanced users. You will learn which methods really work, and which are a marketing ploy or even harm the system.
Physical limitations of smartphone architecture
Before you begin software manipulation, you need to understand the structure of a modern smartphone. RAM type LPDDR4X or LPDDR5 is integrated into the system-on-chip (SoC) or soldered next to the processor to ensure maximum data transfer speed. Any physical intervention would require sophisticated equipment for resoldering chips and changing the configuration of the memory controller, which is neither feasible nor economically feasible at home.
Attempts to find “memory modules for Xiaomi” for sale on the Internet usually lead to fraudulent sites or the sale of useless accessories. Manufacturers specify a specific amount of RAM at the device design stage, and this parameter is a constant characteristic of the model. Understanding this fact will save you from useless expenses and disappointments.
⚠️ Attention: Any services that offer a physical increase in the memory of your phone by resoldering chips are extremely risky. This can lead to complete loss of warranty and failure of the device beyond repair.
However, Xiaomi engineers have implemented software solutions that can partially compensate for the lack of resources. These methods do not turn 4 GB into 8 GB in terms of speed, but they help the system manage multitasking more efficiently.
Physically increasing RAM in smartphones is impossible; all available methods are software optimization or emulation.
Built-in memory expansion function (Memory Extension)
Starting from certain versions shell MIUI 12.5 and in the new HyperOS, Xiaomi has introduced a feature known as “Memory Expansion” or “Virtual RAM”. This technology borrows some of the free space from permanent storage (ROM) and uses it as a page file for RAM.
The principle of operation is similar to the page file in Windows. When physical RAM becomes full, the system automatically moves inactive background processes to a temporary area on flash memory. This allows you to keep more applications open, although the data access speed in this case will be significantly lower than real RAM.
To activate the function, you must go to the settings menu. The path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but usually it looks like this: Settings → About phone → Memory expansion. In some models, the option is located in the section Advanced → Memory expansion.
The system will prompt you to select the amount of virtual memory to add. Typically there are three options available: +2 GB, +3 GB or +4 GB (depending on the total capacity of the built-in storage). After selection, you will need to reboot the device to apply the changes.
- 📱 The function is available on most Redmi and Poco models released after 2021.
- ⚙️ To work, you need at least 10-15 GB of free space in the internal memory.
- 🔄 Activation takes a few minutes and requires mandatory rebooting the smartphone.
- ⚡ The speed of virtual memory is lower than physical memory, but better than completely unloading applications.
It is worth noting that active use of this function may slightly increase wear on the drive due to constant writing and overwriting of temporary files. However, modern memory chips UFS 2.2 and UFS 3.1 have sufficient resource for comfortable use for several years.
Settings for developers and process optimization
A more advanced method of memory management is hidden in the "For Developers" menu. This section is disabled by default, but activating it allows you to fine-tune the system's behavior when there is a lack of resources. Here you can limit the number of background processes, which will free up space for active tasks.
To get to this menu, you need to go to Settings → About phone and quickly click 7 times on the item “MIUI Version” or “OS Version”. After the message “You have become a developer” appears, a new section will appear in the “Advanced” or “Advanced Settings” menu.
Inside the section, find the item Background process limit. By default it is set to "Standard Limit". Changing this setting to "No more than 2 processes" or "No more than 4 processes" will force the system to more aggressively unload excess, freeing up RAM for the current application. This is especially useful on devices with 3-4 GB of memory.
Path to setup: Additional settings → For developers → Background process limitThere is also an option in this menu Do not save actions. If you enable it, the system will not save the active state when switching. This will radically free up memory, but each application opening will be done from scratch, which can increase loading time.
☑️ Developer settings
⚠️ Attention: Do not disable the "Enable information log" option or other system services in the developer menu without understanding their purpose. This can lead to unstable operation of the interface or malfunctions of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Another useful setting is the animation scale. Reducing the Window animation scale, Transition animation scale and Animator duration scale scales to 0.5x will not increase the physical amount of RAM, but will make the interface visually faster and reduce the CPU load when rendering.
Third-party applications and swap file (SWAP)
If the built-in Xiaomi function does not suit you or is missing on your model, you can use third-party software to create a swap partition (SWAP). Applications such as SWAP No Root or KSWAPcreate a special file on a memory card or internal drive that the system uses as an addition to RAM.
The effectiveness of this method directly depends on the speed of your drive. On older class 10 memory cards, creating a SWAP partition can, on the contrary, slow down the phone due to low read/write speeds. On modern built-in drives, the result will be more noticeable.
The setup process is usually simple: download the application, allocate a volume (for example, 2 GB), click “Create” and reboot the device. It is important not to allocate all the free space for the paging file; leave at least 20% of the space for normal operation of the system and application cache.
| Memory type | Read speed (approximately) | Suitability for SWAP | Risk wear |
|---|---|---|---|
| eMMC 5.1 | ~250 MB/s | Low | High |
| UFS 2.2 | ~500 MB/s | Medium | Medium |
| UFS 3.1 | ~2000 MB/s | High | Low |
| MicroSD (Class 10) | ~90 MB/s | Very low | Critical |
Using third-party utilities requires caution. Some of them may conflict with MIUI system memory management mechanisms, causing reboots or freezes.
Why does SWAP on a memory card work poorly?
Memory cards have a significantly lower random access speed (IOPS) compared to internal storage. When the swap file is active, this creates a “bottleneck”, due to which the phone begins to slow down greatly when switching between heavy tasks.
Clearing the cache and managing startup
Often the problem is not a small amount of memory, but its inefficient use. Many applications installed on a smartphone register themselves in startup and hang in the background, consuming precious megabytes. Regular cleaning and prohibiting autorun is an effective way to “free up” RAM without creating virtual partitions.
MIUI has a built-in optimization tool. Click on the "Security" application icon and select Storage & Performance. However, manual control will be more effective. Go to Settings → Applications → Autorun and disable all apps that you do not need immediately after turning on the phone (social networks, games, stores).
It is also worth regularly clearing the cache of heavy applications. Messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp can take up gigabytes of temporary data, which indirectly affects the overall system performance when there is a lack of resources. It is better to do this through the settings of a specific application in the section Storage → Clear cache.
- 🧹 Use the built-in "Security" application for quick cleaning.
- 🚫 Disable autorun for at least 10 unused applications.
- 📉 Check the list of running processes in the multitasking menu.
- 🗑️ Delete the messenger cache once every 1-2 weeks.
⚠️ Attention: The MIUI and HyperOS interface is updated periodically. The location of the AutoPlay or Memory Expansion menu items may change. If you do not find the described paths, use the settings search by entering a keyword in the search bar at the top.
There is a myth that constantly clearing memory through widgets on the desktop is useful. In fact, frequently forcefully unloading processes causes the processor to spend more energy restarting them, which reduces battery life. Clear memory only when you feel a real slowdown.
Disable live wallpaper widgets and complex animations on the home screen. They take up a significant amount of RAM even in the background, especially on budget Redmi models.
Radical measures: reset and custom firmware
If software methods do not give the desired result and the phone continues to work unstable, you can consider more radical options. The first one is a full reset to factory settings. This will remove all accumulated software garbage, erroneous configs and viruses that could “eat up” the memory.
Before resetting, be sure to back up all important data to the Xiaomi cloud or to your computer. The process is performed through the menu Settings → About phone → Reset settings → Delete all data. After this procedure, the device will work as fast as on the first day of purchase, which often solves the problem of lack of RAM due to a clean system.
For advanced users, there is a way to install custom firmware (Custom ROM), such as LineageOS, Pixel Experience or Xiaomi.eu. These versions of Android often lack the heavy Chinese software and Google services that are pre-installed in the stock firmware, which significantly saves RAM.
Warning: Installing custom firmware requires unlocking the bootloader, which will void the warranty and can lead to data loss if an error occurs.Custom kernels (Kernels) also allow you to fine-tune memory management (zRAM, LMK - Low Memory Killer), forcing the system to more aggressively compress data in RAM or unload processes. However, this requires deep knowledge in the field of Android modding.
Full reset is often more effective than any tweakers, as it removes deep-seated system errors accumulated over years of use.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it true that applications for increasing RAM are real work?
Most applications from the Play Market that promise “a 5 GB increase in RAM” are ordinary cache cleaners. They cannot add physical memory. Only those that create a swap file (SWAP) actually work, but their effectiveness is limited by the speed of your flash memory.
Is it harmful to keep memory expansion enabled on Xiaomi all the time?
Moderate use (adding 2-3 GB) is safe for modern drives. However, if you have a very fast phone with enough physical RAM (8 GB or more), enabling this feature may be unnecessary and may even slow it down slightly due to the difference in memory speeds.
Why did the phone start to slow down after enabling the memory expansion?
This can happen if the internal memory is full to capacity. For virtual RAM to work correctly, the system needs a supply of free space. It is also possible that the selected amount is too large for your processor, and it does not have time to process data from the slow swap zone.
Is it possible to increase RAM on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 or older models?
The official "Memory Expansion" feature appeared in MIUI 12.5 Enhanced Edition and newer. On older models that have not officially received this update, the feature may not be available. In this case, only developer settings or a factory reset will help.
Will expanding the memory increase battery life?
No, rather the opposite. Constantly writing and reading data to the page file loads the memory controller and processor, which leads to additional battery consumption. If autonomy is critical and there is enough memory, it is better to disable this option.