Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often find that even after the program is closed, they continue to function in the background, consuming system resources. This behavior of the MIUI or HyperOS operating system is dictated by the specific logic of the shell, which seeks to keep running processes active for quick access. Understanding the autostart mechanism is critical for those who want to optimize the operation of the device and extend battery life.
Many users mistakenly believe that swiping down to close an application completely stops it from working. In fact, system services can restart important components of the program if they are allowed to restore automatically, creating the illusion of a “perpetual” application that cannot be downloaded from memory with standard cleaning methods.
In this article, we will take a closer look at what autoruns mean in the Xiaomi ecosystem, why it is on by default for most services, and how to manage this process correctly. You will learn to distinguish between system necessity and excess load, which simply puts the battery down without any apparent benefit to the user.
The essence of the auto-start mechanism in the shell of MIUI
Application autorun is a system feature that allows programs to initiate their work without direct user intervention after a device is turned on or rebooted. Unlike pure Android, where memory management is more aggressive, the MIUI shell has historically been prone to storing processes in RAM to speed up switching between tasks.
The main goal of this approach is to provide instant notifications and quick start of frequently used programs. However, if this process is not controlled, the phone can turn into a “parasitic” system, where dozens of unnecessary services constantly consume CPU power. System restrictions in new firmware versions try to combat this, but manual adjustment is often necessary.
It's important to understand the difference between system services and third-party social networks, and if Google Services or a system phone should always work, then an online store or game doesn't have to start immediately after the screen is turned on, and that's where the key to optimizing is.
⚠️ Warning: Disable auto-start system components such as “Security”, “Google Play Services” or “System” UI», This can lead to incorrect notifications and instability of the interface.
The autostart mechanism is closely related to Freezer, which has appeared in newer versions of the shell. Unlike a complete ban, freezing allows the application to start only when the user opens directly, blocking background activity until then.
The Effect of Background Processes on Battery and RAM
Uncontrolled auto-start is one of the main reasons for fast battery discharge on Xiaomi smartphones: Every application running in the background periodically wakes up the processor, uses the network module to synchronize data or checks geolocation, which creates a constant load that the user does not see, but feels as the time is reduced.
RAM is also a limited resource: When there is little free memory, the system starts to force the active tasks to be unloaded, which can lead to restarting the programs you need and losing their state, and memory optimization depends on the number of applications that are allowed to autorun.
Consider the typical impact of different categories of programs on device resources:
| Type of application | RAM consumption | Impact on the battery | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Messengers | High. | Medium (permanent ping) | Leave auto-start. |
| Social media | Very high. | High (geo, media) | Disable autostart |
| Games | High. | Low (in the background sleeping) | Disable autostart |
| Fitness trackers | Average. | High (Bluetooth/GPS) | Leave auto-start. |
Especially critical is the impact of background processes on older models of smartphones with a small amount of RAM, in which cases aggressive savings become not only desirable, but necessary measure for comfortable use.
Where to find auto-start settings in Xiaomi
Searching for autorun settings can be confusing, as the path to them may be slightly different in different versions of MIUI and HyperOS, and users often look for this option in the general application settings, but Xiaomi has made managing this option in a separate system application.
To access the control, you need to open the Security app (green lightning icon), which is standard for all devices of the brand. Inside this application, you need to find the Permissions section, and then select AutoRun, and this is where the full list of programs that are allowed to start on their own is located.
An alternative way to go through general settings is to go to Settings, then to the Apps, and select Permissions. In the list that opens, find the AutoRun category, which may be less convenient because it doesn't provide as much detailed control as the built-in security tool.
☑️ Checking auto-start settings
The autostart list interface is usually divided into two tabs: "All" and "No Autostart"; the switch in front of each application allows it to instantly allow or deny self-start; visually active elements are highlighted, which makes navigation easier.
How to properly disable auto-start applications
The process of disabling autorun is simple, but it requires care. Open the list as described in the previous section and carefully examine the list of programs. Deactivation is done by simply pressing the switch opposite the application name. The color of the indicator will change, confirming the ban.
It is recommended to turn off auto-runs for games, food delivery applications, online stores and social networks, which you do not use constantly for communication. These programs do not require instant reaction and can be safely launched only on the user's request.
There is also deeper control through battery settings. For each application, you can configure an energy saving strategy. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, select the desired program, click Energy Saving and select Limit Background Activity or No Restrictions based on your needs.
⚠️ Note: If you turn off auto-runs for messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) or email clients, notifications of new messages may come with a delay or only after opening the application.
After making changes to the settings, it is recommended to restart the device so that the system applies new rules for managing memory and processes, which is especially true if you turn off a large number of programs at the same time.
What to do if the application is still running?
System Exclusions and Important Services
Not all applications can and should be disqualified from auto-starting. There are a number of critical components in the Android operating system and MIUI shell that will cause the smartphone to fail, and system processes must remain active to ensure that the device works properly.
This is especially true for Google Play, which is responsible for store operations, synchronization of contacts, calendar and push notifications, and avoid touching Xiaomi system components such as Services and Feedback, Mi Credit (if not in use), and security components.
Special attention should be paid to smart home applications if you are using the Mi Home ecosystem. For the correct operation of automation scenarios and remote device management, the corresponding applications need a constant background mode.
Below is a list of services that are best not to touch:
| Name of service | Function | Risk of shutdown |
|---|---|---|
| Google Play Services | The basic Android infrastructure | High (system failure) |
| MIUI Daemon | Statistics and analytics collection | Medium (errors in logs) |
| Xiaomi.eu | Custom firmware services | High (instability) |
| Android system | Operating system core | Critical (bootloop) |
If you accidentally disable an important system component, it can be easily reactivated by returning to the autostart menu. However, it is best to initially exercise caution and not change the settings of components with the Android or Xiaomi logo.
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Use the Search function in the settings by typing the name of an obscure service to find out what it is responsible for before turning it off.
Additional methods of memory optimization
Auto-run control isn't the only way to improve performance. There are additional controls in (developer menus) or customized application-cliners, but standard MIUI tools are usually sufficient for most scenarios.
One useful feature is Memory Extension, which uses a portion of internal storage as virtual RAM, and including this option in the Additional → Expansion section can help devices with low RAM capacity better cope with many open applications, although it does not solve the problem of background activity completely.
Also worth noting is the app freeze feature, which, unlike the complete autorun ban, allows the app to “sleep” immediately after the window closes, without consuming resources, but maintaining its state for quick defrosting the next run, which is the optimal balance between performance and convenience.
Regularly cleaning the cache and removing unused applications also contribute to reducing the load, and the less garbage is accumulated in the system, the more efficient the memory management mechanisms work.
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Comprehensive approach: the combination of auto-start prohibition, energy saving settings and periodic cache cleaning gives the maximum increase in autonomy.