Modern Xiaomi smartphones, which are based on the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS, have powerful hardware, but even it sometimes has difficulty managing resources. Often users notice that the battery runs out faster than usual, and the interface itself begins to slow down when switching between tasks. The cause of such problems in the vast majority of cases are background applications that continue to consume RAM and CPU power even when you are not using them.
Android by its very nature allows programs to run in the background for quick downloads and notifications, but some developers abuse this by running unnecessary processes. On Xiaomi devices, this problem is solved in a complex way, but requires manual adjustment, since standard optimization algorithms do not always cope with the aggressive behavior of individual services.
It's important to understand that shutting down all background services is not a goal, because it can disrupt messengers or alarms, and that we need to learn how to properly manage autoruns and force you to stop programs you don't need right now, which will significantly extend battery life and free up system resources for games or heavy applications.
One of the most effective, but hidden by default, tools is the developer menu, which allows you to set a hard limit on the number of processes running simultaneously, which forces the system to force the old applications from RAM. To activate this mode, you need to go to Settings → About phone and seven times click on the MIUI build number.
Once the developer mode activation notification appears, go back to the main settings menu and select "Additional → For Developers" and find "Applications" and "Background Process Limit" option, where you can choose a standard limit or set a hard limit, such as "No More than 2 Processes".
⚠️ Warning: Setting too strict a limit (for example, "No background processes") can lead to incorrect navigation, stop music when the screen is off and system services malfunction.
Changing this parameter affects the entire system globally, and if you set a limit to one process, when you start your browser, the system may shut down your messenger, and you won't receive a message until it's reopened, use this feature with caution, especially if you want to multitask.
What is ZRAM and how does it relate to background processes?
ZRAM — It's a memory compression technology, and when physical memory is filled with background applications, the system compresses their data to make room, which creates the illusion of a lot of RAM, but requires the CPU resources to decompress, which can cause micro-latency.> Setup Auto Start and Security Permits In the Shell MIUI And HyperOS has a built-in security tool that takes on the role of task manager, and that's where the key setting is known as Auto Start. Disabling AutoRun for Unnecessary Apps is the first and most important step every Xiaomi owner should take.To access these settings, open the Security app (green zipper icon) and go to the Permissions section. → Auto-start. Here you will see a list of all programs that are allowed to run with the switch on the smartphone. 🛑 Turn off auto-start for stores, social media, and games you don’t use every minute. 🔋 Check the charge saving section inside each app’s settings to ban background activity. 📱 Make sure system services, such as Google Play Services, remain active to allow notifications to work properly, and check the battery settings for each particular application. → Annexes → All applications, select the unnecessary program, click on "Saving Charge" and set "No Limits" only if it is critically important, otherwise select "Limit background activity". ☑️ Checking the energy saving settings Open the Security application: Go to Permissions:Find AutoRun:Disable the unnecessary applications Completed: 0 / 1 Forced Stop and Control of running applications If an application is already running and consuming resources, it can be stopped manually. The standard way through the multitasking menu (swipe up and hold) often only closes the window, but does not complete the process completely. Use system settings to ensure a stop. Go to Settings path → Annexes → All applications. Find the program that is bothering you in the list and click on the "Stop" or "Forced Stop" button. The system will warn you that the application may not work properly after such an action, but to eliminate freezes or reset errors is a necessary step. For more advanced users, there is the option of using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) commands. By connecting your smartphone to your computer, you can send commands to stop packets. This is especially useful if the phone interface is frozen and the touch screen does not respond to touch. adb shell am force-stop com.package.name Using the command line requires you to include USB debugging in the developer menu. Be careful when entering the package name, as an error can cause the system process to stop, which will require a device restart. Optimization of memory and cache Cache Cache Cache Cache Cache Cache Cache Cache Cache Cache Cache Cache Cache Cache Cache.Accumulation also helps to slow down the Android process on its own. The Security app has a Cleanup feature that scans the device for junk files. However, it's worth distinguishing between cache and application data. Cache cleaning is secure and removes temporary files, speeding up. Cleanup resets the application to the state immediately after installation, removing logins, settings and game progress. Be careful when choosing an option in the Warehouse menu. For deep cleaning, you can use the Advanced Cleanup mode in a standard Manager. It finds large files, duplicate photos and residues of deleted programs in the regular routine. Type of Cleanup Impact on Background Processes Data Security Recommended Frequency Cache Clears RAM, Speeds Start Safe Weekly Forced Stop Completely Completes Process Safely As Needed Data Cleanup Resets Application Status Removal Settings When Delete app Frees up resources forever Complete deletion For unnecessary software Don't fanatically clean memory every hour. Android is designed to keep frequently used applications in memory for quick access. Constant forced unloading can, on the contrary, increase battery consumption, since the processor will have to restart applications from scratch. MIUI Xiaomi’s shells are known for their aggressive battery management policy. Unlike pure Android, it can kill processes it considers inactive without user intervention. MIUI Optimization: Sometimes users are faced with the opposite problem: the desired applications (such as pedometers or smart watches) stop working in the background, in which case you need not to turn off, but rather protect the application. To do this, the Security menu has a function "Apps fasten" or "Blocking". 🔒 Secure important apps in the multitasking menu by pulling the card down before the lock appears. ⚡ Enable Auto Start for programs that need to run continuously. 🚫 Turn off the Smart Limitation for the services you use for work. In the new versions of HyperOS, the algorithms are even smarter: the system analyzes usage patterns and suggests turning off background activity for applications you haven’t used in a long time. ⚠️ Attention: Disabling System Optimization MIUI (It can lead to chaotic interface behavior and increased charge consumption, only if you know exactly why you need it. There are plenty of software in the Play Market that promise to speed up the phone and free up memory, but on current versions of Android, their effectiveness is questionable. The system itself perfectly manages resources, and third-party “accelerators” often only create the appearance of work, constantly restarting processes. Moreover, these utilities can themselves be the source of the problem. They hang in the background, consume the battery and show intrusive advertising. Xiaomi owners are better off relying on built-in tools that have deep access to the system and do not require additional permissions. The only exception is specialized analysis tools such as Greenify (in manual mode) or Servicely. They allow you to flexibly adjust the rules of “seding” applications, but require careful initial setup and understanding of how Android services work. The impact of background processes on the battery and performance Understanding how background applications affect the device, helps to make the right decisions. Even if you don't see activity on the screen, the phone can sync, geolocate, or download content. Affiliation is particularly affected by GPS and Internet apps. If the navigator or taxi app is left hanging in the background, it can continue to track your location by quickly planting the battery. Checking the charge consumption statistics in Settings → Battery will help identify such "parasites." Regular monitoring and disabling unnecessary background tasks is not a one-time promotion, but part of the smartphone usage culture. The habit of checking autoplay after installing new games or disposing of the battery can help to quickly keep the device running. Technically, this is possible through the developer menu (the "Do not run any process" option), but it will make the smartphone almost inoperable: call stops coming, messages stop, music stops. It is recommended to selectively approach the setting. Why do applications start again after cleaning? This is normal behavior for system services and applications with auto-start enabled. They are programmed to restore their work to ensure functionality. To stop this, you need to turn off auto-start in security settings. Is it harmful to constantly "kill" processes through the controller? Yes, it can be harmful. Constant restart of applications with more power than the application is used in order to activate the Android systems? Advertising is often broadcast by the background processes of system applications (e.g. MIUI Daemon or GetApps) and disabling autorun and network access for these services in permission settings helps reduce the amount of ad debris.