Xiaomi’s current MIUI or HyperOS smartphones are famous for their functionality, but often suffer from excessive service running. Even after all windows are closed, the device continues to heat up and battery power melts in front of your eyes, a direct consequence of the numerous background tasks that consume CPU and RAM resources.
The Android operating system is inherently prone to keeping applications active for quick launch, but implementing this feature in Xiaomi firmware is often overly aggressive. System services, analytics, advertising modules and social media cache create a load that the average user does not always notice visually, but feels as interface lags. Turning off background processes becomes a necessity if you want to squeeze the maximum performance out of your gadget.
In this guide, we’ll not only break down standard application closure methods, but also delve into hidden engineering menus and developer settings, and learn how to identify voracious services and safely limit their activity without risking disrupting mission-critical system components.
Analysis of Resource Consumption in MIUI and HyperOS
Before embarking on radical shutdown measures, it is important to understand what is consuming your device’s resources. Unlike pure Android, Xiaomi’s shell has a lot of built-in services that run all the time. The standard Task Manager only shows running applications, hiding system processes like msa (advertising service) or daemon processes.
For detailed information, it is recommended to use the built-in statistics tools. Go to the Settings menu. → Battery → Charge consumption. This is a list of applications, but it's not always accurate in real time. ADB-commands to output complete statistics of running processes through the computer, which gives the most objective picture of what is happening in the system.
It's important to distinguish between user applications and system services. If you close the messenger, it will simply stop receiving messages until the next launch. However, stopping the system process of System UI or Phone can lead to a reboot of the interface or loss of communication. Careful analysis before action is the key to stable smartphone operation.
What are the most voracious Xiaomi processes?
Use of the Developer Menu
The most effective tool for managing background tasks is the hidden developer menu, which is hidden from the user’s eyes by default to prevent accidental changes to critical settings. To activate it, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly press 7 times on the MIUI version (or OS version).
Once activated, a new section will appear in the “Additional” menu, “Developers For” and we are interested in the “Applications” section, where the “Background Process Limit” option is located, where you can forcefully limit the number of simultaneous applications, and options are available: “No restrictions”, “No more than 1 process”, “No more than 2 processes”, and so on.
⚠️ Attention: Setting a strict limit (e.g., "No background processes") can cause music players to stop when switching to another screen and the navigator to reset the route.
Also on this menu, you should pay attention to the “Do not turn off screen” switch when charging – it is better to keep it off to avoid burning out the matrix. Another useful option is the “Background Limitation” for specific applications, which can be found by selecting the desired application in the list and clicking “Stop” or limiting its background activity.
☑️ Checking the developer's settings
Forced Stop and Freeze of Applications
The standard way to close applications via swipe in the recent task menu in Xiaomi is often inefficient, as many programs automatically restart. For deeper cleaning, use the application management menu. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps.
Select an app you don't currently need (like a game or store you're not using right now) and click Stop. This action will force all the processes associated with it to be terminated and your RAM cleared of its data.
For users looking for a permanent solution, there are special “freeze” utilities (such as Ice Box or Shizuku) that require ADB or root access rights, which allow applications to be put into a “freeze” state, in which the system considers them remote, and they cannot run any background process until the user defrosts.
- 📱 Stop through Settings: A secure method for any application, does not require superuser rights.
- ❄️ Freeze: The radical method that completely blocks the application until you activate it yourself.
- 🚫 Disable: Available for some system applications, turns them into non-working shortcuts, freeing up resources.
💡
Forced shutdown gives a temporary effect, while freezing or disabling system applications through ADB allows you to permanently get rid of unnecessary background noise.
Disabling System Advertising and Analytics
One of the main reasons for the load on the processor in Xiaomi devices is the built-in advertising and telemetry collection. msa (MIUI System Ads) service is responsible for displaying ads in system applications. its shutdown will not only remove advertising, but also reduce the load on the network and processor.
To turn off the ad, go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Access to Personal Data. Find the msa service in the list and turn off the switch. The system will try to dissuade you by running a countdown timer, you need to wait for it to end and confirm the action. A similar procedure is worth doing for GetApps and Mi Video if you do not use them.
It is also recommended to disable ad personalization. Go to the Security app → Settings (cogs) → Get recommendations and turn off this option. This will prevent Xiaomi servers from constantly checking for new ad banners to display in folders and menus.
| Service/Process | Function | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| msa | Systemic advertising | It's imperative to turn it off. |
| Analytics | Collection of usage statistics | Turn off the security. |
| Daemon | Systemic demons | Don't touch (risk of failure) |
| Cloud | Synchronization of Mi Cloud | Disable if not in use |
Optimizing battery performance and background activity
The MIUI shell has an aggressive energy saving strategy that, paradoxically, sometimes interferes with normal operation, but also allows you to manually manage background activity. In Settings → Battery, you can customize the behavior of each application individually. Click on the gear in the upper right corner and select "Application Charge Savings."
Here, for each installed application, you can choose from three modes: “No Limits”, “Energy Saving” and “Strong Limits”. For instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram), it is critical to leave the “No Limits” mode, otherwise notifications will stop coming on time. For games, video editors and rarely used utilities, feel free to put a Strong Limit.
You should also check the AutoStart section. Many applications prescribe themselves to boot to start with the system. Open the Security app → Permissions → Autostart and leave only those programs that need to run constantly (for example, an alarm clock or activity tracker).
⚠️ Note: If you turn off auto-start for Google or Mi Cloud system services, syncing contacts and photos may stop working.Be selective when cleaning this list.
Advanced methods: ADB and system debris removal
For advanced users who want to completely clear the system of pre-installed software (bloatware), there is a method of using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to remove or disable system applications that are not removed by standard methods through the smartphone interface.
You will need a computer to work, USB-cable and installed driver ADB. After the debugging is activated, USB on a smartphone (Settings) → For developers → Debugging by USB), Connect the device to the PC. using the command adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 The name.packet can be removed from a specific system component.
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.misys
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.analyticsThese teams will disable system analytics services and_miscellaneous_ Important: Before removing any system packages, it is strongly recommended to make a full backup of data, since removing a critical component (for example, com.android.phone) may cause the device to fail.
- 💻 PC: The method is impossible without a computer and cable.
- ⚠️ High risk: A bug in the packet name can 'brick' the phone.
- 🚀 Maximum effect: Allows you to remove what is hidden from the user.