How to completely disable background processes on Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI HyperOS is known for its multitasking, but excessive background processes often cause rapid battery discharge, overheating and slowing down. The manufacturer by default leaves many system and third-party applications active in the background - from Google services to proprietary utilities like Mi Security or Cleaner. As a result, even after the application is closed, it can continue to consume resources, send notifications or synchronize data.

In this article, we will analyze all possible ways to disable background processes - from standard settings. MIUI/HyperOS You will learn how to suspend unnecessary services without root rights, which applications can be safely restricted and which ones should not be touched. We will pay special attention to the difference between freezing processes and completely shutting them down - this is critical for the stability of the smartphone, POCO, Xiaomi on Android 11–14.

Why background processes eat charge and how to identify them

Before you turn something off, it's important to understand which processes are to blame for the problems. MIUI/HyperOS background activity is divided into three categories:

• 🔄 System services are critical to operating systems (such as the Android System or MiuiDaemon) and may cause disruptions.
• 📱 Third-party apps are messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram), social networks (Facebook, TikTok), games, and most often they are the ones responsible for the battery discharge.
• ⚙️ Xiaomi's proprietary utilities are Mi Cloud, Themes, Security, many of which duplicate Google's features and can be disabled.

To identify the “gluttonous” processes, use the built-in battery monitor:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Use.
2. Click on the consumption chart and select the Last Charge period.
3. Pay attention to apps marked Background Activity or High Consumption.

It is also useful to use third-party tools like AccuBattery (showing detailed stats of the discharge) or Greenify (analyzing background processes), which, by the way, can automatically suspend unnecessary services, as we will discuss below.

⚠️ Note: Do not disable processes with the names com.android. or miui. manually through ADB This may result in loss of functionality (for example, notifications or mobile network will stop working).

Method 1: Limiting background activity through settings MIUI/HyperOS

The safest and easiest method is to use built-in restriction tools. MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS this is done via the AutoRun and Battery menu.

Step 1: Disabling Auto-Run Applications

Auto-start allows applications to start automatically when you turn on your phone or connect to the network, to turn it off:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select AutoRun.
3. Sort the list by Last AutoRun and disable sliders from unnecessary apps (like games or stores).

Step 2: Limit background activity

Even without auto-run, apps can run in the background to fix this:

1. In the same Application Management menu, select the desired application.
2. Go to Battery Use.
3. Select Restricted (in HyperOS) or Unlimited → Limit background activity (in) MIUI).

For mass blackout:

• 🔋 B Settings → Battery → Battery mode select Energy Saving or Super Energy Saving (limit background activity for all applications).
• ⚡ B Settings → Special facilities → Battery activate Battery Optimization (hidden background activity notifications).

Disable auto-start for unnecessary applications |

Set the battery mode "Energy saving"|

Limit background activity for social networks and messengers|

Check the list of exceptions in Battery Optimization"-->

Method 2: Using Greenify to Freeze Applications

Greenify is a utility that pauses background processes without completely shutting them down. Unlike standard settings, it works at the Android level, not the Android level. MIUI, This is why it is more effective to block activity.

How to set up Greenify

1. Download Greenify from Google Play (the free version is quite functional).
2. At the first start, provide access to special features (necessary for the utility to work).
3. On the main menu, click + and select the apps to “freeze” (e.g. Facebook, Instagram, Mi Browser).
4. Activate Hibernate Now (forced to suspend selected processes).

For automatic suspension:

• 🔄 Enable Auto Freeze in Greenify Settings.
• 📵 Add the utility to the battery optimization exceptions (otherwise, the system can block its operation).

Greenify doesn't delete apps, it just puts them to sleep before the next obvious launch, which is safer than shutting them down completely. ADB, But requires manual adjustment for new applications.

⚠️ Warning: Do not add system apps like Settings, Phone Services or Google Play Services to Greenify, which can disrupt your phone, including mobile communications and notifications.

Method 3: Disabling background processes through ADB (power-user)

If standard methods do not help, you can use the commands. ADB (This will completely disable unnecessary system services, but requires caution.

Preparation for working with ADB

1. Enable Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times)
2. Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Download. ADB Tools on PC (e.g. Google Platform Tools).
4. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: Adb devices (the device should appear in the list).

Commands to disable background processes

Here is a list of safe commands to limit background activity:

To find the batch name of the application, use the command:

adb shell pm list packages | grep "appendix name"

For example, to turn off Instagram background activity:

adb shell cmd appops set com.instagram.android RUN_ANY_IN_BACKGROUND deny

⚠️ Note: pm disable-user and pm uninstall commands remove or disable applications permanently before manually turning on. Do not apply them to system packages like com.google.android.gsf or com.xiaomi.finddevice – this can disrupt Google Play or Xiaomi features.

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Before mass disabling applications through ADB Backup the packet list with the adb shell pm list packages command > packages.txt. This will help restore disabled services if something goes wrong.

Method 4: Manually remove unnecessary system applications (no root rights)

Many background processes are run by pre-installed applications that cannot be removed by standard means. ADB rootless.

List of safe to remove Xiaomi apps

Below are packages that can be removed without risk to the system (but check before you do):

How to remove applications through ADB

1. Connect your phone to your PC and activate Debugging via USB.
2. Run the command to delete (for example, for Mi Browser): adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.browser
3. Reset the device.

If you want to simply disable the app (without deleting it), use:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.browser

To return the application back:

adb shell pm enable com.android.browser

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Removing System Applications Through ADB It doesn't require root rights, but it only applies to the current user, and once you reset your settings or update your firmware, the remote packets can be restored.

Method 5: Set up Firewall to block network activity

Many background processes consume traffic and battery power due to constant network activity (synchronization, analytics, advertising), and a firewall will help solve this problem.

Applications for blocking network traffic

For Xiaomi, it's okay:

• 🛡️ NetGuard – blocks Internet access for selected applications (works without root rights).
• 🔒 AFWall+ — More flexible firewall, but requires root rights.
• 🌐 Blokada – Blocks Advertising and Trackers at Level DNS (no rooting).

How to set up NetGuard

1. Download NetGuard from Google Play or F-Droid.
2. At the first launch, provide access to VPN (necessary to intercept traffic).
3. In the main menu, turn off the Internet for unnecessary applications (for example, Facebook, TikTok, Mi Ads).
4. Activate the option to Block when roaming if you want to save traffic.

NetGuard allows you to create rules for Wi-Fi and mobile networks separately, for example, you can allow WhatsApp to work only on Wi-Fi, and in the mobile network to block.

⚠️ Note: Blocking network access for system applications (e.g. Google Play Services) may result in sync errors or inability to download updates.

Additional tips for optimizing background processes

In addition to direct shutdown methods, there are several indirect ways to reduce the load from background processes:

• 🔄 Turn off sync for unnecessary accounts: Settings → Accounts. → Synchronization → Turn off the sliders for unnecessary data
• 📵 Limit notifications: Settings → Notifications → Turn off notifications for underutilized applications
• ⚡ Use "Game Mode": Settings → Special facilities → Game mode → Add apps that don’t have to work in the background
• 🗑️ Clean the cache regularly: Settings → Warehouse → Clear cache (does not delete application data!)

It is also useful to disable automatic updates of applications in Google Play:

1. Open Google Play → click on the profile avatar.
2. Go to Settings. → Network preferences → Auto-update of applications.
3. Choose Do Not Update Automatically or Wi-Fi Only.

If you are using HyperOS, pay attention to the Deep Optimization feature:

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Battery → Deep optimization.
• Add to the list the applications that should work as efficiently as possible (for example, instant messengers).
• The rest of the applications will be automatically limited to the system.

What to do if after switching off background processes there are problems

Sometimes, excessive back-end restriction causes problems: no notifications, no data updates, no mobile Internet, here's how to fix it:

If, after the manipulation, ADB The phone was unstable:

1. Check the list of disabled packets by command: adb shell pm list packages -d
2. Enable back critical services: adb shell pm enable <packet>
3. If you do not remember that you have turned off, reset the settings (Settings). → The phone. → Resetting settings), but it will delete all data!

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Before the experiments with ADB or delete system applications make a backup through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset → Local backup, which will quickly restore the phone to work.

FAQ: Frequent questions about turning off background processes on Xiaomi