How to set up applications in the background on Xiaomi: the full guide 2026

Why Xiaomi Apps Close in the Background and How to Fix It

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a problem: messengers stop notifying, music players stop after 5 minutes, and navigators lose connection when the screen is locked. The blame is the aggressive optimization of the battery in the MIUI shell, which forcibly closes the background processes. In this article, we will discuss how to properly configure the application in the background so that they do not unload from memory and work stably.

The problem is relevant for all firmware versions, from MIUI 12 to MIUI 14, including Android 13/14 models, and even flagship devices like Xiaomi 14 Ultra or POCO F6 Pro are not insured: the system saves charge due to user comfort, but the good news is that you can fix this without root rights using hidden settings and standard MIUI tools.

It is important to understand that setting up background processes on Xiaomi requires a comprehensive approach: just add an application to auto-start or disable battery optimization. You need to configure 4 key parameters at once: auto-start, lock in the background, battery optimization and permissions for a particular application. Skip at least one step and the problem will return.

Step 1: Disabling Battery Optimization for the Application

The first thing you need to do is to remove the application from the optimized list, and by default, MIUI limits the background activity of all programs except system programs, to remove this limitation:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the desired application (for example, Telegram or Yandex Navigator).
3. Slip on the item Battery Optimization.
4. In the drop-down menu, select No Limits.

For some applications (e.g. messengers), it is also useful to enable the option to Allow background activity in the same menu, which allows the program to communicate with the server even when the screen is locked.

⚠️ Attention: After update MIUI Battery optimization settings can be reset. Check them after each major system update.

• 🔋 For instant messengers (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram): always choose without restrictions.
• 🎵 For music players (Spotify, Yandex Music): enough mode Intelligent optimization.
• 🚗 For navigators (Google Maps, Yandex Navigator): only Without restrictions + Permission to Exact Location.

Optimization of the battery → Without restrictions |

Allow background activity → On|

Auto Start → On (see next step)|

Notifications → Permitted and prioritized-->

Step 2: Setup Autostart and Lock in the Background

Even if you've turned off battery optimization, MIUI can shut down the app minutes after it's curtailed, and to avoid that, you need to:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → [Select App].
2. Activate AutoRun switch (allows the application to start automatically after restarting).
3. Enable Background Lock (prohibits the system from killing the process).

On some models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro+), the Background Lock option may be called Lock in Memory or Prohibit Closure. If no such option is available, use an alternative method via Developer Mode (see Step 4).

For applications that need to run continuously (such as Shagomer or Conversation Recording), it is also helpful to enable the option to Show over other windows in the permission settings, which will prevent them from closing when the screen is locked.

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If notifications still don’t come after you set up autorun, check your sync settings in your Mi Account. Sometimes the problem is that contacts or messages are disabled.

Step 3: Permits for stable operation in the background

Many applications require additional permissions to work properly in the background.

• 📍 Location: Navigators (Google Maps, 2GIS) need permission Exact location even in the background.
• 🔔 Notifications: Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) should be allowed to show high-priority notifications.
• 🔄 Auto Start: Apps like Autoresponder or Alarm clock need to be added to autorun exceptions.

To check the permits:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → [Select App] → Permissions.
2. Turn on all necessary switches (especially Location, Notifications, Auto Start).
3. Some applications (e.g. Yandex Maps) also require permission to Ignore battery optimization in additional settings.

If the application requests permission for Persistent Activity in the background (such as Zoom or Discord), be sure to provide it. Without this, the program will close 10-15 minutes after curtailing.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14 and Android 14 have a new restriction, Restricted Background Access, which must be disabled separately in the privacy settings for each application.

Step 4: Using Developer Mode to Fine-Tune in

If standard methods don't work, you'll have to use hidden settings for developers, which is suitable for power users and allows you to flexibly manage background processes.

First, activate the Developer Mode:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
2. Tap on the item 7 times in a row until the notification You became a developer!

Now open Settings → Additional → For developers and configure the following settings:

• 🔄 Process Limit: Set a Standard Limit or No Limit.
• 📱 Do not turn off the screen: useful for navigators.
• 🔋 Background Processes: Increase the limit to 4 processes (usually 2 by default).
• 🚫 Limit background processes: Turn off this switch.

For maximum stability, it is also recommended to disable Windows Animation and Transition Animation – this will reduce the load on the system and reduce the likelihood of forced closure of applications.

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Customizing process limits in developer mode is the most effective way to prevent background tasks from closing, but can slightly increase battery consumption.

Step 5: Alternative methods (without root)

If none of the above methods worked, try these solutions:

• 🔄 Reinstall the app: Sometimes resetting helps. Uninstall the program, restart the phone and reinstall it.
• 📱 Lite usage: For example, Facebook Lite or Messenger Lite are often more stable than the mainstream versions.
• 🔋 Disabling "Adaptive Battery": In Battery Settings (Settings) → Battery → Adaptive battery: Disable this option – it aggressively closes the background processes.
• 🛠️ Resetting application settings: In Settings → Annexes → Application management → ⋮ → Resetting application settings.

Some apps (like Google Play Services) also help clear cache and data, but beware: this can lead to loss of settings or logging out.

If the problem persists, check if the application is blocked by Antivirus or MIUI Firewall. Go to Settings → Security → Scanning and add the application to exceptions.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many users make the same mistakes when setting up background processes, and here are the most common:

• ❌ Auto-Run Only Setting Up: Without disabling battery optimization and locking in the background, it won't work.
• ❌ Ignoring permissions: For example, denying location access to a navigator.
• ❌ Using Memory Cleanup: Cleaning Up Notifications Shutter Kills All Background Processes.
• ❌ Update MIUI without checking settings: Many permissions are reset after the update.

Another common mistake is using killer tasks (such as Greenify or AccuBattery), which conflict with MIUI settings and can exacerbate the problem, and if you installed them, delete and restart the phone.

Also avoid the power saving mode (Settings → Battery → Power saving mode) which blocks background activity of all applications except system ones. Use Balanced Mode instead.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions