White list on Xiaomi Redmi: how to set up and why you need it

The whitelist on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is a powerful tool that allows you to control which apps can send notifications, run in the background or consume traffic even in activated energy saving modes. Many users face a situation where important messages from messengers or work applications are blocked by the system, and background processes are interrupted due to battery optimization. Turning on a whitelist solves these problems, but not everyone knows where this setting is and how to use it correctly.

In this article, we will understand what is a white list on Xiaomi Redmi, why it is needed, and provide step-by-step instructions for different versions of the shell. MIUI. You will learn how to add applications to exceptions so that they do not get blocked by the system, as well as how to avoid common configuration errors. POCO, as the location of options may vary depending on the firmware version.

What is a white list on Xiaomi and why is it necessary?

White list (or exception list) is a shell function MIUI, It allows you to selectively disable system constraints for certain applications. By default, Xiaomi aggressively optimizes background processes to extend battery life:

  • πŸ“± Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) cease to show notifications in a timely manner.
  • πŸ”„ Background tasks (such as syncing Google Drive or backup) are interrupted.
  • 🎡 Music apps (Spotify, Yandex Music) stop when the screen is locked.
  • πŸ“Š Health monitoring apps (Mi Fit, Google Fit) don’t track activity in the background.

The whitelist addresses these issues by allowing selected programs to ignore the system's limitations, for example, if you add Telegram to the exceptions, it can:

  • πŸ”” Show notifications even in charge saving mode.
  • πŸ”„ Working in the background without forced stop.
  • πŸ“Ά Use mobile traffic or Wi-Fi to sync.

It’s important to understand that whitelisting doesn’t disable optimization entirely β€” it only makes exceptions for specific applications, and it balances performance and power consumption.

πŸ“Š What problem do you most often solve with a whitelist?
Notifications don't come in.
Apps close in the background
Music stops when blocked
Other

Where is the white list on Xiaomi Redmi: ways in the settings

The location of the option depends on the version MIUI And the smartphone models, and the actual paths for different firmwares are below. If you can't find the route you're looking for, check the version. MIUI In Settings β†’ The phone.

MIUI versionThe Road to the White ListNotes
MIUI 12/13/14 (Global/EU)Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ Application management β†’ Breakthrough work β†’ WhitelistSome Redmi Note models 10/11 This option may be called Special Permits.
MIUI 14 (China)Settings β†’ Battery and Performance β†’ Battery Management β†’ Applications SelectionYou need to switch the language to English, as the Chinese version may not have the option in Russian.
MIUI for POCOSettings β†’ Battery β†’ Optimizing the battery β†’ Not optimizeNana POCO F3/F4 The path may be different – check the section of the application.
Older versions (MIUI 10-11)Settings β†’ Additionally. β†’ Optimizing the battery β†’ WhitelistOn the Redmi. 4X/5A You may need to activate the Developer Mode.

If you do not find the option on these paths, try searching in the settings (the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner). Enter the query whitelist or exceptions in Russian/English. Chinese firmware (China) ROM) The name of the option may sound like App battery saver exceptions.

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On some Redmi models, the whitelist is hidden behind the AutoRun option. To activate it, go to Settings. β†’ Annexes β†’ Application management β†’ Auto-start and enable the necessary programs.

Step-by-step: how to add an application to the white list

Let's look at the process by example. MIUI 14 Global (Relevant to Redmi Note) 12/13, Redmi 11 If you have a different version, adapt the steps to your interface.

Check the version of MIUI in Settings β†’ About the phone

Close all background applications

Connect your phone to charge (recommended)

Open the settings of the desired application (for example, Telegram)-->

  1. Open Settings and go to the Application section.
  2. Select Application Management β†’ Breakthrough work.
  3. Slip on the White List (or Exclusions).
  4. Turn on the switch in the upper right corner if it is switched off.
  5. Click Add Apps and select the desired programs from the list (e.g. WhatsApp, Gmail, Mi Fit).
  6. Confirm the selection and go back to the main settings menu.

After adding the annex to the whitelist, it is also recommended that:

  • πŸ”„ Enable AutoRun for it (in the same section Application Management).
  • πŸ“Ά Allow the use of data in the background in the mobile network settings/Wi-Fi.
  • πŸ”” Check notification settings (Notifications section in application information).
What if the app is not kept on the whitelist?
Sometimes, after a smartphone reboot, apps disappear from the whitelist. MIUI. Solutions: 1. Update the firmware to the latest version. 2. Remove the app from the list, restart the phone and add it again. 3. Use ADB-command to force the addition (instruction below in the section for advanced users).

Whitelist vs Autostart vs Battery Optimization: What's the Difference

Many users confuse whitelisting with other features MIUI, So, we're going to look at things like Autostart or Battery Optimization, and we're going to look at how they differ and when to use them.

FunctionAppointmentWhen to includeWherever
WhitelistAllows applications to ignore all system limitations (notifications, background work, traffic).If the application does not work in the background at all (for example, no notifications from the bank come).Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ Breakthrough work
Auto-startAllows the app to start automatically after the phone is restarted.If the application does not start after the reboot (for example, Mi Fit is not synced).Settings β†’ Applications β†’ Application Management β†’ Autorun
Optimizing the batteryManages which applications can run in the background at low charge.If the application closes at the battery level below 15-20%.Settings β†’ Battery β†’ Battery Optimization
Blocking in the backgroundIt prevents the system from killing the application process if there is a lack of memory.If the app is closed when multitasking (for example, YouTube Music stops).Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ [Select an application] β†’ Battery β†’ Blocking in the background

For maximum stability of critical applications (messengers, banking programs, fitness trackers) it is recommended:

  1. Put them on the whitelist.
  2. Start auto-start.
  3. Turn off battery optimization.
  4. Activate the lock in the background.

Important: Excessively adding apps to the whitelist can reduce battery life on the Internet 10-15%. Use this feature only for really important programs.

Common Problems and Their Solutions

When setting up a whitelist, users often encounter common errors, and let’s look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

⚠️ Note: If notifications don't come after you've added to the whitelist, check the settings of the app itself. For example, you need to go to Settings on Telegram. β†’ Notifications and sounds and enable the option to Show notifications.

Problem 1: App disappears from whitelist after reboot

It's a famous bug in MIUI 12-13. Decisions:

  • πŸ”„ Update your firmware to the latest version (check in Settings) β†’ The phone. β†’ Updating the system).
  • πŸ“± Remove the app from the list, restart the phone and add it again.
  • πŸ’» Use it. ADB-command for forced addition (instruction in the next section).

Problem 2: The white list is not in the settings

Possible causes and solutions:

  • πŸ“± You have Chinese firmware (China) ROM) β€” switch the region to India or Russia in the settings.
  • πŸ”§ No section Uninterrupted work - try the Settings path β†’ Battery β†’ Optimizing the battery β†’ Not optimize.
  • πŸ“² Resetting – Return the phone to factory settings (pre-backup).

Problem 3: Notifications are delayed

Even on the whitelist, some apps may receive late notifications. MIUI To save traffic, to fix it:

  1. Open the application settings (such as WhatsApp).
  2. Go to Mobile Data and Wi-Fi.
  3. Include Data Background Use and Unlimited Data Use.
  4. In the battery settings, turn off Battery Optimization for this application.

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If the notification problem persists, check the sync settings in your Google account (Settings). β†’ Accounts. β†’ Google β†’ Synchronization of the account).

Additional settings for advanced users

If standard methods do not help, you can use advanced tools, such as: ADB (Android Debug Bridge, or third-party utilities, require technical knowledge and can affect system stability.

Method 1: Adding to the white list through ADB

This is a good way to use it for advanced users, and you'll need to:

  • πŸ–₯️ Computer with drivers installed ADB.
  • πŸ“± Included Developer Mode and Debugging by USB phone-on.
  • πŸ”Œ USB-plug-in.

Steps:

  1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command prompt (cmd on Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux).
  2. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must display the serial number of your device.
  3. Add the app to the whitelist (replace com.example.app with an app package, for example, org.telegram.messenger): adb shell cmd appops set com.example.app RUN_ANY_IN_BACKGROUND allow
  4. Reboot the phone.

To find the application package, use the command:

adb shell pm list packages | grep "appendix name"

For example, for WhatsApp:

adb shell pm list packages | grep whatsapp

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB It can cause system failures. Don't change the settings of applications you don't understand.

Method 2: Use of the application MIUI Optimization Disabler

This third-party app disables optimization MIUI At the system level, consider that:

  • βœ… Helps solve problems with the background work of applications.
  • ⚠️ May reduce battery life.
  • πŸ”“ Requires root rights or ADB.

You can download it on XDA Developers, after installation:

  1. Open the application and provide root access (or connect via ADB).
  2. Select the Disable option MIUI Optimization.
  3. Reboot the phone.

This method radically disables all optimizations. MIUI, Use it only if other methods do not help.

How to check if the whitelist works

After setting up the whitelist, it's important to make sure it actually works. Here are a few ways to check:

Method 1: Notification test

  1. Add a messenger (such as Telegram) to the whitelist.
  2. Close the application (swipe up in the multitasking menu).
  3. Send yourself a message from another device.
  4. Check if the notification has arrived on the locked screen.

Method 2: Monitoring background activity

Use the AccuBattery app or built-in monitoring MIUI:

  1. Open Settings β†’ Battery β†’ Battery Use.
  2. Select the app from the white list.
  3. Check if activity is displayed in the background (Background consumption chart).

Method 3: Checking through ADB

For advanced users:

  1. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell dumpsys deviceidle whitelist
  2. In the conclusion, you will see a list of applications added to the whitelist.

If the application is not in the output, repeat the procedure for adding it.

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If notifications still don’t come after all the manipulations, the problem may be on the application server side (e.g. blocking Google Play Services).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the white list on Xiaomi Redmi

Can I add system applications (such as Calls or Messages) to the whitelist?
Yes, system applications can also be added to a whitelist, which is useful if you have missed calls or missed calls. SMS. Beware, though: Adding too many system apps can lead to increased battery consumption.
How do I know which apps are already on the whitelist?
Go to Settings. β†’ Annexes β†’ Application management β†’ Breakthrough work β†’ Whitelist. This will show you the full list of added applications. On some firmware, this section may be called Exceptions or Not Optimize.
White list resets after update MIUI. How to fix it?
This is a problem when switching to a new version. MIUI. After the update: Manually whitelist all the apps you need again. Check notification and auto-run settings for each application. If the problem recurs, roll back to the previous firmware version or wait for a patch from Xiaomi.
Can I turn off the white list completely?
Yes, you can disable the whitelist by returning all settings to their original state. β†’ Annexes β†’ Application management β†’ Uninterrupted. Turn off the whitelist switch. Remove all apps from the list (click on the cart icon or Clear). Please note that after that, all apps will again be subject to standard restrictions. MIUI.
Are there any alternatives to the whitelist to save battery life?
If you need to save power, but still keep key applications running, try it: πŸ”‹ Use the Adaptive Battery in the settings (Settings) β†’ Battery β†’ Adaptive battery). ⚑ Enable Performance Mode for Individual Applications (Settings) β†’ Battery β†’ Performance mode). πŸ”„ Disable background activity for unnecessary applications (Settings) β†’ Annexes β†’ [Select an application] β†’ Battery β†’ Limit background activity).