Forgot to close apps on Xiaomi and the phone started to slow down? Or want to save battery power by removing background processes? In this article, 5 proven ways to completely clean the list of newly opened apps on any Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones (including models from 2023-2026). Consider standard methods through the MIUI interface, hidden features for power users and even options for devices with a broken screen.
Many people mistakenly think that closing apps makes your phone work faster. Android actually controls the memory itself, but sometimes the background processes really get in the way, like when a game or messenger is hanging out in multitasking, we'll sort out when to close apps and when it's just a waste of time, and of course, we'll show you how to do it as quickly as possible, from a classic swipe to commands via ADB.
If your Xiaomi runs MIUI 14/15, some of the ways may be different from the older versions, we’ve taken all the nuances into account and added up-to-date screenshots (you can zoom in on them) and for owners of HyperOS devices, a separate section with changes to the interface.
1. Standard method: swipe up and cross
The most obvious method is to use a recently opened app bar (aka “multi-tasking”), which is opened by swipe from the bottom up with a delay in the middle of the screen on models with a physical Home button (double tap).
As soon as you see the app cards:
- Scroll the list left/right to find the right one.
- Swipe the card up - the application will close.
- To close everything at once, click on the Close Everything icon** (cross or basket) at the bottom of the screen.
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Note: On some models (such as the POCO F5 or Redmi Note 12 Pro+), the “Close Everything” button is hidden behind an additional swipe to the right on the bottom panel. If not, check your gesture settings (more on this below).
This method works on all versions of MIUI, but has a limitation: it does not kill system processes (for example, miui.daemon or Google Play services).
Quick closing gestures (MIUI 12-15)
MIUI 12 and later featured hidden gestures that speed up multitasking, such as closing all apps with a single movement without clicking the cross.
Algorithm of action:
- Open the recently opened app bar (swipe from the bottom up with a pause).
- Make a quick swipe left or right on the lower gray strip (where the navigation icons are located).
- If the gesture works, all the cards will disappear immediately.
🔹 Note: Some firmwares have this gesture disabled by default to activate it:
- Go to Settings → Display → Navigation panel.
- Select "MIUI Gestures"** (or "Full-screen gestures").
- Enable the option to Quickly close all applications.
If the gesture doesn't work even after you turn it on, check if you have a third-party theme installed. Some themes from the Mi Theme Store break the multitasking animations.
☑️ Preparation for closure of annexes
3. the "Clean" button in the developer settings
For those who like maximum control, there is a way to shut down all processes, including system (but be careful!) that requires the developer mode to be enabled.
Instructions:
- Find the option to Do Not Save Actions (or Limit Background Processes) and select No Background Processes.
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Warning: This method forcibly shuts down all services, including notifications, syncs, and even mobile communications. Once cleaned, the phone may reboot or temporarily lose access to the network. Use it only in extreme cases!
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If you stop receiving notifications from messengers after cleaning, restart your phone, which will restore the background services without losing data.
4. Closing through ADB (for power users)
If the phone is stuck and the sensor is not responding, you can close all applications through the command line using ADB. This method is suitable for Xiaomi, connected to a PC.
Step-by-step:
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The am kill-all command only closes the applications that the user has launched, and system services (such as Google Play Services) will remain active.
If Xiaomi doesn’t respond to ADB, try the forced reboot:
- Press the Power + Volume button up for 10-15 seconds.
- After vibration, release the phone and restart.
5. Special features for HyperOS (2026)
At the end of 2023, Xiaomi began to move to a new shell, HyperOS, which changed the multitasking interface, and the old ways may not work.
🔹 New animation: App cards now appear as a "carousel" with effect 3D.
🔹 Closing gesture: Instead of swiping on a gray strip, you need to make a double tap on an empty space in the multitasking panel.
🔹 The Clean button is now hidden behind a long press on any app.
The comparison table MIUI 14 vs HyperOS:
| Action. | MIUI 14 | HyperOS |
|---|---|---|
| Opening up multitasking | Swipe up and down. | Swipe from bottom up without pause (faster) |
| Closing of one annex | Swipe card up. | Swipe up or left/right |
| Closing all applications | Cross at the bottom of the screen | Long press on any application → “Clean everything” |
| Quick cleaning gesture | Swipe down the gray strip | Double tap on the empty space |
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What if HyperOS doesn’t respond to gestures?
6. Automatic application closure (without manual actions)
If you're too lazy to manually clean up multitasking, set up automatic closing of background applications. There are two ways to do this:
🔹 Through battery settings:
- Go to Settings → Battery → Energy Saving Mode.
- Select “Ultra Mode”** (on some models – “Super Saving”).
- Enable the option to Clear background processes when blocking.
🔹 Using the Security Application (Security):
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Warning: Autocleaning may interrupt the download of files in the background (e.g. Telegram or YouTube).
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Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Many Xiaomi users have problems closing applications, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:
🔸 «The cross to close all applications is missing»
- 🔧 Cause: Failure after updating or installing custom theme.
- 🛠 Solution: Reset the launcher settings: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the data.
🔸 «Applications open themselves after closing»
- 🔧 Cause: Virus, Adware, or Google Play Services Failure.
- 🛠 Solution: Check the phone through Security → Virus scanner and disable autorun for suspicious apps.
🔸 «The phone is slowing down even after cleaning»
- 🔧 Reason: Lack of RAM or overheating.
- 🛠 Solution: Close all apps, restart your phone and check the temperature in Settings → The phone. → Status of the system.
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If your phone is still slowing down after closing the apps, check the CPU boot in Security → Performance. If the processor is loaded at 80%+ for no apparent reason, it may be a virus or firmware failure.