Auto-Running Applications on Xiaomi: Why You Need It and How to Manage It

Have you ever noticed that some apps on your Xiaomi run on their own, even if you didn't open them? It's not a fluke or a system bug -- that's how the auto-launching mechanism built into the MIUI shell works. It can be useful for quick access to frequently used services, but sometimes causes a dead battery or slowdown.

In this article, we will take a closer look at what autoruns are on Xiaomi, how they affect smartphone performance, and how to manage them properly. You will learn which apps really need to run and which can be safely turned off to save charge and speed up the system. We will also look at hidden MIUI settings that many users do not even know about.

What is Auto-Running Applications and Why You Need It

Autostart (or autostart) is an operating system feature that allows applications to run automatically when a smartphone is turned on, connected to the Internet, or performing other system events. At MIUI, this mechanism is closely related to battery optimization and background management.

The main tasks of the auto-start:

🔄 Quick access to frequently used services (messaging, mail, social networks).
🔔 Receiving real-time notifications (such as WhatsApp or Telegram messages).
⚡ Background data synchronization (weather, currency, news updates).
🛠️ System Services (e.g. Google Play Services or Mi Cloud).

However, not all apps really need to auto-run. Many of them abuse this feature, consuming smartphone resources for nothing. For example, games or rarely used utilities can run in the background only to show ads or send analytics to developers.

📊 How often do you check for auto-run apps on Xiaomi?

I've never heard of it.

I didn't know before, but now I'll check.

I clean the list periodically.

Turned off everything except messengers.

How Auto Start Affects Battery and Performance

Every application running in the background consumes RAM and CPU time, and the more applications you have, the more you put the load on the system, and in practice, this is:

🔋 Quick battery discharge (even in standby mode).
🐢 Interface slowdowns when switching between tasks.
🔥 Overheating of the smartphone with intensive background work.
📶 Increased traffic (some apps sync data without your knowledge).

According to tests, disabling auto-runs for unnecessary applications can increase battery life by 15-30% (depending on the Xiaomi model and the MIUI version). For example, on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ with a disabled auto-start for 10 unnecessary applications, standby battery life increased from 18 to 24 hours.

⚠️ Note: Some system applications (e.g. com.miui.securitycenter or com.android.phone) cannot be turned off - this can cause unstable smartphone performance. Always check the name of the package before changing settings.

Type of application	Do I need to allow auto-start?	Impact on the battery
Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram)	✅ Yes.	Average (needed for notification)
Social networks (Facebook, Instagram)	❌ Not (unless you need instant notifications)	High (constant synchronization)
Games (PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact)	❌ No.	Low (if you don't play)
System Services (Google Play Services)	✅ Yes (partially)	Medium (required for Android)
Fitness trackers (Mi Fitness, Google Fit)	⚠️ If you wish, if you use it continuously)	Low (only when actively tracked)

Where to find auto-start settings in MIUI

Depending on the version of MIUI, the path to autorun settings may vary, and the one-size-fits-all method for most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models (relevant to MIUI 12-14) is as follows:

Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select AutoRun (or Special Permissions → AutoRun in newer versions).
You will see a list of all the installed apps with switches.

On some models (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro or POCO F5), the path may be different:

Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Management → Applications Selection → AutoRun

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If your version of MIUI does not have the option "Start", try to enter the word "Autostart" in the search by settings - the system will tell you the right way.

What applications can be safely disabled

Before you turn off auto-start, ask yourself two questions:

Do I need instant notifications from this app?
Do I use it every day?

If the answer to both questions is no, then you should disable the autostart, and here is a list of the apps that most often abuse autostart:

🎮 Playing games (if you don’t play daily).
📺 Video services (YouTube, TikTok, Kwai).
🛒 Store Apps (AliExpress, Wildberries, Ozon).
📰 News aggregators (Yandex.News, Google News).
🎵 Music Services (except the one you use).

⚠️ Warning: Do not disable auto-runs for system applications called com.miui., com.android. or com.google.android.* – this can cause smartphone malfunctions, including network connection or notification issues.

☑️ What to turn off first

GamesSocial media (except the main messenger)Store appendicesNews aggregatorsRedirect services (e.g. links from VK)

Done: 0 / 5

Hidden Auto Start Settings: What else can be optimized

In addition to the standard autorun menu, MIUI has additional settings that help you manage background processes more flexibly:

1. Restriction of background activity

This feature allows you to completely block the application from the background, not just from auto-run it, and you can find it on the way:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → [Select App] → Battery → Limit background activity

2. Battery optimization for individual applications

MIUI has an inbuilt optimization mechanism that automatically limits the activity of rarely used applications.

Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Application Selection.
Select the application and set the Limit or Optimize mode.

3. Notification settings

Even if autorun is disabled, some apps may wake up to show notifications to avoid this:

Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notifications Management → [Select App] → Disable Notifications

How to check which applications consume the most batteries?

Open Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Use. Here you will see a list of applications, sorted by charge consumption. Pay special attention to those that consume >5% in standby mode – they should be turned off first.

Frequent errors in auto-start management

Many Xiaomi users make common mistakes that, instead of saving battery life, have the opposite effect.

❌ Disable Auto-Run for Messengers – You will stop receiving messages until you manually open the app.
❌ Blocking system processes (e.g. com.miui.daemon) – this can cause lags and reboots.
❌ Using “task killers” (apps like Greenify) without understanding – they can conflict with optimization MIUI.
❌ Disabling Auto-Run for Antiviruses – This Reduces Malware Protection.

Another common mistake is to completely disable autoruns for all applications, which can lead to:

📱 Smartphone will be longer to wake up after inactivity.
🔔 You will receive late notifications (or not receive them at all).
🔄 Background synchronization (such as mail or calendar) will stop working.

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The optimal strategy is to leave auto-run only for critical applications (messaging, calling, email) and disable it for everything else, which will maximize autonomy without losing functionality.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

❓ Why After AutoRun is Disabled, Some Applications Still Run?

This is because MIUI has two mechanisms: Autostart (start when you turn on your phone or system events); Background activity (an application can wake up on a timer or push notification); To completely block the application, turn off both autostart and background activity in its settings.

❓ Can Auto Start for All Applications Be Disabled Immediately?

No, in the standard settings. MIUI There's no such option. You have to manually disable each application. ADB-commands for mass shutdown (requires a computer and enabled debugging on the USB). Example of a command to disable autorun for all user applications: adb shell pm list packages -3 | xargs -n1 adb shell am force-stop adb shell pm list packages -3 | xargs -n1 adb shell dumpsys package ⚠️ Be careful – the wrong use ADB It may disrupt the system.

❓ Does auto-start affect the charging speed of the smartphone?

Indirectly, yes. If there are many applications running in the background, the processor and communication modules (Wi-Fi, mobile network) remain active, which increases heat generation, which can cause the smartphone to charge more slowly or even discharge when connected to a weak power source (for example, a weak power source, USB-We recommend turning off auto-run of unnecessary applications before charging, especially if you use wireless charging, which is sensitive to overheating.

❓ Why After Updating MIUI Auto-start settings are reset?

This is a feature of MIUI, where after major updates (e.g., from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14), the system resets some permissions for applications, including autorun. This is done for: Compatibility with new optimization features. Protection against vulnerabilities in older versions of applications. After updating, check autorun settings and reconfigure them if necessary.

❓ Is there a difference in the auto-start on POCO redmi?

No, POCO and Redmi both work on the same MIUI shell (with minor visual differences). All the autorun settings described in this article are relevant for both brands. Except for the POCO model with POCO Launcher firmware, where the path to settings may be slightly different, but the essence remains the same.