Autorun in the background on Xiaomi Redmi: why you need and how to configure

Have you ever noticed that some apps on your Xiaomi Redmi run on their own, even if you didn't open them? Or the battery runs out faster than expected, even though you barely used your phone? Chances are autorun in the background - one of the key features of the MIUI shell that can both simplify life and create problems.

This feature allows apps to automatically launch under certain conditions (like when your phone is rebooted or connected to Wi-Fi), update data in the background and send notifications. On the one hand, it is convenient: messengers are always at hand, the weather is updated without you, and social networks show fresh posts. On the other hand, uncontrolled auto-start can eat up battery power, load the processor and even slow down the smartphone.

In this article, we will learn how autorun Xiaomi Redmi works, what applications use it, and most importantly, how to customize it to make your smartphone work longer and more stable, and answer frequent questions: does autorun affect autonomy, can it be completely turned off, and what will happen if you ban it for system applications.

What is the Auto-Running of Applications on Xiaomi Redmi

Auto-start (or Auto-start in MIUI) is a mechanism that allows applications to activate without direct user interaction, and works at the operating system level and is closely integrated with Battery Optimization and Application Resolutions.

When you install a new app, MIUI may by default allow or disable it to auto-run depending on the category:

• 📱 System applications (e.g. Settings, Phone, Messages) – usually have autorun by default, as they are critical to the smartphone’s performance.
• 💬 Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) – almost always allowed so you don’t miss messages.
• 🌍 Social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) – often include auto-runs to update feeds and notifications.
• 🎮 Games and rarely used apps are generally banned because they don’t require constant activity.

It’s important to understand that autorun is not the same as background activity: Autorun allows an application to start on its own, and background activity determines what it can do after launch (e.g. update data, show notifications, or use geolocation).

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g., banking or delivery services) may stop working properly if you prevent them from auto-starting. For example, SberBank Online will not send push notifications about payments, and Yandex.Maps will not be able to update information about traffic jams in real time.

How Auto Start Affects Battery and Performance

The main problem with auto-run is hidden resource consumption, and even if you don't open an application, it can:

• 🔋 Spending battery power on background processes (data update, synchronization, notification verification).
• 🖥️ Occupy RAM, which leads to the killing of other applications (for example, games or a browser may suddenly close).
• 📶 Use mobile traffic or Wi-Fi to share data with servers.
• 🔄 Run processes that load the processor and cause the phone to heat up.

According to XDA Developers, uncontrolled auto-runs can reduce Xiaomi Redmi’s battery life by 15 to 30 percent depending on the number of active applications, especially on low-end models (such as the Redmi 9A or Redmi Note 10), where the battery is already not very large.

But auto-starting isn't always harmful, like it's useful for:

• 🔔 Applications with important notifications (messengers, mail, banking).
• 📍 Geolocation services (Google Maps, Yandex.Navigator), if you use them often.
• 🔄 Data synchronization (contacts, calendar, cloud storage).

How to Check Which Apps Have Auto-Run

To see the list of apps with autorun permission, follow the following steps:

1. Open the settings on your Xiaomi Redmi.
2. Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
3. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Auto-Start (or Auto-start in the global version of MIUI).
4. You will see a list of all installed applications with On/Off switches.

You can also use the built-in Battery Monitor to analyze:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Use.
2. Click on the consumption chart and select Details.
3. Here you can see apps that consume charge in the background, even if you haven’t opened them.

If you see unknown applications (e.g. com.android.xxx) in the autorun list, it could be system services or malware.

• 🔍 Check the name of the app on Google Play or through search.
• 🛡️ Scan your phone with an antivirus (such as Malwarebytes or built-in Security in the Internet). MIUI).
• ⚙️ If it is a system application, it is better not to disable its auto-run without understanding the consequences.

How to disable auto-start for unnecessary applications

If you're optimizing your phone, you can stop auto-starting apps that don't need constant activity, like games, rarely used social media, or services that you only open manually.

Instructions for unsetting:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Autorun.
2. Find the app you want to disable auto-start (like Facebook or AliExpress).
3. Switch the slider to the off position.
4. Confirm the action if a warning appears.

Some applications (such as Google Play Services or MIUI System) do not have the ability to disable auto-runs due to their critical role in the system.

• 📱 System services (com.android.phone, com.miui.securitycenter) – their disconnection can lead to failures.
• 🔔 Applications with push notifications (messaging, mail) – you will stop receiving messages in real time.
• 📍 Geolocation services (Google Maps, Yandex.Maps) – they will not be able to update data about traffic jams or weather.

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If notifications stop coming after the WhatsApp, Viber autorun is turned off, check the settings of the app itself. You may also need to allow background activity or enable the "Show Notifications" option.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 or Redmi) K50) When autorun is disabled, an error may appear for system applications The process of com.android.phone is stopped, in which case you will have to reset the settings or return the permission manually.

What to do if the auto-start does not turn off

Sometimes users find that even after disabling auto-start in the settings, the application continues to start on its own, and this can happen for several reasons:

1. The application has administrator rights. Some programs (such as antiviruses or password managers) request device administrator rights, which allows them to bypass the limitations of MIUI. To check: Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Privileged apps. Check the box from suspicious applications.

Optimization for play or performance is included.

MIUI has Game Mode or Acceleration, which can automatically allow autoplay for "priority" applications. Turn it off in Settings → Special Features → Game Mode.

The app is updated via Google Play.

After updating, some apps may reset your autorun settings. Check them after each update.

If nothing works, you can use a radical method, which is to freeze the application with the help of ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which will block its operation at the system level.

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.package.name

Where com.package.name is the application ID (you can find out through Settings → Applications → select the application → see Package Name).

Auto-Running on Different Versions of MIUI: What Has Changed

The autorun function evolved with MIUI. In older versions (e.g. MIUI 9–11), it was less flexible: users could only turn off autoruns for all applications completely or leave it on. Starting with MIUI 12 and later (including MIUI 14 on the Redmi Note 12), additional settings were introduced:

Starting with MIUI 12.5, Xiaomi also added Deep Optimization, which automatically analyzes app behavior and suggests disabling auto-starts for those that are rarely used.

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On MIUI 14 (like the Redmi Note 12 Pro+), autorun is disabled by default for most third-party apps.This is done to save battery, but can cause notification issues.

Alternative methods of managing background processes

If standard autorun settings are not enough in MIUI, you can use additional tools:

• 🔧 Greenify is a background freezer app that requires root rights to work properly, but some features are available without them. How it works: when the screen is closed, Greenify suspends selected applications, preventing their background activity.
• ⚡ AccuBattery analyzes battery consumption and shows which applications are most voracious, can help identify hidden energy users.
• 🛠️ ADB-commands for power users, allowing you to globally disable autorun for all applications or configure exceptions. Example of commands to disable autorun for a particular package: adb shell cmd appops set com.package.name RUN_ANY_IN_BACKGROUND deny
• 🔄 Energy saving regimes in MIUI: Battery → Power Saving Mode – limits background activity for all applications. Super Power Saving – disables autorun for most applications except system applications.

If you’re using Xiaomi Redmi based on Android 12/13 (like Redmi K60 or Redmi Note 12 Pro), pay attention to the Background Limitation feature in battery settings, which allows you to more flexibly manage which apps can run in the background.

⚠️ Note: When using Greenify or ADB to restrict system applications (e.g. com.miui.home – launcher) MIUI) Your phone may start to brake or reboot. Before you experiment, back up your data!

FAQ: Frequent questions about auto-launch on Xiaomi Redmi