How to turn off video in Zen on Xiaomi smartphone: a step-by-step guide

Owners of modern smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO often face a situation when opening a news feed Yandex Zen automatically starts video content, this not only consumes mobile traffic, but can be annoying in public places or if necessary quickly find text information, the problem is relevant for all versions of the operating system MIUI and the new HyperOS.

Fortunately, the developers have a flexible setup that allows you to control autoplay, so you don't have to delete the app or put up with constant noise, just change a few parameters in the configuration menu to make the tape behave predictable, and we'll take a look at all the methods available, from standard settings to hidden power saving features.

In this guide, we will detail the process of turning off video streams, explain the difference between mobile data settings and Wi-Fi, and address battery optimization issues, learn how to manage content so that it does not control you, which is especially important for users with limited Internet bundles.

Why Videos Are Launched Automatically

Autoplay is introduced by platform developers to increase user engagement. Zen's algorithms believe that dynamic content attracts more attention than static text. On Xiaomi smartphones, with their bright AMOLED or quality IPS screens, videos do look spectacular, but it puts strain on the processor and network.

Technically, the app checks the type of connection when it starts. If you use Wi-Fi, the restrictions are often removed by default. However, when switching to 4G/5G mobile Internet, the system must block heavy content. A failure in application logic or updates can cause the videos to start streaming even through the mobile network.

There is also the concept of “smart tape,” where videos are preemptively uploaded for instantaneous start, requiring constant server requests and background activity. For low-end phone models like the Redmi Note series or POCO M, constant video buffering can cause micro-latency in the interface.

⚠️ Attention: Constant background video download can significantly speed up battery life, especially on models without adaptive screen refresh rates.

Understanding the mechanics of how algorithms work helps to better configure the device, so you can leave autoplay only for high-speed connections, turning it off completely for cellular networks, which is a balance between convenience and resource savings.

Setup autoplay inside the Zen app

The most direct way to manage content is in the depth of the service itself. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of the application, but the logic remains the same. You need to open a profile and find the section responsible for the technical parameters of the display.

Follow this algorithm of actions to find the right switches:

• 📱 Open the Yandex app or a separate Zen on your Xiaomi.
• 👤 Click on the profile icon in the lower or upper right corner of the screen.
• ⚙️ Select Settings (often indicated by a gear).
• 📺 Find the Personal Settings or Ribbon Settings section.
• 🚫 Turn off Autoplay Video or select "Only via Wi-Fi" mode".

In some versions of the interface, the setting may be called Traffic Saving, which automatically prevents the launch of media files when using the mobile Internet, which is the best option for those who do not want to lose video content completely, but save gigabytes.

Once the changes are made, it is recommended to close the app completely. On MIUI smartphones, this is done by swiping from the bottom up with a finger held, then you need to swipe the Zen window. When you re-enter, the changes will take effect and the tape will be downloaded in text mode.

Using the traffic saving mode in MIUI

The MIUI and HyperOS operating shells have powerful built-in network traffic control tools, you can force the back-end and application-specific data transfers to be limited, a system method that works better than Zen's own internal settings.

To limit the application’s access to the network, follow the following steps:

• 🔒 Go to the settings of your Xiaomi smartphone.
• 📡 Select Connection and Sharing or Mobile Network.
• 📉 Find the Traffic Savings (or Traffic Limit).
• 📵 In the list of applications, find Yandex or Zen.
• 🚫 Set a limit on the background or completely prohibit the transfer of data (if necessary).

There's also a "No Limit Apps" feature where you can, on the contrary, only allow certain services to work, blocking others from accessing the network in the background, but our goal is to prevent background downloads of heavy content. MIUI It can alert you to high consumption if the app tries to upload video in the background.

The use of system constraints has a double effect: you not only remove the video, but also prolong the life of the battery. Xiaomi smartphones aggressively control the background processes, and the ban on network activity for Zen will be strictly enforced by the system.

Limiting background activity and notifications

Often videos continue to play or download because the app has permission to work in the background. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, this is controlled through the Battery and Apps menu.

For more details, go to Settings → Applications → All Apps → Yandex (Zen). This is where you're interested in Activity Control or Auto Start. Turn off AutoRun so that the app doesn't start on its own after you restart the phone. This will also prevent hidden downloads of video previews before you log in.

Notifications are particularly noteworthy, and often there is a video preview in the notification feed, which can be triggered automatically when the screen is unlocked, to remove this:

• 🔔 Go to the notification settings for the Zen app.
• 📂 Find the category "Recommendations" or "Tape".
• 🙅‍♂️ Turn off preview or rich content (rich media).
• ✅ Leave text headings only if notifications are needed.

⚠️ Warning: A complete blackout of background activity can result in new articles and news not coming in real time, but only when the app is open.

This measure is especially relevant for owners of models with a small amount of RAM, such as the Redmi 9 or POCO X3 NFC. Cleaning the background processes frees up resources for more important tasks, such as navigation or instant messengers.

Settings Yandex Browser as an alternative

Many users enter Zen not through a separate application, but through the built-in tape in the Yandex Browser. The principle of turning off video is similar here, but the path to settings is different. Since the browser is a heavier application, controlling it is important for overall system performance.

Open your browser, click on the menu (three dots or bars) and go to Settings. Find the Recommendment Tape or Zen section. This will have the Autoplay Video switch. Set it to "Switched Off" or "Only via Wi-Fi." It's also worth checking the Traffic Savings section in the main browser settings and activating it.

If you use both login methods, you'll have to configure both applications, which will ensure that the tape behaves uniformly regardless of the entry point.

The impact of screen and interface settings

MIUI offers features that can indirectly affect how video content is perceived, such as Read or Paper Screen modes that change color temperature but do not block video, but there are automation scenarios that can be created.

Using the Security app (standard for Xiaomi), you can configure scenarios. For example, when you run a Zen app, the phone can automatically turn on Do Not Disturb mode, which will turn off the sound, although the video will continue to go.

Some users install third-party launchers or themes that change the Zen widget on the desktop. Widgets often have their own update settings. If the widget broadcasts a video, click on it and hold it, then select the widget settings and disable the media. This will remove the moving picture from the home screen, leaving only a static icon or news headline.

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A comprehensive approach, including in-app settings, MIUI system limitations and background control, gives a 100% guarantee of no autoplay.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)