Xiaomi smartphones are famous for their value for money, but even flagship models like Xiaomi 14 Ultra or the budget Redmi Note 13 face one problem: the battery goes down faster than you would like. The reason is not always a weak battery — more often to blame background processes, unnecessary functions and incorrect settings. In this article, we will analyze what options can be safely disabled to extend the autonomy without sacrificing basic functions.
It's important to understand that not all tips are universal. For example, turning off 5G is relevant for the POCO F5 Pro, but it's pointless for the Redmi 9A, which doesn't support it. We'll take into account the features of different lines and versions of MIUI (12 to 14), and also warn against dangerous actions that can lead to loss of warranty or malfunction. If your smartphone runs out in half a day, after reading this article you can increase your time by 20-50% without buying a powerbank.
1.Autobrightness and adaptive display: hidden energy eaters
The screen is the main consumer of charge in any smartphone, and in Xiaomi it can eat up to 40% of the battery. Even if you manually set the minimum brightness, the system can secretly increase it, because of two functions: autobrightness and adaptive display (in new versions of MIUI called "Adaptive refresh rate").
Autobrightness uses a light sensor that constantly polls the system, and the adaptive display dynamically changes the refresh rate of the screen (from the screen). 60 Hz 120/144 On paper, it saves energy, but in practice, algorithms. MIUI They often make mistakes, making the processor and the graphics accelerator work idly. POCO X6 Pro and Xiaomi 13T, where AMOLED-screens are sensitive to such fluctuations.
- 📱 Turn off autobrightness: Settings → Display. → Brightness → Turn off "Auto-brightness." Set a fixed value at 30 to 40%.
- 🔄 Record the refresh rate: Settings → Display. → Screen refresh rate → Select 60 Hz. On models with LTPO (For example, Xiaomi 14) can leave “Adaptive”, but for most users it is an unnecessary expense.
- 🌓 Use a dark theme: In Settings → Display. → Dark theme, turn it on and set the "Always" schedule. AMOLED-This reduces the consumption of screens by 10-15%.
⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) after switching off the adaptive frequency, the smoothness of the scroll in the MIUI. If it is critical, leave 90 Hz instead of 60 Hz.
2. background activity of applications: how to stop "energy vampires"
Even when you’re not using a smartphone, apps keep running in the background: update data, show notifications, sync. According to Xiaomi, up to 30 percent of battery consumption is due to background processes, especially voracious messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), social networks (TikTok, Instagram), and games with push notifications.
MIUI has two tools to combat this: battery optimization and background restriction, but by default they don't work well, like forgetting to restrict Facebook if you use it often, and you have to manually adjust it.
- 🔋 Enable Strict Optimization: Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery → Select Strict. This will limit background activity for all applications except system applications.
- 🚫 Disallow Auto Start: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Autorun. Turn it off for all social media, games, and unnecessary services.
- 📵 Limit mobile traffic in the background: Settings → Connections → Use of data → Background restriction. This will prevent hidden synchronization. 4G/5G.
| Annex | Typical flow in the background (in 8 hours) | How to limit |
|---|---|---|
| Telegram | 8–12% | Disable "Background Update" in the application settings |
| 10–15% | Prohibit Auto-Run and Notifications | |
| Google Play Services | 5–20% | Restrict through Settings → Applications → Google Play Services → Battery → Limited background |
| Mi Video (pre-installed player) | 3–7% | Delete or disable via Settings → Applications → Disable |
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To find the most voracious apps, go to Settings → Battery → Battery Use and sort the list by descending. Pay attention to apps marked “Background Process” – they should be restricted first.
3. Wireless technologies: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC under control
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC use power even when you’re not using them, such as standby Wi-Fi uses up to 5% of the charge per hour and Bluetooth up to 3%, especially on budget models (Redmi A2, POCO C55), where hardware optimization is weaker than flagships.
Many users mistakenly think that it is enough to turn off Wi-Fi or Bluetooth in the notification panel, but even when the modules are off, they remain active for quick connection, and to completely deactivate them, you need to go to the settings.
- 📶 Turn off Wi-Fi scanning in the background: Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi → Additional settings → Scanning is always available → Shut down.
- 🔵 Deactivate Bluetooth if not using: In the notification panel, hold the Bluetooth icon → Click "Disable." Some firmwares have to go to Settings. → Connections → Bluetooth → Turn it off.
- 💳 Turn it off. NFC: Settings → Connections → NFC → Put the slider to off. This is the only module you need for contactless payments, and the rest of the time it wastes a lot of power.
⚠️ Attention: On models with MIUI 13/14 When you turn off Wi-Fi, you may lose the quick connection function in the settings through the notification panel.
Turn off Wi-Fi scanning in the background|Turn off Bluetooth if not in use|Deactivate NFC|Check if the modem is on (access point)-->
Google geolocation and services: how to reduce their appetite
Geolocation services are one of the biggest invisible energy consumers, and even if you don’t use maps, the system can determine your location for weather, advertising, or system needs, and two components are responsible for this in Xiaomi smartphones: Google services (if installed) and MIUI system services.
According to XDA Developers, using GPS continuously reduces uptime by 15 to 25 percent, and many applications request geodata without real need, such as Mi Browser tracking your location to “improve search” and Mi Fit tracking steps (although an accelerometer would be enough).
- 📍 Turn off precise location search: Settings → Confidentiality → Permits → Location → Precision mode → Select "Only on the network." That will disable GPS, leaving the definition of cell towers (less accurate, but more economical).
- 🔍 Disable geodata for unnecessary applications: In the same menu (Location) click on each application and select "Disable". Leave access only for maps (Google Maps, Yandex.Navigator) and banking applications (if required).
- 🌍 Turn off Google Play (for advanced): If you don’t use Google services, you can turn them off: Settings → Accounts. → Google → Warning: This may disrupt some applications!
What happens if you turn off the GPS completely?
5. Animation and Visual Effects: Beauty vs Autonomy
MIUI is known for its vibrant animations: smooth transitions, unlock effects, dynamic wallpaper. But all of this beauty requires resources. For example, animation when opening applications makes the processor work 5-10% faster, and dynamic wallpapers (especially with paralax effect) can eat up to 5% charge per hour.
In older versions of MIUI (up to 12), animations could be turned off through the developer settings, but in newer firmware, this method stopped working. You'll have to use workarounds. Fortunately, even partial disabling of effects gives a noticeable increase in autonomy.
- 🎨 Set up static wallpaper: Settings → Personalization → Wallpaper. → Choose a static image. Avoid live wallpaper and paralax wallpaper.
- ⚡ Turn off animation in launcher: Clip the empty space on the home screen → Settings → Animation. → Select "No Animation" (not available on all models).
- 🔄 Reduce transition animation time (for advanced): Enable Developer Settings (click 7 times on Version) MIUI In Settings → About the phone, then go to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Speed of animation → Choose. 0.5x or off.
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Turning off animations not only saves battery life, but it also speeds up the interface by 10 to 15 percent, especially on budget models with Snapdragon 4xx or Helio Gxx processors.
6 System and Application Updates: How to Avoid Hidden Boot
Automatic updates to MIUI and apps from Google Play or Mi App Store are another hidden source of battery consumption: When downloading updates, the smartphone not only spends a charge on downloading, but also keeps the processor under load for installation. For example, a 1.5 GB MIUI update can drain the battery by 15-20% in a single cycle.
Worst of all, the system is often updated in the background when you are asleep or not using your phone, and Xiaomi does not always warn you to start downloading, and to avoid unexpected charge drawdowns, you need to manually configure the updates.
- 🔄 Turn off automatic updates MIUI: Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → Settings (⚙️) → Auto-update → Turn it off.
- 📥 Stop background app updates: Go to Settings on Google Play → Network → Auto-update of applications → Select "Do not update automatically." For Mi App Store: Mi App Store → Profile → Settings → Auto-update → Shut down.
- 🕒 Set up updates on schedule: If you want to leave auto updates, limit them to time: Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery → Schedule → Set the interval from 2:00 to 4:00 a.m. (when the phone is usually on charge).
⚠️ Note: If you completely disable the updates MIUI, Remember to manually check them every 1-2 months, and newer versions often fix security vulnerabilities that can be used to hack into a smartphone.
7 Sensors and additional functions: what can be turned off without consequences
Today's Xiaomi smartphones are packed with sensors: accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, compass, barometer. Many of them work constantly, even if you are not using them. For example, the proximity sensor is activated every time you call, and the gyroscope can be turned on for games or games. AR-background.
In addition to sensors, there are other functions that are rarely used, but consume energy: an infrared port (for control of equipment), FM-radio (built into some models), double tap to wake up, and turning them off will add an additional 2 to 5 percent savings.
- 📡 Turn off the infrared port (if you don't use it): → Connections → Infrared port → It's on the Redmi Note. 11/12, POCO X3/X4.
- 🎙️ Deactivate. FM-Radio: Settings → Annexes → Application management → FM-radio → Disable, available on Redmi. 10A, POCO M4 Pro and others.
- ✋ Turn off the wake-up gestures: Settings → Display. → Screen locking → Double touch to wake up → This will prevent accidental switching on of the screen in your pocket.
- 🧭 Limit the operation of sensors: In Settings → Annexes → Permits → Sensors check which applications have access to the accelerometer, gyroscope, etc. Disable access for unnecessary programs.
8.Certor performance and configuration mode
Xiaomi smartphones are in Balanced mode, which tries to find a trade-off between performance and energy savings. However, in practice, this mode often leans towards performance, especially on gaming models (POCO F5, Black Shark), Switching to Battery Savings mode can extend autonomy by 20-30%.
MIUI also has hidden CPU settings that limit maximum CPU frequency, which will reduce performance in games and heavy applications, but significantly reduce battery consumption, and these settings are available through developer settings or special applications like Performance Control (requires root rights).
- ⚡ Switch to Saving Mode: Settings → Battery → Battery mode → Select "Battery Savings." Some firmwares call this item "Super Savings".
- 🔧 Limit background processes: C Settings → For developers → Limiting background processes select "Maximum 2 process".
- 🎮 Turn off the game turbo mode: Settings → Special facilities → Turbo-playing mode → It speeds up games, but it drains the battery 15 to 20 percent faster.
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Battery Saving mode not only reduces consumption, but also disables background synchronization, reduces screen brightness and limits processor performance, ideal for days when there is no outlet nearby.