Background processes on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9: what can be turned off without harming the system

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9

background

MIUI

This article will explain what processes can be safely turned off on the Redmi Note 9 (M2003J15SC/M2003J15SS models), how to do this through standard settings and advanced tools like ADB, and assess the risks and consequences of such manipulations. It is important to understand that optimization does not always equal improvement - some processes are responsible for the stability of the system, and their shutdown can lead to failures.

Why background processes slow down the smartphone

The main problem with the Redmi Note 9 is the limited 4GB of RAM (in the base version) and the MediaTek Helio G85 processor, which is not very energy efficient. When the system and applications run dozens of background tasks, there is less free RAM.

  • πŸ”‹ Battery dies in 4-6 hours when used actively (even without games).
  • 🐒 The interface starts to β€œsuppose”** when switching between applications.
  • πŸ”₯ Smartphone overheats** when charging or working long hours.
  • πŸ“± Applications are closed spontaneously** due to lack of memory.

Not only are user programs (messaging apps, social media) to blame, but MIUI system services that run in the background: location tracking, analytics, updates, ad modules, for example, com.xiaomi.mipicks is responsible for content recommendations, but constantly consumes up to 10% of the CPU even in standby mode.

πŸ“Š How often do you optimize your Xiaomi background?
Once a week.
Only when it starts to brake.
Never done that.
I use special applications.

What processes can be turned off without risk

Not all background tasks are equally useful. Some can be completely deactivated, some can be limited, and some can be left unattended. Below are processes that do not affect MIUI stability but significantly reduce performance:

Title of the processWhat's he doing?Can I turn it off?Effects of consequences
com.xiaomi.mipicksContent recommendations (news, video, games)βœ… Yes.The β€œFor You” tab on the home screen will disappear.
com.miui.analyticsCollection of statistics on the use of MIUIβœ… Yes.Xiaomi will not receive data on your activity
com.miui.hybridIntegration of system and third-party applications⚠️ Partially.Some features may stop working (for example, quick responses in notifications)
com.android.providers.partnerbookmarksDownloading browser bookmarks from partnersβœ… Yes.There will be no pre-installed bookmarks in the browser
com.miui.systemAdSolutionSystemic Advertising in MIUIβœ… Yes.Disappeared banner ads in settings and applications

You can also turn off background activity for pre-installed Xiaomi apps you don’t use:

  • 🎡 Mi Music (com.miui.player) – Music player.
  • πŸ“Ί Mi Video (com.miui.videoplayer.
  • πŸ“– Mi Browser (com.android.browser) – a browser with ads.
  • πŸ›’ GetApps (com.xiaomi.midrop) – a proprietary app store.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling processes like com.miui.home or com.android.phone will cause your smartphone to fail completely!

How to disable processes through MIUI settings

The safest way is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which do not require super-user rights and is suitable for beginners.

  1. Background activity restriction for applications: Go to Settings β†’ Applications β†’ Application Management. Select an unnecessary application (e.g. Mi Browser) β†’ Permissions β†’ Background activity β†’ Limit.
  2. Disable AutoRun: In the same app management menu, tap AutoRun and deactivate the slider.
  3. Cache and data cleanup: For system applications (like GetApps), click Storage β†’ Clear Cache and Clear Data.

Limit background activity for 5+ unnecessary applications |

Disable auto-run for instant messengers and social networks |

Clear the cache of system applications (Mi Music, Mi Video) |

Check once a month the list of active processes in the "Task Manager"-->

For more in-depth optimization, go to Settings β†’ Battery & Performance β†’ Battery Management and select Energy Saving mode. This will automatically limit background activity for most applications.

πŸ’‘

If after disabling background processes, the application stopped sending notifications (for example, WhatsApp), return the autostart and background activity settings to the original state.

Advanced methods: Disconnection through ADB

For power users, there is a way to completely deactivate system processes through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting a smartphone to a PC and executing commands in the terminal. Risky method - if you make a mistake, you can disrupt MIUI!

Step-by-step:

  1. Turn on Developer Mode on Redmi Note 9: Go to Settings β†’ About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
  2. Activate USB Debugging in Settings β†’ Additional β†’ For developers.
  3. Connect your smartphone to your PC, install ADB drivers and open the terminal.
  4. Run the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of the device.
  5. Disable unnecessary process (e.g., ad module): adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.mipicks

To return the process back, use the command:

adb shell pm enable com.xiaomi.mipicks

⚠️ Attention: Disconnection through ADB It may cause updates to fail. MIUI or some features (such as design themes) are not working.Before experimenting, back up through Settings β†’ System system β†’ Backup!

List of safe to disable ADB-team
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.mipicks – removes content recommendations adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.analytics – disables the collection of statistics adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.providers.partnerbookmarks – removes affiliate bookmarks adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution – removes adb shell pm disable-user system advertising --user 0 com.miui.hybrid.accessory – disables accessory integration (unless you use Xiaomi smart devices)

What processes should not be turned off

Some background tasks are critical to MIUI stability and device security, and disabling them can lead to:

  • πŸ”„ Cyclical reboot** of the smartphone.
  • πŸ“΅ Loss of mobile network** or Wi-Fi.
  • πŸ”’ Security vulnerabilities** (e.g., disabling Google Play Services).

Do not touch the following processes under any circumstances:

ProcessWhat is responsible for?Risks of disconnection
com.android.phoneTelephony (calls, SMS, mobile Internet)Total loss of communication
com.miui.homeLauncher (MIUI work desk)The smartphone will not boot after restarting
com.google.android.gmsGoogle Play Services (authorization, updates)Google apps and many games will not work
com.qualcomm.qti.telephonyserviceCommunication module (for Qualcomm/MTK processors)The mobile network will disappear

Also, avoid disabling services with names that include:

  • πŸ”Ή security (security),
  • πŸ”Ή update (updates),
  • πŸ”Ή media (multimedia),
  • πŸ”Ή bluetooth/wifi (wireless).

πŸ’‘

If after turning off the process, the smartphone began to overheat, quickly discharge or reboot - immediately return it to the active state through ADB or reset settings.

Alternative ways to optimize

If you don’t want to risk turning off system processes, there are safer ways to improve the performance of the Redmi Note 9:

  • 🧹 Regular cleaning of cache: Use the built-in Security app (com.miui.securitycenter) to clean up your trash. Run it every 2-3 days.

Also pay attention to the animation settings. In Settings β†’ For developers, reduce the animation scale to 0.5x or turn off completely - this will visually speed up the interface.

πŸ’‘

If your smartphone is still braking after optimization, check the battery status in Settings β†’ Battery β†’ Battery condition. With wear and tear of more than 80%, performance drops by 30-40%.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many users make critical mistakes when trying to optimize the Redmi Note 9, which leads to even bigger problems.

  1. Disabling all background processes in a row: This leads to notifications not working, network connection problems and even a device "brick" (when it's not turned on).Solution: Disable processes one at a time and check for stability.
  2. Using Play Market cleaners: Apps like Clean Master or CCleaner often delete important files, causing crashes. Solution: Only use built-in MIUI tools.
  3. Disable Google Play Services: Without it, banking apps, Google Maps, YouTube and many games will stop working.Solution: Limit its background activity, but don't shut it down completely.
  4. Ignoring MIUI Updates: Older versions of firmware contain vulnerabilities and bugs that slow down the system.Solution: Check for updates regularly in Settings β†’ About Phone β†’ System Update.

⚠️ Attention: If after manipulating the background processes, the smartphone stopped turning on, try to go to Recovery Mode (clip the power supply). + Volume up) and make Wipe Cache Partition. It won't delete your data, but it can restore the functionality.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

❓ Can I turn off background processes without root rights?
Yes, most processes can be limited through standard MIUI or ADB settings (no root), but a superuser’s rights will be required to completely remove system applications (debloating).
❓ Why did the notifications stop coming after the process was turned off?
Chances are you have restricted background activity for the messenger (like WhatsApp or Telegram). Return settings to Settings β†’ Apps β†’ App Management β†’ [Application] β†’ Background activity.
❓ How to bring the disabled process back?
If you've disabled it through ADB, use the command adb shell pm enable. If you've set up it, just turn on autostart and background activity manually.
❓ Will there be updates? MIUI work after shutting down system processes?
Depending on what processes you deactivate, if you turn off com.miui.updater, the updates will stop checking, and in most cases, updates will come, but there may be errors when you install them.
❓ Can I turn it off? MIUI Optimization to accelerate the smartphone?
Technically, yes, but it's highly discouraged, because com.miui.optimizer is responsible for smooth animations and memory management, and shutting it down can lead to even more lags.