Auto-Run on Xiaomi Redmi: A Complete Guide to Setup and Use

Have you ever noticed that some applications on your Xiaomi Redmi run on their own after a reboot or even for no apparent reason? It is not a system bug, but a feature of the autostart feature, a mechanism that allows programs to automatically start in the background. For some users, it is a useful option (for example, for instant messengers or fitness trackers), for others, a source of battery drain and unnecessary traffic consumption.

In this article, we will take a closer look at what AutoRun is on Redmi, how it works at the MIUI level, what apps use it by default, and most importantly, how to manage this feature to make your smartphone work as efficiently as possible, how to disable AutoRun for unnecessary programs, what risks it carries, and why some applications (such as WhatsApp or Google Play Services) may ignore your settings.

We’ll focus on the hidden auto-start mechanisms in MIUI 14 and later, where Xiaomi has implemented additional power saving restrictions, changes that often cause users to complain about β€œfailed” notifications or background processes, and if you encounter similar problems, here are the solutions.

What is AutoRun on Xiaomi Redmi and Why You Need It

Auto-start (or Auto-start) is a feature of the MIUI operating system that allows applications to automatically run under certain conditions:

  • πŸ”„ After restarting the smartphone – for example, messengers or cloud services restore background processes.
  • ⏰ Scheduled – some programs (such as Mi Fit or Google Fit) sync data at a given time.
  • πŸ“Ά When changing the network – applications like Telegram or Viber can be activated when connecting to Wi-Fi or mobile Internet.
  • πŸ”‹ When connecting charging – often used for backups or updates.

The main purpose of auto-run is to ensure the continuity of mission-critical services, without it you would not receive notifications of new messages on WhatsApp, the weather in widgets or currency rates in financial applications, but there is a downside to the coin: each auto-run consumes battery power, RAM and Internet traffic.

In MIUI, autorun is closely linked to another function, battery optimization, which automatically limits background activity for underutilized applications, but some programs (especially system ones) have privileges and can bypass these limitations, which is why even after manually disabling autorun, some services continue to run.

πŸ“Š How often do you reboot your Xiaomi Redmi?
Once a day.
Once a week.
Only when it's bugging.
Never.

How to Check Which Apps Are Using Auto-Run

To see the full list of programs with autorun permission, follow the following steps:

  1. Open the Settings β†’ Applications.
  2. Slip on the three points in the upper right corner and select Special Accesses.
  3. Go to Auto Launch section.

Here you will see two lists:

  • πŸ”Ή Allowed – applications that can run automatically.
  • πŸ”Έ Blocked – programs for which auto-start is disabled.

Note that in MIUI 14+, some system applications (such as Mi Security or Mi Cloud) may not be on this list, but may be eligible to autorun, because they are integrated into the firmware at the privileged service level.

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If the autorun list doesn’t have the right app, check the Battery Optimization section – there may be additional restrictions.

How to disable auto-start for unnecessary applications

Disabling auto-start for individual programs will help save battery power and reduce the load on the processor.

  1. Go to Settings β†’ Applications β†’ Special Accesses β†’ Autorun.
  2. Find the app you want to disable auto-start (like Facebook or AliExpress) in the list.
  3. Switch the slider to the off position.
  4. Confirm the action in the dialog box (if it appears).

Important: After disabling auto-start, some functions of the application may not work properly, for example:

  • ⚠️ WhatsApp or Telegram may stop showing notifications about new messages.
  • ⚠️ Google Play Services won’t sync data in the background.
  • ⚠️ Fitness trackers (such as Mi Fit) will stop updating step statistics.

β˜‘οΈ Preparation for auto-start shutdown

Done: 0 / 4

If the application stopped working as it should after disabling auto-run, try an alternative way to limit its activity:

  1. Go to Settings β†’ Battery and Performance β†’ Battery Optimization.
  2. Select the application and set it to Limited mode.
Why do some apps ignore disabling autostart?
Some programs (especially system ones) have built-in self-start mechanisms through BroadcastReceiver, an Android component that can activate an application upon an event (e.g., a network connection). Xiaomi partially blocks these events in MIUI, but not all.

Auto Start and Battery: How to Save Charge Without Losing Functionality

One of the main reasons for disabling autostart is to extend battery life, but turning it off completely for all applications can be a inconvenience.

Type of applicationRecommendation on auto-startAlternative way of saving
Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram)Leave it on.Turn off automatic media downloading
Social networks (Facebook, Instagram)Shut down.Use Lite versions or web versions
Fitness trackers (Mi Fit, Google Fit)Leave it on.Reduce the frequency of synchronization
GamesShut down.Close manually after use
System Services (Mi Cloud, Security)Don't touch it.Limit background activity in battery settings

Another effective way to reduce battery consumption is to use the charge saving mode in MIUI, which automatically limits background activity for most applications except those added to the exceptions, to customize the exceptions:

  1. Go to Settings β†’ Battery and Performance β†’ Saving Charge.
  2. Activate the mode and tap the Charge Savings Settings.
  3. In the Applications section, without limitation, add those programs that must work in the background.

πŸ’‘

Disabling auto-runs for social media and gaming can increase battery life by 15-20%, but messaging apps and fitness trackers are best left on for proper operation.

Hidden Autostart Settings in MIUI: What Not Shown in the Menu

In the latest versions MIUI (Starting with 12) Xiaomi added additional auto-start controls that are not displayed in the standard interface, which can only be changed through hidden menus or other controls. ADB-team.

One of these mechanisms is Deep Optimization, which blocks auto-runs for applications that have been off for more than 3 days to disable:

  1. Activate Developer Mode (7 times tap the MIUI version in your phone settings).
  2. Go to Settings β†’ Additional β†’ For developers.
  3. Find the option to limit background processes and set the value without restrictions.

For advanced users, there is another way to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to manually manage autorun permissions for any application, including system ones, for example, to disable autoruns for Facebook, follow the command:

adb shell cmd appops set com.facebook.katana RUN_ANY_IN_BACKGROUND deny

⚠️ Attention: misuse ADB This can cause system instability. Make a backup copy of the data before executing the commands.

How to return auto-run for system applications?
System applications like Mi Security or Mi Cloud cannot be disabled through the standard menu. To return autorun permission after resetting, you will need to reset all permissions through Settings β†’ Applications β†’ Reset application permissions or use ADB.

Frequent Auto Start Problems and Their Solutions

Xiaomi Redmi users often face problems with auto-runs, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI If you stop receiving notifications from messengers, check not only autorun, but also permissions to display notifications and background activity.

Problem 1: The application does not start automatically, despite the auto-start enabled.

  • πŸ”Ή Check if it has been added to Battery Optimization (Settings section) β†’ Battery).
  • πŸ”Ή Make sure that the application is allowed background mode in the permission settings.
  • πŸ”Ή Restart your phone – sometimes changes only apply after a reboot.

Problem 2: Auto-run is spontaneously turned on for previously disabled applications.

  • πŸ”Ή This can happen after the update. MIUI. Check the autorun list and disable unnecessary programs again.
  • πŸ”Ή Some apps (like Google Play Services) restore their permissions through server commands. To avoid this, limit their background activity.

Problem 3: After disabling the autorun, notifications for WhatsApp or Telegram stopped coming.

  • πŸ”Ή Enable Priority Notification for these messengers in the application settings.
  • πŸ”Ή Add them to the charge saving exceptions.
  • πŸ”Ή Check if Mi Security is blocking notifications (Security section) β†’ Blocking notifications).

Auto-Run on Different Xiaomi Redmi Models: Are There Differences?

The auto-start function works the same on most Xiaomi Redmi devices, but there are nuances that depend on:

  • πŸ“± Versions MIUI β€” firmware MIUI 12 no separate control of autostart and background activity.
  • πŸ”‹ Processor models – on smartphones with Snapdragon (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro) battery optimization works more aggressively than on MediaTek (Redmi). 9A).
  • πŸ“¦ Regional firmware - in global (Global) and Chinese (China) versions MIUI There may be different default settings.

For example, on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ with MIUI 14, autoruns for system applications cannot be blocked, whereas on the Redmi 8 with MIUI 11, you can do this through Settings β†’ Permissions β†’ Autorun.

If you use custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the autostart mechanism will work according to the rules of standard Android, without the limitations of MIUI.

  • πŸ”§ Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ Special access β†’ Auto-start (if the firmware supports).
  • πŸ”§ Apps like Greenify or Brevent that allow you to β€œfreeze” background processes.

FAQ: answers to frequent questions about auto-run on Xiaomi Redmi

Can I turn off auto-start completely for all applications?
Technically, yes, but that would render most of the smartphone's functions inoperable. System services (Mi Cloud, Security, Google Play Services) would still start up, and it would be better to disable auto-run selectively for unnecessary programs.
Why did the MIUI update reset the autorun settings?
This is standard system behavior. After a major update (e.g., from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14), many resolutions are reset, including auto-run, check the settings after the update and reset them.
How do you know which application is using the most battery due to auto-start?
Go to Settings β†’ Battery and Performance β†’ Battery Use. This shows the last 24 hours of battery consumption statistics. Active auto-start applications tend to be top-ranked.
Can Auto-Run Speed Up Frequently Used Applications?
No, auto-run doesn't speed up the opening of applications; it only allows them to run in the background. Use the Quick Start feature in MIUI (available for select applications) to speed up the startup.
Is it safe to disable autoplay for Google Play Services?
Not recommended. Google Play Services is responsible for syncing your account, app updates, and many services. Disabling autoruns can cause errors in the Play Market, Gmail, and other Google apps. Instead, limit background activity in your battery settings.