Xiaomi’s Power Saving Mode: What It Really Does and How to Use It

Xiaomi smartphones have long been known for their energy efficiency, but even the most advanced models with capacious batteries discharge faster than you would like. In such cases, the built-in energy saving mode comes to the rescue - a feature that promises to extend battery life at minimal limits. However, many users do not fully understand what exactly turns off this mode, how it affects performance and whether it should be used constantly.

In this article, we will look at how power saving works on different Xiaomi models (from the budget Redmi to the flagship Xiaomi 14), what processes are blocked in the background, and give specific recommendations for setting up for different scenarios - from emergency savings to balanced mode.

What is Xiaomi’s energy saving mode and why is it needed?

Energy saving mode is a software mechanism that limits battery consumption by reducing performance and blocking background processes. MIUI (This feature is available on all devices, starting with Android 6.0, but its implementation may vary depending on the model and firmware version.

The main goal of the mode is to extend the autonomy in critical situations when the battery is running out, and you can not recharge the smartphone, for example, if you forgot the charger on the trip or are in a place without access to the outlet.

• 🔋 Reduced Clock Frequency of the Processor — CPU It operates at reduced frequencies, which reduces heat and power consumption.
• 📵 Background activity restriction – applications are not updated in the background, data synchronization is suspended.
• 🌐 Reduced screen brightness – the minimum comfortable backlight level is automatically set.
• 🔄 Disable auto updates – updates to apps, weather, email and other services are suspended.

It's important to understand that saving mode is not a magic wand, but a trade-off between autonomy and functionality. Some operations will be slower and notifications may be delayed, but in most cases it's a reasonable cost for additional time.

What exactly turns off the saving mode on Xiaomi: a full list of restrictions

When you activate energy saving, the system MIUI It automatically applies a number of constraints, some of which are obvious (e.g., dimming brightness), and others remain off-screen. Here's a full list of what's being blocked or restricted:

In addition, in saving mode, automatic downloading of media in messengers is suspended (for example, photos in WhatsApp or Telegram are not loaded before the chat opens), and geolocation is limited — GPS Other location services are only enabled when maps are actively used.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F5 or Redmi Note 12 Pro+) In the savings mode also switched off 5G-modem and smartphone goes to the network 4G/LTE. This can be critical if you use high-speed internet for streaming or online gaming.

How to turn on and configure the saving mode on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

Power saving on Xiaomi can be activated in several ways – through the notification panel, battery settings or using the voice assistant.

Method 1: Through the notification panel (fast access)

This is the simplest method that works on all devices with MIUI 12 and newer:

1. Swipe your finger down from the top of the screen to open the notification bar.
2. Find the "Energy Saving" icon (battery icon with sheet).
3. Slap it once - the mode will turn on immediately.

Method 2: Through battery settings (extended options)

If you need to adjust your savings options or enable ultra mode, follow this path:

1. Open Settings → Battery and Performance.
2. Select the option "Energy Saving Mode".
3. Activate the switch or set up automatic on at a certain charge level (e.g. 15%).

Make sure that important notifications (calls) are made, SMS) not blocked|

Close resource-intensive applications (games, video editors)|

Turn off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi if you don’t need them|

Check if the Performance Mode is on at the same time (they are in conflict)-->

On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T or Redmi K60) The battery menu is available with Ultraeconomic Mode, a beefed-up version of standard economy that disables almost all background processes, leaving only basic functions (calls, SMS, In this mode, the smartphone can work on 5-10% of the charge up to 12-24 hours in standby mode.

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi with custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the standard saving mode may not work properly or at all. In such cases, it is recommended to install third-party power management applications, such as Greenify or AccuBattery.

Ultra-economic mode on Xiaomi: what is different from the usual and when to use it

Starting with MIUI 13, many Xiaomi devices have a so-called "Ultra Battery Saver" (Ultra Battery Saver), which is not just a reinforced version of the standard economy, but almost a separate mode of operation of the smartphone, which turns it into a "survival phone" with minimal functionality.

The main differences from the usual mode of savings:

• 🚫 All applications except those selected are turned off – you can manually whitelist up to 8 apps (such as messengers or maps).
• 📴 Mobile Internet is stopped for background tasks – data is transmitted only when the allowed applications are actively used.
• ⏳ The screen goes into black and white mode – this reduces the load on the GPU and battery.
• 🔕 All sensors (gyroscope, accelerometer, proximity sensor) except the main ones (microphone, speaker) are turned off).

This mode is advisable to include in extreme cases when the battery charge is critically low (for example, 5-10%) and you need to keep the phone as long as possible in standby mode.

• 🏕️ You are on a hike and need your smartphone to stay connected for emergency calls.
• ✈️ There is no way to charge on the plane, and the flight is long.
• 🚗 You use your phone as a navigator, but the charge is running out.

Important: in ultramode do not work:

• 🎮 Games and heavy apps (even if they are on the whitelist).
• 📷 Camera (only basic images with reduced resolution can be taken).
• 🔊 Music services in the background (for example, Spotify or YouTube Music).

Does the Savings Mode Affect Performance and Gaming: Tests and Real Data?

One of the most common questions is, how much does performance fall in saving mode and is it possible to play it? To answer that, we tested several popular Xiaomi models in benchmarks and real-world games.

Test results (average values):

And as you can see from the table, performance drops by 25 to 30 percent, which affects the speed of opening applications and the smoothness of the interface: FPS In heavy projects (such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile) it is reduced by 20-30%, and graphics settings are automatically reset to the minimum.

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If you need to save charge while playing, try manually lowering the screen resolution in the game settings and disabling unnecessary background processes through the Task Manager. This will give a greater effect than a full-fledged saving mode, but without such a heavy drop. FPS.

But for everyday tasks (social networks, instant messengers, web surfing), the difference is almost not noticeable. A2 or POCO C55) Savings can even improve smoothness, as it limits background activity, which often overloads weak processors.

Common myths about the mode of economy on Xiaomi: what is true and what is not

There are many myths surrounding the energy saving function, and we'll look at the most popular ones.

Myth 1: “Savings can ruin the battery”

❌ It's not true. Saving mode itself doesn't affect battery health; on the contrary, it reduces battery heat, which prolongs battery life, and it's caused by deep discharges (below 5%) and overheating, not energy saving.

Myth 2: “Notifications work in savings mode”

⚠️ Notifications are coming, but with a delay (up to 5-10 minutes), as background sync is suspended. To ensure that important notifications arrive on time, add the desired applications to the exceptions (battery settings). → economy → "Applications without restrictions").

Myth 3: “Energy savings turn off” 5G"

✅ True, but not on all models. On flagships. 13/14, POCO F5 Pro) 5G It is active, but on budget and mid-budget devices (Redmi Note). 12, POCO X5) The modem can actually switch to 4G energy-saving.

Myth 4: “You can’t make or use the internet in a saving mode.”

❌ All basic functions (calls, SMS, Mobile Internet) is working normally, limited to background processes and performance.

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Saving mode does not spoil the battery or block critical functions (calls, the Internet), its main disadvantage is delaying notifications and reducing performance in games.

How to maximize battery life on Xiaomi: tips in addition to saving mode

Saving mode is not the only way to save charge, but here are some additional settings that will help to prolong autonomy:

• 🔦 Turn off the "Always Active Screen" (AOD) — This function consumes up to 5-7% of the charge per hour.
• 📡 Switch to the switch. 4G instead 5G (If you don’t need high speed internet).
• 🔄 Set a dark theme on the AMOLED-This reduces the consumption of screens by 10-15%.
• 📱 Limit the background activity of applications manually: Settings → Annexes → Permits → Auto-start.
• 🔋 Turn off the Responsive Battery – This Android feature sometimes mistakenly blocks the desired processes.

You should also pay attention to geolocation settings: if you are not using navigation, switch to "On-Demand Only" mode instead of "High Accuracy", which can save up to 10-20% of charge per day.

Another effective technique is manually limiting the processor frequency using an engineering menu (available on some models).

1. Enter the dialer code ##4636##.
2. Select Battery Information → Test Menu.
3. Find the Limit item CPU Frequency and set the value 70-80%.

⚠️ Warning: Changing the settings in the engineering menu can lead to unstable operation of the smartphone. If after the changes the device began to brake or overheat, reset the settings to the factory.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions about Xiaomi’s Savings Mode