How to turn off background apps on Xiaomi: 7 proven ways

Background apps on Xiaomi smartphones are one of the main reasons for fast battery drain and slowdown. Even when you are not actively using the program, it can continue to consume resources: update data, send notifications or sync with servers. In the MIUI shell (especially in versions 14 and 15), the manufacturer actively optimizes background activity, but standard settings do not always cope with the aggressive behavior of some applications.

Compounding the problem, many users are unaware of hidden mechanisms for controlling background processes, such as AutoRun, which allows apps to run automatically when the phone is turned on, and Without restrictions on battery settings, gives programs unlimited access to resources. In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to disable background applications, from basic to hidden, which are not documented in the official Xiaomi Help.

It’s important to understand that completely disabling background activity can disrupt some services (for example, messengers will stop showing notifications).So we’ll show you how to selectively manage applications, leaving critical functions on. The instructions are relevant for all modern models, from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

1. Disabling background activity through battery settings

The most obvious and safe way to do this is to use built-in battery optimization tools, and MIUI has a special section where you can limit background activity for each application separately, which is root-free and suitable for most users.

To get to the right menu:

1. Open the Settings.
2. Go to Battery and Performance → Battery Management.
3. Select Application Selection (in some firmware, this is called Battery Optimization).

Here you'll see a list of all the programs installed, and you'll see the status of each one.

• 🔋 No restrictions – the application can work in the background without restrictions (maximum battery consumption).
• ⚡ Optimized – Background activity is limited by the system.
• ❌ Prohibited – the application cannot work in the background (notifications and synchronization disabled).

To save charge, we recommend leaving the status No restrictions only for critical applications (messengers, banking programs). The rest can be transferred to Optimized or Forbidden mode. For example, games, photo editors and rarely used utilities, safely turn off.

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If the app stops showing notifications after limiting background activity, check the settings of the app itself. Some programs (such as Telegram or WhatsApp) have internal options to manage background work.

2. Auto-Run Applications: How to Disable Automatic Start

AutoRun allows applications to run automatically when the phone is turned on or after restarting. This is convenient for system services, but absolutely unnecessary for most user programs. Disabling autoruption will not only save charge, but also speed up the system start-up.

Instructions for unsetting:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select AutoRun.
3. In the list, mark the apps you want to disable auto-start (or click Disable All and manually allow critical ones).

Pay attention to the following nuances:

• 📱 Do not disable auto-run for system applications (e.g. Google Play Services or Google Play Services). MIUI This can cause the phone to work in an unstable manner.
• 🔄 Some apps (like Facebook or TikTok) may enable auto-runs again after an update. Check settings every 1-2 months.
• ⚡ Disabling auto-start doesn't interfere with manually running apps. You can still open them manually.

3. Hidden MIUI settings: Deep Optimization mode

MIUI 12-15 has a hidden Deep Optimization mode that aggressively limits background activity for all applications except system ones, which is not documented in the official help, but can be activated through the Developer Settings.

How to turn on:

1. Activate Developer Mode by tapping the MIUI version 7 times in the About Phone section.
2. Return to the main Settings menu and open Additional → Developer Settings.
3. Find Deep Battery Optimization (or Aggressive Doze in English firmware) and turn it on.

Effects of activation:

• ⏳ Applications in the background will “fall asleep” after 5-10 minutes without activity (instead of the standard 30 minutes).
• 📉 Battery consumption in standby mode will be reduced by 15-25%.
• ⚠️ Notifications from some applications may be delayed (up to 1-2 hours).

4.Use ADB to completely disable background processes

For advanced users willing to work with ADB, there is a way to completely block background activity for selected applications, which requires connecting the phone to a computer, but gives maximum control.

Step-by-step:

1. Install ADB Tools on PC (you can download from the official website of Android Developers).
2. Connect your phone to your computer via USB and allow debugging (in Developer Settings).
3. Open the command line and type: adb shell dumpsys deviceidle force-idle This command forcibly puts the phone into power saving mode.
4. To block a specific application, use: adb shell cmd appops set <package> RUN_ANY_IN_BACKGROUND deny For example, for Facebook: adb shell cmd appops set com.facebook.katana RUN_ANY_IN_BACKGROUND deny

Note: After using ADB, some system functions (such as syncing your Google account) may not work properly.

List of packages of popular applications for blocking:

5.Applications for automatic background cleaning

If manual settings seem complicated, you can use third-party utilities that automatically close background processes on a schedule or when you lock the screen.-3 tested applications:

• 🛡️ Greenify - allows you to "freeze" applications in the background without root rights. Supports work with Xiaomi through the Internet ADB.
• ⚡ AccuBattery – monitors battery consumption and suggests disabling the most voracious processes.
• 🔄 Battery Guru – Automatically optimizes background activity based on your habits.

How to set up Greenify on Xiaomi:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb -d shell pm grant com.oasisfeng.greenify android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS
3. In Greenify, select apps for “hybernation” and activate automatic cleaning.

Cache and data cleanup: When background processes get out of control

Sometimes background applications start consuming abnormally large amounts of resources due to corrupted cache or data conflicts, and in such cases forced cleanup helps.

How to clear the cache for a separate application:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select a problem app (e.g. MIUI Gallery or Google Chrome).
3. Click Clear Cache and Clear Data (Warning: This Will Remove All App Settings!).

For mass cleaning:

• 🧹 Use the built-in cleaning utility (Security) → Cleanup → Deep cleaning).
• 🔍 Check the Storage section in the settings – here you can see which apps take up the most space.
• ⚠️ Do not clear the cache for Google Play Services and MIUI System – This can lead to failures.

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Regular cleaning of the cache (once every 1-2 months) prevents the "swelling" of background processes and increases battery life by 10-15%.

7. Problems after disabling background applications and their solutions

Even with careful management of background processes, side effects can occur, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

• ❌ No notifications coming: ⚠️ Note: If notifications from messengers have stopped coming after the background activity restriction, check: Notification permissions in the application settings. Synchronization settings (for example, you need to turn on Background work and Media Autoupload in Telegram). Exclusions in Deep Optimization (if included).
• 🔄 Applications spontaneously turn on background activity: Some programs (especially from Facebook and Google) ignore system limitations.Solution: Update the app to the latest version. ADB, block the permit RUN_ANY_IN_BACKGROUND (see section 4). Remove and install the application again.

Increased battery consumption after optimization

Paradoxically, sometimes after the background processes are turned off, the battery goes down faster, and the reason is that the system wakes up more often to check for notifications.

1. Turn on the Adaptive Battery in the settings (Battery → Settings → Adaptive Battery).
2. Reduce the sync frequency in your Google account (Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync).

If problems persist, try resetting the battery settings to factory:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance.
2. Click on the three dots in the top corner and select Reset Battery Settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about background apps on Xiaomi