How to completely disable background processes on Xiaomi: a detailed guide

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones are known for their versatility, but they often suffer from excessive resource consumption in the background. Even when you’re not actively using apps, they continue to work in a hidden mode: update data, send notifications, synchronize files. This not only drains the battery 15-30% faster, but also slows down the system, especially on budget models of Redmi or POCO with 4-6 GB of RAM.

In this article, we will analyze all available ways to disable background processes - from standard settings. MIUI You will learn how to stop unnecessary services without compromising the basic functions of the phone, which applications can be safely frozen and which are best left active. MIUI 14: Automatically limiting the background for new apps after installation that few people know about.

Why the background processes are eating up Xiaomi resources

MIUI is initially optimized for multitasking, but this feature often turns into a problem. Even after closing the application through the recent task menu (home button → swipe up), many programs continue to hang in memory.

• 🔄 Autosynchronization: Apps like Facebook, Instagram, or Telegram are constantly updating your feed, even if you don’t use them.
• 📱 Google Play Services, Google App and Google Play Market consume up to 10% of the charge per day.
• 🔋 Optimization MIUI: The system decides what processes the user needs and keeps them in memory (for example, Mi Video or Mi Browser).
• 🛠️ Manufacturer services: mipush, msa (Xiaomi advertising services) and com.xiaomi.midrop (file transfer) work around the clock.

According to XDA Developers tests, Xiaomi smartphones with 6GB of RAM in the background can simultaneously hang up to 40-50 processes, of which only 10-15 are really necessary for stable operation.

Method 1: Limiting the background through MIUI settings

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which are suitable for beginners and do not require super-user rights.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application you want (such as TikTok or AliExpress).
3. Slip on Permissions → Autostart and turn off the slider.
4. Go back and select Battery → Background Limit (in some versions, Limit background activity).
5. Set a limit on Strictly or Optimized.

For mass blackout:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Management.
2. Select the Apps and tick the ones you want to limit.
3. Click Limit and confirm the action.

Don’t limit system applications (start with “com.android” or “com.miui”)

Check if the application uses push notifications (for example, messengers)

Turn off auto-update for the app on Google Play

Backup important data (for example, for banking applications)

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⚠️ Note: Do not limit background activity for Google Play Services – this can lead to loss of functionality (maps will not work, contact sync, some games.

Method 2: Using the Battery mode

MIUI offers three pre-configured power modes that automatically limit background processes, a method that is suitable for those who do not want to manually configure each application.

To activate the mode:

1. Open Settings → Battery and Performance.
2. Select Battery Mode.
3. Slip on the desired option (we recommend "Saving charge" for maximum effect).
4. Turn on the option to automatically switch if you want the system to choose the mode depending on the level of charge.

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If you are using Charge Saving mode but some apps (such as messengers) have stopped updating, add them to the exceptions. Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Mode Settings → Exceptions and check the desired programs.

⚠️ Warning: In the mode "Saving charge" may stop working:

• 🔔 Notifications from certain applications (e.g, VK WhatsApp).
• 📍 Background geolocation (navigators like Google Maps or Yandex.Maps will not update the route in real time).
• ⏬ Automatic file uploading (for example, photos in Telegram or VKontakte).

Method 3: Manually Closing Processes through Security

MIUI has a built-in Security tool that allows you to manually close background processes and clear RAM, a method that is useful when the phone starts to brake due to congestion.

Instructions:

1. Open the Security app (the shield icon).
2. Go to Accelerate (or Optimize in older versions) tab.
3. Click Clean - the system will show a list of working processes.
4. You can: 🧹 Clear everything (clearing the memory). ⚙️ Selectively close unnecessary processes (stick on the icon) ⋮ → Autostart control).

For automatic cleaning:

1. In the same section Accelerate, press the gear. ⚙️ top-right.
2. Turn on the Auto Clean option.
3. Set the interval (we recommend every 3 hours).

⚠️ Attention: Frequent forced memory cleaning can increase battery consumption, because after cleaning, applications have to reboot to RAM, which requires additional resources.

Method 4: Disconnect via ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don't work, you can use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool to completely block auto-runs for selected applications, including system ones, which requires a computer connection and basic command line knowledge.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on PC.
2. On your phone, turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version. Tap the version number 7 times until the notification appears You became a developer!.

Settings → Additional → For Developers

USB debugging

Terminal

adb devices

If the device is displayed, enter:

adb shell pm list packages

To see a list of all installed applications.

Facebook

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

Replace com.facebook.katana with the package of the desired application.

List of popular packs to disable:

• 📱 com.miui.analytics – Xiaomi Analytics Collection.
• 📊 com.xiaomi.mipicks - Application recommendations.
• 🎵 com.miui.player - Mi Music player.
• 🛒 com.xiaomi.shop – Xiaomi’s branded store.

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Disabling system applications via ADB can cause the phone to run unstable.Be sure to back up through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset before executing commands.

Method 5: Using Third-Party Applications

If you don't want to go through the settings manually, you can use specialized utilities that offer more flexible back-end management than standard MIUI tools.

Top.-3 applications:

Guidelines for using Greenify (the easiest option):

1. Download and install Greenify from Google Play.
2. Launch the app and give access to special features (Settings → Special Features → Greenify).
3. Add the apps to the hibernation list (tap on "+" and select the ones you need).
4. Enable the option of automatic hibernation.

⚠️ Note: Apps like Greenify may conflict with system optimizations MIUI. If after installation the phone began to overheat or discharge quickly, remove the utility and use standard methods.

What happens if you turn off all background processes?

Turning off the background may seem like the perfect solution, but in practice, it's going to be a lot of problems.

• ❌ There will be no notifications from messengers, social networks and mail.

The best approach is to selectively shut down.

• 📩 Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber).
• 🔔 Applications with important notifications (banks, delivery, work).
• 📍 Navigators (Google Maps, Yandex.Maps, 2GIS).
• ☁️ Cloud services (Google Drive, Yandex.Disk) if you use autosynchronization.

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The best balance between battery savings and functionality is achieved by turning off the background for games, social networks and rarely used applications, while maintaining activity for instant messengers and system services.

FAQ: Frequent questions about background processes on Xiaomi