Xiaomi Redmi smartphone owners often come across the term “app autorun,” but not everyone understands how it works and why it’s even needed. In fact, it’s one of the key features of the MIUI shell, which directly affects the speed of the device, battery consumption, and even notifications from instant messengers. If you notice that the phone has become slower and the battery is running too fast, the problem may lie in the wrong autostart settings.
In this article, we will go into detail about what autorun is, how it relates to background processes in Android, and why Xiaomi implemented this feature differently than other manufacturers, how to check which apps run automatically, how to disable unnecessary ones, and which programs are best left in startup so as not to lose important notifications, and we will also touch on hidden MIUI settings, which many users do not even know.
Auto-start is not the same as auto-synchronization, the former is responsible for running an app in the background when you turn on your phone or after you reboot, and the latter is responsible for updating data (such as mail or weather), which Xiaomi Redmi often confuses because they are closely linked through the Permissions and Battery menus.
Another important point: on different versions of MIUI (12, 13, 14 or HyperOS), the path to autorun settings may differ. We will look at current methods for modern firmware, but if you have an older version, some menu items may be called differently. At the end of the article you will find FAQ with answers to frequent questions, including the differences between the Redmi Note 10/11/12 models and the flagship Xiaomi 13/14.
What is Auto-Running Applications and Why You Need It
Autostart (or autoboot) is a mechanism that allows apps to automatically start when a smartphone is turned on or after it is rebooted. In Android, this feature is implemented at the system level, but Xiaomi has added its control layer through the MIUI shell. The main goal is to speed up access to frequently used programs and ensure the operation of background services (for example, notifications from WhatsApp or Telegram).
But there's a downside to this: the more apps you have in your boot, the more you load your processor and RAM, and this leads to:
- 🔋 Fast battery discharge – background processes are constantly consuming energy.
- 🐢 Slowing down – the system spends resources on unnecessary tasks.
- 📱 Overheating of the device – especially noticeable on low-cooled Redmi models.
In Xiaomi, autorun is closely linked to Battery Protection, which limits the background activity of applications to save charge. By default, the system decides which programs can be run automatically, but often these solutions are far from ideal. For example, MIUI can block autorun for Viber, which will not give you notifications about calls, or vice versa, allow it for underutilized games that only load the system.
Fun fact: Xiaomi with HyperOS (new firmware instead of MIUI) has changed the logic of autorun, now more actively analyzes user behavior and optimizes background processes, but manual tuning is still available — and often works more efficiently than automatic.
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If you notice that notifications from messengers have stopped coming after the MIUI update, the first thing you do is check the autorun settings for these applications. Often the problem is solved with a single click!
How to Check Which Applications Are Launched Automatically
To see the list of programs with auto-run rights, you need to go to the special MIUI menu. The path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the general logic is maintained. Here is a step-by-step guide for most Xiaomi Redmi models (relevant to MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS):
1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the "Applications" section → "Applications Management".
3.In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and select “Out-Start” (or “Out-boot” in some versions).
4. Here you will see a complete list of installed programs with on/off autostart switches.
On Xiaomi with HyperOS, the path is a bit different:
- «Settings» → «Annexes».
- Select the “Permissions” tab → “Special Permissions” tab.
- Find the "Stop" item (may be called "Run in the background").
In this menu, the applications are divided into categories:
- 🔄 Permitted – programs that can run automatically.
- 🚫 Blocked – Auto-run disabled manually or by the system.
- ⚠️ System-based — service-based applications MIUI, non-disabled.
Note: Some programs (such as Google Play Services or Mi Security) may not be listed because they run on the Android level and are not managed via MIUI.
Why aren’t some apps on the autorun list?
How to disable auto-start for unnecessary applications
If you want to optimize your smartphone, the first thing you should do is turn off auto-start for programs you rarely use, which will free up RAM and reduce battery load.
1. Go to the autostart menu (instructions in the previous section).
2. scroll through the list and find the apps you want to disable.
Games (e.g. PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact)
Social networks that you don’t use on a daily basis (such as Facebook, TikTok).
Pre-installed Xiaomi services that you don’t need (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music)
3. Transfer the slider to the "Off" position for selected programs.
Important: Do not turn off auto-start for:
- 📱 Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) if you want to receive notifications.
- 🔔 Synchronization services (Google Play Services, Mi Cloud).
- 🔒 Antivirus and banking applications (for example, SberBank Online).
After disabling autorun, some programs may stop updating data in the background, for example, Instagram will not show new notifications until you manually open it. If this is critical, leave autorun on, but limit background activity through Battery Optimization (more on this below).
Turn off autoplay for games |Check messengers (leave on) |Remove unnecessary social networks |Leave system services unchanged |Reboot phone to apply settings-->
Auto Start vs Battery Optimization: What’s the Difference
Many users confuse autorun with Battery Optimization, another MIUI feature that affects the background of applications, but these are actually two different mechanisms that need to be configured in a complex way.
| Function | What's he doing? | Where to set up | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto-start | Allows the application to start automatically when the phone is turned on. | Settings → Applications → Auto Launch | Average (program launch) ≠ background) |
| Optimizing the battery | Limits the background activity of the application to save charge. | Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization | High (blocks background processes) |
| Blocking in the background | It prevents the application from working in the background after closing. | Settings → Applications → [Select Application] → Battery | Low (completely disables background tasks) |
For example, if you turn off auto-start for Telegram, but leave Battery Optimization off, the messenger won’t start itself when you turn on the phone, but it can run in the background if you open it manually. And if you turn on battery optimization, Telegram will stop updating chats even if auto-start is allowed.
A critical mistake many users make is that they turn off auto-start for instant messengers, but forget to check battery optimization, and as a result, notifications don’t come at all, either automatically or manually.
To avoid problems, follow this algorithm:
- Leave auto-run enabled for critical applications (messengers, banks).
- Turn off Battery Optimization for the same programs.
- For other applications, turn off both auto-start and optimization (if they are not needed in the background).
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Autostart and optimize the battery are two different tools: one controls how the program starts when the phone is turned on, and the other controls how it works in the background.
Hidden Auto Start Settings: What You Can Do With ADB
V MIUI There are hidden options that can't be changed through the standard menu, such as some Xiaomi system applications (such as Mi Security or Cleaner) that can't be disabled in the autoboot in the usual way. ADB (Android Debug Bridge – a tool for debugging through a computer.
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Attention! ADB requires caution. Wrong commands can disrupt the system, and if you're not sure what you're doing, you'd better not use this method.
Here’s how to turn off auto-runs for system applications via ADB:
- Turn on "Debugging by" USB» on the phone: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times to activate Developer Mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB.
- Connect Redmi to your computer and open the command line (or Terminal on Mac/Linux).
- Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
- To disable auto-run for a specific application (e.g. com.miui.cleanmaster, a standard cleaner), use: adb shell cmd appops set com.miui.cleanmaster RUN_ANY_IN_BACKGROUND ignore
A list of Xiaomi system application packages can be found online or through apps like App Inspector.
- 📱 com.miui.securitycenter - Security Center.
- 🔍 com.miui.cleanmaster - Memory cleaner.
- 📊 com.miui.analytics – Statistics collection (can be turned off without risk).
Once you've done the commands, restart your phone, the changes will take effect, and the system applications will stop running automatically, and if something goes wrong, you can always return the default settings with the command:
adb shell cmd appops set [package] RUN_ANY_IN_BACKGROUND allowHow to find out the package name of the application?
What happens if you turn off auto-start for all applications
Some users are radically optimizing and disabling auto-runs for all but system software, which really speeds up the phone and extends battery life, but has serious side effects.
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Attention, shutting down autostart completely will lead to the following problems: 📵 There will be no notifications from messengers, mail, social networks. ⏳ Data will not be updated in background (e.g. weather, exchange rates). 🔄 Some features will stop working (for example, automatic synchronization of photos in Google Photos). 🔒 Banking applications may require re-authorization at each launch.
If you want to minimize the system, follow these recommendations:
- Leave auto-run only for instant messengers, banking applications and synchronization services.
- For other programs, turn off auto-start, but allow manual start-up in the background (via Battery Optimization).
- Use Green Mode in your battery settings (Settings → Battery → Battery Mode) to limit background activity for all applications except those selected.
Xiaomi Redmi with Snapdragon processors 4xx/6xx (For example, Redmi Note 10/11) Complete shutdown of autostart can give an increase in productivity on 15–20%, but on flagships (Xiaomi) 13/14) The difference will be minimal due to the powerful "iron».