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

Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphone based on MIUI often suffers from excessive resource consumption of background applications. Even after closing, they continue to work in a hidden mode, consuming battery power, Internet traffic and RAM. This is especially noticeable on budget models with limited technical characteristics: the Helio G80 processor and 3-4 GB of RAM quickly overload if you do not control the activity of the software.

In this article, you will find 5 working methods for disabling background processes, from standard MIUI 12/13/14 settings to hidden functions via ADB and manual autoboot control. We will also discuss which applications can be safely limited and which are best left in working order not to disrupt the stability of the system. All instructions are tested on Redmi 9 (models M2003J15SC/M2004J19G) with the latest firmware updates.

Why the background apps are interfering with the work of Redmi 9

Background activity on Xiaomi is not a bug, but a feature of MIUI optimization. The default system leaves applications in "sleep" mode so that they open faster the next run.

• 🔋 Accelerated battery discharge – even in standby mode, a smartphone can lose 10-15% of its charge per night due to background processes of Google Play Services, Mi Push or social networks.
• 🐢 Slowing down the interface – when RAM is crammed with unnecessary tasks, Redmi 9 begins to “brake” when switching between applications.
• 📶 Unauthorized traffic – messengers, cloud services and advertising SDK They are using mobile internet without your knowledge.
• 🔥 Processor overheating – constant background tasks load Helio G80, particularly in hot weather.

According to XDA Developers’ tests, turning off background activity for the 10 most voracious applications increases the Redmi 9’s battery life by 20 to 30 percent, but it’s important to understand that not all processes can be blocked, such as disabling com.miui.securitycenter will cause antivirus and permission management to malfunction.

Method 1: Limit background activity through MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which are root-free and suitable for beginners.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want to restrict (like Facebook or AliExpress).
3. Slip on Battery Consumption (or Battery in newer versions of MIUI).
4. Activate the option to limit background activity (in some firmware it is called to Prohibit Autostart).
5. Confirm the action by pressing OK in the dialog box.

For mass blackout:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Management.
2. Select the Applications Selection and tick the ones you want to apply the restrictions to.
3. Click Limit at the bottom of the screen.

Check out the MIUI version (Relevant for 12-14 versions)

Create a backup copy of important data

Remember passwords from accounts (reentry may be required)

Disable synchronization for unnecessary applications-->

Important! After the restriction, some features may not work properly. For example, WhatsApp will stop showing notifications for new messages until you manually open it. For instant messengers, it is better to use exceptions (more on this below).

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To quickly find “gluttonous” applications, sort them in Battery Management by charge consumption for the last 24 hours.

Method 2: Setup autostart and self-start

Many apps automatically start when you turn on your smartphone or when you restart, called auto-start, and you can turn it off via the hidden MIUI Optimized menu:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select AutoRun (or SelfStart in the newer versions).
3. You will see a list of all programs with the ability to turn on / disable autorun. disable unnecessary (for example, games, stores, underutilized utilities).

For a deeper setup:

1. In the same Application Management menu, select Permissions → Additional → AutoRun.
2. You can deactivate self-start for system services, but be careful – disabling com.android.systemui will lead to the collapse of the interface!

Method 3: Ultra Battery Saver (Ultra Battery Saver)

Xiaomi Redmi 9 has an inbuilt Ultra Battery Saver mode that aggressively limits background activity of all but a select few apps.It's a radical method, but it significantly extends battery life.

How to turn on:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Mode.
2. Select Ultra Battery Saver (in some firmwares – Extreme save).
3. Click Set up and add critical applications (calls, SMS, alarm clock) to exceptions.
4. Activate the mode with the Enable button.

In this mode:

• ✅ All background processes are turned off, except system processes.
• ✅ Account synchronization is suspended.
• ✅ Restricted mobile Internet and Wi-Fi.
• ❌ No push notifications (except for the SMS call).
• ❌ Some applications may require a reboot to work properly.

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Ultra Battery Saver is best used in critical situations (such as low battery life) rather than as a permanent solution.

⚠️ Attention! In Ultra Battery Saver mode, all widgets on the home screen are turned off, and interface animations become less smooth, and access to cloud services (such as Google Drive or Mi Cloud) may also be lost before manual updates.

Method 4: Manual disabling via ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don't work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a tool for deep tuning, which requires connecting your smartphone to your computer, but allows you to turn off background activity even for system applications.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on PC.
2. On your smartphone, activate Developer Mode: go to Settings → About Phone and tap on the MIUI version 7 times.
3. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
4. Connect Redmi 9 to your computer via USB-cable and select File Transfer Mode.
5. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb devices

(Series numbered device should appear. If not, check the drivers.)

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.analytics


adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.midrop

Here, com.miui.analytics and com.xiaomi.midrop are examples of system applications that can be safely disabled.

• 📊 com.miui.analytics – collection of usage statistics (does not affect the work).
• 📤 com.xiaomi.midrop – wireless file transfer service (similar to AirDrop).
• 🎵 com.miui.player - standard music player (can be replaced by a third-party player).
• 📰 com.miui.bugreport – error report (required for diagnostics only).
• 🛒 com.xiaomi.shop – Xiaomi’s branded store (advertising software).

⚠️ Attention, don't turn it off. ADB The following system packages: com.android.phone (telephony), com.miui.securitycenter (security), com.google.android.gms (Google Services), their deactivation will lead to complete inoperability of the smartphone and require resetting to factory settings.

To return the disabled applications, use the command:

adb shell pm enable com.name.packet

Method 5: Third-party utilities for managing background processes

If you don't want to go through the settings manually, you can use specialized applications that offer a more user-friendly interface and additional features, such as automatic cleaning on a schedule.

Top.-3 utility 9:

• 🛡️ Greenify - suspends background activity of selected applications without root rights. Supports modes Aggressive hibernation and Working in the background for instant messengers. Download to Google Play
• ⚡ Battery Guru monitors battery consumption and suggests disabling the most voracious processes. There is a One-tap Boost feature for quick cleaning. Download to Google Play
• 🔧 MIUI Hidden Settings – reveals hidden settings MIUI, including advanced autorun and background services management. Download to Google Play

Example of setting up Greenify:

1. Install and open the application, grant special access rights (in Android settings).
2. Select apps for “hybernation” (e.g. Facebook, TikTok).
3. Activate the option Automatic hibernation in the settings of the utility.
4. Add Greenify to battery optimization exceptions (Settings → Battery → Battery Management).

The advantages of third-party utilities:

• 📊 Visualization of resource expenditure for each annex.
• ⏱️ Automatic cleaning on schedule (e.g. every 2 hours).
• 🔄 The ability to create a whitelist for important programs.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Some functions require root rights.
• ❌ Can conflict with built-in optimization MIUI.

What applications can be turned off without risk

Not all background processes are equally useful. Below is a list of apps that you can safely limit or disable on the Xiaomi Redmi 9:

Here's what you can't turn off:

• 📞 com.android.phone – phone calls and SMS.
• 🔒 com.miui.securitycenter – Security and Permissions Center.
• 📱 com.android.systemui – system interface (notification panels, navigation buttons).
• 🔄 com.google.android.gms – Google services (required for the Play Market).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When working with background processes, users often make mistakes that lead to unstable smartphone operation, and here are the most common ones and ways to prevent them:

1. Disabling system services without checking 🔹 Consequence: the smartphone stops turning on or boots in safe mode. 🔹 Solution: before deactivation through ADB Check the name of the package in the database XDA Developers.
2. Use of killer tasks (task killers) 🔹 Consequence: MIUI It begins to “restore” dead processes, which increases battery consumption. 🔹 Solution: Use only Greenify or built-in optimization tools.
3. Limitation of messengers without exceptions 🔹 Consequence: Missing important messages and calls. 🔹 Solution: Add WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber to Battery Mode Exceptions.
4. Ignoring updates MIUI 🔹 Consequence: in new versions of the firmware, menu names and parameters may change. 🔹 Solution: Regularly check the relevance of instructions in the forums Xiaomi.

⚠️ Attention! If after turning off the background processes, the smartphone spontaneously reboots, return the default settings via Settings → System system → Setting reset (select App Settings Reset) This will save your data, but return all permissions to factory.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions