How to Reboot WhatsApp on Xiaomi Phone: All Ways

Hanging or incorrectly working WhatsApp on Xiaomi smartphones is a problem that even owners of flagship models like Xiaomi 14 Ultra or budget Redmi Note 12 face. The reasons can lie in cache failures, conflicts with the MIUI shell, or even in the background activity restrictions that the system aggressively applies to save battery. Unlike the iPhone, where restarting the application is reduced to swiping up, Xiaomi has nuances – from forced stops to a complete reset of the messenger.

This article covers all the current ways to restart WhatsApp on Xiaomi devices, including hidden MIUI features that are not obvious to most users. We will understand when it is enough to close the application, and when it is necessary to clean up the data or even reinstall it. Particular attention will be paid to typical errors such as endless chat loading or lack of notifications, which are often confused with global failures, although the solution lies on the surface.

Why WhatsApp May Need to Reboot on Xiaomi

WhatsApp messenger on Xiaomi behaves differently than on pure Android or iOS, due to the proprietary shell of MIUI, which actively manages the system resources, here are the key reasons why the application can "glut":

• 🔄 Conflict with optimization MIUI: The system automatically restricts the background activity of applications, which leads to missing notifications or slow synchronization of messages.
• 🗑️ Cache overflow: temporary WhatsApp files (especially media) can take up gigabytes of memory, causing freezes when opening chats.
• 🔄 Version incompatibility: if you have not updated the messenger for a long time, MIUI received a fresh update, there may be malfunctions in the work.
• 🚫 Blocking permission: MIUI Can revoke WhatsApp’s access to contacts, storage, or microphone without notice.

Interesting fact: on POCO devices (like the POCO X6 Pro), WhatsApp is less common due to the less aggressive optimization of the default battery. At the same time, on Redmi with budget processors (like the Redmi 10A), the messenger can hang due to a lack of RAM.

⚠️ Note: If WhatsApp stopped working after the update MIUI, Don't rush to reset your phone settings. In 80% of cases, it helps to force the app to stop. + cleaning the cache (instruction below).

Method 1: Forced stop using MIUI settings

The fastest and safest method is to force WhatsApp to stop working, which won't delete your messages or media files, but it will reset all the background processes of the messenger. MIUI 12/13/14:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, type WhatsApp and select the app from the list.
3. Press Forced Stop → Confirm the action.
4. Close your settings and start WhatsApp again.

On some models (such as the Xiaomi 13T), the path may be slightly different: Settings → Apps → All apps → WhatsApp → Stop.

Check notifications (should appear immediately)

Open any chat - messages should be downloaded without hanging

Make sure that the media files (photos, videos) are displayed correctly

Restart your phone if the problem persists.-->

If WhatsApp doesn’t work after stopping, move on to the next method – clearing the cache.

Method 2: Clear cache and data (without loss of messages)

WhatsApp cache accumulates temporary files that may become corrupted or conflict with the new version of the app over time.Cache clearing is secure, but if you choose Clear Data, it will result in the removal of all local messages and media (they will only remain in cloud reserve if you did it).

How to clean only the cache:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → WhatsApp → Storage.
2. Click Clear Cache (usually takes anywhere from 100MB to severalGB).
3. Don’t touch the Clear Data button – it will delete all your chats!

⚠️ Note: on Xiaomi devices with MIUI 14 After clearing the cache, you may need to re-enter the password from your Google account to sync your contacts.This is OK - just follow the system's prompts.

Once a week.

Once a month

Only when problems arise

Never cleaned.-->

Method 3: Reinstall WhatsApp with chats saved

If the first two methods don't work, you'll have to reinstall the messenger, and the key is to keep your chat backup, otherwise you'll lose all the chats. On Xiaomi, the backup works through Google Drive, but there are some nuances:

• ☁️ Backup is created only when connected to Wi-Fi (on the mobile Internet – no).
• ⏳ The last copy must be no older than 7 days, otherwise you will not be able to restore chats.
• 🔒 Make sure there is enough space on Google Drive (WhatsApp can take up to a maximum of a few hours). 5-10 GB).

Step-by-step instructions for reinstallation:

1. Open WhatsApp. → ⋮ (three-point) → Settings → chat → Backup chats → DIRECTING A COMPANY.
2. Wait until it is completed (it can take up to 30 minutes on large amounts of data).
3. Remove WhatsApp via Settings → Apps.
4. Install WhatsApp again from Google Play.
5. When you first start, enter your phone number. → wait SMS-code → Click Restore when the offer appears.

Important: If you use two-factor authentication on WhatsApp, you will need to enter it after reinstalling. PIN-Without it, it is impossible to restore the account.

💡

Before reinstalling, check if your Google account contacts sync is enabled, which will speed up the recovery of your chat list after you re-install it.

Method 4: Reset MIUI settings for WhatsApp (hidden feature)

Few people know, but MIUI has a hidden option to reset individual settings for specific applications, which is useful if WhatsApp has stopped receiving notifications or does not sync messages due to system limitations.

1. Open Settings → Applications → WhatsApp → Permissions.
2. Scroll down and click Reset the default resolution.
3. Go back and select Battery → Background Limit → Set No Limits.
4. Reboot the phone.

This method is particularly effective for devices with aggressive battery optimization, such as the Redmi Note 11 or POCO M5. Once reset, WhatsApp will receive all the necessary permissions again, as after the first installation.

Method 5: Setup Autostart and Background Activity

One of the most common causes of WhatsApp problems on Xiaomi is the system blocking background activity. MIUI by default restricts applications in the background to save battery power. For the messenger, this is critical: without background activity, you will not receive notifications of new messages.

How to set up autostart and background work:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Autorun.
2. Find WhatsApp in the list and turn on the switch.
3. Go back and select Battery and Performance → Battery Consumption Management apps.
4. Choose WhatsApp → set up without restrictions.

On some models (e.g. Xiaomi 12 Lite), the path may be different: Settings → Battery → Applications → WhatsApp → No restrictions.

💡

Even after setting up autorun correctly, WhatsApp may not show notifications if the app itself has disabled alerts. Check: WhatsApp Settings → Notifications → turn on all switches.

What to do if WhatsApp doesn’t work anyway

If none of these methods worked, the problem could be deeper. Here are additional steps to diagnose:

• 🔧 Check the version. MIUI: Update the system through Settings → The phone. → System update. Sometimes bugs get fixed in new firmware versions.
• 📶 Change Network: If WhatsApp is not connecting to servers, try switching from Wi-Fi to mobile internet (or vice versa).
• 🕒 Check date and time: incorrect time settings can block the messenger. Set automatic determination in Settings → Additionally. → Date and time.
• 🛠️ Install WhatsApp beta: sometimes new features are more stable. APK from the official WhatsApp website.

If the problem persists, it may be a conflict with other apps (such as battery managers or antiviruses) to try to start your phone in Safe Mode:

1. Press the power button before the off menu appears.
2. Press and hold Power Disconnect → Confirm the transition to Safe Mode.
3. Check WhatsApp. If it's working, it's third-party software.

FAQ: Frequent questions about restarting WhatsApp on Xiaomi