Background mode on Xiaomi: how to make applications work without interruptions

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones are known for aggressive battery optimization, which often blocks application backgrounds. Users face problems: messengers don’t send notifications, music is interrupted when the screen is locked, and activity trackers lose data. The reason lies in the system’s energy-saving algorithms, which by default limit the activity of programs in the background.

In this article, we will explore all the ways to customize the background on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, from basic autostart settings to hidden developer settings. The instructions are relevant for MIUI 12-14 (including global and Chinese versions) and take into account the features of the latest updates in 2026.

• 🔓 Unlock AutoRun for Critical Applications
• ⚡ Disable battery optimization for selected programs
• 🛠️ Use performance modes for background tasks
• 📱 Set up exceptions for Android 12+ subject to new restrictions

Important: settings may vary depending on the model (Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5) and the firmware version. If your device is running on HyperOS (the new shell from Xiaomi), some menu items will be renamed - we will specify alternative paths.

Why Xiaomi is blocking the background of applications?

The MIUI system uses three levels of background control:

• 🔋 Battery optimization: automatically suspends applications that are not actively used, for example, Telegram or Viber can “fall asleep” 5-10 minutes after curtailing.
• 🚫 Autorun Limits: Blocks automatic program launches after reboot or on schedule (relevant for widgets and services like Google Fit).
• 🔄 Adaptive optimization: Analyzes user habits and forcibly closes “rarely used” applications (even if they are important).

These mechanisms save battery life, but often work too aggressively – especially on budget models (Redmi 10A, POCO M5), where the manufacturer sacrifices user experience for the sake of autonomy. For example, MIUI 14 by default limits background work for all applications except system ones (Mi Browser, Mi Video).

Warning: Some settings (e.g., disabling MIUI Optimization in developer settings) can result in a 15 to 25 percent increase in battery consumption, and we recommend that you use them selectively only for critical applications.

Method 1: Autostart setup (autostart permission)

The first step is to allow applications to automatically start up after a reboot or on schedule, without which even allowing the background to work does not guarantee stability.

Instructions for MIUI 12-14:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want (such as WhatsApp).
3. Slip on AutoRun (or AutoRun in HyperOS).
4. Activate the switch and confirm the action in the dialog box.

For mass activation of auto-start:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Battery and productivity → Battery management.
• 🔍 Select App Choices (or Battery Optimization in New Versions).
• 🔄 Enable auto-run for all critical programs (messengers, navigators, fitness trackers).

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi) 12T, Redmi K50) The autostart item is hidden. To see it, first add the application to the Battery Optimization Exceptions (see Method 2).

Method 2: Disabling Battery Optimization for Individual Applications

Even with auto-run enabled, the system can pause applications "to save energy." To avoid this, add the program to the exceptions.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Optimization
2. Select All Apps (or Applications in HyperOS)
3. Find the right application in the list and tap on it.
4. Choose Unlimited (or Unoptimized)

For Android 12+ (including MIUI 13/14), add the app to the deep exceptions:

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Special access → Optimizing the battery.
• 📋 Select All Apps → find out → Not to limit.
• 🔄 For HyperOS: Settings → Battery → Battery mode → Set-up of applications.

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If the app disappears from the Battery Optimization list, open it first and wait for the system to notify you of the high power consumption.

Method 3: Using Performance Modes

MIUI offers three modes of operation of the system that directly affect the background processes:

• 🔋 Battery: Maximum savings, background applications are blocked after 1-2 minutes.
• ⚡ Balanced: moderate restrictions (background work allowed for priority applications).
• 🚀 Performance: Minimum limits, but battery consumption increases by 20-30%.

How to change the regime:

1. Open Settings → Battery and Performance.
2. Select Battery Mode (or HyperOS Performance).
3. Set Performance or Balanced (for a balance of autonomy and functionality).

For fine tuning:

• 🎯 Enable Adaptive Mode (available in the MIUI 14) so that the system automatically switches between modes depending on the charge.
• 🔄 For games and resource-intensive tasks, use Game Mode (Settings) → Special facilities → Game mode).

⚠️ Warning: Performance mode can cause overheating on devices with Snapdragon processors 7xx (If the phone gets too hot, go back to Balanced Mode and set exceptions manually.

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Performance mode disables most background restrictions, but reduces battery life by 15 to 30 percent. Use it only when necessary.

Method 4: Configure the developer parameters for background work

Hidden MIUI settings allow you to completely disable optimization for individual applications or the entire system, a method that requires caution, as it can affect stability.

How to turn on the developer parameters:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version (you will be notified "You became a developer").
3. Go back to the Settings → Additional → Developer settings.

Key parameters for background work:

• 🔧 Background Process Limitation: Set No Limits or Standard Limit (4 Processes).
• 🔄 Do not save actions: disable this item for critical applications.
• 📱 MIUI Optimization: Disabling this parameter removes all restrictions MIUI background work, but may cause malfunctions in the shell.

How to set exceptions for individual applications:

1. In Developer Settings, find Not Optimize with Deep Optimization.
2. Add to the list the apps that should work in the background (e.g. Google Maps, Spotify).
3. Reset the device.

Method 5: Verify Permissions for Android 12 and Newer

Since Android 12, Google has tightened its control over background processes. MIUI 13/14 imposes additional restrictions, so you need to:

• 🔓 Allow accurate notifications: Settings → Annexes → [Select an application] → Notifications → Accurate notifications.
• 📍 Allow access to location in the background (for navigators and fitness trackers): Settings → Confidentiality → Permits → Location → [Annex] → Allow me all the time.
• 🔄 Disable the restriction on the use of data in the background: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Transfer of data → Background restriction.

For Android 13+ (including HyperOS):

• 📱 Check the Settings. → Annexes → Special access → Access to notifications – some applications (such as AutoNotification) require explicit permission.
• 🔋 B Settings → Battery → Battery Mode Select Adaptive or Performance for applications with background tasks.

⚠️ Note: On Android 14 (in HyperOS), Xiaomi blocks background work for apps that haven't been updated for more than 3 months.To get around this, open such programs regularly or turn off automatic optimization in Developer Settings.

Method 6: Alternative methods (for power users)

If standard settings don’t help, try these methods:

• 🔧 ADB-Adb shell dumpsys deviceidle whitelist +com.example.app Replace com.example.app with your application’s batch name (e.g. com.whatsapp).
• 📱 Magisk modules: Disable Flag Secure (for screenshots in protected applications). - MIUI Battery Optimizer Disabler (completely disables battery optimization).
• 🔄 Resetting battery settings: Settings → Battery → ⋮ → Resetting battery settings (helps with failures in energy-saving algorithms).

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To find the batch name of the application, install App Inspector from Google Play or use the ADB command: adb shell pm list packages | grep "application name"

Risks of alternative methods:

• 🔋 Increased battery consumption by 30-50%.
• 🛠️ Possible system failures (especially when using Magisk).
• 🔒 Loss of warranty when unlocking the loader.

FAQ: Frequent questions about background work on Xiaomi