How to enable the background work of applications on Xiaomi: a complete guide to MIUI

The background of applications on Xiaomi smartphones is one of the most discussed topics among MIUI users. The fact is that aggressive battery optimization and strict restrictions on auto-start often lead to messengers stop showing notifications, activity trackers lose data, and music players suddenly stop. If you encounter such problems, this article will help you figure out how to properly configure background processes without harming autonomy.

Many people mistakenly think that it is enough to add an application to the list of “autoruns.” In fact, in MIUI 14/15, a whole range of settings is responsible for the background work, from battery resolutions to restrictions on the use of data in the background, we will go through all the necessary steps, including hidden developer options, and explain why some applications can still be blocked even after all the manipulations.

It’s important to understand that background work and auto-run are different things: the former allows an application to perform tasks in hidden mode (like syncing email), and the latter allows it to automatically start when you turn on your smartphone. On Xiaomi, both of these parameters often need to be set separately.

If you are using the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 Or the flagship Xiaomi 13 series, the instruction will fit all of these models — the only difference is the location of some menu items. MIUI for POCO We will have to take into account several nuances, which we will tell you separately.

Why Xiaomi is blocking the background of applications

The main reason for the strict restrictions is Xiaomi’s desire to maximize battery life. Unlike “pure” Android, where background processes are controlled at the system level, MIUI adds its own layer of optimization, which leads to the fact that even popular applications like WhatsApp or Telegram can suddenly “fall asleep”.

Here are the key mechanisms that affect background work:

• 🔋 Battery Optimization – The system automatically restricts the activity of applications that it believes are consuming too much power.
• 🚫 Auto-Start Lock – By default, most applications cannot run on their own after rebooting the device.
• 📵 Background data limitation — MIUI It can block applications from accessing the Internet when they are running in hidden mode.
• ⚡ Power saving mode - when activated, background activity is minimized.

Interestingly, on MIUI devices for POCO (like the POCO F5), some of the restrictions are less stringent than on standard Xiaomi smartphones, because the POCO line was originally positioned as “productive” and less energy-saving.

Another important point is that after major MIUI updates (for example, when you switch from version 13 to version 14), all background settings are reset, so after the system upgrade, they will have to be configurated again.

Preparation: What to do before setting up

Before you start changing your parameters, follow a few preparatory steps to avoid errors and save time.

1. Update MIUI to the latest version. New builds often fix bugs related to background work. Check firmware relevance at Settings → About Phone → System Update.

2. Check the space. If the internal memory is less than 10%, the system can automatically block the background processes. Free up space through Settings → Memory.

3. Turn off the power saving mode. It radically restricts background activity. Path: Settings → Battery → Energy saving mode.

4. Remember the standard settings. If you notice a significant decline in autonomy after the change, you'll have to bring some parameters back.

Pay special attention to applications that use constant data synchronization (for example, messengers, fitness trackers or cloud services), which will require maximum relaxation of restrictions.

Main settings: Auto-start and battery permissions

Let’s start with the basic parameters that are responsible for the ability of applications to work in the background, these options are available on all Xiaomi devices regardless of the model.

Step 1. Allow auto-start

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application you want (such as Telegram).
3. Slip on Autostart and switch on the switch.
4. In some versions of MIUI, this item may be called a Background Start.

Step 2: Turn off battery optimization

1. Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization.
2. Select All Apps in the drop-down menu.
3. Find the right app and tap on it.
4. Choose Unlimited (or Unoptimized in older versions)

Step 3: Allow background activity

1. Return to the application management menu (Settings → Apps → [select app]).
2. Slip on the Permits. → Additionally.
3. Turn on the switches: 🔄 Background activity 📶 Background data 🔄 Auto-start (if any)

On some models (e.g. Redmi 10 or POCO M4), the Background activity item may not be available, in which case it is replaced by the Allow Background Operation option in the Permissions section.

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If the application doesn't work in the background after this manipulation, try reinstalling it, and sometimes resetting cache and data helps to reset the MIUI constraints.

Hidden settings: the developer's mode and ADB-team

If standard methods don't work, you'll have to use advanced tools. ADB-teams that can circumvent some of the limitations MIUI.

Activation of the developer mode:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version (you will receive a notification "You became a developer!").
3. Go back to the basic settings and find a new section for developers.

In this section, we are interested in two parameters:

• 🔧 Do not disable background processes – limits aggressive completion of tasks.
• 🔋 Background Process Limitation – Set the Standard Limit or No Limits.

For the most persistent cases (for example, if MIUI persistently blocks Google Play Services), you will need to use ADB. Here is the key command that disables optimization for a particular package:

adb shell dumpsys deviceidle whitelist +com.example.app

Replace com.example.app with a real app identifier (e.g. org.telegram.messenger for Telegram) and find out about the package through the App Inspector app or the APKMirror website.

Attention! Using ADB requires connecting your smartphone to your PC and installing Platform Tools.The wrong commands can disrupt the stability of the system.

Features for different versions of MIUI

Background settings can vary significantly depending on the firmware version, and we've collected key differences for the most common builds.

On MIUI for POCO (installed on POCO F4, POCO X5 Pro, etc.), the path to autostart settings can look like this: Settings → Applications → Application Management → [select application] → Autostart. There is also an additional Block in the background that you need to disable.

Attention, on devices with MIUI Global Stable may be hidden, and switching to MIUI EU (European firmware) or use ADB-teams described above.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after you set up the right thing, some applications may not behave properly, and we'll look at scenarios and ways to solve them.

1. Notifications do not come (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber)

• 🔔 Check if notifications for the application are included in Settings → Notifications.
• 📵 Make sure that the application settings allow access to Background data.
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone – sometimes it helps to “wake up” blocked processes.

2. Music players stop (Spotify, YouTube Music)

• 🎵 In the player settings, turn on the option "Playback in the background".
• 🔋 Add a player to the battery optimization exceptions.
• 📱 Check if the player is blocking. MIUI through settings → Annexes → [play] → Battery.

3 Fitness trackers are not synced (Google Fit, Mi Fitness)

• 🏃‍♂️ Allow the application to Constant Activity in the Battery Settings.
• 📊 Enable Exact Location Determination for Tracker.
• 🔄 Reconnect your device (such as Mi Band) via Bluetooth.

4.Apps close when screen locks

• 🔒 B Settings → Lock screen disable Memory Cleanup when blocking.
• 📱 Include Application Protection in Settings → Annexes → [select].
• ⚡ Check if the Ultra Power Saving Mode is activated.

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If the problem persists after all the manipulations, try rolling back the app to the previous version.

How to check if the application works in the background

To make sure that the settings are applied correctly, use one of the following methods:

Method 1. Through Task Manager

1. Open the latest applications (swipe up with a delay).
2. Find the right application and run it down.
3. If you have the option to Lock or Lock, then the application can work in the background.

Method 2. Through ADB

Connect your smartphone to your PC and execute the command:

adb shell dumpsys battery unplug

In the conclusion, find the line with the name of your application. If you have whitelisted=true next to it, then the battery optimization for it is disabled.

Method 3: Notification test

1. Send yourself a message from another account (e.g. Telegram).
2. Close the application (swipe up).
3. Wait 5-10 minutes. If the notification comes, the settings work.

To make a more accurate diagnosis, you can use monitoring applications like Greenify or AccuBattery to show you what processes are being blocked by the system.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions