How to turn off the background of applications on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Modern Xiaomi smartphones running MIUI shells or the new HyperOS have a powerful optimization system that sometimes works too aggressively. Users often face a situation where the necessary notifications do not arrive on time, and messengers are updated only after opening. However, there is a reverse problem when unnecessary programs continue to consume CPU resources and battery power even when the screen is turned off. Which is why the question of how to make sure that applications do not work in the background becomes critical to extend the autonomy of the device.

Many owners of Redmi and Poco don’t realize that the standard Android settings work in conjunction with the manufacturer’s deep system limitations. This creates a unique environment where process management requires a specific approach. If you want to fully control what happens inside your gadget, you will have to go deeper than the standard menu and understand the mechanisms of the background services. In this article, we will examine all the methods available, from simple switches to advanced developer settings.

It's important to understand that completely disabling background activity can lead to unstable operation of some services. Android system components and the MIUI shell itself require certain resources to function properly. Our goal is to find a balance where unnecessary software will not "eat" the battery, and important programs will continue to work properly.

Use of built-in MIUI and HyperOS optimization

The first step in the fight against unnecessary processes is the use of standard tools that Xiaomi engineers built directly into the system. The shell offers a user-friendly interface for managing auto-run and background activities. It is the most secure method, without requiring third-party software installation or deep immersion in technical settings. These functions are accessed through the Security application, which is preinstalled on each device of the brand.

Inside this app, there's the Permissions section, where the key AutoRun tool is hidden, and that's where you decide which programs are allowed to start with the operating system, and turning off unnecessary services on this menu is the primary optimization measure, but remember that not autorunning always means stopping completely after closing, so you need to check the other options in the same menu.

• 🚀 Go to the Security app and select the Permissions to access the settings.
• 🛑 Find the AutoStart section and disable all apps that don’t need to start when your phone is turned on.
• ⚙️ In the same menu, select Other permissions to fine-tune the rights of each installed software.

In addition, the permissions menu should pay attention to the Background Start option, where you can force a particular application to stop running its processes when it is folded, this is especially true for gaming launchers, stores and news aggregators, which are often updated without the user's knowledge, and the competent setting of these parameters allows you to significantly reduce the load on RAM in the first hours after the device is turned on.

Setting up energy savings for each application

The most effective way to control is to customize the energy saving strategy for each application installed. The Android system on Xiaomi smartphones allows you to choose from several job profiles that dictate how to tightly limit background activity, a more subtle tool than simply closing applications, since it works at the level of the kernel task scheduler.

To access these settings, you need to go to the Settings menu, then select the Application section and find All Applications. You need to select the program of interest in the list, go to Save Charge and change the mode of operation. By default, the system often offers the option of "No Limits" or "Save Charge", but to completely stop the background processes, you need to select the Hard Limit mode.

When you select Hard Limit mode, the system will force you to stop all application processes as soon as you turn it down or turn off the screen, notifications from such programs will not come, and content will stop downloading until the next manual start-up, this is the ideal solution for games, calculators, offline maps and other utilities that do not require a permanent connection to the server.

⚠️ Note: Setting a “Strict Limit” mode for messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) or email clients will cause you to stop receiving real-time messages.

Background data management and network activity

Often the cause of battery discharge is not so much CPU time as constant data exchange in the background. Applications may not perform heavy calculations, but keep the network socket open all the time to check for updates or analytics. Xiaomi devices have an effective mechanism for blocking network access for background processes, which does not require a complete shutdown of the Internet.

To set up, you need to find the Data Use option in the app-specific menu (path: Settings → Applications → All Apps → Selected App) and you will see the Background (or "Background Connection") switch. Disabling this option prevents the app from using mobile internet or Wi-Fi when it is not on the screen, a powerful way to combat voracious social networks and news feeds.

It’s worth noting that limiting background data also helps save traffic if you’re not connected to Wi-Fi. Some apps like Instagram or Facebook are known for their penchant for background uploading of media content. Blocking this process through data settings makes mobile internet usage more predictable and cost-effective. However, for cloud syncs like Google Photos, it’s best to leave this option on if you want to automatically upload pictures.

Limiting background processes through the developer menu

For users who want to gain maximum control over the system, Android provides access to hidden engineering menus. The Developer section contains global settings that affect the behavior of all applications at once. This is "heavy artillery" that allows you to set a limit on the number of simultaneous running background processes throughout the system.

To activate this mode, you need to click on the build number several times in the About Phone section. After the message "You became a developer", a new option will appear in the main settings menu Additional (or simply Advanced Settings), where the desired menu is located. We are interested in the Background Process Limit parameter. By default, it is in the "Standard Limit" value, but it can be changed.

• 🔧 Select the option Without background processes for maximum performance (the system will kill everything at once).
• 📉 Set a limit of no more than 1 process for a compromise option.
• 🔄 Use no more than 2 processes if you need stability in multitasking.

Using the "No Background" mode turns a smartphone into a device where applications don't live after folding. This drastically saves battery life, but can negatively affect the speed of switching between tasks. Every time you go back to the application, you'll see a boot screen (splash screen) as the process will start again. This method is especially useful on older Redmi models with low RAM.

⚠️ Attention: Global background limitations can disrupt system services, alarm clocks and widgets, and it is recommended to use this method temporarily, for example, when the battery is critically low and the phone cannot be recharged.

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Globally limiting processes through the developer menu is the most radical method that is guaranteed to stop all background tasks, but reduces the usability of the smartphone.

Extended Cleaning and Application Freeze

The latest versions of the MIUI and HyperOS have a feature known as Extended Cleanup or Freeze, which differs from the usual application closure by not only stopping the process, but putting the application in a deep sleep state, in which the program is completely isolated from the system: it cannot wake the device, use the network or receive push notifications.

You can activate this feature through the recent app menu (swipe up and finger delay) or through the cleaning widget in the notification curtain if configured accordingly. When you click on the lock or snowflake icon (depending on the topic), the application is marked as an exception to the cleanup, but if you use the deep cleaning function, then unprotected applications will be completely “freezed”.

This is particularly effective for applications that you rarely use but don't want to delete, such as banking, government or food delivery applications that run once a week, which are in the freeze, and they don't use up a percentage of the charge, and they don't take up space in the cache of active processes.

Specifics of working with Google system services

Google Play Services is a system component that is responsible for synchronizing contacts, maps, push notifications and geolocation. On Xiaomi global smartphones, these services are integrated very deeply. Trying to completely ban them from working in the background can lead to Play Market failure, YouTube malfunctions and account synchronization stops.

However, if you use a phone without Google services (Chinese firmware or custom build), this item can be ignored. In the standard terms, it is recommended not to apply the “Strict Limit” mode to Google services, instead, it is better to limit their background activity through geolocation or synchronization settings within the Google account itself.

• 🌍 Turn off background geolocation for Google services if you don’t use your travel history.
• 🔄 Set up selective data synchronization, leaving only contacts and calendar.
• 📵 Use Flight mode at night, unless notifications are critical, to stop all network services immediately.

There is a myth that constantly cleaning up memory (swiping in the menu of recent apps) prolongs the life of the battery. In reality, on modern versions of Android, this has the opposite effect. The system spends more energy restarting applications than storing them in a cold state, so it is better to set the right limits through the permission menu than constantly waving a finger at the screen.

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If you are using the Chinese version of firmware without Google services, be sure to install GMS (Google Mobile Services) through the built-in installer in the account menu, otherwise many applications will not work properly even with the right battery settings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)