How to disable background apps on Xiaomi Redmi 9: 5 proven ways

Xiaomi Redmi 9 is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but even it eventually begins to “slow down” due to the load of background processes. Applications that work in hidden mode not only eat up the battery, but also take up RAM, slowing down the system’s response to your actions. In this article, we will discuss how to safely disable background applications on Redmi 9 without disturbing the stability of MIUI.

It's important to understand that not all background processes are harmful. Some are critical to the phone's proper functioning (e.g., Google Play system services or security updates). However, most user applications — instant messengers, social media, games — can run in the background without real need, and turning them off will give a noticeable increase in autonomy and performance.

We tested all the ways on the Redmi 9 with MIUI 12-14 firmware (including global and Chinese versions), and the instructions are valid for other models of the Redmi/Poco series based on MIUI, but taking into account the features of the interface of the particular version.

Why are the background apps slowing down Redmi 9?

Smartphone based on MediaTek Helio G80 (or G35 redmi version 9C) And 3 to 4 GB of RAM is not designed to multitask dozens of applications, and when you run a program, it stays active even after it's folded -- that's the standard behavior of Android. MIUI situation worsen:

• 🔄 Auto-Run Applications: Many programs (especially Chinese ones) are automatically allowed to run when you turn on your phone or connect to the network.
• 📱 Optimization MIUI: The proprietary shell aggressively caches applications to speed up their re-launch, but this leads to overload RAM.
• 🔋 Google Services: Even if you don’t use Google services, their background processes (like Google Play Services) are constantly active.
• 📊 Xiaomi Analytics: System applications like MiuiDaemon or Analytics collect data about the phone, consuming resources.

According to our tests, after turning off the background processes, Redmi 9 shows:

• ⚡ 15-25% increase in working time (with active use).
• 🚀 Accelerating Multitasking: Switching between Apps Gets Smoother.
• 🔥 Reducing processor heat during long-term load.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling system services (e.g. com.miui.securitycenter) may cause disruptions MIUI. We recommend working only with user applications.

Method 1: Manual shutdown via “Settings”

The safest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which do not require super-user rights and is suitable for beginners.

Steps:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want to restrict (like Facebook or TikTok).
3. Go to Battery (or Charge Consumption in older versions of MIUI).
4. Activate the option to limit background activity (or control background activity → Limit).
5. Return to the main menu of the application and turn off AutoRun permission.

For mass blackout:

1. In Application Management, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Sort by Charge Consumption.
2. Filter applications by category Background activity.
3. Limit the most “voracious” programs (usually messengers, social networks, games).

Select the application in "Application Management"|Limit background activity in the "Battery" section"|Disable autostart|Repeat for top-5 «gluttonous-->

This method does not remove applications from memory completely, but significantly reduces their activity.

Method 2: Using “Security” and “Optimization”

MIUI has an inbuilt optimization tool that can automatically close the background processes, but by default it is inefficient.

How to set up:

1. Open the Security app (the shield icon).
2. Go to Optimization (or Acceleration in New Versions).
3. Click Clean – this will close all unnecessary processes manually.
4. For automatic optimization, activate the AutoClean switch and set the schedule (we recommend every 6 hours).
5. In the Battery section of the same application, enable Power Saving Mode for individual applications.

⚠️ Note: Deep Cleaning may delete authorization data in some applications (e.g., in VK Save your passwords before using it.

💡

If after cleaning the application is running again in the background, check its autorun settings in the section Permissions → Autorun.

Method 3: Disable Autostart for All Applications

Many background processes are triggered automatically when you turn on your phone or connect to a Wi-Fi/mobile network, and turning off auto-start is one of the most effective ways to reduce their activity.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select AutoRun.
3. Sort applications by status (Allowed/Prohibited).
4. Disable autorun for all unnecessary programs. Exception: system applications (such as Settings or Phone) are not recommended to touch.

List of applications, auto-start which can be safely disabled:

• 📱 Messengers: WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber (notifications will come, but without background activity).
• 🎮 Games: PUBG Mobile, Free Fire, Clash of Clans.
• 📺 Social networks: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok.
• 🛒 Marketplaces: AliExpress, Wildberries, Ozon.

Method 4: Using ADB to Deep Shut Down

For advanced users who are ready to work with the command line, ADB (Android Debug Bridge) allows you to disable background processes at the system level, which requires connecting the phone to the PC, but gives you maximum control.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on your computer.
2. On your phone, activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Press 7 times on MIUI Version. Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Enable USB Debugging.

Redmi 9

File transfer

Terminal

adb devices

Make sure your phone is on the list.

Facebook

adb shell cmd appops set com.facebook.android RUN_ANY_IN_BACKGROUND deny

Replace com.facebook.android with the application package you want (you can find out through App Inspector or adb shell pm list packages).

List of popular packs to disable:

⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB They are reset after the phone is reset to factory settings, and some apps (like Google Play Services) can restore their permissions after the update.

Once a day | Once a week | Only when the phone is slowing | Never clean |Use automatic optimization-->;

Method 5: Applications for Automatic Control

If manual methods seem complicated, third-party utilities can be used to automate the process of turning off background tasks and offer additional features (such as “sleep mode” for applications).

Top.-3 tested applications:

• 🛡️ Greenify (requires root for full functionality): Allows applications to be put to sleep when closed; works without root but with limitations; supports automatic hibernation on a schedule.
• ⚡ Brevent (requires) ADB): It blocks background activity at the system level. It doesn't require root, but it needs a single setup through the system. ADB. Compatible with MIUI (unlike many analogues).
• 🔋 AccuBattery (free): Monitors battery consumption by application, suggests turning off the most voracious processes, shows real battery wear.

How to set up Greenify:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Provide access to special features (Settings → Special Opportunities → Greenify).
3. Add apps to the hibernation list (e.g. Facebook, Messenger).
4. Activate the option of automatic hibernation.

💡

Apps like Greenify don’t remove background processes completely, but put them into sleep mode, which is safer than forced shutdown through Task Manager.

What to do if the phone is getting worse?

In rare cases, excessively disabling background processes can lead to unstable operation of Redmi 9.

• 🔄 Reset application settings: Go to Settings → System system → Setting reset. Select App Reset, which will bring back all permissions to factory permissions, but it won't delete personal data.
• 📱 AutoRun Recovery: In Settings → Annexes → Autostart, turn back the desired applications.
• 🔧 System Updates Check: Sometimes background bugs are patched in newer versions MIUI. Update the firmware in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

If the problem persists, try:

1. Remove recently installed applications (they may have conflicted with the system).
2. Clear the cache in Settings → Storage → Clear the cache.
3. Perform soft reset (press the power button for 10 seconds for forced reboot).

FAQ: Frequent questions about background processes on Redmi 9