How to remove the work of applications in the background on the Xiaomi smartphone: 5 proven ways

Background processes are one of the main reasons for the rapid discharge of the battery and slowdown of Xiaomi, Redmi and smartphones. POCO. Even when you’re not using an app, it can continue to consume resources, such as updating data, sending notifications, or syncing with servers, resulting in a battery that runs down in a few hours, and the device begins to “slow down” when opening new programs.

In this article, we will analyze all available ways to disable background processes on Xiaomi smartphones – from standard settings. MIUI And HyperOS to hidden features for power users, you'll learn how to completely block unwanted applications, limit their activity or adjust automatic optimization, and we'll also tell you which programs can't be turned off in the background, which can cause system failures.

Why apps work in the background and how it is dangerous

Background activity is not always harmful. Some processes are necessary for the smartphone to work correctly:

• 📱 System services (e.g. Google Play Services or MiuiDaemon) provide account sync, push notifications, and security updates.
• 🔔 Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) keep a connection with servers so that you quickly receive messages.
• 📊 Geolocation services (e.g. Google Maps or Yandex.Maps) update traffic or weather data.

However, most apps abuse background activity.Social networks (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok), online games and even some banking programs can:

• 🔋 Battery discharges 15-30% faster due to constant synchronization.
• 🐢 Slow down the smartphone, occupying RAM and processor.
• 📡 Spending mobile traffic on content updates (e.g. newsfeeds).
• 📈 Collect data about your activity for targeted advertising.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling background processes for Google Play Services, Mi Account or Phone Services may cause notifications to crash, sync contacts, and even loss of access to certain features (e.g. Find My Device).

Before you start settings, check which apps consume the most resources.

1. Open Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Use
2. Click on the chart and select a period (e.g., “Last Day”).
3. Note programs marked “Background Activity” or high percentage of consumption.

Method 1: Limiting background activity through settings MIUI/HyperOS

The easiest and safest method is to use built-in optimization tools. MIUI 12/13/14 HyperOS has a special section for managing background processes.

Instructions for MIUI:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want (like Facebook or AliExpress).
3. Use the battery (or permissions in some versions).
4. Choose Limited or Manual (depending on the firmware version).

Instructions for HyperOS (new Xiaomi 14, Redmi Note 13 models):

1. Open Settings → Applications → Permissions → Special Access.
2. Select the use of the battery in the background.
3. Find the app in the list and set a limit (Do not allow or optimize).

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi 9, POCO X3) After limiting background activity, apps may stop updating content even when opened.For example, Instagram won't download new posts until you manually restart it.

Make a backup copy of important data

Check out the list of applications with high battery consumption

Remember passwords from accounts (in case notifications fail)

Disable optimization for messengers and navigators-->

Method 2: Use of the Battery Saver function

V MIUI And HyperOS has an integrated power saving mode that automatically limits background activity for all applications except system ones, which is suitable if you want to extend battery life without manually configuring each application.

How to turn on:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Mode.
2. Choose Lean (or Ultra Lean for maximum savings).
3. Click Mode Settings and add exceptions for mission-critical programs (like WhatsApp or Google Maps).

What happens when activated:

• 🔋 The frequency of updating data in the background is limited (synchronization every 15-30 minutes instead of constant).
• 📵 Unnecessary services are suspended (for example, automatic weather or news updates).
• 🔄 Survey frequency decreases GPS sensory.
• 📶 Limited mobile traffic for background tasks.

Cons of this method:

• Notifications from some applications may be delayed (e.g., messages to the VK Telegram).
• Some features (such as tracking physical activity in Mi Fit) will not work properly.
• In Ultra-Frugality mode, autosynchronization of the Google account is turned off, which can lead to the loss of contacts or calendar events.

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If notifications from the banking app stop coming after thrift mode is turned on, add it to the exceptions. To do this, go back to the battery settings and tap on "Apps Without Restrictions."

Method 3: Manually Closing Applications Through Multitasking Menu

Many users mistakenly believe that it is enough to swipe an app up the multitasking menu to shut it down completely, but it is not true: most programs continue to run in the background, just their interface is hidden from the screen, but there is a way to force unnecessary processes to stop.

How to completely close the application:

1. Open the multitasking menu (swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen and hold your finger).
2. Find the card of the desired application and swipe up to remove it from the screen.
3. Then go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
4. Select the same app and click Force Stop (or Stop in HyperOS).

What's important to know:

• 🔄 After a forced stop, the application will not consume resources, but notifications from it will not come.
• 🔙 The next run may take longer to load, as it will have to re-initialize all processes.
• 🚫 Some system applications (e.g. com.android.systemui) cannot be stopped manually, the button will be inactive.

⚠️ Attention: Regularly forced shutdown of applications can lead to increased battery consumption, because each time a program starts, it uses more energy to initialize than when running in the background.

For convenience, you can add a forced stop button to the main screen:

Method 4: Disabling Autostart and Background Synchronization

Many apps start automatically when you turn on your smartphone or when you restart, even if you don't use them, and this applies to social media, games and some system services, and you can manually disable autoplay.

Instructions for MIUI:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as Facebook).
3. Slip on Autostart and turn off the slider.
4. Go back and turn off the background activity (if there is such a item).

Instructions for HyperOS:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Permissions → Autostart.
2. Find the unnecessary app in the list and deactivate the switch.
3. To completely disable background synchronization go to Settings → Accounts and sync and disable unnecessary services (e.g., sync Mi Cloud if you are not using it).

What apps can be safely disabled from auto-start:

• 🎮 Games (PUBG Mobile, Free Fire, Genshin Impact).
• 🛒 Store Apps (AliExpress, Wildberries, Ozon).
• 📺 Streaming services (YouTube, TikTok, KinoPoisk).
• 📰 News aggregators (Yandex.News, Google News).

What applications can not be disabled from auto-start:

• 📱 System Services (Google Play Services, MiuiDaemon).
• 🔒 Banking programs (Sberbank Online, Tinkoff).
• 📞 Telephone services (com.android.phone).
• 🔔 Messaging (if you are actively using it).

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Turning it off doesn't remove the application, it just prevents it from automatically starting, and you can open it manually beforehand, but it won't waste resources in the background.

Method 5: Use ADB-Teams for experienced users

If standard methods do not help, you can resort to advanced settings through ADB (Android Debug Bridge is suitable for power users and allows you to completely block background activity even for system applications.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and program ADB (You can download from the official Google website).
• 📱 Xiaomi smartphone with enabled debugging USB.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on Smartphone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (Tap 7 times)
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
3. Connect your smartphone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.
4. Open the command line (cmd) on your PC and type in: adb devices (the name of your device should appear).
5. To turn off background activity for a particular application, use the command: adb shell cmd appops set <package> RUN_ANY_IN_BACKGROUND ignore For example, for Facebook: adb shell cmd appops set com.facebook.katana RUN_ANY_IN_BACKGROUND ignore

List of popular application packages for blocking:

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB-commands can lead to unstable system operation or even a device brik. Do not block system packages (for example, com.android.systemui or com.miui.home) unless you are sure of their purpose.

To return the standard settings, use the command:

adb shell cmd appops set < application package > RUN_ANY_IN_BACKGROUND allow

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Before using ADB, back up your data via Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. This will help restore the system in case of an error.

Additional tips for optimizing background processes

In addition to the main methods, there are several additional techniques that will help reduce the load on the system:

• 🔄 Turn off automatic app updates in Google Play: Play Store → Settings → Auto-update of applications → Never.
• 📶 Limit background traffic for individual apps: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Transfer of data → Background traffic
• 🛡️ Use the "Virus Protection" in MIUI to detect malware that can covertly work in the background.
• ⏳ Set up "Memory Cleanup": Settings → Additionally. → Cleanup → Autoclean (turn on)
• 🔋 Turn off unnecessary sensors: Settings → Confidentiality → Special permits → Sensors.

For models with HyperOS (e.g. Xiaomi 14 or Redmi Note 13 Pro)+) Intelligent optimization is available:

1. Go to Settings. → Battery and productivity → Intelligent optimization.
2. Turn on the slider and select Balanced or Performance mode (depending on priorities).
3. Add critical applications to the exceptions.

If you notice that after optimization some functions stopped working (for example, no notifications from the bank), check:

• Has the application been added to Sleeping Mode (Settings) → Battery → Sleeping mode).
• Does he not have any warning signs (or signs)? → Notifications → Management of notifications).
• Does it block antivirus or firewall (if you have third-party security programs installed).

FAQ: Frequent questions about background processes on Xiaomi