How to turn off the background on Xiaomi Redmi 9: 5 proven ways

The background mode on Xiaomi Redmi 9 is one of the most controversial features of the MIUI shell. On the one hand, it allows applications to update content in real time (for example, messengers or mail), and on the other, it causes accelerated battery discharge, overheating and lag, especially on budget models like Redmi 9, where hardware resources are limited.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can disable the background, from standard MIUI 12/13/14 settings to hidden ADB commands and third-party tools. You’ll learn how to disable background activity for individual applications or globally for the entire system without disrupting its stability. Importantly, some methods require developer rights or root, but we’ll show you where you can do without them.

We warn you in advance: completely disabling the background can affect notifications in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) and data synchronization (for example, in Google Photos or Mi Cloud). If it is critical to receive messages on time, use a selective approach, disabling the background only for unnecessary applications.

1. MIUI Standard settings: Background restriction for individual applications

The safest way is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which don't require any developer rights and is suitable for most users.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want to limit your background work for (like Facebook or TikTok).
3. Slip on the item Battery consumption (in some versions - Battery).
4. Choose the option to limit background activity or to disable autostart.

This method doesn't completely shut down the background, it just reduces its priority, the app will still be able to update, but less often, and you need one of the following ways to completely ban it.

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If the list does not include "Limit background activity", upgrade MIUI to the latest version. In older firmware (below MIUI 12), this option may not be available.

• ✅ Pros: No root, no impact on notifications from key apps.
• ❌ Cons: background activity is not turned off completely, only decreases.
• ⚠️ Nuance: After the update MIUI The settings may be reset - check them once in a while 2-3 month.

2. Global background shutdown through "Special Permits"

MIUI 12 and later has a hidden section that allows you to completely block background work for all applications except system, which is stronger than the previous one, but requires caution:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Special Permissions → Autorun.
2. Turn off autoplay for all unnecessary apps (such as games or social media).
3. Go back and select Background Activity (or Background Work depending on version).
4. Turn off the background for the same applications.

Important: Some apps (such as Mi Fit or Google Play Services) may stop working properly. If you notice a crash, return the settings.

Are notifications opened in messengers?

Is data synchronized in the cloud (Mi Cloud, Google Drive)?

Are there any errors when running frequently used applications?

Check the temperature of the processor through Settings → The battery should be reduced to 5-10°C.-->

3.Switching off backgrounds via ADB (no root)

If standard methods do not help, you can use them. ADB-This is the official Android tool, which doesn't require root, but you need developer rights and a computer:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect Redmi 9 to your PC, install ADB Tools, and execute the command:

adb shell cmd appops set < application package > RUN_ANY_IN_BACKGROUND ignore

To find the application package, use the command:

adb shell pm list packages | grep "appendix name"

For example, for Facebook, the package is called com.facebook.katana and the command is:

adb shell cmd appops set com.facebook.katana RUN_ANY_IN_BACKGROUND ignore

⚠️ Attention: After use ADB Some applications (e.g. banking) may block access by citing an “unsafe device” and check before you execute the commands whether you are using Sberbank Online, Tinkoff or other financial services.

4. Use of third-party utilities (Greenify, Brevent)

If you don't want to mess with ADB, you can use specialized applications.

• 🌿 Greenify – Freezes apps in the background without root (but with developer rights). 9 on MIUI 12-14.
• 🛡️ Brevent – blocks background activity at the system level, but requires ADB activate.
• ⚡ Naptime – aggressively restricts background processes, but can cause lags.

Instructions for Greenify:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Grant rights through ADB (command in the application description).
3. Add the apps to the “freeze” list and activate the function.

Brevent works similarly, but it blocks the background at the Android core level, it's harder to set up, but it's more powerful. Both tools don't affect system processes, so the risk of building up the phone is minimal.

Standard settings of MIUI

ADB-team

The App (Greenify, Brevent)

Nothing but reading the article.-->

5. Radical method: disabling background services through root

If you're willing to go to extreme lengths and you have root rights, you can block background services completely systematically, which maximizes performance and battery life, but it's risky: wrong actions can lead to a bootloop.

This will require:

• 🔧 Root access (for example, via Magisk).
• 📱 File Manager with root access (e.g. Root Explorer).
• 📝 Backup copy (required!

Instructions:

1. Open Root Explorer and go to /system/etc/init/.
2. Find the file. miui_optimize.rc (or similar depending on the version MIUI).
3. Edit the setprop string ro.miui.optimize_props true on setprop ro.miui.optimize_props false.
4. Save the changes, restart the phone.

⚠️ Attention: After this update MIUI through OTA Before updating, return the original settings or install the firmware manually through TWRP.

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Root gives you up to 50 percent autonomy, but it's not guaranteed and it makes it harder to upgrade, and only use it if other methods don't work.

6. Alternative solutions: optimization without turning off the background

If you need notifications but want to save battery, try these methods:

• 🔄 Include "Adaptive Battery" in Settings → Battery → Battery modes. MIUI It will automatically limit the background for rarely used applications.
• ⚡ Use "Ultra Mode" (in some versions) MIUI) — It aggressively closes the background processes at low charge.
• 📵 Turn off autosynchronization for unnecessary accounts (Settings) → Accounts. → Synchronization).

Also check if there are voracious apps in the background, like Google Play Services, which can use up to 30 percent of its battery due to background activity, to check that:

1. Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Use.
2. See which apps consume the most energy.
3. For suspicious applications, use the methods in Section 1 or 2.

7. Frequent problems and their solutions

When you turn off the background mode, Redmi 9 users encounter typical errors.

If after manipulation with the background, the phone began to overheat or brake, reset the settings:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Reset Application Settings (does not delete data!).
3. After the reboot, the background settings will return to factory.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions