Xiaomi’s ultra-energy saving mode: how to turn on and maximize autonomy

Modern Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi line and POCO) They're equipped with powerful processors and bright screens, but even the most powerful batteries run out in a day when you're in active use, and ultra-energy saving is a lifeline when you're running out of power and you don't have a power outlet. In this mode, the phone turns off all background processes, limits performance, and leaves only basic features: calls, SMS and some critical applications.

Unlike standard power saving mode, ultra-savings can extend autonomy by 2-3 times — with 5% charge, the smartphone will last another 10-15 hours in standby mode. However, many users do not know how to activate this feature correctly or what settings are optimal for different scenarios. In this article, we will analyze all the ways of inclusion, hidden mode capabilities and answers to frequent questions from Xiaomi Mi 11 to Redmi Note 12.

It's important to understand that ultra-economy doesn't just reduce the brightness of the screen, it completely reflashes the core. MIUI energy-efficient profile, blocking access to most sensors (GLONASS, gyroscope) and limiting the clock speed of the processor to 1-1.5 GHz. This saves up to 80% of power, but makes the phone unsuitable for gaming or multimedia.

What is Xiaomi’s ultra-saving mode and how does it work?

Ultra Battery Saver is a hardware and software package of measures that is activated at the core level. MIUI. Unlike conventional energy saving, it doesn't just limit background activity, it puts the smartphone into survival mode with minimal power consumption:

• 🔋 CPU limitation: clock speed is reduced to 1-1.5 GHz (depending on the model), and the number of active cores is reduced to 2-4.
• 📵 Network lock: shutting down 4G/5G, remains 2G for calls SMS (Some models can be manually selected 3G).
• 🌐 Internet Restriction: Background traffic is blocked completely and applications are banned from accessing the network without explicit permission.
• 📱 Black and white: the color palette is reduced to 16 shades of gray, which reduces the load on the screen GPU 40%.
• 🚫 Sensor locking: switched off GPS, NFC, gyroscope, accelerometer and proximity sensor.

In practice, this means that the smartphone turns into a “ringer” with minimal functionality. For example, on the Xiaomi 13 Pro in ultra-saving mode at 5% charge, you can listen to up to 30 hours of music through headphones (without connecting to the network) or stay in standby mode for up to 48 hours. However, not all applications will work: messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp will only receive notifications, but not update chats in the background.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or Redmi K50) ultra-saving mode automatically reduces the refresh rate to 60 Hz, even if the normal mode was 120 Hz. This is done to prevent the "burnout" of pixels at low charge.

How to Include Ultra Economy on Xiaomi: 3 Ways

You can activate the mode in several ways - depending on the version. MIUI Here are all the available methods, including hidden options for advanced users.

Method 1: Through battery settings (standard method)

This is the easiest and most recommended way for most users. MIUI 12–14:

1. Open Settings → Battery and Performance.
2. Slip on Battery Mode (or Energy Saving on older versions).
3. Choose Ultra Battery Saver (Ultra Battery Saver).
4. Confirm activation by clicking Enable.

In some models (for example, POCO F5) The path may be slightly different: → Battery → Energy saving regimes → Ultra.

Method 2: Through the notification panel (fast access)

If you use ultra-savings frequently, add it to the Quick Settings Panel:

1. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
2. Click on the icon. ⚡ Battery (or Energy saving).
3. In the menu that appears, select Ultraeconomy.

If the icon is not in the panel, you can add it: Settings → Notification panel → Change the order → Find the Ultra-Economies and Drag to the Active Zone.

Method 3: Through the Engineering Menu (for power users)

This method allows ultra-savings to be enabled even on devices where it is hidden by the manufacturer (for example, on some models for the European market).

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##.
2. In the engineering menu, select Battery Information.
3. Slip on the item Power Saving Mode and select Ultra.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (MIUI EU The engineering menu may be missing or have a different interface. Do not change other options in this menu without understanding their purpose - this can cause malfunctions in the device.

What applications work in ultra-economic mode

By default, ultra-savings only system applications are active: Phone, Contacts, Messages and Watches, but the user can manually add up to 5 additional applications that will work without restrictions.

1. Activate the ultra-economy mode in any of the ways described above.
2. In the window that appears, click Ultra Mode Settings (or Additional).
3. Select Allow applications to work in the background.
4. Check up to 5 apps from the list (for example, WhatsApp, Google Maps, Banking application).

Importantly, even the permitted applications will work with limitations.

• 📱 Messengers (Telegram, Viber): will be able to receive notifications, but will not update chats in the background.
• 🗺️ Maps (Google Maps, Yandex.Navigator): will work only in online mode, the cache of the cards is not updated.
• 💳 Banking apps: will be able to show balance, but will refuse to send push notifications.
• 🎵 Music players (Spotify, YouTube Music): will play only downloaded tracks (streaming disabled).

Nana POCO X5 Pro and other devices with MIUI 14 has an optional option called Allow notifications, and if you activate it, the selected apps can send push even in ultra-economy mode, but that reduces autonomy by 15-20%.

Close all background applications

Connect to Wi-Fi if you need to update your data

Add critical applications to the list of permitted

Turn off Bluetooth and NFC (They will automatically turn off, but it is better to do it in advance)

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The hidden settings of ultra-economy: how to increase autonomy even more

Few people know, but in MIUI There are hidden parameters that allow you to optimize your energy consumption even more in ultra-economy mode.

1. Disconnecting the second SIM-map

If your Xiaomi supports two of your SIM-One of these cards will consume energy even in ultra-saving mode. SIM:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
2. Choose the second. SIM-map and disable it by moving the slider.
3. Return to ultra-economy mode and check that only one network is displayed in the status bar.

This will increase the autonomy of up to 10-15% on models like the Redmi Note 11 Pro.+, module 5G They consume a lot of energy even in standby mode.

2 Manual limitation of the clock frequency of the processor

For advanced users, there's an opportunity to lower the CPU frequency even further through the engineering menu, which is true for Snapdragon devices. 8 Gen 1/2 (for example, Xiaomi 12S Ultra, where even in ultramode CPU high-frequency.

Instructions:

1. Activate ultra-economy mode.
2. Enter the phone code ##2846579# (ProjectMenu) in the phone app.
3. Go to Background Settings → Battery Log.
4. Choose. CPU Frequency Limit and set a maximum at 1000 MHz.

⚠️ Warning: Skillful frequency changes can lead to freezes or overheating. If after the change, the smartphone began to brake, return the settings to the factory through the reboot.

3. Disabling vibration and sound of system notifications

Even in ultra-economic mode MIUI It defaults to leave the vibrations on when you touch them and the notifications on, and it eats up to 5 percent of the charge per day:

1. Go to Settings. → Sound and vibration.
2. Turn off touch vibration and notification sounds.
3. Return to ultra-economy mode and check that the changes have been applied.

Table: comparison of power saving modes on Xiaomi

To understand when to use ultra-economy, and when the standard mode is enough, compare their key parameters:

And you can see from the table that ultra-savings is a last resort, and it's only worth using when the charge is running out, and for everyday extensions of autonomy, a standard energy-saving mode is better.

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If you need to extend the autonomy for a few hours, but save access to instant messengers, try the combination: turn on the power saving mode. + manually disable mobile data for all applications except WhatsApp/Telegram. It'll give. +30–40% working time without strict ultramode restrictions.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When using ultra-economy, users often face unexpected limitations or failures, and let's look at the most common cases and how to address them.

1. Notifications from messengers do not work

If Telegram or WhatsApp stopped sending notifications in ultra-saving mode:

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone – sometimes it throws off the restrictions.
• 📱 Add the messenger to the list of allowed applications (see the section above).
• 🔕 In the application settings, disable the option "Saving traffic" (if any).

2.The battery is rapidly discharged despite ultramode

If the charge drops too quickly (more than 1% per hour in standby mode), check:

• 🔋 Battery status: Settings → Battery → Battery status. If the capacity is below 80%, it's time to change the battery.
• 🌡️ Device temperature: If the smartphone is warming, turn off charging and let it cool.
• 📡 Network signal: In areas with poor coverage, the phone spends a lot of energy searching for the network. 2G manually.

3. not included ultra-economy on some models

On devices like Xiaomi Mi A3 (with pure Android) or some versions MIUI Europe may not have a ultra-economy regime:

• 🔧 Update the firmware to the latest version MIUI.
• 🛠️ Install custom firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.EU) where mode is available.
• 🔋 Use an alternative – the Google Play Battery Guru app, which emulates ultramode.

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If the ultra-economy is not included on your model, check the version MIUI. On firmware older MIUI 11 this mode may not be available. Update the device or use the engineering menu (see Method 3 in "How to enable" section").

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions