App does not respond to Android Xiaomi: reasons and solutions

The hung app on Xiaomi’s smartphone is one of the most annoying problems faced by Redmi, POCO and Mi users. The situation is aggravated when the program not only slows down, but completely stops responding to touch, blocking access to other functions of the phone. 80% of cases this is due not to hardware malfunctions, but to software failures that can be fixed on their own.

In this article, we will analyze all possible causes - from overloaded RAM to shell conflicts. MIUI, We also provide step-by-step instructions for each Xiaomi model (including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11 et al., we will pay special attention to hidden settings MIUI, And it's something that the manufacturer doesn't advertise, but it's a problem. If you've tried to reboot your phone before and it hasn't worked, read on.

Why apps hang on Xiaomi: top-7 cause

Before you start to solve the problem, it is important to understand the root of the problem. On Xiaomi smartphones, apps are most often caused by:

• 🔋 Lack of RAM — MIUI aggressively optimizes background processes, but sometimes "kills" the right ones, which leads to failures.
• 📱 Conflict with the shell MIUI — Especially relevant after updates when applications are not adapted to the new firmware version.
• 🗑️ A filled storage – less than 10% of the free space on internal memory is guaranteed to cause lags.
• 🔄 Cache errors – corrupted temporary files of an application or system can block its operation.
• 🛠️ Betas and unstable versions MIUI — Mi Pilot users often encounter bugs that do not occur in stable builds.
• 🚫 Blocking background activity - a function of the battery → Optimizing charging can 'strangle' applications.
• 🦠 Viruses or malware – especially if the app is downloaded from third-party sources (not Google Play).

Interestingly, POCO and Redmi with Snapdragon processors are less likely to freeze than MediaTek models (like the Redmi 10A or Note 11SE), which is due to the peculiarities of optimizing MIUI for different chipsets, and the problem is more often manifested on devices with 4 GB of RAM or less.

Method 1: Forced stopping of the application

If the program is not responding, but the phone is still responding to touch, the first thing you do is force it to stop, and it won't delete the data, but it will reset all the processes that are going on.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the hung app in the list (use search if it isn't at the top).
3. Slip on it and select Forced Stop (button at the bottom of the screen).
4. Confirm the action by pressing OK.

If the app doesn't open again after that, try clearing its cache (the same button in the app menu).Do not clear the data - this will delete all settings and inputs!

Forced to stop the application | Clear cache (not data!) |Reboot phone | Check free disk space-->

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) 9A) After a forced shutdown of system applications (for example, Mi Video or Theme Store) sound may disappear or errors occur during the update.

Method 2: Reboot your phone in Safe Mode

If the app freezes immediately after launch or blocks the entire interface, try booting the phone in Safe Mode, this will disable all third-party programs, leaving only system ones, so you can see whether the application itself is to blame or a conflict with other software.

How to turn on Safe Mode on Xiaomi:

1. Press the power button before the off menu appears.
2. Tap and hold the power off option (or Reboot on new versions of MIUI).
3. Confirm the transition to safe mode (the Safe mode will appear at the bottom of the screen).

In safe mode:

• 🔍 Check if the problem application is working.
• 📌 If yes, remove recently installed programs (they may conflict).
• 🔄 If not, the problem is in the application or system itself (read more).

Method 3: Clear cache and data (without removing the application)

A damaged cache is one of the most common causes of freezes, and unlike a forced shutdown, cleaning the cache removes temporary files that may have been clogged, and the application data (logins, settings) is not affected unless you click Clear.

Step-by-step:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select a problem app (such as Instagram, Telegram or Google Play Store).
3. Click Warehouse (or Memory on older versions of MIUI).
4. Put it on Clear the cache.
5. If the problem persists, try Clearing the data, but be prepared to have to re-enter your account.

For system applications (like the Camera or Gallery), cleaning up data can reset to factory settings. On the POCO F4 and Redmi K50 models, this sometimes helps to eliminate lags when shooting videos.

Method 4: Update or roll back the application

If the app started to freeze after the update, the problem may be in the new version, in which case:

• 🔄 Reverse to the previous version (if the update was via Google Play).
• 🆙 Forced update (if the version is outdated and incompatible with the MIUI).

How to roll back the app:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the problem app and tap on three dots in the upper right corner.
3. Click Remove Updates (not available for all applications).

For update:

1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. Find the app and check if the new version is available.
3. If there is an update but is not installed, clear the cache of Google Play and Google Play Services (see Method 3).

💡

If the app doesn’t update because of a 504 or 924 error in Google Play, try deleting your Google account and adding it again.

Method 5: Checking Permits and Battery Optimization

MIUI is known for its aggressive battery optimization, which sometimes strangles apps, especially instant messengers and background services. If the program freezes when running in the background (for example, WhatsApp does not send notifications), check:

• 🔓 Permissions: Go to Settings → Annexes → Permissions and make sure the application has access to memory, camera, microphone, etc.
• 🔋 Battery Optimization: Open Settings → Battery → Optimize charging and find your app. Choose Unlimited.
• 🚀 Autostart: in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Autorun Enable Resolution for Problem Software.

On the POCO F3 and Redmi K40, there is a hidden setting Advanced Battery Settings that allows you to disable optimization for individual applications.

1. Go to Settings. → Battery.
2. Slip on the three-point in the upper right corner and select Advanced Settings.
3. Find the Application Optimization section and disable it for the right software.

⚠️ Note: Disabling battery optimization for Facebook, Instagram or TikTok can significantly reduce battery life. Use this method only for critical applications (such as messengers or navigators).

Method 6: Reset MIUI settings (without data loss)

If none of these methods worked, but you don’t want to do a full reset, try resetting MIUI to factory settings, which will return all system settings to default, but will not affect user data (photos, videos, messages).

How to do this:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 5-7 times on the MIUI version until you get a message You became a developer!
3. Return to the main settings menu and go to Additional → For developers.
4. Find the Reset option (or Restore and Reset on older versions).
5. Select Reset MIUI settings and confirm the action.

After the reboot:

• 🔄 Reset your phone (Wi-Fi, accounts, fingerprints).
• 📱 Check the problem application.
• 🛠️ If the hanging continues - proceed to a complete reset (see the following method).

💡

Resetting MIUI only removes system settings (wallpaper, sounds, screen settings), but does not affect installed applications and media files.

Method 7: Completely reset to factory settings (Hard Reset)

The last measure is a complete reset - apply only if:

• 📵 Phone does not respond to touches due to a suspended application.
• 🔄 The previous methods did not help.
• 📱 The problem appears in all applications (system failure).

Important: This will delete all data from the phone, including photos, videos, messages and installed programs. Pre-backup through Settings → Google → Backup or Mi Cloud.

Instructions for Xiaomi:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up at the same time (on some models – Volume down).
3. Wait for the Mi logo to appear and release the buttons – you will be taken to Recovery Mode.
4. Use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.
5. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (in Chinese firmware may be called ).
6. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.
7. Restart the phone (Reboot).

On models with MIUI 14 and newer (for example, Xiaomi 13 or Redmi Note 12 Pro+), you can reset directly from the settings menu:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose to erase all data.
3. Enter your password (if installed) and confirm.

⚠️ Note: Phones with bootloader unlocked may require re-authorization of the Mi Account after a full reset (if device binding was enabled!

Method 8: Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot (for advanced ones)

If app freezes are associated with corrupting system files (for example, after a failed update), flashing through Fastboot can help. This method is only suitable for advanced users, since it requires:

• 🖥️ Computer with drivers installed ADB/Fastboot.
• 📥 Official firmware for your model (download only from the Xiaomi website).
• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (on new models it takes up to 72 hours of waiting for SMS code).

Instructions:

1. Download the Mi Flash Tool and firmware for your model.
2. Turn off the phone and press Volume Down + Power to log into Fastboot Mode.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and start the Mi Flash Tool.
4. Select the downloaded firmware and press Flash.
5. Wait until the phone is finished (don’t turn off the phone!).

For POCO X3 Pro, Redmi Note 10 Pro and later, it is recommended to use Global Stable firmware, as China Stable may contain unnecessary Chinese services that conflict with international versions of applications.

FAQ: Frequent questions about app hangs on Xiaomi