Modern smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO are famous for their aggressive optimization of power consumption. On the one hand, it allows the device to work all day without recharging, but on the other hand, it often leads to incorrect operation of messengers, navigators and activity trackers. Users often face a situation where music stops when the screen is turned off, and notifications of new emails come only after opening the application.
The problem is that the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS forcefully freeze processes that the system considers inactive, which is standard battery-saving algorithm behavior, but for many use cases it is a critical disadvantage, and in order for applications to work consistently, you need to manually configure permissions for each important service, disabling rigid restrictions.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods for adjusting background activity, we will look at both standard system settings and hidden developer menus that will help you make your smartphone more predictable, you will learn how to properly configure Autoboot and manage energy saving modes for each particular application.
It's important to understand that there's no one magic button that can resolve all the processes at once. Setup requires a customized approach to each application that needs to run in the background. The key is to change three things in a complex way: autostart, no battery limitations, and memory retention.
Basics of background processes in MIUI and HyperOS
The Android operating system on which Xiaomi’s shells are based uses its own memory management system, but manufacturers add add add-ons to improve autonomy on top of it. In the case of MIUI and HyperOS, this mechanism works extremely rigidly: if an application is not used explicitly by the user for a certain time, the system tends to terminate it.
This behavior is driven by the desire to keep the battery power and free up RAM for current tasks, but this approach often breaks the logic of services that require a permanent connection to the server, for example, a smartwatch can lose communication with the phone if the companion application is closed by the system.
There are several levels of control that the system applies:
- 🔋 Background activity restriction – the system blocks the application’s access to the internet and processor when the screen is off.
- 🚫 Auto-Start Lock – The app cannot start on its own after a phone restart or page update.
- 🧹 Memory cleaning – with a lack of RAM (RAM) The system is forced to close the background processes, even if they are important.
To get around these restrictions, the user needs to give the app special rights, without which even the most popular messengers can work unstable, and understanding these mechanisms is the first step to properly configuring your Xiaomi smartphone.
Configure the absence of battery limitations
The first and most important step is to change the energy saving strategy for a particular application, and by default, the system sets the "Energy Saving" mode, which leads to background problems, and you need to switch this setting to "No Limits" mode.
To do this, go to the Settings menu, then select the Application and click All Applications. Find the desired program (for example, Telegram or Yandex.Navigator) in the list. Inside the application menu, find the Battery Savings or Battery section.
In the window that opens, you will see three options for setting up:
- ⚡ Energy savings – standard regime that restricts background activities (not suitable for our purposes).
- 🔋 Savings without limits – balance between performance and charge consumption.
- 🚀 No restrictions – full access to system resources at any time (recommended choice).
Select the "No Limits" option, which will let the system know that the application is a priority and should not be subject to power saving algorithms, and then the changes will take effect immediately, and the application will be able to work even when the screen is locked.
☑️ Checking battery settings
Managing application autoloading
The second critical parameter is auto-start permission, which means that if this feature is disabled, the application will not be able to start on its own after the device is restarted or after the system has forced it to close, and without auto-start, background settings may be useless.
There are two ways to find this setting: One is through the Settings menu → Apps → Permissions → Auto Run. Here is a list of all the programs installed with switches. The second way is through the Security app, which is preinstalled on all Xiaomi phones.
In the Security app, find the Permission (or Privacy) tool, and then select AutoRun. Turn on the switchboard in front of the desired application. The system may issue a warning that this may increase battery consumption - agree, as it is necessary for stable operation.
⚠️ Warning: Don't turn on auto-run for all applications at once. This will lead to a significant reduction in battery life and system slowdown. Allow auto-run only for mission-critical services: messengers, trackers, smart home.
It’s also worth noting that newer versions of HyperOS may have slightly different interfaces, but the logic remains the same. If you don’t find a item in one place, be sure to check the alternative path through app settings. Duplicating settings is a feature of Xiaomi’s interfaces.
Affixing applications to memory (Lock)
Even after setting up the battery and auto-start, the system can shut down the application if it urgently needs RAM to trigger a heavy game or camera, and to prevent this, there is a lock or memory fixing mechanism, which tells the system that the application cannot be unloaded from the RAM during cleaning.
To perform this procedure, launch the desired application, and then go to the open tab menu (swipe from the bottom up and hold your finger, or the menu button). Find your application card and click on it with your finger held, or pull the card down (depending on the version of MIUI).
In the menu that appears, select the Lock option (lock icon), and then the closed lock icon will appear next to the app name. Now, even if you click the Clear All button (cross or broom), the application will remain in memory and will continue to work.
| Action. | The effect | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|
| No battery restrictions. | The app doesn't fall asleep | High. |
| Auto-start | Start after reboot | Average. |
| Locking (Lock) | Protection against unloading from RAM | Low. |
What to do if the lock icon does not appear?
Additional permissions and notifications
Sometimes the problem is not just energy saving, but also the lack of basic permissions. An application may need background rights, access to location, or display over other windows. Without these rights, functionality will be limited, even if the battery is set up correctly.
Be sure to check the Application Permissions section in the settings. Make sure that the important service includes the "Background Operations" and, if necessary, "Exact Location." For instant messengers, permission to "Notifications" with the option "Important Notifications" enabled or "Above other applications" is critical.
Newer versions of Android and HyperOS have added additional protection: if an application is not in use for a long time, the system can automatically revoke its permissions. To avoid this, go to Settings → Applications → Access to data (or similar path) and make sure that important applications are ticked “Do not limit” or similar.
- 🖥️ Over windows – required for widgets, floating windows and some messenger features.
Don't ignore the permission pop-ups when you first start. Often users mechanically click "Discard" and then wonder why the app doesn't work. If you accidentally refuse access, reset the permissions in the app menu and try to run it again.
💡
Tip: If you use trackers for running or cycling, be sure to turn on GPS and select high-precision mode. In the screen settings, set "Do not turn off the screen" in the tracker app itself, if there is such an option.
Settings for developers and special cases
For advanced users who haven't had enough standard methods, there are hidden settings in the developer menu, where you can change the behavior of the system globally, although you need to do it with caution, and these settings affect all applications at once.
To get to the developer menu, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7-10 times on the MIUI Version (or OS Version). After the message “You became a developer” appears, go back to the main settings menu, select Additional → For developers.
Find a section that's associated with background processes. There may be a background process limit option. Make sure there's a No Limit value or a Standard Limit. If you select "No More than 1 Process" or "0 Processes," the background work will be disrupted throughout the system.
⚠️ Warning: Changing the settings in the Developer Menu can lead to unstable system operation and rapid battery discharge. Use these settings only if you understand what each option is responsible for. Do not change the animation or scale settings unless you are sure of the result.
Also on this menu, you should pay attention to the option Do not turn off the screen (when charging) - this can be useful for navigation, but it is not related to background tasks. The main thing here is to control process limits. In some Xiaomi firmware, this option is hidden or renamed, so look for similar names.
💡
The developer menu is a powerful tool, but for 95 percent of users, standard battery settings and auto-starts are enough. Don't go into deep settings unnecessarily.