How to add an application to the list of protected on Xiaomi: full instructions for MIUI

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones are known for aggressive background control. Often useful applications like messengers, health trackers, or banking services suddenly stop working because the system blocks their activity in the background, and the solution lies in adding such programs to a list of secure applications that prevents them from being forced to close.

In this article, we will discuss three key methods of protecting applications on Xiaomi: through battery settings, auto-run and a special section "Secure applications" (available on all versions). MIUI). We also find out why, even after adding an exception, some programs continue to “fly out” and how to fix it. MIUI 12–14.

Why Xiaomi is blocking apps in the background?

MIUI firmware is optimized to save battery life, and one of the main mechanisms is to force the background processes to close.

• 🔋 High-power applications (such as navigation or gaming)
• 📱 Programs that are rarely used (the system considers them "junk")
• 🔄 Services operating in the background without notifications (step trackers, weather widgets)

As a result, users face problems:

• ❌ Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) do not send notifications
• ❌ Music players (Spotify, Yandex Music) stop after 5-10 minutes
• ❌ Banking applications (SberBank Online, Tinkoff) require re-authorization

The solution is to add the right programs to the exception lists, but there are nuances here, for example, on the Xiaomi 13 Pro with MIUI 14, the path to settings is different from the one on the Redmi 9 with MIUI 12.

Method 1: Addition to Secure Applications (MIUI 12–14)

Starting with MIUI 12, a separate section was added to the firmware to protect applications from forced closure.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Special Permits.
3. Find Secure Applications (on some models it may be called Background Lock).
4. Turn on the switch for the desired application.

If there is no item Protected Applications:

• 🔍 Check the version. MIUI: on MIUI 11 and below this section is missing.
• 🔄 Update the firmware through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 📱 In some models (for example, POCO X3) The path may be different: Settings → Battery → Choice of applications.

Update MIUI to the latest version

Close all background applications

Check the battery charge (minimum 20%)

Reboot your smartphone-->

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite and some other models, the Secure Apps section may be hidden. To activate it, you first need to turn on Show System Settings in the developer menu (how to do this - read the debugging section).

Method 2: Setup autostart and background activity

Even if an application is added to a secure one, the system can restrict its auto-run to avoid:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application you want (for example, Viber).
3. Slip on AutoRun and turn on the permission.
4. Go back and activate the Background Activity (if there is one).

On MIUI 14, the path may be different:

Settings → Applications → Permissions → Autorun

For banking applications (e.g. Alpha-Click) additionally:

• 🔒 Enable Without Limits in Battery Settings for this Application.
• 📵 Turn off optimization. MIUI (if there is such a switch).

💡

If the app still shuts down after you turn on auto-run, try turning off the power saving mode in the battery settings, which solves the problem on some models (such as the Xiaomi 11T).

Method 3: Optimizing the battery for individual applications

MIUI automatically optimizes power consumption, which often leads to background processes being closed.

1. Open Settings → Battery → Selection of applications.
2. Select an app (such as Google Maps).
3. Set up a No Limits mode.

On MIUI 14, the algorithm changed:

• 🔋 There is a new mode Adaptive battery, which can not be turned off without the rights of the developer.
• 📉 For critical applications (messengers, banks) you will have to manually install High performance.

If there is no limit to the item:

1. Enable the developer mode (7 times tap on "version MIUI" in "About phone").


2. Go back to "Settings → Additional → For Developers."




3. disable "Optimization MIUI" and "Background optimization".

⚠️ Note: Disabling battery optimization can reduce battery life by 10-15%. Use this method only for critical applications (e.g. SberBank Online or Yandex Navigator).

What to do if the app is closed anyway?

If after all the manipulations the application continues to “fly out”, check:

• 🔄 Updates MIUI: On some versions (for example, MIUI 13.0.4) has bugs with background processes. Update the firmware.
• 🛠️ Developer Rights: Enable Do Not Limit Background Processes in Developer Settings.
• 📱 Resetting: For apps like WhatsApp, sometimes deleting and re-installing helps.

For Xiaomi 13 Ultra and other flagships with HyperOS (new firmware instead of MIUI):

1. Settings → Applications → Application Management → [Select App].


2. Slip "Battery" → Select "No Limits".




3. Return and turn on "Space" and "Secondary Start".

Features for banking and system applications

Banking applications (Tinkoff, VTB Online) and services with high security requirements are often blocked by MIUI even after adding exceptions.

1. Open Settings → Applications → [Select the banking application].
2. Enable all permissions: Camera, Microphone, Location.
3. In the section Additional activate Show over other windows.
4. In the battery settings, set it without restrictions.

For Google Play Services and other system components:

• 🔧 Don’t turn them off through Settings. → Applications -- this will lead to failures.
• 🔄 If they consume a lot of battery, update them via Google Play.

💡

Banking applications require maximum permissions, and if they don’t work after setting up, try disabling the VPN or clearing the app’s cache.

FAQ: Frequent questions about secure apps on Xiaomi