Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone users often face a situation where background video playback continues to consume resources even if the screen is turned off.This not only drains the battery, but can also interfere with other applications or music playback. There are several levels of “turning off” the video service on the Android operating system, which runs the MIUI or HyperOS shell.
In this article, we will discuss all available methods of stopping YouTube, we will look at both standard ways to close through the menu of running applications, and deeper methods to completely disable the system component if necessary to save traffic or eliminate errors. Understanding the difference between simply closing a window and forced stopping a service is critical to effective device management.
Many owners of budget models, such as Redmi Note or Xiaomi Poco, notice that the application continues to work in the background, this is due to the features of memory optimization in Android. To ensure that the process stops, you need to use built-in tools of task manager or system configuration, which will be discussed later.
Basic closing of the application through the menu of running tasks
The most obvious and quick way to stop a video playback or an app from working is to close it through the recent task menu. In the MIUI shell, this is done by swiping up with a delay or pressing the menu button (depending on the type of navigation), but simply swiping the card does not always guarantee a complete stop of all background processes, especially if the background boot function is enabled.
To close more reliably, it is recommended to use the memory clean button. When you are in the menu of running applications, click on the cross or the "Clear" button. This action will forcibly terminate the YouTube process if it does not have system privileges to work in the background. On devices with a small amount of RAM, this action will also free up resources for other tasks.
If the video continues to play after the window closes, check the notification bar. Often the player hides in the curtain, and there is a stop button available. Also, make sure that the Picture in Picture function is not activated, which allows the video to hang over other windows, in which case you need to click on the video thumbnail and select the cross to close.
Importantly, on modern versions of Android, the system manages memory efficiently; manually cleaning applications can even degrade autonomy as the system has to re-run processes; however, for video services that are actively using the network, complete closure is sometimes necessary.
Forced shutdown through system settings
If standard closing doesn't work, or if the application is stuck and doesn't respond to touch, you need to use Forced Stop. This method breaks all connection of the process with the system and completely unloads it from RAM. To access these settings, go to Settings menu → Applications → All applications.
In the installed program list, look for YouTube, and in the app information menu that opens, you'll see a big button at the bottom of the screen that says "Stop" or "Forced Stop," and clicking on it will trigger a system warning that the app may not work properly until the next launch, which is a standard security response.
☑️ Pre-stop checks
The use of forced stop is especially relevant when the application consumes battery power in the background or causes the smartphone case to heat up.After performing this procedure, YouTube will be completely reset to a state as if it had just been installed, but without deleting user data and cache unless you have chosen the appropriate cleaning option.
⚠️ Warning: A forced stop may interrupt background video downloading or interrupt synchronization of browsing history if there was an active data exchange at the time of the stop.
Managing Auto Start and Background Activities
The MIUI and HyperOS shells have powerful auto-start controls. By default, many apps, including YouTube, may have permission to start with the system or other services. To prevent this, open the Security app (green zipper icon) and go to the Permissions section.
You need to find AutoStart here. In the app list, find YouTube and switch the switch to "Switched Off" and prevent the app from activating itself after you reboot your phone or when you start Google's related services, which is an effective way to reduce the CPU load during downtime.
In addition, check the battery settings. In the app information menu (the same as the stop button), select "Activity Control" or "Charge Savings." It is recommended to set a background activity limit, which will allow the application to work only when you opened it on the screen, blocking the background download of recommendations and previews.
| Type of restriction | Impact on work | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| No restrictions. | Full functionality, notifications, background | For active users |
| Saving charge | Limitation of background activity | To save battery life |
| Strict limitation | The app doesn't work in the background | To completely shut down |
| Auto-start | Start with the system | Recommended to disable |
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If you have disabled autoplay but need notifications for new videos, be sure to allow notifications in the app’s separate settings menu, otherwise you’ll miss new videos from your favorite authors.
Disabling the YouTube system component
On many Xiaomi smartphones, YouTube is system-based and cannot be removed from the usual uninstall. However, it can be “freezed” or disabled. This will hide the icon from the desktop and completely stop any processes associated with the service.
Once confirmed, the system will warn that other apps may not work properly if they depend on Google components. In the case of YouTube, this is usually safe, as it is a separate client. If the "Disable" button is inactive (gray), then your account or firmware does not have the rights to modify the system packages without root rights.
It's important to understand the difference between uninstalling updates and disabling. If you select "Remove Updates," the app will roll back to the factory version that was on the phone when you bought it. This can be useful if the new version is unstable, but it doesn't completely remove the functionality.
⚠️ Attention: Disabling Google system components may affect the voice assistant or widgets that use video content.Be careful when services are shut down on a mass scale.
For advanced users with root rights, there is the possibility of complete removal. APK-file through file managers with access to the system, but this requires high qualification and can lead to loss of warranty or system instability.
Stopping playback with the screen off
A common problem for users is that the video keeps going when the screen goes out, and this can be caused by the settings of the app itself or the way media codecs work. First of all, check if the Background feature is included in the YouTube Premium subscription. If there is no subscription, but the sound is going, perhaps the Picture in Picture mode is activated.
To ensure that you turn off audio and video when you lock your phone, use a physical lock button combined with a double tap of the Down volume button. On some versions of MIUI, this action forcefully pauses the media process. You can also add a music control widget to your desktop that duplicates the player control buttons.
Why is the video playing in the background without a subscription?
If the problem is persistent, it’s worth checking the special features settings. Some features, such as Voice Access or third-party launchers, can intercept control of the media player and prevent it from stopping when blocked.
Solving problems with hanging video service
Situations where YouTube is not turned off but just hanging as a black screen or continues to buffer require clearing the cache. Accumulated temporary files can cause conflicts. Go to Settings → Apps → YouTube → Storage and select Clear Cache.
If that doesn't work, try resetting the network settings. Sometimes the video stream gets stuck because of problems with the network. DNS or IP-Going to flight mode for 10 seconds and back can reconnect the communication module and break the suspended connection. It is also worth checking the date and time - desynchronization of the clock often causes certificate errors, which makes the application unable to correctly end the session.
In extreme cases, removing and reinstalling updates helps. Go to the app menu (three dots in the upper right corner of the app list in the settings) and select "Delete Updates." After that, launch YouTube, wait for updates through the Play Market and check the work.
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Comprehensive approach: the combination of auto-start shutdown, activity control and periodic cache cleaning ensures maximum stability of video services on Xiaomi.