How to make the application work in the background on Xiaomi: full instructions

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones are known for aggressive battery optimization, which often blocks application backgrounds. This causes instant messengers to stop showing notifications, activity trackers to lose data, and music players to suddenly stop. In this article, we’ll look at all the available ways to unlock the background, from standard settings to hidden features for advanced users.

The problem is relevant for all models, from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra. Even after the updates MIUI 14/15, the energy saving algorithms remain among the most stringent among Android devices. We tested all methods on current firmware and selected only working solutions, including bypassing restrictions for system applications and services with increased rights.

Why Xiaomi is blocking the background of applications

The main reason is the aggressive battery optimization policy, which is embedded in MIUI. The system automatically suspends applications that:

• 🔋 Consume more than 5% of charge in the background in an hour
• ⏳ Not used for more than 30 minutes
• 📱 Manually launched but not added to auto-run list
• 🔄 Update data more than 1 time in 15 minutes (for most applications)

MIUI also prioritizes applications by priority: High (messaging, calling), Medium (social media, email) and Low (games, utilities), and low-priority applications are killed first when resources are scarce, especially on devices with 4/6GB of RAM, where the system tightly controls memory allocation.

It’s important to understand that restrictions are imposed not only on third-party apps, but also on system services. For example, Google Play Services can be suspended, which leads to disruptions in Google Pay or YouTube Music. In the following sections, we will show how to circumvent these restrictions for different types of applications.

Method 1: Setup autostart and background activity

The most basic method is to add an application to the autorun list and allow background activity, which works for 80% of cases, but has limitations for system applications.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management
2. Select the application you want (such as Telegram or Spotify)
3. Go to the Permissions section → Autostart and switch on the switch
4. Go back and activate the Background Activity option.
5. In Battery → Battery Optimization Select Without Limits

Critical detail: For some applications (such as WhatsApp or Viber), you need to additionally enable the “Show notifications” option in the Notifications section, otherwise they will not work in the background even with the autorun allowed.

Auto-start on.|Background activity permitted|Battery optimization is offline|Notifications included|Geolocation rights (if necessary)-->

Method 2: Disabling MIUI Optimization (for advanced)

The hidden MIUI Optimization feature is responsible for most of the background limitations, and turning it off gives more freedom to applications, but can slightly increase battery consumption.

Instructions via ADB (computer required):

adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1


adb shell settings put global miui_optimization_disabled 1

After you execute the commands, restart the device. The effect will be noticeable immediately:

• 📱 Applications are kept in memory longer
• 🔔 Notifications are coming without delay
• ⚡ Increased accuracy of activity trackers (for example, Google Fit)

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi Note) 10 Pro, POCO F3) After optimizing, animation artifacts may appear. In this case, return the settings back to the adb shell settings put global. miui_optimization_disabled 0.

Method 3: Using "No Limits" for a Battery

Even with the auto-start on. MIUI can suspend applications through 10-15 minutes of inactivity, to avoid it:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Optimization
2. Select All Apps in the drop-down menu
3. Find the right application and set the mode No restrictions
4. For critical services (such as AccuBattery), also enable Fixed Memory Retention in the developer settings.

⚠️ Note: No restrictions mode for 10+ applications can simultaneously reduce the battery life of 15-20%. It is best to use it only for 3-5 most important services.

Method 4: Fixing applications in memory

For applications that need to run continuously (such as Zoom for calls or Tasker for automation), you can use memory locking:

1. Activate Developer Mode (click 7 times on MIUI version)
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For Developers
3. Find the option Fixed Memory Retention (or Lock apps in memory)
4. Add the required applications to the list

This method ensures that the system does not kill the process even if it is not memory-poor, but it does not work on all models.

• ✅ Supported by: Xiaomi 12/13/14, Redmi K50/K60, POCO F4/F5
• ❌ Not supported: Redmi 9/10, POCO M3/M4 (In these models, the option is hidden)

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If there is no option “Fixed retention”, try an alternative method: add the application to “Game mode” (Settings → Special features → Game turbo mode) and enable the option “Block in memory” for it.

Method 5: Bypassing restrictions through Greenify (without root)

The Greenify app (with Boost) allows you to bypass some MIUI restrictions without root rights.

1. Install Greenify from Google Play and activate the Boost module in the settings
2. Add problematic apps to the “Do Not Optimize” list
3. Enable the Aggressive Doze option (for Android 10+)
4. In the section MIUI Specifically activate: 🔄 Disable MIUI Battery Saver 🚫 Disable MIUI App Freeze 🔋 Disable MIUI Battery Optimization

Method efficiency: ~60% for instant messengers and ~40% for background services. Combine MIUI Optimization with ADB for maximum results.

Method 6: Alternative firmware (for power users)

If all methods didn’t work, consider installing custom firmware.The best options for Xiaomi are:

• 📱 Pixel Experience – pure Android without optimizations MIUI
• ⚡ LineageOS – stable firmware with minimal background restrictions
• 🔧 Xiaomi.eu – modified MIUI with Chinese services disabled

Advantages of custom firmware:

• ✅ No forced killing of apps
• ✅ Full control over background processes
• ✅ Ability to fine tune the core to save battery

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Loss of warranty (on most models)
• ❌ Risk of "brike" in case of improper installation
• ❌ Lack of official security updates

⚠️ Note: On devices with a MediaTek processor (Redmi Note 11, POCO M4 Pro) unlocking the bootloader can cause the camera to lock hardware. Before firmware check model compatibility on the forum XDA Developers.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even after you set up the right thing, some apps may not work in the background.

1. Notifications do not come to Telegram/WhatsApp Solution: Turn off "Adaptive Notifications" in Settings → Notifications → Additional Add the app to exceptions for Do Not Disturb Check if MIUI Security blocks notifications (in Settings → Privacy → Special Access)
2. Music stops in Spotify/YouTube Music Solution: In the app settings, disable "Optimization for Headphones" Add the player to the list of "Game Apps" and enable "Blocking in Memory" For YouTube Music, further disable "Mobile Data Limitation" in the Google account settings
3. Activity Tracker (Google Fit, Strava) does not record steps Solution: Enable "Constant Data Collection" in the app settings Add the app to the exceptions for Adaptive Brightness and Location Optimization Disable "Traffic Savings" for the Google Play Services system application

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If the problem persists after all the manipulations, check if the background activity is blocked by an antivirus (for example, Avast or Kaspersky), which often override the system optimization settings.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions