Xiaomi White List: How to Include and Set Up Right

The whitelist on Xiaomi devices is a powerful tool that allows you to bypass system restrictions for selected applications, contacts or functions. For example, you can allow a particular messenger to work in the background without blocking with energy-saving settings. MIUI, Or add important contacts to the Do Not Disturb exceptions, but many users are faced with the problem of where exactly this setting is located and how to use it correctly?

In this article, we will analyze all the ways to activate the white list on different Xiaomi devices – from smartphones (Redmi Note). 12, POCO X5, Mi 11) before tablets (Xiaomi Pad) 6) and even televisions (Mi) TV). We will pay special attention to the nuances of the function in the latest versions. MIUI 14/15 And HyperOS, where the interface has undergone major changes, and you'll also learn how to avoid typical setup errors and what to do if the whitelist suddenly stops working after the system update.

What is a white list on Xiaomi and why is it necessary?

A whitelist (or exception lists) is a mechanism that allows the user to manually determine which apps, contacts, or system features should not be subject to general restrictions.

  • πŸ”‹ Autostart and Background Activity – Allows applications to run in the background without being forced to shut down by the system.
  • πŸ“΅ Do Not Disturb – allows you to skip calls and notifications from selected contacts.
  • πŸ”’ Block notifications – excludes important applications from the list of blocked.
  • πŸ“‘ Mobile Traffic Restriction – Allows unrestricted Internet access for certain programs.

For example, if you add WhatsApp or Telegram to the auto-start whitelist, the messengers will not be β€œfreezed” by the system during long downtime, and you will receive messages quickly.

πŸ“Š Why do you use the whitelist on Xiaomi most often?
For messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram)
For important contacts in the "Do not disturb" mode
For gaming applications
For background navigation
I don't use it.

It is important to understand that the whitelist does not remove all restrictions. MIUI, It only creates exceptions for specific elements, for example, even if you add an application to auto-start, it can still slow down if you have ultra-power saving mode activated or insufficient RAM.

Where is the white listing on Xiaomi: Access Paths

The location of the whitelist settings depends on the version MIUI/HyperOS Below are the current paths for most modern Xiaomi smartphones (2022–2026 release).

Type of white listThe way MIUI 14/HyperOSThe Way in Old Versions (MIUI 12–13)
Auto-launching applicationsSettings β†’ Applications β†’ Application Management β†’ [Select App] β†’ Auto RunSettings β†’ Applications β†’ Permissions β†’ Autorun
Exceptions for the "Do Not Disturb" regimeSettings β†’ Notifications and status bar β†’ Don't disturb. β†’ ExceptionsSettings β†’ Sound and vibration β†’ Don't disturb. β†’ Allow exceptions
Background activity (without restrictions)Settings β†’ Battery. β†’ Choice of regime β†’ [Select a regime] β†’ Setting up β†’ Background activitySettings β†’ Battery and performance β†’ Consumption management β†’ Background activity
Limiting mobile trafficSettings β†’ SIM-maps and mobile networks β†’ Transfer of data β†’ Traffic restriction β†’ ExceptionsSettings β†’ SIM-maps and mobile networks β†’ Traffic. β†’ Limitation β†’ Exceptions

On certain devices (e.g, POCO F5 or Redmi K60) The path may vary slightly due to customized shells. If you don't find the right section, search by settings (the magnifier icon in the upper right corner). Enter the query "white list" or "exceptions" in Russian/English.

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On HyperOS devices (such as Xiaomi 14 or Redmi Turbo 3), some settings are moved to Settings. β†’ Annexes β†’ Special permissions. You can find combined options for autostart, background activity and notifications.

Step-by-step: how to add an application to the white list

Consider the process on the example of adding the messenger Telegram in the white list of auto-start and background activity on the smartphone Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ s MIUI 14.

Close all background applications

Connect the device to charging (recommended)

Check the version of MIUI in Settings β†’ About the phone

Open the settings of the desired application (for example, Telegram)-->

Step 1: Authorization of Auto Start

Auto-start allows the application to automatically start when the device is turned on and operate in the background.

  1. Open Settings β†’ Applications β†’ Application Management.
  2. Find Telegram (or another app) in the list and tap it.
  3. Select AutoStart and activate the switch.
  4. In some versions MIUI You will need to confirm the action in the pop-up window.

Step 2: Set up background activity

This option prevents the application from being forced to close by the system to save charge.

  1. Return to the Application Management Menu (Telegram).
  2. Choose a battery (or energy consumption).
  3. Slip the background activity and set the value without restrictions.
  4. Save the changes.

Step 3: Exclusion from battery optimization

An additional measure for mission-critical applications (e.g., navigators or bank clients).

  1. Go to Settings. β†’ Battery β†’ Choice of regime.
  2. Select an active mode (e.g., Balanced).
  3. Slip the setup. β†’ Battery optimization.
  4. Find Telegram in the list and turn off optimization (switch to off position).

After these steps are completed, the application will work stably, even if the device has not been used for a long time, POCO M6 Pro) may need to restart to apply the changes.

White list of contacts in the mode β€œDo not disturb”

If you want calls from certain people to go even when Do Not Disturb mode is activated, follow these steps:

  1. Open Settings β†’ Notifications and Status bar β†’ Do not disturb.
  2. Activate the mode if it is turned off.
  3. Tap Exclusions (or Allow Exclusions in Older Versions)
  4. Select Calls and add contacts manually or select groups (such as Favorites or Family).
  5. If necessary, set up exceptions for repeat calls (for example, allow a second call from one number within 3 minutes).

Xiaomi can also set exceptions for messages and alarms, for example, if you add the Google Calendar app to exceptions, its notifications will come even in the β€œDo Not Disturb” mode.

What if contact is not added to the exceptions?
If the system does not allow you to add a contact to the whitelist, check: 1. Contact sync – make sure that the number is saved in the phone book, not only in the phone book. SIM-Duplicates - delete duplicate entries for one number. 3. Update MIUI β€” in older versions (up to) MIUI 12) there was an error with adding contacts from Google account. Update the system or transfer contacts to local memory.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Despite the ease of customization, users often have difficulty with whitelisting, and let’s look at typical scenarios and how to fix them.

Problem 1: The application is closed by the system.

If you have added an app to the whitelist, but it continues to β€œfly out” or doesn’t send notifications:

  • πŸ”„ Check if the ultra-power saving mode is activated (Settings) β†’ Battery β†’ Ultra mode: In this mode, all background processes are blocked.
  • πŸ“± Make sure that the application is allowed to access notifications (Settings) β†’ Notifications β†’ [Annex]).
  • πŸ”§ Try to clear the app cache (Settings) β†’ Annexes β†’ [Annex] β†’ Memory. β†’ Clear the cache).

Problem 2: No Auto Start item in the settings

On some devices (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T HyperOS: Auto-start option can be hidden to find it:

  1. Open the Settings. β†’ Annexes β†’ Special permits.
  2. Scroll down and find AutoRun or Background Activity.
  3. If there is no item, try resetting the application settings (Settings) β†’ Annexes β†’ Resetting application settings).

Problem 3: White list resets after update

After major updates MIUI or HyperOS, whitelist settings can be reset to avoid this:

  • πŸ“² Backup your settings before updating (Settings) β†’ The phone. β†’ Backup).
  • πŸ”„ After updating manually check all exceptions and if necessary, configure them again.
  • πŸ“Œ Use third-party utilities like this MIUI Optimization Disabler (requires root rights) to disable automatic system optimization.

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If the whitelist settings are missing after the update, do not try to restore them from the old version backup. MIUI β€” It can cause conflict. It's better to set it up again manually.

Whitelisting on other Xiaomi devices (TV, tablets, smartwatches)

Whitelisting technology isn’t just used in smartphones; let’s look at how it works on other gadgets in the Xiaomi ecosystem.

Mi TV and Redmi Smart TV

On Xiaomi TVs, the whitelist is used to:

  • πŸ“Ί Exclusions of applications from parental control.
  • πŸ”Š Sound resolutions for certain applications in No Sound modeΒ».
  • πŸ“Ά Prioritizing traffic for streaming services (e.g. Netflix or YouTube).

To customize the exceptions:

  1. Open the Settings. β†’ The device β†’ Parental control β†’ Exceptions.
  2. Add applications that should work without restrictions.
  3. For sound exceptions, go to Settings β†’ Sound. β†’ "No sound" mode" β†’ Exceptions.

Tablets Xiaomi Pad

On tablets (Xiaomi Pad 6, Pad 5 Pro) the white list is configured similarly to smartphones, but taking into account the specifics of the device. MIUI tablet-board:

  • πŸ–₯️ In the Settings section β†’ Screen. β†’ Tablet mode can be configured exceptions for multitasking.
  • πŸ”‹ Autostart and background activity options are in Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ Special permits.

Smart watches and bracelets (Mi Band, Watch)

On Xiaomi wearables, the whitelist applies to:

  • ⏰ Excluding notifications from certain apps (such as WhatsApp and Calls only).
  • πŸƒβ€β™‚οΈ Background data synchronization permissions (steps, pulse) with Mi Fitness.

The setting is done via the Mi Fitness or Zepp Life app on your smartphone:

  1. Open the app and go to the device profile.
  2. Select Notifications β†’ Management of notifications.
  3. Add the required applications to the list of allowed.

Tips for optimizing the white list

To ensure that the whitelist works effectively and does not affect the performance of the device, follow these recommendations:

  • πŸ“‰ Don't add too many apps to the exceptions, it will increase battery consumption. Optimal: 5-7 mission-critical programs.
  • πŸ”„ Check the list regularly for unnecessary exceptions (such as games you haven’t used in a long time).
  • πŸ“Š Monitor battery consumption in Settings β†’ Battery β†’ If a whitelisted application consumes too much power, limit its background activity.
  • πŸ”’ Use the password for Do Not Disturb mode so you don’t accidentally disable important exceptions.

For advanced users: if you want to disable optimization completely MIUI For all applications (not recommended for everyday use), you can use the app. ADB-For example, to disable background restrictions for all applications, perform:

adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1

However, this method requires an unlocked bootloader and can lead to unstable system operation.

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On HyperOS devices (such as Xiaomi 14), some optimizations are driven by artificial intelligence, and over-interference in settings can lead to a 15-20% increase in battery consumption.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Can I add system applications (such as Calls or Messages) to the whitelist?
Xiaomi’s default system apps already have maximum privileges and don’t need to manually adjust the whitelist, but if you notice that, for example, the alarm doesn’t work in Do Not Disturb mode, check the exceptions for the Watch app manually.
Why does the app still not show notifications after being added to the whitelist?
There may be several reasons: The application has disabled notifications in the settings (Settings) β†’ Notifications β†’ [Appendix]: Do not disturb mode activated without exceptions for this application. App is blocked under "Block notifications" (Settings) β†’ Notifications β†’ Block notifications. In the application, push notifications are disabled (check the settings of the messenger or social network itself).
How to reset all whitelist settings to factory settings?
To return all exceptions to the default state, follow the following steps: Open Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ Reset application settings. Confirm reset (this won't delete application data, only their settings). To reset Do Not Disturb exceptions, go to Settings β†’ Notifications β†’ Don't disturb. β†’ Resetting settings. ⚠️ Note: This process will also reset all permissions for applications (camera, microphone, etc.).
Is there a difference in setting up a white list? POCO redmi?
Devices POCO (for example, POCO X6 Pros) are running on the same platform MIUI/HyperOS, And that's the same as Redmi, so the paths to access the settings are identical. POCO It can be: a different visual menu style (dark theme by default), additional options for gaming applications (e.g. Game Turbo), a simplified "Do Not Disturb" menu with some exceptions. If you don’t find the right setting, try searching by settings or upgrade your device to the latest firmware version.
Can I export/import whitelist settings when changing my phone?
Direct way to export/import whitelist exceptions to MIUI No. However, you can: Back up all settings (Settings) β†’ The phone. β†’ Backup) and restore it to a new device, which will carry some of the exceptions (but not all of them), manually write down the list of apps and contacts added to the whitelist and configure them again, use third-party utilities like Mi Mover (available in Settings). β†’ Additionally. β†’ Mi Mover, but it only transfers basic data, not system settings.