How to disable applications running in the background on Android Xiaomi: 5 working ways

Background apps on Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi and POCO) are one of the main reasons for fast battery drain, overheating and slowing down the system. Even when you are not actively using the program, it can continue to consume resources: update data, send notifications or sync with servers. In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to disable background processes, from standard MIUI settings to hidden functions for power users.

The thing about MIUI is that it aggressively optimizes the default background of apps, but some programs (especially system and Google) can bypass these limitations, like Google Play Services or Mi Push, which can consume up to 15-20% of the charge per day even if you don't use them, and we'll show you how to completely block background activity for selected apps without rooting permissions, without breaking critical phone functions.

Why the Background Apps Are Harming Your Xiaomi

Before proceeding to the instructions, it is important to understand exactly what damage the background processes cause:

• 🔋 Battery discharge: Even sleeper apps can consume up to 5-10% Charges per hour (e.g. Facebook or Instagram with notifications enabled).
• 🐢 Slowing down the system: background tasks occupy RAM and CPU, This makes new applications open longer.
• 🌡️ Overheating: constant processor activity leads to heating of the case (especially noticeable on budget models Redmi Note).
• 📶 Traffic: Some programs (such as TikTok or YouTube) download data in the background, consuming your mobile Internet.

According to XDA Developers’ tests, turning off background activity for the 10 most voracious apps can increase battery life by 25-40%. However, there is a downside: some features (such as push notifications or Google Drive sync) will stop working.

⚠️ Note: Do not disable background work of system applications like com.android.phone or com.miui.securitycenter.This can lead to loss of mobile network or sensors inoperability (for example, NFC gyroscope).

Method 1: Limit background activity through MIUI settings

The easiest and safest method is to use built-in MIUI optimization tools.It is suitable for all Xiaomi models, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 and Mi 11.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want (such as WhatsApp or Facebook).
3. Slip on Battery Consumption (or Battery in newer versions of MIUI).
4. Select the option to Limit background activity (in some firmwares – Allow background activity → Disable).
5. Confirm the action by pressing OK.

This method does not remove the application from memory, but only prevents it from performing tasks in the background. Notifications may come with a delay (for example, in Telegram or Viber), but the basic functions will remain functional.

Is it a system application (e.g. Google Play Market)

Is there an alternative way to receive notifications (e.g. via browser)

Is the application used for important tasks (e.g. Google Authenticator)

Whether all data is saved (the restriction can reset the cache)-->

Method 2: Using Battery Savings mode for individual applications

MIUI 12/13/14 introduced a hidden Super Battery Savings mode that more aggressively restricts background activity, and can be applied selectively to the most voracious programs.

How to turn on:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Savings.
2. Select the Applications (or Battery Savings Management in older versions).
3. Click on Select Apps and mark the ones you want to limit.
4. Activate the Super Savings (or Deep Optimization) switch.

This mode completely blocks background activity, including:

• 📶 Auto-update of data on the mobile network
• 🔔 Push notifications
• 🔄 Synchronization in real time
• 📊 Analytics collection (for example, for Google Analytics)

⚠️ Note: In Super Savings mode, some apps (e.g. Google Maps or Yandex.Navigator) may not update traffic data or lose geolocation in the background.

💡

If after limiting background activity, the application stopped working correctly, try instead of completely turning off, select the option “Limit battery consumption” – this is a softer mode.

Method 3: Disabling Auto-Run Applications

Many Xiaomi programs automatically start when you turn on your phone or connect to the Internet, not only for user applications, but also for system services (such as Mi Video or Mi Browser), disabling autorun reduces the number of background processes from the start of the system.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as AliExpress or Wildberries).
3. Slip on AutoRun (or Run in newer versions of MIUI).
4. Turn off all switches: 🔄 Auto-start 📶 Auto-start when connecting to the network 🔌 Auto-start after restart

For mass disabling autorun, use the optimization menu:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Autostart Management.
2. Sort applications by the date of the last autorun (stamp on the filter icon).
3. Turn off auto-start for all unnecessary programs.

Method 4: Using ADB for deep shutdown (no root)

If standard methods don’t help (e.g., an application ignores MIUI restrictions), you can use ADB commands. This method does not require superuser rights, but requires connecting the phone to a computer.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install Platform Tools (includes adb).
2. On your phone, turn on USB Debugging: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI to activate Developer Mode. Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Enable USB Debugging.

adb devices

(A device with a serial number must appear).

Facebook

adb shell cmd appops set com.facebook.katana RUN_IN_BACKGROUND ignore

Replace com.facebook.katana with the batch name of the desired application (you can find out through the App Inspector or Google Play website).

To return the standard settings, use the command:

adb shell cmd appops set com.facebook.katana RUN_IN_BACKGROUND allow

⚠️ Note: Some apps (e.g. Google Play Services or Miui Daemon) may automatically reset these restrictions after updating. 1-2 weekdays.

💡

ADB-commands allow you to disable background activity even for those applications that ignore the limitations MIUI (For example, some banking programs or messengers).

Method 5: Deep Optimization with Greenify (requires root)

For root-right users, the best solution is Greenify, which allows you to freeze background processes without removing them completely. Unlike standard methods, Greenify works at the Android kernel level, which makes it much more efficient.

How to set up:

1. Install Greenify from Google Play.
2. Provide root access (if requested).
3. Add apps to the hibernation list (tap on "+" and select programs).
4. Activate the option Aggressive mode in the settings (for maximum effect).
5. Turn on Automatic Hibernation so that processes freeze immediately after closing.

If notifications are critical (for example, for working messengers), try not to turn off background activity completely, but only to limit it:

1. In the application settings, select Limit battery consumption (instead of completely shutting down).
2. In Settings → Battery → Saving charge, add the application to the Exceptions.

FAQ: Frequent questions about disabling background apps on Xiaomi