Xiaomi smartphone owners often face aggressive system optimization that can interfere with the normal operation of applications. The energy saving mechanism embedded in the shell of MIUI and HyperOS, seeks to extend battery life, but sometimes does it too hard, as a result of which users notice that messengers do not send notifications on time, and navigators turn off in the middle of the route.
Understanding how to manage these settings becomes critical to making the device comfortable. Forced background stops are the main tool that needs to be reconfigured. In this article, we will explore all the available ways to disable restrictions, from basic switches to hidden engineering menus.
Don't worry that turning off optimization will drain your battery instantly. Modern lithium-polymer batteries are quite efficient, and setting application priorities correctly won't lead to a catastrophic drop in charge. Android is a flexible system that allows the user to decide for themselves which programs are more important: those that save watts or those that do useful work.
Why the system limits the work of applications
MIUI is known for its rigid approach to managing CPU resources, where engineers have developed sophisticated algorithms that analyze user behavior and try to guess what applications they need right now, and if a program isn't in visible interface, the system tends to freeze its activity to keep it charged.
But algorithms don't always work perfectly. Background processes can be mistakenly labeled as malicious or unimportant. This is especially true for email clients, smartwatches, and activity trackers that have to keep a connection to the server all the time. Without proper network and processor access, they just stop functioning.
To make matters worse, settings can be reset once the firmware update is updated, and the user adjusts the phone once, but after the update to the new Android version or shell, all restrictions are returned by default, so it's important to know where the key switches are, so you can quickly get everything back into place.
Basic setting of the energy saving mode
The first step is always to check the main battery menu, and that's where the main switch is, which puts the device into austerity mode, and by default, the phone may be in balanced mode, but sometimes the system switches to economy when it's low.
To access the settings, you need to go to the Settings → Battery menu. At the top of the screen, you will see the current mode of operation. If you activate the Saving Energy or Ultra Saving mode, they should be switched to the standard Balanced mode, the system still applies some restrictions, but they are less aggressive.
The same menu often has an "Optimize" button. Automatic optimization can be useful, but it often closes the applications you need. The best way to manually configure the exception list, which will be discussed below. Don't ignore the "Battery Consumption" section, where you can see which applications consume the most power.
☑️ Checking basic settings
Configure restrictions for individual applications
The most effective way to solve this problem is to customize each application individually, so you can set specific rules for each program you install, and that gives you flexibility: you can let messengers work at all times, and games limit background activity.
In the battery menu, find "App Power Management" or "Application Settings" and you'll see a complete list of installed software, and you can choose from three modes for each item: "No Limits," "Save Charge," or "Strict Limit."
You have to select No Limits mode for all important programs, which includes WhatsApp, Telegram, banking apps, and navigators, and then the system will stop forcibly shutting down their processes, even if the screen is off for a long time.
- 📱 Messengers: Be sure to remove all restrictions for WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber, so that messages arrive instantly.
- 🏦 Banks: Apps like SberBank Online or Tinkoff require a stable connection for push notifications of transactions.
- 🚗 Navigation: Google Maps or Google Navigator must work without interruption, otherwise voice prompts may be silenced.
It's worth noting that the shell versions may have slightly different names, but the logic is the same in HyperOS, but the interface is more minimalist, and if you can't find the right item, search by settings by typing the name of the app.
What is a "Strict Limitation"?
Auto-start and background operation
A separate and very important parameter is autorun control. Unlike standard Android, Xiaomi's shell requires explicit permission to run apps with the system. If an application is not authorized to autorun, it cannot revive after the memory is cleared.
To manage this, go to Settings → Applications → Auto Run. This shows a list of programs that can start automatically. Auto Run permission is the foundation for stable background services. Without this permission, other settings may not work.
Also, remember to check work permits in the background» → «Other permissions" make sure that for mission-critical applications, "Master on top of other applications" and "Run in the background" are enabled.
Sometimes it helps to completely reinstall the problem application after you set the rights, so you can reset any configuration errors that may have accumulated over time, and then immediately set the right energy saving parameters after you reinstall it.
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Tip: Once you set up auto-start, restart your smartphone, ensuring that all new rules come into effect and system services correctly recognize the changes.
Special features and additional settings
In some cases, standard methods are not enough, and you need to interfere with the special features of the system, and here you can find settings that affect the behavior of the interface and background services at a deeper level.
One of the key features is the Advanced Settings in the battery menu, and you can find the Advanced Standby Switch, which allows the screen to stay on the clock longer, and also gives apps more time to complete tasks before going to sleep.
Also, pay attention to sync settings. If you have autosynchronization disabled in your Google or Mi Account account, apps may not update in the background, regardless of battery settings. Check Settings → Accounts and Sync.
For advanced users, you can turn off MIUI optimization through the developer menu, and it's a global setup that changes the behavior of the system as a whole. To get there, you have to click 7 times on the build number in the About Phone section, and then find the "Enable MIUI Optimization" item in the developer menu.
⚠️ Attention: Disabling optimization MIUI Using a developer menu can lead to increased battery consumption and unstable operation of some system functions.
Another important aspect is notification management, where you can prioritize each application at the notification control center, and you can set the "Important" status for those programs that you should not miss notifications from, and you can signal to the system not to block them from displaying them.
Comparison of battery operating modes
Understanding the differences between modes helps make informed decisions, and the table below compares the main modes available on modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones.
| Parameter | Balanced | Saving energy | No restrictions. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor frequency | Dynamic. | Limited. | Maximum |
| Screen brightness | Auto/Full. | Reduced | Complete. |
| Background activity | Moderate. | Minimum | Complete. |
| Vibration and sound | Included | Limited. | Included |
As you can see from the table, the No Limits mode (which is achieved by manual tuning) provides maximum performance but requires charge control. The balanced mode is the middle ground for most users, but requires manually fine-tuning exceptions.
Energy Saving mode is best used only in emergency situations when there is no charger at hand, and in everyday use, it creates more problems than benefits, causing the phone to run slower and skip important calls.
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The ideal configuration is a Balanced System Mode with individually derestricted 5-10 key applications.
Frequent problems and their solution
Even after completing all the settings, users may experience residual problems, such as late or non-receivable notifications at times of bad network signal, which may be related not only to the battery, but also to network settings.
Check if Flight mode or mobile network traffic saving is enabled. Operators can also restrict background data transfers. Make sure that mobile network settings for important applications allow data transfer in the background.
If the problem persists, try resetting your network settings.This won't delete your personal data, but will return your Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile configurations to factory values.The path to reset: Settings → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth.
⚠️ Note: After resetting your network settings, you will need to re-enter passwords from all Wi-Fi networks and re-interface with Bluetooth devices such as headphones or watches.
In rare cases, the firmware version itself may be the culprit. If the problem is massive and affects many users of a particular model, it makes sense to wait for the system update or, conversely, to roll back to the previous stable version.