How to disable running applications on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones based on MIUI often suffer from excessive resource consumption of background applications. Even after the program is closed, they continue to run in background mode, using battery power and RAM. In this article, we will analyze all the available ways to force applications to stop, from standard MIUI tools to hidden functions for power users.

Xiaomi’s firmware is aggressively cacheing apps for “quick launch,” but that’s not always justified. For example, instant messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp can stay active for days even if you’re not using them, and we’ll show you how to shut down the app completely, rather than just fold it, like the Home button does.

It is important to understand the difference between:

• 📱 Condensed application (remains in memory, but not visible on the screen)
• ⚙️ Stopped process (forcedly killed by system, but can restart)
• 🗑️ Remote application (completely uninstalled from the device)

1. Standard Closing through the Multitasking Menu

The easiest way is to use the built-in menu of recent apps. On all Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, etc.), the algorithm is the same:

1. Click on the Multitasking button (square in the bottom navigation bar).
2. Scroll down or up the list of open applications.
3. Flip the app card left or right (on some models - up).

🔹 Limitation of method: MIUI It doesn't kill the process completely, it just removes it from the active list. The application can run again from the background (for example, Facebook or TikTok often do this).

💡

To close ALL apps at once, click on the Close Everything icon (cross or trash can) in the upper right corner of the multitasking menu. On some firmware, this option is hidden — swipe down the screen in the recent apps menu.

2. Forced stop through application settings

If the application persists in not closing or restarting itself, use the built-in application manager:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want from the list (such as Instagram or Mi Video).
3. Press Forced Stop (button at the bottom of the screen).
4. Confirm the action in the pop-up window.

⚠️ Note: Some system applications (e.g. com.miui.securitycenter) cannot be stopped without root permissions. MIUI.

Check if the application is system-based.|Try to disable autostart (see Section 3)|Restart your phone and try again.|Use it. ADB-Teams (for advanced users)-->

3. Disabling Autostart and Background Activity

MIUI allows you to limit the background activity of applications through a special menu, which does not close the application immediately, but prevents it from spontaneously running:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an application (such as AliExpress).
3. Go to the Permissions section.
4. Turn off the options: 🚫 Auto-start 🔄 Background activity 📶 Mobile data in the background

Once you turn off auto-start, the app won’t be able to run automatically when you turn on your phone or connect to the Internet, which is especially useful for heavy apps like Facebook or Wildberries.

Social media (VK, Instagram)|Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp)|Games (PUBG, Genshin Impact)|System Services (Miui Daemon)|Others-->

4.Use of the battery and performance mode

MIUI has a hidden tool to optimize background processes, which allows you to limit the activity of applications depending on the energy saving profile:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance.
2. Select Battery Consumption Management for applications.
3. Find the right app in the list.
4. Set a limit: 🔋 Without restrictions (always working) ⚡ Optimized (background activity is limited) 🛑 Strictly limited (almost disabled)

🔹 Example: For Google Maps, you can set "Optimized" so that it doesn't update location in the background. For Zoom or Teams, you'd better choose "No Limits" or you won't receive any call notifications.

5. Advanced Methods: ADB and Hidden Settings

For users with experience, there are more radical ways to manage background processes, one of which is by using ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

📌 Instructions to disable background activity through ADB:

adb shell cmd appops set < application package > RUN_ANY_IN_BACKGROUND deny

Facebook example:

adb shell cmd appops set com.facebook.katana RUN_ANY_IN_BACKGROUND deny

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB This can cause the system to be unstable before the commands are executed:

• Make a backup copy of the data.
• Make sure that USB debugging is enabled (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – 7 times press to unlock the developer mode).
• Do not apply restrictions to system packages (com.android., com.miui.).

💡

ADB-commands allow you to disable background activity even for those applications that do not have the appropriate options in the interface MIUI. However, after a phone reboot, some restrictions may be reset.

6. Radical methods: disabling through Safe Mode and resetting

If the app has become “unkillable” (such as a virus or a failed update), try the following steps:

🔧 Safe Mode (Safe Mode):

1. Press the power button before the off menu appears.
2. Hold your finger on the option to turn off.
3. In the window that appears, select Reboot in Safe Mode.
4. In Safe Mode, remove or stop the problem app.

🔄 Resetting the application settings:

If the application is buggy, but you do not want to delete it, reset its settings:

Settings → Applications → [select app] → Storage → Clear data + Clear cache

⚠️ Note: Resetting the app will delete all of its internal files (for example, for WhatsApp it is chat history, for games it is progress!

7. Alternative launchers and optimizers

If the built-in MIUI tools don't work, you can use third-party utilities.

• 🛠️ Greenify – suspends background processes without root rights (configuration required) ADB full-time).
• ⚡ AccuBattery – shows which apps drain the battery the most.
• 🧹 SD Maid – Clears the cache and stops unnecessary services.
• 🔍 BetterBatteryStats – Analyzes CPU wake-ups (for power users).

🔹 Important: Many SEOs require special permissions through ADB. For example, Greenify requires a command to be executed:

adb -d shell pm grant com.oasisfeng.greenify android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS

FAQ: Frequent questions