Have you ever noticed the mysterious “Do Not Store Activities” option in Xiaomi’s settings and wondered what it does? It’s hidden deep in the developer menu, but its impact on how your smartphone works can be both beneficial and devastating, depending on how you use it. In this article, we’ll look at what activities are in the context of Android and MIUI, why the system suggests “do not store them,” and what consequences it has.
At first glance, this option seems like a technical trifle, but it's actually directly related to multitasking, battery consumption, and even data security. For example, if you often complain about apps crashing out of memory or your smartphone slowing down after prolonged use, this setting may be the culprit. On the other hand, using it correctly helps free up RAM and speed up the device. Let's see how this works in practice.
What are activities in Android and MIUI?
The term activity in Android refers to the individual screen or window of the application with which the user interacts. For example, in the messenger Telegram, one activity is responsible for the list of chats, another for the chat itself, a third for the profile settings. When you switch between applications, the system stores the state of these activities in RAM so that when you return, you do not have to download them again.
In MIUI, the way you work with activities is slightly modified. By default, the system aggressively manages memory, closing the background processes to free up resources. The Don't Keep Activities option goes even further: it forcibly destroys activity as soon as you leave the application, which means that when you return, the application will start from scratch, as if you opened it for the first time.
It's important to understand that this is not the same as manually closing apps through the multitasking menu, but it's a system layer where Android doesn't even keep the minimum state of the interface, for example, if you read an article in your browser and went to another application, the page will reload when you return, rather than open from the same place.
Why do you need the option “Do not store activities”?
The main purpose of this feature is to free up RAM: on weak devices (for example, Redmi 9A or Poco C31) or when working with resource-intensive applications (games, video editors), each megabyte is in the account, and when the system does not store activity, it can quickly “clean up” memory for new tasks, preventing lags and hanging over.
The second advantage is increased privacy, because if you hand over your smartphone to another person or just leave it unattended, the option on ensures that no one can see your latest actions in the apps, for example, even if someone opens the messenger, they will only see the authorization screen, not your correspondence.
But there is a downside:
- 🔄 Loss of progress: Games, forms of completion or unsaved documents will be reset.
- ⚡ Increased battery consumption: Apps will have to reboot more often, which wastes energy.
- ⏳ Slowdown: Constant restarts of activities can create a “brake effect».
How to turn on or off “Do not store activities”
This option is hidden in the developer menu, so you need to activate it first.
- Go to Settings. → The phone.
- Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times in a row.
- You will receive a notification saying, “You are a developer!”
Now you can turn on the function itself:
- Return to the main settings menu and open Additional settings → Developer settings.
- Scroll down to the App section.
- Find the option Don’t Keep Activities and switch the slider.
Activate the Developer Menu
Backup of important data
Close all background applications
Check the battery (minimum 50%)
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Once activated, the changes will take effect immediately, and to get it back, you just need to switch the slider again. Note that some applications (like Google Maps or YouTube) may start to behave unstable, which is normal and due to the peculiarities of their work.
Impact on productivity and battery
Tests show that on devices with 2-4 GB of RAM (for example, Redmi Note 8 or Poco X3 NFC), the option can free up to 15-20% of RAM in the background. However, on flagships like Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Black Shark 5 Pro with 8+ GB of RAM, the effect will be minimal - the system already manages resources efficiently.
As for the battery, the results are mixed:
| Parameter | Option off. | Option on. |
|---|---|---|
| Battery consumption in standby mode | Medium (background processes are active) | Low (processes closed) |
| Expenditure during active use | Low (applications are not rebooted) | High (frequent activity reloads) |
| Heating the device | Moderate. | It can increase with frequent restarts |
| Switching speed between applications | Fast (state maintained) | Slow (apps open again) |
Bottom Line: On weak devices, the option can extend standby battery life, but worsen the experience when used actively; on high-powered smartphones, it is usually not warranted to turn on it.
💡
On devices with 6+GB of RAM, the “Do Not Store Activities” option does more harm than good – it’s better to use standard MIUI settings for memory management.
When to turn on this option
There are several scenarios where the function can be useful:
- 🔒 Transferring the phone to another person: To hide recent actions in apps.
- 📱 Working on a device with 2GB of RAM: For example, Redmi 8A POCO C3, where every megabyte counts.
- 🛡️ Application testing: Developers sometimes need to check how software behaves in a cold start.
- 🔄 Solving specific bugs: Some glitches (such as “hang” activity) disappear after forced closure.
In other cases, it's best to leave the option off, especially when it comes to:
- 🎮 Games (progress will not be saved when switching).
- 📝 Work with documents (unsaved changes will disappear).
- 📱 Multitasking (for example, if you switch between messengers and browsers frequently).
💡
If you need to temporarily hide activity (for example, before handing over your phone), turn on the option, and after returning the device immediately turn it off.
Frequent Problems and How to Solve Them
Many users face unexpected consequences after turning on the option, and here are the most common ones and ways to eliminate them:
Problem 1: Applications are constantly restarted
If it opens again after returning to the app, check:
- Does the option conflict with other developer settings (for example, the Background Process Limit).
- Are there any third-party memory “optimizers” installed (they can duplicate the function).
Problem 2: Loss of unsaved data
Some applications (like Google Docs or Notion) don't have time to save changes if activity is destroyed.
- Manually keep progress before switching.
- Use autosave (if available in the app settings).
Problem 3: Increased battery consumption
Paradoxically, frequent activity restarts can increase energy consumption.
- Turn off the option and watch the battery for 1-2 days.
- Check if applications are running in the background due to restarts (in Settings → Battery).
Why do some apps ignore the setting?
Alternatives: How to Free Your Memory Without Risk
If your goal is to free up RAM, but you don’t want to put up with the side effects of “Do Not Store Activities,” try these methods:
1. Limitation of background processes
In the same developer menu, there is an option to limit background processes: Set a value Standard limit or No background processes (but no background processes - this is an extreme).
Manual closure of applications
Use the standard multitasking menu (Home button → Swipe up) to close out unnecessary programs, which is less radical than eliminating activities.
3. MIUI optimization
In Settings → Applications → Autostart, turn off autoboot for unnecessary programs. Also check Settings → Battery → Battery Mode and select Balanced or Performance.
4. Use of light versions of applications
Apps like Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite or Twitter Lite consume less memory and are less likely to conflict with system settings.
💡
The safest way to free up memory is to combine manually closing unnecessary applications and limiting background processes in the developer settings.
FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions
❓ Is it harmful to keep the option “Do not store activities” turned on all the time?
❓ Why after turning on the option, some applications began to fly out?
❓ Is there a difference between this option and manually closing applications?
❓ Can this option be enabled only for individual applications?
❓ Does this option affect notifications?
Now you know what Xiaomi's "Do Not Store Activities" is, how it works and when to use it. Remember, it's a powerful tool, but you have to be careful with it, like any system setting, and if you're not sure you need to turn it on, you'd better leave the default settings and optimize your memory in other ways.