How to Turn Off Optimization on Xiaomi: MIUI Optimized, Background Processes and Autoboot

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO are known for aggressive system optimization, which often interferes with application performance, worsens multitasking and even reduces battery life. The manufacturer implements several levels of “optimization” at once, from background process restriction to forced application closure a few minutes after curtailment. In this article, we will understand how to disable optimization on Xiaomi completely or partially – from standard settings to hidden developer parameters.

The main problem is that MIUI defaults to activate MIUI Optimized (formerly MIUI Optimization), which is responsible for aggressive memory and process management, which causes messengers to stop receiving notifications, music players to stop after 5 minutes in the background, and games lose progress when switching. Fortunately, most of these limitations can be removed — but this will require not only to dig into the settings, but also to understand what optimization mechanisms are active on your device.

What is “optimization” in Xiaomi and why it should be turned off

The term "optimization" in MIUI is used to describe a range of functions that, in theory, should extend battery life and speed up the system, but in practice, these mechanisms often work against the user:

• 🔋 Aggressively closing background processes – the system kills applications through 5-15 minutes after curtailment, even if they are critical (for example, navigators or messengers).
• ⚡ Autoboot Limitation – Applications cannot start automatically after the device is restarted.
• 📱 Block notifications – some apps stop showing push notifications for no apparent reason.
• 🔄 Slowing down animations – the system artificially reduces the frame rate in the interface to “save charge".
• 🚫 Blocking backgrounds for certain apps – for example, YouTube Music or Spotify stop playing music when the screen is locked.

The main culprit behind these problems is MIUI Optimized, which is enabled by default on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices. Not only does it manage background processes, it also override Android standard settings, ignoring the application priorities set by the user. For example, even if you manually let an app run in the background, MIUI can ignore this decision in a few hours.

Disabling optimization is especially important for:

• 🎮 Gamers – so that the games are not unloaded from memory when switching to the messenger.
• 🚗 Drivers – for stable operation of navigators (Yandex.Navigator, Google Maps, Waze).
• 💬 Active users of instant messengers – so that Telegram, WhatsApp or Viber do not lose the connection.
• 🎵 Melomanov - for uninterrupted music playback in the background.
• 🤖 Developers – so that debugging applications do not close arbitrarily.

Method 1: Disable MIUI Optimized through Developer Settings

The most effective method is to completely disable MIUI Optimized, which is responsible for most problems, but this option is hidden in the developer menu and requires pre-activation.

Steps to shut down:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times in a row on the MIUI Version (you will be notified "You are a developer").

Settings → Additional → For Developers

Settings → System → Advanced settings → For developers

MIUI optimization

MIUI Optimized

Turn it off.

Restart the device and the changes will take effect.

⚠️ Note: Some models (Xiaomi 12, Xiaomi 13, Redmi Note 11 and later) after the shutdown MIUI Optimized may have problems with navigation gestures. If swipes stop working, return the setting back and use alternative methods from the following sections.

If you notice unstable system operation after disabling MIUI Optimized, try an alternative method – manually adjusting background processes (described in the next section).

Method 2: Manual control of background processes without disabling MIUI Optimized

If you're having a problem with optimizing completely, or you're afraid of side effects, you can fine-tune the behavior of individual applications, which is less radical, but takes longer.

Instructions for setting:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application you want (such as Telegram or Google Maps).
3. Go to Battery (or Energy Consumption on new MIUI versions).
4. Select No Limits (or No Limits) mode.
5. Go back and open Permissions → Autostart, turn on permission.
6. In the Other permissions section, find Show pop-ups and Lock screen, activate them.

💡

If the app is closed in the background anyway, try installing it. APK-version with Doze disabled (for example, modified Telegram or YouTube Music builds from third-party developers).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14 and later, some menu items may be called differently. For example, instead of AutoRun, you can have AutoRun, and instead of Without Limits, you can have No Energy Saving. If you don't find the right item, use the settings search (the magnifying icon in the upper right corner).

Method 3: Use ADB-teams for deep optimization

If standard methods do not help, you can resort to ADB-This method requires connecting the phone to the computer, but allows you to completely disable background restrictions for specific applications at the system level.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install. ADB-computer-assist.
2. Activate USB debugging on your phone: Go to Settings → Developer. Enable USB debugging.

Connect the phone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.

Terminal

adb devices

(The name of your device should appear).

Next, run the command to disable battery optimization for a particular application (replace com.example.app with an app package, for example, org.telegram.messenger for Telegram):

adb shell dumpsys deviceidle whitelist +com.example.app

To check which apps are already on the whitelist, use:

adb shell dumpsys deviceidle whitelist

To completely disable Doze mode (deep battery optimization) perform:

adb shell dumpsys deviceidle force-idle

⚠️ Warning: Disabling Doze can significantly reduce battery life. Use this method only for mission-critical applications (navigators, messengers, medical trackers).

Method 4: Alternative firmware (for advanced users)

If you're not comfortable with standard MIUI and its optimizations, you might want to consider custom firmware.

• 📱 Xiaomi.EU – modified version MIUI without Chinese services and with advanced optimization settings.
• 🤖 LineageOS – “pure” Android without unnecessary background processes.
• ⚡ Pixel Experience – firmware with interface from Google Pixel and minimal optimization.
• 🔧 ArrowOS – lightweight open source firmware.

Advantages of custom firmware:

• ✅ No forced closure of applications.
• ✅ More control over background processes.
• ✅ No Advertising and Unnecessary Xiaomi Services.
• ✅ Regular security updates.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Installation difficulty (requires unlocking the loader).
• ❌ Possible bugs (not all camera or sensor features may work).
• ❌ Loss of warranty on most devices).

💡

Installing custom firmware is an extreme method, and if you're not willing to risk the stability of the device, you'd better use standard settings or ADB-team.

To install custom firmware will require:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool.
2. Install TWRP Recovery or other custom Recovery.
3. Download firmware from the official website (for example, Xiaomi.EU or LineageOS).
4. Perform a full backup of data and flash the device.

Method 5: Using third-party utilities to manage optimization

If manual settings seem too complicated, you can use specialized applications that automate the process of disabling optimization.

Example of working with Greenify:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Provide all necessary permissions (including Special Access in MIUI settings).
3. Add problematic apps to the hibernation list (like Facebook, Instagram, which often work in the background needlessly).
4. Activate Aggressive Doze (ROOT required for full effect)

⚠️ Attention: Some applications (e.g, MIUI Battery Optimizer requires root rights. If you're not ready to receive ROOT, Use only those utilities that work without it (e.g. Greenify or AutoStart).

Frequent problems after optimisation disabling and their solutions

Disabling optimization can have unexpected consequences, and let's look at some of the most common problems and ways to fix them:

• 🔋 Fast battery discharge - if after switching off the optimization, the phone began to discharge for a short time 3-4 Check which apps consume the most power in Settings → Battery → Battery use: Messengers or social networks that are constantly synchronized in the background are the most commonly to blame. Solution: manually limit background activity for unnecessary apps.
• 🐢 Lags and slowdowns – if the system is running slower, try clearing the cache in Settings → Memory. → Clean. Also help disabling animations in the developer settings (Window animation scale, Transition animation scale - set Off.).
• 📵 Navigation gestures do not work – if after switching off MIUI Optimized swipes stopped working, return the setting back and use ADB-commands to point-off optimization only for the desired applications.
• 🔊 Missing notifications – check if they block MIUI At the system level, go to Settings. → Notifications → Setting up app notifications and manually enable impressions for the desired applications.
• 🎵 Music stops when you lock the screen – open the settings of the player app (for example, Spotify or YouTube Music) and activate the option Play in the background. Also check if the mode is on Saving battery power in the notification curtain.

If none of these methods worked, try resetting to factory settings (with pre-data backup) and repeating the optimisation disabling procedure.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions