How to know what works in the background on Xiaomi Android smartphone: a complete guide

Xiaomi Android-based smartphones are known for their multitasking, but sometimes background processes cause a quick battery drain, overheating or slowdown. Unlike iOS, where background activity is strictly limited, MIUI (Xiaomi firmware) allows applications and system services to work covertly — even when you are not using them. This can be both useful (for example, to synchronize mail or instant messengers), and harmful (advertising SDKs, unnecessary updates or malware).

In this article, we will analyze all the ways to check background processes on Xiaomi – from standard tools. MIUI You'll learn how to distinguish legitimate services from parasites, which applications can be safely disabled, and how this will affect autonomy and performance. MIUI, which are not available in pure Android, such as Deep Optimization and a hidden developer menu for process analysis.

1. Standard MIUI Tools: Where to Look for Background Processes

To start with basic methods that are available without installing third-party applications, MIUI firmware (including versions 12-14) offers several built-in tools for monitoring activity.

The easiest way to do this is to open the multitasking menu.

1. Click on the recent apps button (square or swipe up with pause on Xiaomi without buttons).
2. Look at the list of apps that are running. The ones that are marked with the lock icon are locked from closing and are running in the background all the time.
3. Scroll down – system processes can be displayed here (for example, com.miui.home – launcher or android.process.media – media scanner).

However, this will only show part of the iceberg. For detailed analysis, go to:

• 🔍 Settings → Annexes → Application management → Running. This shows all active processes, including system processes. Notice the RAM column if the application is occupying. >100 MB, but you don't use it, that's a reason to check it out.
• ⚡ Settings → Battery → Battery usage.Background consumption tab will show which apps are using up when the screen is off.For example, Facebook or TikTok can eat up to 15% per night.
• 📊 Security → Optimization → Viral scanning, in some versions. MIUI There is a tab background processes where you can see hidden activity (including advertising). SDK).

Important! In MIUI 14, some of the functions are moved to Settings → Memory, where there is a schedule for using RAM, divided into Applications and System Processes. If the schedule is constantly loaded by 80%+, this is a sign that the background tasks are out of control.

2. Hidden developer settings: deep analysis of processes

For advanced users, Xiaomi offers a hidden developer menu where you can see the full list of background processes, including those that do not appear in the standard settings, to activate it:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Click 7 times in a row on the MIUI version (you will be notified “You became a developer!”).
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.

In this menu, pay attention to the following options:

• 🔄 Do not keep active (in the App section) – if enabled, background processes will close when leaving the app (saves RAM, but can break notifications).
• 📈 Process statistics - shows PID (process identifier, use CPU For example, the com.xiaomi.market (Mi App Store) process can run in the background even if you don't use it.
• 🛠️ Limit background processes – allows you to manually set a limit (for example, “Maximum 2 processes”), but this can disrupt the work of messengers.

⚠️ Attention: Changing the settings in the developer menu can lead to unstable smartphone operation. For example, if you limit background processes to 1-2, notifications from WhatsApp or Telegram will stop coming. → Additionally. → Backup.

3. Third-party monitoring apps: what to choose

Built-in tools MIUI We don't always show the full picture. For a deep analysis, we recommend using third-party utilities.-3 tested applications:

For example, Greenify lets you put apps to sleep that wake up without you knowing.

1. Launch the application and grant ADB permissions (the instructions are in Greenify itself).
2. Select hibernation apps (such as AliExpress, Likee or Mi Video).
3. Activate the Aggressive Doze option (requires root or ADB).

⚠️ Note: Not all apps can be safely put to sleep, for example, if you add Google Play Services to Greenify, geolocation and push notifications will stop working:

• 📍 com.google.android.gms (Google Services)
• 🔔 com.android.phone (Phone services)
• 🔒 com.miui.securitycenter (Security Center) MIUI)

4.How to turn off autoload and background activity

Many of the apps on Xiaomi are automatically launched when you turn on your phone or connect to the network, and this applies not only to instant messengers, but also to games, social networks, and sometimes malware.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the desired application (such as Facebook) and click AutoRun.
3. Turn off AutoRun, Secondary Start sliders and Show notifications.

For mass shutdown, use the hidden MIUI function:

Perform backups|Open Settings → Special facilities → Special facilities services|Enable Autostarts (App for Autostart Management)|Prohibit Auto-Run for Unnecessary Applications|Reboot the phone-->

Some Xiaomi system applications (e.g. com.miui.analytics) cannot be disabled by standard methods, in which case ADB (Android Debug Bridge) will help. Connect your phone to your PC and follow the command:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.analytics

⚠️ Warning: Disabling system services may lead to disruptions MIUI. For example, if you disable com.xiaomi.finddevice, find the device will stop working. FAQ.

5. Network activity analysis: who is "merging" your traffic

Background processes not only consume power, but they can also consume mobile traffic without you knowing, such as apps like UC Browser or Clean Master, which are known to send data to servers even in the background.

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Using traffic.
2. Look at the consumption chart. If an app eats away» >100MB a month, but you don’t use it – it’s a reason to be wary.
3. Click on the app and turn off background traffic.

For a detailed analysis, use the NetGuard app (no root required).

• 🌍 What domains does the app visit (e.g. graph.facebook.com for Facebook).
• 📊 The volume of data transmitted in real time.
• 🚫 Ability to block suspicious connections.

For example, if you see Mi Browser sending data to data.mistat.xiaomi.com, this is Xiaomi analytics. You can turn it off in Settings → Privacy → Diagnostics → Send an error report (turn off the slider).

💡

If notifications from messengers stop coming after the background traffic is turned off, add them to the exceptions in NetGuard or enable the Always-on VPN option for permanent protection.

6. Malware and Hidden Miners: How to Detect

One of the most dangerous types of background processes is hidden cryptocurrency miners or spyware, which can penetrate the device through pirated applications (such as modified APK games) or malicious sites.

• 🔥 The phone is very warm for no apparent reason (even in standby mode).
• 🔋 Battery goes down in 2-3 hours with minimal use.
• 📉 Task Manager shows a process called com.android.system.update or com.qualcomm.atfwd that takes up a process that is called a com.android.system.update. >50% CPU.

To check the device:

1. Install an antivirus (such as Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light).
2. Start a deep scan (not fast!).
3. Check the list of installed apps in Settings → Apps. Delete suspicious ones (for example, with names like System Update, Android Helper).
4. Use ADB to search for hidden processes: adb shell ps -A | grep -i "mine\|coin\|crypto"

If the antivirus found nothing, but the symptoms remain, try resetting your phone to factory settings (pre-saving data!).

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose to erase all data.
3. After reset, do not restore data from the backup – it may contain malicious code.

💡

If the problem disappears after the reset, but comes back after installing a particular app, it is a 100% sign that it contains malicious code. Delete it and report it to Google Play Protect.

7 Performance Optimization: What Can Be Disabled Without Risk

Not all background processes are equally useful. Some can be safely turned off to save power and speed up the smartphone. Here is a list of unnecessary processes that are often found on Xiaomi:

For maximum optimization:

• 🔋 Enable Battery Mode in Settings → Battery → Battery mode → Saving charge. This will limit background activity for all applications.
• ⏳ Set a limit of background processes in the developer menu (optimally 3-4 processes).
• 🚫 Turn off auto-update apps in Google Play (settings) → Auto-update → «Never»).

⚠️ Warning: Do not disable processes called com.qualcomm... or android.hardware... these are hardware drivers.

FAQ: Frequent questions about background processes on Xiaomi