How to allow work in the background Xiaomi: the complete guide

Xiaomi’s modern smartphones are famous for their performance and functionality, but aggressive optimization of the MIUI system often causes notification problems. Users often face a situation where messengers stop sending messages, and the navigator or activity tracker suddenly closes if you fold the application, this is because the system forcibly stops background processes to save battery power, sometimes doing it too zealously.

Allowing the background to work on Xiaomi is a challenge that requires understanding the multiple layers of protection built into the shell. You have to configure not only the app itself, but also the system power settings. Ignoring these settings will result in you not getting an important notification in time even with the active Internet. In this article, we will look at all the available methods, from simple switches to hidden system settings.

It's worth noting that the algorithms for the background activity may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI and the device model, but the general principle remains the same: you need to manually instruct the system not to limit the resources for the selected software. Let's take a detailed look at each step that will help you to ensure that all the necessary programs work smoothly.

Basic configuration through the Application Manager

The first and most obvious step is to set the rights directly for the problem application. Android provides a standard toolkit that is complemented by its own control features in the MIUI shell. Start at this level, because it is fundamental to further action. Without basic permissions, other settings may not work correctly.

You need to get to the application management menu first, and you can do this in two ways: through general system settings, or faster through a list of installed programs, find the application you want (like Telegram or WhatsApp) and click on it, and you will see a page with detailed information where we are interested in the "Battery Savings" section.

Here you'll see the current constraint status. By default, the system often selects the Battery Saving mode, which blocks the background activity. You need to change this to "No Limits." This action removes the software locks that the system imposes on the energy consumption of a particular process.

Once the mode change is over, the system can issue a warning that it may increase charge consumption, which is a standard battery optimizer response that needs to be alerted by validation, and now the application has been given priority, but it doesn't guarantee that it will work in the background, because the deeper level of protection, autoboot, is in effect.

Managing Autoboot and Permits

The second critical step is auto-start permission. Unlike pure Android, the MIUI shell requires explicit permission to start processes when the phone is turned on or forced to shut down by the system. If this option is disabled, the application simply will not be able to start its background services after cleaning RAM.

You can find this setting in the same app information menu where you changed the battery mode. Look for "Start." The switch should be blue. If it's turned off, even if there are notifications, the system will prevent the application from listening to the server in the background after the device is restarted.

Also, check for extended permissions. In the "Allowances" section, make sure that the application is allowed to display notifications over other windows and run in the background (if this option is made separately in your version of MIUI). Sometimes the system blocks the background mode at the security policy level, considering the application to be potentially dangerous if it tries to keep the connection constantly.

⚠️ Warning: Enabling auto-run for dozens of applications can lead to a noticeable decrease in interface speed and increased battery consumption in standby mode.

Also, be sure to check the location permissions. Many trackers and maps require access to the "Always" geo-position, not just "When in use." If you choose a time limit, navigation in the background will stop building the route once you turn off the screen.

Settings in the Security app

The central element of resource management in Xiaomi smartphones is the built-in Security app. This is where the resides main control mechanism, which often overlaps the individual settings of applications. If you did everything right in the app menu, but the problem remains, you need to look for the reason here.

Open the Security app and find the Battery section. In the upper right corner of the screen, you have a three-point button or a gear, which is the input to the settings. This is the Global Sleep Mode Switch. The system offers multiple levels of aggression, from full sleep to no limitations at all. For the background processes to work reliably, you should select No Limits or manually add apps to the exclusion list.

Special attention should be paid to the function "Memory Cleanup". In the memory cleaner settings, there is an option "Increased Memory", which can also interfere with the work of processes. In addition, the application "Security" has a separate section "Allowances" -> "Autostart", where you can massively control this setting for all programs at once.

It's important to understand that updating the application pages in the background is also regulated here. In the "Battery" -> "Charge consumption" section, you can see a list of programs that consume the most energy. By clicking on a particular application in this list, you will again be taken to the restriction menu, where you can pin the result by selecting "No restrictions", which creates a double guarantee that the optimization of MIUI will not close the process.

Fixing applications in RAM

One of the most effective, though not always obvious, methods is to fix an application in RAM, which tells the system that the application is critical and should never be unloaded when memory is cleaned or resources are scarce.

To do this, open the menu of running apps. On most Xiaomi models, this is done by swiping bottom-up with a delay or pressing the Menu button (square). In the list of open windows, find the desired application. Press your finger on the application preview or click on the lock icon (depending on the interface version) until the message "Application is locked" or the lock icon appears.

Now, even if you press the memory clean button (usually a cross or a broom), this application will remain on the list of running, the system will try to keep its processes as active as possible, this is especially true for devices with a small amount of RAM, where background processes are unloaded first.

Keep in mind that attaching too many applications can cause the system to lack the memory to run new heavy programs like games or editors, and use this method selectively, only for the most important messengers or navigators.

Disable MIUI optimization through the developer menu

If standard methods didn’t work, there’s a more radical way to disable MIUI optimization. This step opens up access to hidden debugging functions and changes the behavior of the system when working with background services. Be careful: once this option is enabled, the phone may require a reboot, and the interface will become less responsive for a short time.

First, activate the developer menu. Go to Settings -> About Phone and quickly press 7 times on MIUI Version. After you see the message "You're a developer," go back to the main settings menu. Scroll down to "More" -> "Developers."

In the hidden options list that opens, scroll down to the very end. Find the item "Enable MIUI Optimization." The switch should be active. Click on it to turn it off. The system will alert you to the risks and require you to enter the unlock password. Once confirmed, the device will restart.

⚠️ Attention: After optimizing MIUI Some system functions may not work smoothly and the interface may become less smooth.

Once you reboot, go back to the Developer Menu. Now you'll see additional items related to background processes. Make sure the backend limit is set to Standard Limit or No Limits. Also check if you have a "Do Not Activate" checkbox in your firmware version, which completely changes the logic of the Task Manager.

Specifics of working with messengers and navigation

Messengers such as Telegram, WhatsApp or Viber use special Push notification services that should always be active. Navigation applications (Yandex Navigator, 2GIS) require constant access to the GPS and screen (or its emulation), which is often perceived by the system as anomalous behavior.

For instant messengers, it is critical to have a stable Internet connection in the background. Check the mobile network settings: Data transfer should allow data to be used in the background. It is also worth turning off traffic savings for these applications, since this mode often blocks background synchronization.

Navigators, in addition to all of the above settings, often require permission to work with the lock screen. If the navigator goes out when the screen is turned off, check the lock screen settings in the navigation application itself. In addition, some Xiaomi models have an “Increase accuracy” feature, which must also be active for GPS to work correctly in the background.

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It is useful for navigators to enable the option “Do not turn off the screen” in the developer’s settings during the trip, so that the system does not go into deep sleep, interrupting the system. GPS-signal.

And the smartwatches and the wristbands, the apps that sync them (Mi Fitness, Zepp Life) should have maximum rights. If they're closed, no phone notifications will come to your wrist, and health data may be lost. And here's the rule: the more rights you give, the more stable the connection will be.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Stable application operation in the background on Xiaomi requires a comprehensive approach: battery settings, auto-start and, if necessary, disable system optimization.