Disable background apps on Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro: 5 proven ways

Background apps on the Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro are one of the main reasons for fast battery drain and slowing down your smartphone. Even when you’re not actively using the program, it can consume CPU, RAM and Internet traffic, especially on devices with a MIUI shell, where many system and third-party services are running in the background by default for user convenience.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to disable background processes, from the standard settings of the Redmi 9 Pro to hidden functions through ADB and developer mode. You’ll learn how to completely block unnecessary applications, limit their activity or set up auto-start so that the smartphone runs faster and holds the charge longer.

Why are the Redmi 9 Pro’s Background Apps Harmful?

On the Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro with a Snapdragon 720G processor and 4-6 GB of RAM, background tasks can take up to 30-40% of the resources in standby mode, due to the features of the MIUI shell, which aggressively caches applications for quick launch, as a result:

• 🔋 Battery discharges 15-25% faster even in standby mode.
• 🐢 The smartphone begins to “brake” when multitasking (for example, when switching between Telegram, Chrome and the game).
• 🌡️ The device overheats for no apparent reason (especially when using the mobile Internet).
• 📶 Traffic is spent on updating content in the background (social networks, mail, cloud services).

Xiaomi is trying to optimize work through MIUI Optimized, but it is not always effective. For example, instant messengers like WhatsApp or Viber have default auto-run and background privileges, which negates all attempts at savings, and after MIUI updates, settings can be reset, and applications begin to work in the background again.

Method 1: Disconnect via standard MIUI settings

The safest and easiest method is to use built-in shell tools, which is suitable for most users and does not require super-user rights.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want to restrict (like Facebook or TikTok).
3. Go to the Battery section and set the “Limit background activity” mode.
4. Go back and tap on Permissions → Autostart, then turn off the slider.

For mass blackout:

1. In Application Management, click on the three dots in the top right corner and select AutoRun.
2. Sort the list by “Allowed” and disable unnecessary apps.

No notifications from blocked programs |

Smartphone speed in multitasking |

Body temperature in 30 minutes of use |

Battery consumption in standby mode (via Settings → Battery)

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This works for most user applications, but it doesn't affect MIUI system processes. Mi Push Service or Security will still be active.

⚠️ Note: After disabling autorun, some applications (such as instant messengers) will stop showing notifications about new messages. To avoid this, add them to the "Exceptions" in the battery settings.

Method 2: Using the Developer Mode

Developer mode gives you access to hidden Android settings, including control over background processes, to activate it:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version until the notification “You became a developer!” appears.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.

Now find the following options and set them up:

• 🔄 «Limit of background processes» → Set a maximum of 2 process (this will reduce the load on RAM).
• 🚫 «Don't stay active» → Enable applications to close immediately after folding.
• ⚡ «Limit background activity» → Activate for all unnecessary applications.

These settings are especially useful if you notice that the Redmi 9 Pro starts to lag after prolonged use, such as after an hour of playing PUBG Mobile or watching YouTube videos, and limiting background processes will free up RAM for more important tasks.

Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don't work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a deep-tuning tool that requires connecting your smartphone to your computer, but allows you to disable even applications that aren't visible in the MIUI interface.

You'll need:

• 💻 A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB (You can download from the official Android website).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• ⚙️ Developer mode enabled and debugging by USB smartphone.

Instructions:

1. Connect Redmi 9 Pro to your PC and confirm debugging permission.
2. Open the command line (cmd) and enter:

adb shell pm list packages -f

This command will list all the apps you have installed, and find the name of the program you want to disable (e.g., com.facebook.katana for Facebook), then do:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 name packet

To return the application back, use:

adb shell pm enable name package

💡

Before disabling system applications via ADB, back up your data. Some packages (e.g., com.miui.securitycenter) are critical to MIUI operation, and deactivation can cause failures.

⚠️ Note: Disabling system services (e.g., com.xiaomi.mipicks or com.miui.daemon) may disrupt Xiaomi branded features such as Quick Answers or Double App. Before experimenting, check the package's purpose on forums like 4PDA.

Method 4: Using third-party utilities

If you don’t want to mess with ADB, you can use Google Play’s specialized apps to automate the process of turning off background tasks and offer additional features, such as monitoring battery consumption.

Top.-3 utility 9 Pro:

For use by Greenify:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Provide access to special features in Android settings.
3. Add apps to the hibernation list (like Instagram or AliExpress).
4. Activate the Automatic Hibernation function (available in the paid version).

Brevent works differently, by creating a virtual container for applications, blocking their access to system resources.

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and execute the command:

adb -d shell sh /sdcard/brevent/brevent.sh

1. In the application itself, select the programs to block.
2. Reset the device.

💡

The side of a utility like Greenify or Brevent is more effective than standard MIUI settings, but requires regular updates. After major MIUI updates (for example, from 12 to 13 version), they may need to be reconfigured.

Method 5: Manually remove system applications (requires root)

If you're willing to take drastic measures, you can remove unnecessary system applications completely, which will maximize resource savings, but requires super-user rights and can disrupt system stability. Redmi 9 Pro will do this with the utility Titanium Backup or Root App Deleter.

List of safe to remove system applications (checked at MIUI 12-14):

• 📦 com.miui.analytics – Xiaomi statistics collection.
• 🎵 com.miui.player is a standard music player.
• 📺 com.miui.videoplayer - video player.
• 📰 com.miui.notes – notebook (if not used).
• 🛒 com.xiaomi.shop – Xiaomi’s branded store.

What NOT to delete:

• ❌ com.android.phone – telephone functions.
• ❌ com.miui.securitycenter – Security Center.
• ❌ com.xiaomi.finddevice – Device search.

To remove via Titanium Backup:

1. Open the application and provide root access.
2. Go to the tab "Reserve copies".
3. Find an unnecessary app, tap on it and select “Delete!”
4. Confirm the action and restart the smartphone.

⚠️ Note: After removing system applications, some functions may stop working MIUI, For example: "Fast Charging" (if you delete com.miui.powerkeeper). - "Dark Theme" (when you delete it). com.miui.weather2, Always back up your widgets by backing up your widgets. TWRP before removal!

How to check that background applications are disabled?

To make sure your actions have worked, use the following methods:

1. Battery Monitoring: - Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Use. - Check that the applications that are disabled do not consume a charge in standby mode (should be <1%).
2. Task Manager: - Install the Simple System Monitor app from Google Play. - Open the Processes tab and make sure that unnecessary programs are not on the active list.
3. Heat test: - Use your smartphone for 20–30 minutes in normal mode. - Check the temperature through Settings → About phone → System status → Temperature (should be below 40°C).

If you notice the following problems after switching off the background processes, then something has gone wrong:

• 📵 Notices from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram).
• 🔄 Applications are constantly restarted when switching.
• 🚨 The smartphone spontaneously reboots.

In such cases, return the settings to the original settings or check if you have disabled critical system services.

FAQ: Frequent questions about disabling background apps