Ultra-Energy Savings in MIUI 12: A Complete Guide for Xiaomi Owners

The function of ultra-energy saving in firmware MIUI 12 was one of the key innovations for Xiaomi smartphones aimed at maximum autonomy prolongation.In the conditions of heavy use of gadgets, the issue of battery storage is especially acute - and the manufacturer proposed a radical solution: A mode that literally freezes all unnecessary processes, leaving only basic communication functions and emergency notifications.

But how does it work? What applications and services does it turn off and what does it keep active? And most importantly, should it be used all the time, or only in critical situations when the charge is running out? In this guide, we will go into detail all aspects of ultra-economy in the world of energy. MIUI 12, including hidden settings, limitations and life hacks to optimize energy consumption.

Note that despite the external simplicity, the feature has a number of nuances, from non-obvious activation triggers to conflicts with some system applications, POCO X3, Mi 10 or other model on the MIUI 12 – This article will help you get the most out of ultra-economy without losing functionality.

What is the ultra-energy saving in MIUI 12 and how it works

The Ultra Battery Saver (Ultra Battery Saver) MIUI 12 is not just another β€œsaving regime”, but a radical measure to reduce energy consumption. Unlike the standard battery mode, which only limits background activity, ultra-savings completely blocks all applications except those selected by the user, and also disables most system services, including the use of the battery:

  • πŸ”„ Automatic account synchronization (Google, Mi Account, etc.)
  • πŸ“Ά Background updates for weather, news and widgets
  • 🎡 Multimedia playback in the background (except for selected applications)
  • πŸ” File indexing and system search
  • πŸ“Š Application Analytics (Digital Wellbeing)

When the system is activated MIUI 12 goes into a state close to "emergency": is turned off AOD (Always On Display, processor frequency decreases and screen brightness is kept at a minimum, but the key difference from similar features in other firmware is the flexible setting of exceptions. Users can manually add up to 8 apps that will remain active even in ultra-saving mode (e.g. messengers or navigators).

It's important to understand that the mode not only "cuts" functionality, but switches the smartphone to a mode of minimal functionality, comparable to the feature-phone. 9 Pro when activating ultraeconomy is even turned off NFC Bluetooth, if not in use at the moment, which allows you to extend the autonomy of the system. 20-30% compared to the standard cost savings regime.

πŸ“Š How often do you use the ultra-savings regime?
Only when the charge is below 10%.
Regularly to extend autonomy
Never tried.
Disconnected after the first use

How to Incorporate Ultra Energy Savings on Xiaomi MIUI 12

You can activate the mode in two ways: manually through settings or automatically when you reach a critical charge level.

Method 1: Manual activation

To enable ultra-savings manually:

  1. Open Settings β†’ Battery and Performance.
  2. Put it on Battery Mode.
  3. Choose Ultraeconomy.
  4. Click Enable and confirm the action.

Once activated, the system will prompt you to select apps that will remain active: by default, this is Phone, Messages and Contacts. You can add up to 5 additional apps (for example, WhatsApp or Google Maps).

β˜‘οΈ Preparation for activation of ultra-economy

Done: 0 / 4

Method 2: Automatic activation

The system can enable ultra-savings automatically when the charge drops below a predetermined threshold, to adjust this:

  1. Go to Settings. β†’ Battery β†’ Battery mode β†’ Ultra-economics settings.
  2. Activate the switch automatically on at low charge.
  3. Set a threshold (default: 5%).

⚠️ Note: When auto-activating ultra-economy, some applications (e.g., banking or messengers with two-factor authentication) may stop sending push notifications.

In some models (for example, POCO F2 Pro) is available option Aggressive ultra-economy, which disables even mobile data transmission, leaving only calls and SMS. This option is useful on trips when you need to save charge for emergency communication.

What apps and functions are turned off in ultra-economic mode

The ultra-economic regime in MIUI 12 blocks most background processes, but some limitations may not be obvious. Below is a complete list of features and services that are disabled:

CategoryWhat's off?Exceptions
ConnectionMobile data for background applications, VoLTE/VoWiFi (on some models)Calls, SMS, messenger-select
Multimedia.Background music/video playback, downloading media filesLocal playback in selected applications
SynchronizationAutosynchronization of accounts, backup, cloud servicesManual synchronization on request
System servicesOptimization MIUI, analytics of use, updating widgetsBasic system processes (telephony, GPS)
Hardware modulesNFC, Bluetooth (if not used), proximity sensorGPS (Works in selected applications)

Special attention should be paid to push notifications: in ultra-saving mode, they may come with a delay or not at all, unless the application is added to the exceptions, for example, notifications from Viber or Telegram will be blocked until you manually open the messenger.

Another nuance is geolocation. GPS remains available for selected applications (e.g. Google Maps), location accuracy may be reduced due to the disabling of assistive sensors (Wi-Fi scanning, Bluetooth) LE).

What happens to notifications in ultra-economy?
In ultra-economic mode, the system MIUI 12 suspends the notification manager for all applications except those added in the exceptions.This means that even if an application (e.g. a banking one) sends a push, it will not be delivered until you manually open that application or exit mode. The exception is the call and SMS β€” They always pass.

Hidden settings of ultra-economy: how to customize the regime

Many users do not know that the ultra-economic regime in the MIUI 12 can be fine-tuned to your needs. For example, by default, the system blocks mobile data for all applications except system ones, but this behavior can be changed.

To access hidden settings:

  1. Activate ultra-economy mode.
  2. Open the Settings. β†’ Battery β†’ Battery mode β†’ Additionally.
  3. Switch to Ultra Economy Settings 5 times in a row (the developer menu will open).

Options are available in this menu:

  • πŸ”‹ Limit charging: Blocks charging above 80% to keep the battery healthy.
  • πŸ“Ά Network Priority: allows you to choose which types of connections (2G/3G/4G) mode.
  • ⚑ Quick activation: Adds tile to the notification curtain for instant on/off.
  • πŸ”„ Auto-Disable: The mode will be deactivated when connected to charging.

On models with Qualcomm Snapdragon (for example, Mi). 10T or POCO X3 NFC) In hidden settings, the parameter is also available. CPU Throttling, which allows you to manually limit the maximum CPU frequency.This can be useful for additional savings, but reduce performance.

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If you need to temporarily turn off ultra-economy (for example, to take a video call), do not leave the mode completely. Instead, add the desired application (for example, Zoom) to exceptions right during the session - the system will automatically allow it to use the necessary resources.

Problems and bugs of ultra-economics in MIUI 12: How to avoid them

Despite the obvious advantages, the ultra-economic regime in the MIUI 12 has a number of issues that can ruin the user experience. Here are the most common ones and how to solve them:

  • πŸ”„ Interface freeze: On some devices (e.g. Redmi) 9A) After leaving the mode, there may be lags. Solution: restart the smartphone or clear the system cache through Settings. β†’ Memory. β†’ Cleanup.
  • πŸ“΅ Missed calls: In rare cases, the mode can block incoming calls.Solution: add the Phone app to the exceptions manually.
  • πŸ“ It's not working. GPS: If the navigator (e.g. Yandex Navi) does not determine the location, check if High Precision Mode is enabled in the geolocation settings.
  • πŸ”‹ Incorrect charge calculation: After activation of the mode, the battery indicator may show an incorrect percentage. Solution: calibrate the battery (discharge to 0% and charge to 100% without interruptions).

Another common problem is the conflict with Root rights, where if your smartphone is rooted, ultra-economy can shut down critical system processes, leading to a bootloop, which means:

  1. Download to Fastboot (Power) + Vol Down).
  2. The command is: fastboot erase cache
  3. Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: On custom firmware devices (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience), ultra-savings may not work well or at all. Before activating, check compatibility in your firmware theme on the forum XDA Developers.

Comparison of ultra-economics in MIUI 12 with similar modes in other firmware

The ultra-economic regime in MIUI 12 are often compared to similar functions in EMUI (Huawei), One UI (Samsung and ColorOS (Oppo), but each manufacturer has a different approach to energy saving:

FirmwareName of the regimeMax. number of applications in exceptionsShutting down mobile data?Support GPS background
MIUI 12 (Xiaomi)Ultra-economy8Partially (for background applications)Yes (only for selected applications)
EMUI 11 (Huawei)Ultra Power Saving6Completely.No.
One UI 3.1 (Samsung)Maximum Power Saving5Partially.Yes.
ColorOS 11 (Oppo)Super Power Saving10No.Yes.

Main advantage MIUI 12 is the flexibility to set exceptions. EMUI, where mobile data is completely disconnected, in MIUI It is possible to allow their use for individual applications (for example, messengers), and only Xiaomi offers manual frequency limitation of the processor, which allows you to more accurately balance between savings and performance.

On the other hand, in One. UI (Samsung) better implemented integration with Google services: for example, in maximum saving mode, notifications from Gmail and Google Calendar continue to work, while in the case of Google Calendar, the company is not able to use the same services. MIUI 12 You Should Add to the Exceptions Manually.

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The ultra-economic regime in MIUI 12 favorably differs in the ability to fine-tune exceptions and manually limit hardware resources, but loses to competitors in integration with Google services and stability of work on custom firmware.

Life hacks: how to maximize autonomy with ultra-economics

To get the most out of ultra-economy, it's not enough to just turn it on. Here are proven life hacks that will help extend autonomy on the planet. 30-50%:

  • πŸ”‹ Turn it off. 5G/LTE: If you are not using high-speed internet, switch to 3G or 2G customized SIM-This will reduce the energy consumption of the communication module on the 15-20%.
  • πŸ“΅ Use In-Air mode with Wi-Fi: If you only need internet (for example, for instant messengers), turn on flight mode, and then manually activate Wi-Fi. This will turn off the energy-intensive search for the cellular network.
  • πŸŒ‘ Set up the black wallpaper: AMOLED-screens (e.g. Mi 11 or Redmi) K40) Black color is not illuminated, which saves up to 5% of charge.
  • ⚑ Turn off "Adaptive Brightness": Manual brightness control (at level) 30-40%) reduces the energy consumption of the display 10%.
  • πŸ”„ Clear the cache before activation: Go to Settings β†’ Memory. β†’ Clean up and delete unnecessary data, which will reduce the workload on the processor.

For owners of devices with large batteries (for example, POCO M3 There's an extra trick with a 6,000 mAh battery: combining ultra-economy with shutting down one CPU core:

  1. Install Kernel Adiutor (Root rights required).
  2. In the section CPU Turn off one of the cores (for example, CPU4 For Snapdragon 660).
  3. Activate ultra-economy.

This will reduce productivity by 20-30%, but will increase the autonomy of 72 standby.

If you travel frequently, please note the Calls Only mode (available in Settings). β†’ Battery β†’ Battery mode β†’ It turns off everything except phone calls and SMS, This allows you to last 1% charge up to 12 hours.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the ultra-economics of MIUI 12

Can I use a mobile bank in ultra-saving mode?
Yes, but you need to add the bank app to the exceptions, but some banking apps (like SberBank Online) can block the login if they detect it in power saving mode, in which case temporarily turn off ultra-savings, log in, and then activate the mode again.
Why don’t you get notifications after you leave the ultra-economy?
This is because the system pauses the notification manager to restore push delivery, restart the device or manually update the data in each application (e.g. pull down to WhatsApp for chat updates).
How to turn off ultra-economy if the smartphone does not respond to presses?
If the screen is not responding, connect the device to charge - the mode automatically deactivates when you start charging. If this does not help, press the power button on the device. 10-15 second-on-second forced reboot.
Can we use ultra-economics all the time?
Technically, yes, but this will lead to a number of limitations: delayed notifications, inability to use most applications and reduced performance, the best option is to activate mode when charging below 20% or on trips when you need to save the battery for emergency communication.
Why is the ultra-economy not automatically turned on?
Check the following settings: Make sure that the settings β†’ Battery β†’ Battery mode β†’ Ultra-economy settings switched on Automatically turn on at low charge. Check if battery optimization for the system application Security is disabled (in Settings) β†’ Annexes β†’ Application management β†’ Security β†’ Battery. Update firmware: early versions MIUI 12 (below 12.0.4) were autoactivated bugs.