How to completely disable the background mode on Xiaomi Redmi 8T: 5 Proven Methods

Xiaomi Redmi 8T — A popular smartphone with a balance of performance and price, but many users face a problem: apps continue to run in the background, draining the battery and loading the system. Unlike flagship models, where background activity is optimized at the firmware level, budget devices often require manual tuning.This article will help you figure out how to completely or selectively turn off the background mode on your Redmi. 8T, without sacrificing critical functions of messengers or system services.

It’s important to understand that the background is not just “evil,” but also a mechanism for providing notifications, data synchronization, and smooth multitasking, such as turning off WhatsApp background activity, you’ll stop receiving real-time messages. So we're going to look at both the global settings (for all applications at once) and the point constraints for individual programs. MIUI, which are not obvious at first glance.

If you notice that your smartphone is rapidly discharged, warmed for no apparent reason, or “brake” when switching between apps, it’s probably background activity that’s to blame. In this article, you’ll find step-by-step instructions with screenshots (interface descriptions), a table comparing disabling techniques, and answers to frequent questions.

Complete background shutdown via "Special Permits"

This method allows you to ban background activity for all applications except system ones. It is suitable if you want to maximize battery life, but are willing to sacrifice notifications from messengers and social networks.

To activate the global constraint:

Open Settings → Applications → Permissions → Special Permits.
Select the Background Limitation (in some versions) MIUI This may be called Background Activity Limitation).
Activate the switch to limit background activity for all applications.
In the window that appears, confirm the action by pressing OK.

After applying this option, the smartphone can last 15-25% longer, but some features will become unavailable.

📱 Messengers (Telegram, Viber) will not show notifications in real time.
🔄 Synchronization of email, calendar or cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud) will only occur when you open the application.
🎵 Music services (Spotify, Yandex Music) will stop playing tracks in the background.

⚠️ Note: This method does not block background activity of system processes MIUI (For example, com.miui.securitycenter or com.android.systemui. ADB-commands that can disrupt the stability of the smartphone.

📊 Have you ever completely turned off the background on your Xiaomi?

Yeah, to save the battery.

No, I'm afraid of losing notices.

I tried it, but went back to standard settings.

I don't know what that is.

2. Point-off background for individual applications

If you need to leave background activity for messengers or navigation services, but limit it to other programs, use custom settings. This method is more flexible and recommended for most users of Redmi. 8T.

Step instructions:

Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
Select the app you want to limit background activity for (like Facebook or TikTok).
Click on Permits. → Additionally. → Limit background activity.
Activate the switch and confirm the action.

For convenience, we have compiled a list of applications, the background activity of which can be safely turned off without loss of functionality:

🎮 Games (PUBG Mobile, Clash of Clans – background activity is only required for event notifications.
📺 Streaming services (YouTube, Twitch) – without a background there will be no autoplay in the player.
🛒 Stores and marketplaces (AliExpress, Wildberries) – background is only needed for tracking orders.
📊 Analytics and fitness (Google Fit, Mi Fitness) – if you do not use constant monitoring.

For applications that cannot be limited:

💬 Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) – loss of notifications.
📍 Navigators (Google Maps, Yandex.Maps) – will not work in the background.
🔔 System services (Mi Cloud, Google Play Services) – can cause errors in the smartphone.

Make a backup copy of important data

Check the list of apps that need a background

Turn off auto-update apps on Google Play

Close all active tasks in the application manager

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3.Use of Battery mode for automatic background control

MIUI It offers a built-in power optimization tool called Battery Mode, which automatically limits background activity for applications that are rarely used but keep instant messengers and system services running. This method is ideal for those who do not want to manually configure each application.

How to turn on:

Open Settings → Battery and Performance.
Select Battery Mode.
Activate Smart Battery or Super Battery Mode (depending on version) MIUI).
Click Setup and select the apps you want to keep background activity for.

Comparison of Battery Modes on Redmi 8T:

Regime.	Background restriction	Impact on notifications	Saving charge
No restrictions.	❌ No.	✅ All notifications come in.	⚠️ Minimum (5-10%)
Smart battery	⚠️ Partial (for rarely used applications)	✅ Notifications from messengers are saved	✅ Medium (15-20%)
Super Battery mode	✅ Complete (except for hand-selected)	❌ Notifications are coming with a delay	✅ Maximum (25-30%)
Manual restraint	✅ Full control of the user	⚠️ Depends on the settings.	✅ Up to 35% (with aggressive restrictions)

Important: In Super Battery mode, some applications (such as Google Play Services) can be automatically excluded from the restrictions, as their operation is critical for stability. MIUI. If you notice that after activating this mode, the smartphone began to “slow down”, try adding problematic applications to the list of exceptions.

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If notifications from banking applications (e.g. SberBank Online) have stopped coming after SuperBattery mode is turned on, add them to the exceptions manually. → Battery → Super Battery mode → Exceptions and mark the required programs.

4. disable Auto-Run Applications (Hidden Function) MIUI)

Many users don’t know that Xiaomi has a hidden setup called app auto-run, which allows apps to automatically start when you turn on your smartphone or after you reboot them, even if you haven’t opened them, which is one of the main reasons for uncontrolled background activity.

How to turn off autostart:

Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select AutoRun.
Turn off switches for unnecessary apps (e.g. Facebook, Instagram, games).
For system applications (such as Mi Video or Mi Music), click Disable and confirm the action.

Applications that can be safely disabled from auto-start:

🎬 Video players (MX Player, VLC) — don't need auto-start.
📷 Photo editors (Snapseed, PicsArt) – run only manually.
🎮 Games – Auto-run only interferes, increasing the boot time of the system.
🛒 Shops (AliExpress, Ozon) – do not require background activity.

Applications that are better left in auto-run:

📱 System Services (Google Play Services, Mi Cloud).
🔔 Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram).
📍 Navigators (Google Maps, Yandex.Maps).
🏦 Banking applications (if you use push notifications).

⚠️ Warning: Disabling autoruns for system applications (e.g. com.miui.securitycenter) may cause disruptions MIUI, If the changes cause the smartphone to become unstable, return the autorun settings to the factory settings (Settings) → Annexes → Three points. → Resetting auto-start settings).

5.Use of ADB-commands for deep background shutdown (for advanced)

If standard methods do not give enough effect, you can use debugging on the ADB. This method allows you to completely block background activity even for those applications that MIUI It doesn't limit the interface, but it does require connecting the smartphone to the computer and basic command line knowledge.

Step-by-step:

Enable Developer Mode on Redmi 8T: Go to Settings. → About the phone. Press 7 times on the version. MIUI, until you have been notified you have become a developer!.

USB debugging

Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
Find the USB Debugging and turn it on.
Connect your smartphone to your computer and open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux).
Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
Ban background activity for a specific app (e.g. Facebook): adb shell cmd appops set com.facebook.katana RUN_IN_BACKGROUND Replace com.facebook.katana with the desired application package (you can find out through App Inspector or adb shell pm list packages).

List of popular application packages for ADB-team:

📘 Facebook: com.facebook.katana
📷 Instagram: com.instagram.android
🎵 Spotify: com.spotify.music
📺 YouTube: com.google.android.youtube
🎮 PUBG Mobile: com.tencent.ig

To return background activity, use the command:

adb shell cmd appops set [application package] RUN_IN_BACKGROUND allow

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB-Teams can lead to disruptions in work MIUI. Don’t apply restrictions on system packages (e.g. com.android.systemui or com.miui.home) unless you’re sure of the consequences. ADB-restrictions will be removed.

How to find out the application package without ADB?

If you don't have access to your computer, you can find the app package through the free App Inspector app (available on Google Play). Once installed, open it, find the app you want in the list, and copy the value of the Package Name field.

6.Alternative methods: third-party apps and Greenify

If you don’t want to mess with the settings MIUI or ADB, You can use third-party utilities, the most popular of which is Greenify, which allows you to "sleep" unnecessary programs, preventing them from running in the background, but still saves notifications from messengers and other critical services.

How to set up Greenify on Redmi 8T:

Download and install Greenify from Google Play.
Launch the application and grant rights ADB (If required, or simply choose a no root mode.
Press the badge. + Choose the apps you want to “sleep down".
Activate the option Automatic hibernation in the settings.

The benefits of Greenify:

✅ No root rights (works in limited mode).
✅ Save notifications from messengers.
✅ Allows you to create whitelists for critical applications.
✅ Saves up to 20% of battery life.

Disadvantages:

❌ There is no automatic hibernation for all applications in the free version.
❌ Some apps (like Facebook) may wake up when they receive push notifications.
❌ Requires manual configuration for new applications.

Alternatives to Greenify:

🔋 Battery Doctor – a simple optimizer with background restriction function.
🛡️ Servicely – for advanced users (requires root).

💡

The side of an app like Greenify is a good trade-off between manual setup and full automation. ADB, But he wants to control the background.

7. Checking Results: How to Make Sure the Background is Off

After any changes are made, it is important to check if background activity is limited. MIUI third-party.

Method 1: Using Battery Statistics

Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Use.
Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Consumption Statistics.
Check which apps consume charge in the background (marked as background).

Method 2: Through ADB-team

To see a list of apps with active background mode, type:

adb shell dumpsys deviceidle force-idle

Then check the status:

adb shell dumpsys deviceidle get deep

Method 3: By means of CPU Monitor OS Monitor

These apps show the actual CPU usage of each application, if you turn off the background, you see that the program is still loading. CPU In the background, the restriction didn't work:

✅ Messengers: 0-2% CPU background.
✅ Games/social media: 0% CPU (if not open).
❌ System processes: up to 5–10% CPU (It's okay).

If, after all the manipulations, background activity remains high, the problem may be:

📱 Viruses or malware – check your smartphone with antivirus (Malwarebytes).
🔋 Worn-out battery – if the smartphone is discharged even without active processes, it may require a battery replacement.

FAQ: Frequent questions about turning off background

❓ Why did Viber stop sending notifications after the background was turned off?

Notifications stopped coming because Viber (like other messengers) relies on background activity to receive messages.To fix this, add Viber to exceptions: Go to Settings → Battery → Super Battery mode → Exceptions: Find Viber in the list and activate the switch. Also check the notification settings inside Viber itself (Settings). → Notifications).

❓ Can I turn off the background mode for Google Play Services?

It is highly discouraged to disable background activity for com.google.android.gms (Google Play Services), which is responsible for: Google account sync, Google Play Market, push notifications for many applications, geolocation and Google Maps. If you want to limit your activity, use it. ADB-command: adb shell cmd appops set com.google.android.gms RUN_IN_BACKGROUND But be prepared for smartphone malfunctions, including app download errors or lost notifications.

❓ How to return everything back, if after turning off the background, the smartphone began to slow down?

If you notice lags or errors after limiting background activity, follow the following steps: Reset battery settings: Settings → Battery → Three points. → Reset settings. Return. ADB-Restrictions: For each application, run: adb shell cmd appops set [package] RUN_IN_BACKGROUND allow reboot: sometimes just reboot your smartphone to make the changes take effect. reset to factory: if nothing helps, reset through Settings → The phone. → Reset settings (don’t forget to make a backup copy!).

❓ Why some apps still work in the background?

There are several reasons why restrictions may not work: System applications: MIUI Blocks restrictions on critical services (e.g. com.miui.securitycenter).Push notifications: Some apps (e.g. Facebook) use Firebase Cloud Messaging, which bypasses background restrictions.Updates MIUI: Root access: without it, some restrictions (for example, through Greenify) work incompletely. To completely block the background, you will need: Get root rights (risky for stability). Use the Xposed Framework with the Amplify module (for power users).

❓ Is there a difference between Redmi? 8T and other Xiaomi models?

There are a few key differences: The model version MIUI Availability of Super Battery Mode Support ADB-Redmi's limitations 8T 11–12 ✅ Yes. ✅ Yes, Redmi Note 9 12-13 ✅ Yes. ✅ Yes Poco. X3 12–14 ✅ Yes (called Ultra Battery Saver") ✅ Yes Mi 11 12.5-14 ✅ Yes. + adaptive mode ✅ Yes (with additional options) on Redmi 8T There are no features of the new models, for example: adaptive battery: automatically adjusts to the user's habits (available on the Internet). MIUI 12.5+). Deep Optimization: More aggressive background restriction (emerged in the MIUI Separate background and auto-start control: on new models, these settings are divided into 8T They're partially duplicated.