Auto-Running Applications on Xiaomi: Understand the Details

If you own a Xiaomi smartphone, you may have come across the term auto-run apps, a feature that can both make it easier to work with the device and stealthily eat away at battery power. Unlike other manufacturers, Xiaomi offers flexible auto-run settings, but it’s not always clear how to use them correctly. This feature affects which programs will automatically run when you turn on your phone, connect to the Internet or even in the background.

In this article, we will understand what is autorun on Xiaomi, why it is needed, what applications use it, and most importantly, how to configure it so that the smartphone works faster and the battery runs slower. You will learn which programs can be safely disabled from auto-run and which are best left to avoid losing important notifications or functionality. MIUI Why sometimes turning it off can lead to unexpected consequences.

What is the AutoRun of Applications on Xiaomi?

Auto-start (or Auto-start) is a mechanism in an operating system. MIUI, It allows applications to automatically run in the background without direct user input:

• 🔄 When restarting the smartphone – some programs will start immediately after turning on.
• 📶 When connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network) – applications check for updates or synchronize data.
• 🕒 Scheduled – For example, messengers can wake up every 15 minutes to check for new messages.
• 🔌 When you connect the charger – some programs are activated to perform the delayed tasks.

At first glance, it’s convenient: you don’t have to manually open WhatsApp or Telegram to get a notification, but there’s a downside: Auto-runs can increase battery consumption by 10 to 30 percent depending on the number of active apps. In addition, it takes up RAM, which can lead to slowdowns on budget models Redmi or POCO.

It's important to understand that autorun is not the same as background activity: Background activity allows an application to run after closing (like playing music in Spotify), and autorun is exactly the initialization of a program without your input. On Xiaomi, these features are set up separately.

Why do you need autorun and what applications use it?

The main purpose of auto-run is to provide fast access to frequently used functions and receive notifications in a timely manner, without which many services simply will not work correctly.

• 💬 Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) – without auto-run you will not receive push notifications about new messages.
• 📅 Calendars and reminders (Google Calendar, Mi Calendar) – will not be able to notify you of the event in time.
• 📊 Fitness trackers (Mi Fit, Google Fit) – will stop synchronizing data with smart watches or bracelets.
• 🔒 Antivirus and security (Mi Security, Avast) – will not be able to scan the system in the background.
• 🎵 Music services (Spotify, Yandex Music) – may not save cache or update playlists.

Not all programs need to run auto-start, however, such as games, photo editors, or browsers (if you don’t use widgets) can run without this feature, and some apps abuse auto-run to show ads or collect data about your activity.

Xiaomi has a built-in mechanism that divides programs into three categories:

How to check which apps are using autorun?

To see the list of programs with permission to run, you need to go to the settings MIUI. The path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the general scheme is:

1. Open the Settings.
2. Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
3. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Auto-Start (or Auto-start in English versions).
4. You will see a complete list of apps with the option to turn on or off auto-start for each.

On some models (Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro and newer) this item may be in Settings → Battery and productivity → Battery management → Selection of applications. If you don't find it, search by settings (lap icon in upper right corner).

You can also use third-party utilities to monitor auto-start, for example:

• 🔍 Greenify shows which programs wake up the most.
• 📊 AccuBattery – analyzes battery consumption and identifies “voracious” applications.
• 🛠️ SD Maid – helps to clear cache and disable unnecessary services.

💡

If there are too many apps on the autorun list, sort them alphabetically, so it's easier to find the ones that are not. Click on the name of the "Name" column at the top of the screen.

How to disable auto-launch applications on Xiaomi?

Turning off auto-starts for unnecessary programs is one of the most effective ways to save battery power and speed up your smartphone, but you need to be careful not to disrupt important services.

1. Open the autorun settings (the path described in the previous section).
2. Look through the list of apps and mark the ones you want to disable. Focus on the table in the "Why do you need to autorun" section.
3. Turn off auto-start for selected programs by moving the slider or unchecking the tick.
4. Reboot your smartphone so that the changes take effect.

After disabling auto-start, some applications may behave differently:

• 🔔 Messengers will delay notifications until you manually open them.
• 🔄 Fitness trackers will stop automatically synchronizing with servers.
• 📱 Some widgets (such as weather or currency rates) will not be updated without your input.

If you notice that an important application has stopped working correctly after you disable autorun, just give it back that permission. Also remember that some programs (such as Google Play Services) may independently enable autorun back after the update.

Auto Start vs. Background Activity: What’s the Difference?

Many users confuse autostart and background activity, but these are two different features that affect how a smartphone works in different ways.

For example, if you turn off auto-start for Telegram, the messenger won’t start itself after you reboot the phone, but if you open it manually, it will be able to work in the background (if background activity is allowed). If you turn off background activity, Telegram will close immediately after you fold, and notifications will not come until the next time you open.

On Xiaomi, these settings often duplicate each other, so for maximum battery savings, it is recommended to:

1. Disable auto-start for unnecessary applications.
2. Limit background activity for those who overload the system.
3. Use the power saving mode for individual programs (in battery settings).

💡

Turning off background activity has a stronger effect on battery savings than turning off autostart, but can disrupt notifications.

How does auto-start affect performance and battery?

Auto-run apps is one of the main reasons why Xiaomi smartphones (especially budget models like Redmi) are available. 9A or POCO M3) And they start to slow down and discharge quickly over time. So let's see how that happens:

• 🔋 Battery consumption: Each autorun is a short-term load on the processor and RAM. If such runs are many (for example, 20 applications check for updates every 15 minutes), then during the day it can eat up to 15-20% of the charge even in standby mode.
• 🐢 System Slowdown: The more programs run in the background, the less resources are left for active tasks, especially on devices with 2-3 GB of RAM.
• 📱 Overheating: Constant background activity causes the processor to run at elevated frequencies, which can lead to heat (especially in summer).
• 🔄 Cache clogging: Many apps when they autorun create temporary files that take up space in memory over time.

To illustrate the impact of auto-start, we will run a simple test:

1. Open Settings → Battery → Battery Use.
2. See which apps consume the most power in standby mode.
3. Compare this list to what is allowed in autoruns – chances are you’ll find a direct dependency.

For example, if Facebook consumes 10% of the battery but you haven’t used it, it wakes up in the background all the time, and turning off auto-runs for such apps can extend the life of 1-2 hours.

💡

To accurately identify “gluttonous” programs, use the BetterBatteryStats app (root or root required). ADB). It shows what processes wake up the phone most often.

Autostart Optimization: Tips for Different Scenarios

Autorun settings are not universal — they depend on how you use your smartphone. Here are some tips for different situations:

🔋 For maximum battery life

• Turn off autoplay for all games and entertainment apps (e.g. TikTok, Instagram).
• Leave auto-run only for instant messengers and calls (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram, Naber).
• Turn on the power saving mode in the battery settings.
• Turn off auto-run for advertising services (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Browser).

⚡ To improve productivity

• Turn off autoplay for all unnecessary system applications (e.g. Mi Music, Mi Pay, if you don’t use them).
• Limit background activity for social media and news apps.
• Clean the cache regularly in the storage settings.
• Use lightweight versions of apps (e.g. Facebook Lite instead of regular Facebook).

🛡️ For security and confidentiality

• Disable AutoRun for applications with questionable permissions (check in Settings) → Annexes → Permits).
• Disable auto-runs for browsers and file managers if you don’t use them all the time.
• Install an antivirus (such as Malwarebytes) and check if there are any suspicious programs on the autorun list.
• Turn off auto-run for geolocation-accessible applications if they are not critical (e.g. Mi Weather can be manually run).

Remember, the best autorun settings depend on your habits. For example, if you're actively using Google Maps, you shouldn't turn it off because it'll take longer to load, and if you don't use Instagram often, you should be able to turn off all the background processes.

💡

After optimizing auto-start, restart your smartphone and watch it for 1-2 days. If any features stop working, return permissions for the corresponding applications.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When working with auto-run on Xiaomi, users often face problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

⚠️ Note: If notifications from banking applications (e.g. SberBank Online or Tinkoff) stop coming after the autorun is turned off, return this permission immediately.

🔄 Problem: Auto-start itself turns back on

Some system applications (e.g. Google Play Services or Mi Security) can automatically return auto-run permission after an update.

• Try disabling auto-update for such an app on Google Play.
• Use it. ADB-commands for forced shutdown (requires a connection to a computer).
• Install a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher) that can block auto-run more rigidly.

📱 Problem: After disabling auto-start, the application does not update

This is normal behavior for programs that rely on background processes (like Weather or Currency Rates).

• Open the app manually every few hours to update the data.
• Use widgets – some of them can force you to update information.
• Set up a sync schedule in the app itself (if there is one).

🔋 Problem: Battery discharges even faster after optimization

This can happen if you have disabled auto-start for system services that are responsible for optimizing power consumption.

• Check if autoplay is disabled for Mi Optimizer or Security Center.
• Return auto-run for all system applications marked "Xiaomi" or"MIUI".
• Reset the battery settings to factory (Settings) → Battery → Three points. → Reset).

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi with custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the autorun settings may work differently or not at all.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions