How to Enable Background App Work on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to MIUI 14/15

Background application work is one of the most controversial features in firmware MIUI. On the one hand, aggressive battery optimization from Xiaomi prolongs battery life, on the other hand, users face missing notifications, interrupted sync and “frozen” messengers. POCO X5 stops updating mail in the background – the problem is in the limitations of the system.

In this article, we will analyze all ways to unlock background activity: from standard settings MIUI We'll focus on the differences between the firmware versions (MIUI 14 vs MIUI 15) and smartphone models (series Xiaomi 13, Redmi Note 11, POCO F5). You will also learn how to get around restrictions without root rights and why some apps (such as WhatsApp or Google Play Services) require a separate setup.

Warning: Incorrect settings can significantly reduce battery life.We recommend turning on background activity only for mission-critical applications.

Why Xiaomi is blocking the background of applications?

Firmware MIUI Unlike pure Android, where background processes work almost without restrictions, Xiaomi uses three levels of control:

1. Automatic battery optimization – the system analyzes the activity of applications and suspends those that are rarely used.

2. Background activity restriction – blocks data synchronization, push notifications, and periodic tasks (e.g., weather updates in widgets).

3. Deep Freeze – a full stop of the application after closing, even if it is added to the exceptions.

In practice, this means that:

• 📱 Messengers (Viber, Signal) stop showing notifications 5-10 minutes after curtailment.
• 🔄 Fitness trackers (Google Fit, Mi Fitness) do not sync data without manually running.
• 📧 Email clients (Gmail, Outlook) do not check new emails in the background.
• 🎵 Music services (Spotify, Yandex Music) interrupt playback when the screen is blocked.

V MIUI 15 optimization algorithms are even stricter: the system now takes into account not only the frequency of use of the application, but also the time of day (for example, at night background activity is blocked more aggressively.

⚠️ Note: On devices with MediaTek processors (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) Background restrictions may be stricter than on smartphones with Snapdragon (e.g., Snapdragon, POCO F5). This is due to the features of energy-saving cores in Dimensity chips.

Method 1: Standard MIUI settings (without developer rights)

Let’s start with the simplest method that works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO s MIUI 12-15 This method does not require activation of the developer mode and is suitable for most users.

Step 1. Autostart Authorization

Auto-start allows the application to automatically turn on when the device is restarted and operate in the background.

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. Go back and activate the Allow Background Activity option.

Step 2: Exclusion from Battery Optimization

This parameter prevents automatic restrictions from the MIUI:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Optimization.
2. Select All Apps in the drop-down menu.
3. Find your app and set a status for it without restrictions.

Step 3: Allowing Notifications

Even if background activity is allowed, notifications may be blocked separately:

1. Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification management.
2. Select the app and activate all the switches (especially Show notifications and Sound).
3. In the Notification Categories section, include all available options.

Autostart settings are open|The application is excluded from battery optimization|Background activity in the application menu is allowed|All notification categories included-->

Step 4: Blocking the memory cleanup (for the purpose of MIUI 14+)

Newer versions of the firmware include a lock-down memory cleanup feature that forcibly shuts down all applications to disable it:

1. Go to Settings. → Features → Cleaning up memory.
2. Turn off the Clean option when you lock the screen.
3. In the Exclusions section, add the required applications.

⚠️ Note: On some devices (e.g. Redmi) 10C s MIUI 13) after the firmware update, the autorun settings may be reset. Check them after each major update!

Method 2: Developer settings (for power users)

If the standard methods don't work, you'll have to use the hidden options, and you'll need to activate the developer mode first.

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

Key parameters for background work:

• 🔧 Do not limit background processes – disables all restrictions MIUI (heavily affecting the battery!).
• 🔄 Background Process Limitation – Set a No Limits value or a Maximum 4 process value.
• 📶 Limiting mobile traffic in the background – disable if you have unlimited rates.
• ⚡ Optimization MIUI — Turn off this switch (reboot may be required).

Additional Tweets for Stability:

For applications that often “fly out” of memory (for example, Google Maps or Google Maps). 2GIS), set up:

1. B For developers → Find the right application.
2. Turn on Do Not Save Activity (paradoxically, but it helps some apps stay in memory).
3. Activate all activity (prevents closing if memory is scarce).

Features for MIUI 15:

In the latest firmware version, Xiaomi added a new option, Adaptive Battery Optimization, which needs to be turned off:

1. Go to Settings → Battery → Battery settings.
2. Turn off Adaptive Optimization and Learning Optimization.
3. In the same menu, add apps to the exceptions for adaptive optimization.

💡

If the developer settings change, the app doesn't work in the background anyway, try forcefully stopping it (in the app menu) and restarting it, which will reset the current restrictions.

Method 3: Use ADB-Teams (for advanced teams)

If the previous methods did not work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) — It's a computer debugging tool, which doesn't require root rights, but it requires connecting your smartphone to your PC.

Preparation:

1. Download ADB Tools for Windows/macOS/Linux.
2. Turn on the smartphone Debugging on USB (Settings → For developers).
3. Connect the device to the computer and confirm the debugging permission.

Commands to unlock background work:

Open the command prompt (or Terminal) in the adb.exe folder and type in turns:

adb shell dumpsys deviceidle force-idle


adb shell dumpsys battery reset




adb shell dumpsys battery set level 100




adb shell dumpsys battery set ac 1




adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.BOOT_COMPLETED




adb shell cmd appops set < application package > RUN_ANY_IN_BACKGROUND allow




adb shell cmd appops set < application package > RUN_IN_BACKGROUND allow

Replace. <package> to a real identifier (e.g. org.telegram.messenger for Telegram:

adb shell pm list packages | grep -i "appendix name"

Additional commands for MIUI 14/15:

New firmware versions add additional restrictions. To remove them, follow:

adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy_pre_p_apps 1


adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy_p_apps 1




adb shell am force-stop com.miui.securitycenter

These commands are shutting down the hidden ones. API-limitations which MIUI Uses to block background activity.

⚠️ Attention: After use ADB-commands don't turn off debugging USB within 5-10 minutes – the system can return the previous settings, it is also recommended to restart the smartphone after completing commands.

💡

ADB-Teams are the most reliable way to unlock background work, but their action may reset after an update MIUI. Repeat the procedure after each major update.

Method 4: Alternative solutions (without system settings)

If you don’t want to dig into settings or are afraid to cut battery life, there are workarounds:

1.Use of "No Limitations" in Greenify

The Greenify app (available on Google Play) allows you to manually control the hibernation of apps.

• 📱 Install Greenify and give it Special Access (Settings) → Annexes → Special permits → Use of other applications).
• 🔧 Add the desired application to the list and select the No Limits mode for it.
• 🔄 Enable the option to Work in the background in the Greenify settings.

2. Launching the application in "Game Mode"

Paradoxically, but MIUI Allows some apps to run in the background if they are running in game mode:

• 🎮 Open the Settings. → Features → Game mode.
• 📲 Add your app to the list of “Games” (yes, even if it’s not a game).
• ⚡ Enable the options of Block Notifications (this will prevent closure) and High Performance.

3.Widgets on the main screen

Some apps (like Spotify or Yandex Music) continue to work in the background if their widget is added to the home screen.

• 🖼️ Add the app widget to the home screen.
• 🔄 Update data in the widget (for example, swipe down to update the weather).
• 📱 Do not remove the widget – this can cause background processes to stop.

4 Automation with MacroDroid

MacroDroid allows you to create rules for forced application launches in the background.

1. Create a trigger screen is off.
2. Add the Action Launch the Application (select the Target Application).
3. Set a time limit (e.g. every 30 minutes).

Problems and solutions for specific applications

Some programs require a personalized approach, and let's look at the most problematic cases.

1. Telegram / WhatsApp / Viber

Messengers often suffer from missing notifications.

• 📱 Enable Auto Start and Background Activity (see Method 1).
• 🔔 In the settings of the messenger to disable Battery Optimization (in Telegram: Settings) → Battery).
• 🔧 For WhatsApp, additionally enable Show notifications in chat settings.

2. Google Play Services

This system service is responsible for push notifications and synchronization, if it is blocked:

• 🔄 Go to Settings. → Annexes → All applications → Google Play Services.
• 📵 Turn off Battery Optimization and Allow AutoRun.
• 🔧 In the Developer Settings (For Developers) → Apps) find Google Play Services and turn off Background Restriction.

3. Fitbit / Google Fit / Mi Fitness

Fitness trackers stop syncing data due to background constraints.

• 🏃 Enable for the application Exact Location Determination (Settings) → Confidentiality → Permits → Location).
• 🔋 Add it to battery optimization exceptions (see Method 1).
• 📱 For Mi Fitness, additionally enable Permanent Notification in the app settings.

4. Spotify / Yandex Music / Apple Music

Music services are interrupted when the screen is locked.

• 🎵 In the application settings, turn off Battery Optimization.
• 🔊 In the system settings (Sound and vibration) enable Playback in the background.
• 📱 For Spotify, activate Autoplay in the application settings.

5. Gmail / Outlook / Yandex Mail

Email clients don't check new emails. Solution:

• 📧 In your account settings, select Sync automatically.
• 🔄 In the application settings, enable Background Synchronization.
• 📱 For Gmail in Settings → Google accounts → Sync your account and enable all options.

How to check if the application works in the background?

To make sure that the settings are applied correctly, follow the following steps:

Method 1: Verification through “Recent annexes”

1. Open the desired application (for example, Telegram).
2. Turn it down (do not close it!).
3. Wait 5-10 minutes.
4. Open the Recent Apps menu (swipe up with a delay).
5. If the app is still on the list, it works in the background. If it's gone, the restrictions still apply.

Method 2: Monitoring through ADB

Connect your smartphone to your PC and execute the command:

adb shell dumpsys activity activities | grep "mFocusedApp"

If you see your app in the output, it's active. If it's not, check the settings again.

Method 3: Notification test

For messengers:

1. Ask a friend to send you a message.
2. Close the app (swipe in the recent menu).
3. Wait 1-2 minutes.
4. If the notification has come, the background work is set up correctly.

Method 4: Verification of synchronization

For email clients and cloud services:

1. Open the app and wait for full synchronization.
2. Close it.
3. Send yourself a test letter or file.
4. If the data is updated without manual start-up, the settings are correct.

💡

For accurate diagnosis, use the Background App Inspector app (available on Google Play), which shows what restrictions apply to each application.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even after setting it up properly, users often face problems.

1.Settings reset after MIUI update

After each major firmware update (e.g., with a MIUI 14 on MIUI 15) all battery optimization and auto-start exceptions are reset:

• 🔄 After the update manually check the settings for all critical applications.
• 📱 Use MacroDroid to automatically apply settings after the update.

2.The app is still closing down.

If the application disappears from memory despite all settings:

• 🔧 Check if the Battery Savings mode is enabled (Settings) → Battery).
• 📵 Make sure that Auto Start and Background Activity are allowed for the application.
• 🔋 For MIUI 15 further disable Adaptive Optimization (see Method 2).

3. Notifications come with a delay

Delayed notifications (such as WhatsApp or Viber) are usually associated with:

• 📶 Restricting mobile traffic in the background (turn off in Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks).
• 🔌 Save data in Wi-Fi settings.
• 🔧 Block Google Play Services (see "Problems for specific applications" section").

4.The music is interrupted when the screen is locked

For music services (Spotify, Yandex Music):

• 🎵 Enable Background Playback in System Settings (Settings) → Sound and vibration).
• 🔊 Turn off Battery Optimization for Music App.
• 📱 Add the app to the Memory Cleanup exceptions (Settings) → Features → Cleaning up memory).

5. the application does not synchronize the data

For fitness trackers, email clients and cloud services:

• 🔄 Check if Autosynchronization of data is enabled (Settings) → Accounts and synchronization).
• 📡 Make sure the application is allowed access to Mobile Data and Wi-Fi in the background.
• 🔧 For Google Fit or Mi Fitness, turn on Permanent Notification in the app settings.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI Global (e.g. for the European market) some settings may be missing or otherwise called. If you don't find the right item, try changing the firmware region to the one you want. MIUI China (but that will require a full re-flashing!).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions