What is ultra-energy saving and why you need it
The ultra-energy saving mode on Xiaomi smartphones is an emergency feature that allows you to extend the battery life of the device in critical situations. When the battery charge drops to 5-10%, the system automatically suggests activating this mode, but it can be turned on manually at any time. The main task is to turn off all background processes, limit the performance of the processor and leave only basic functions: calls, SMS, hours and several key applications.
Compared to conventional power saving mode, ultra-savings are more aggressive: it not only reduces screen brightness or disables autosynchronization, but completely blocks most Google services, application background activity and even restricts access to mobile Internet for all programs except those selected manually. For example, on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ in this mode, the phone can last up to 36 hours at 5% charge instead of the usual 1-2 hours.
It's important to understand that ultra-savings are not a magic wand, but a trade-off between functionality and time: You can't use social media, play games, or watch videos, but you can be guaranteed to reach a power bank or outlet, which is especially useful when you're traveling, outdoors, or when you can't charge your phone anytime soon.
How to enable ultra-savings on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions
You can activate mode in two ways: through settings or using a quick switch in the notification curtain. Let's look at both options in detail.
Method 1: through the notification curtain
- Swipe your finger down to open the notification panel.
- Find the Battery icon (usually the percentage of charge displayed) and hold it for 1-2 seconds.
- In the menu that appears, select Ultra Energy Savings.
- Confirm activation by clicking Enable.
Method 2: through settings
- Open the Settings app (cog icon).
- Go to the Battery and Performance section.
- Select Battery Mode → Ultra Energy Savings.
- Click Enable and confirm the action.
Save important data (photos, documents) to the cloud
Close all background applications manually
Turn off the mobile internet for unnecessary programs
Add the required applications to the exceptions (see the next section)-->
Once activated, the screen will turn black and white (on some models), the brightness will decrease to a minimum, and the status bar will appear a page icon, the mode indicator. To return everything back, just repeat the same actions and select Turn off.
What applications remain functional in ultra-saving mode
By default, ultra-saving mode only has system functions: calls, SMS, alarm, calculator and clock, but you can manually add up to 5 apps to the exception list.
- Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Mode → Ultra Energy Savings.
- You click Set up applications.
- Select from the list those programs that should remain active (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram, Google Maps).
Important: even the apps added to the exceptions will work with restrictions, for example, Telegram will not automatically download media files, and Google Maps will turn off background location updates. Also note that some programs (for example, banking or encrypted messengers) may require a constant Internet connection and will drain the battery faster.
What happens if you add too many apps to the exceptions?
On some models (such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra or POCO F5), NFC for contactless payments is also available in ultra-saving mode, but only if you have previously added Google Pay or Mi Pay to exceptions.
Differences between ultra-savings and conventional energy saving
Many users confuse ultra-savings with conventional energy saving, but there are fundamental differences between them.
| Parameter | Normal energy saving regime | Ultra energy savings |
|---|---|---|
| Screen brightness | Decrease by 30-40% | Minimum (10-20%) + Black and White Mode |
| Background processes | Limited, but not completely disconnected | Disabled for all applications except for exceptions |
| Mobile Internet | It works for all applications | Blocked for all except hand-selected |
| CPU performance | Decreased by 20-30% | Limited to 1-2 cores at minimum frequency |
| Autonomous time | Increases by 10-20% | Increases 3-5 times (depending on the model) |
Another key difference is automatic power-up: Normal power-saving mode can be set to activate at a certain percentage of charge (e.g., at 20%), and ultra-savings are only turned on manually or when the battery is discharged to 5% or lower.
Never used it.
I only include it in emergency cases (1-2 times a year)
I use it regularly (once a month).
I keep it on all the time.-->
Hidden settings ultra-savings: how to increase the working time even more
Few people know, but in ultra-saving mode, Xiaomi has hidden options that allow you to further optimize battery consumption. These settings are not displayed in the main menu, but they can be activated through Developer Mode or special commands.
Method 1: Disconnect the second SIM-map
If your smartphone supports two SIM-One of these cards can use energy to find the network to turn off the other. SIM ultra-saving:
- Activate ultra-saving mode.
- Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
- Select the second SIM and turn it off.
Method 2: Forced 5G/LTE shutdown
5G and LTE network modules consume significantly more power than 3G or 2G. In ultra-saving mode, you can manually switch to a slower but more economical network:
- Turn on ultra-savings.
- Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Type of network.
- Choose 3G only or 2G only.
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If you urgently need to extend the phone to the maximum, turn off not only mobile Internet, but also Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS. That would give you extra. 10-15% saving.
Method 3: Using ADB commands
For advanced users, there is an option to further restrict background processes through ADB. For example, the command below completely disables all Google Play services, except for critical ones:
adb shell dumpsys deviceidle force-idle⚠️ Note: this method requires developer rights and can cause the phone to run in an unstable manner. Use it only if you understand the risks.
Xiaomi models support ultra-energy savings
Ultra-saving mode is available on most modern Xiaomi smartphones, but its implementation may vary depending on the model and version of MIUI. Below is a list of devices that support this feature:
- 📱 Xiaomi 13/13 Pro/13 Ultra (MIUI 14+)
- 📱 Xiaomi 12/12 Pro/12S Ultra (MIUI 13+)
- 📱 Redmi Note 12 Pro+/Note 12 Pro/Note 12
- 📱 POCO F5/F5 Pro/F4
- 📱 Redmi K60/K60 Pro/K60 Ultra
- 📱 Xiaomi Mi 11/11 Pro/11 Ultra (requires an update to the MIUI 14)
On older models (for example, Redmi Note 10 or Mi 9) instead of full-fledged ultra-savings can be simplified mode Super energy saving, which works on similar principles, but with fewer settings.
To check if your smartphone supports this feature, go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Mode. If there is an option Ultra energy saving, then the function is available.
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On devices with MIUI 14 and later, ultra-savings work more efficiently due to an optimized core system and improved process management.
Frequent Problems and How to Solve Them
Despite the obvious benefits, ultra-savings can be difficult, and here are the most common problems and ways to address them:
Problem 1: The phone doesn’t automatically turn on ultra-savings at 5% charge
Solution: check settings in Settings → Battery and Performance → Automatic Turn on. Make sure Ultra Savings at Low Charge is activated. If not, upgrade MIUI to the latest version.
Problem 2: After the mode was turned on, notifications from messengers disappeared
Solution: Add the apps you want (like WhatsApp or Viber) to the exclusion list as described in the section above, and check if the mobile internet for those apps is disabled in the traffic settings.
Problem 3: The screen is black and white and doesn’t return to color after the mode is turned off
Solution: Reboot your phone. If that doesn't work, go to Settings → Screen → Color scheme and select Standard.
Problem 4: Battery discharges quickly even in ultra-saving mode
Solution: Check which apps are added to the exceptions. Perhaps one of them (like a navigator or a banking app) is actively using GPS or mobile data. Also make sure that Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC are turned off if they are not needed.
⚠️ Warning: If your phone starts to brake or warm up after it's gone from ultra-saving, reboot. In rare cases, process restrictions may persist even after the mode is turned off.