Audiobook stops in 5 minutes on Xiaomi: all the reasons and how to fix it

You listen to a fascinating audiobook on your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO, but suddenly playback is interrupted exactly 5 minutes later — and so every time? This problem is familiar to many users of smartphones from Xiaomi, regardless of the model (be it Mi 11, Redmi Note 10 or POCO X3). Most often the fault is not the device breakdown, but the software settings or the features of MIUI.

In this article, we will discuss 7 The main reasons why an audiobook stops after a fixed period of time, from basic battery optimization to hidden energy saving options, you will also find step-by-step instructions for each of the problems, including screenshots of the menu (for current versions). MIUI 14/15) And alternatives, if standard methods don't work — FAQ Answering frequent questions and advice on choosing audiobook apps.

We warn you right away: 90% of the time, the problem is solved without resetting or flashing it, but if you've tried to turn off battery optimization and nothing has worked, don't miss the codecs and file format section, which is a common "underwater" reason.

1. Battery optimization for audiobook applications

The most common reason for stopping playback is to automatically limit the background activity of the application. MIUI, by default, includes aggressive battery optimization, which “freezes” programs after 5-10 minutes without active use of the screen, and this applies to audiobook players.

To correct:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Find your audiobook app (e.g. LitRes: Audiobooks, Bookmate, Smart AudioBook Player).
• ⚡ Battery Optimization (or Energy Saving in Older Versions) MIUI).
• 🔄 Choose the option No restrictions (or No restrictions).

If you don’t have Battery Optimization, try another way:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Settings
2. Choose App Choices (or Battery Optimization for Applications).
3. Find your player in the list and install it for you without restrictions.

💡

After you change your optimization settings, restart the audiobook app, and sometimes you also need to restart your smartphone to make the changes take effect.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F3 or Redmi K40) post-update MIUI 14+ Battery optimization may be hidden behind an additional menu. If you don't find one, search by settings (the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner).

2. Automatic shutdown of Wi-Fi or mobile data

If an audiobook is streamed online (not downloaded to a device), its playback may be interrupted due to an Internet blackout, MIUI has a feature to Auto Shutdown Wi-Fi when inactivity, as well as Save traffic for the mobile network.

Check the following settings:

• 🌐 Settings → Wi-Fi → Additionally. → Automating Wi-Fi → Choose Never.
• 📶 Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Saving traffic → turn off the slider.
• 🔄 If you use mobile data: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Transfer of data → Background data transmission → turn on for your application.

⚠️ Note: If you listen to audiobooks over the mobile Internet, the operator may restrict background traffic. For example, MTS and Beeline have a Traffic Saving option that blocks background data in 5-10 minutes.

3. Errors of codecs and audio file formats

A less obvious but common cause is codec incompatibility. Some audiobook apps (especially LitRes or Storytel) use secure formats, such as.aax (Audible) or.m4b with DRM. If your Xiaomi doesn't have the right decoder, playback may be interrupted.

How to check:

1. Find out the format of your audiobook (usually listed in the file properties or on the service website).
2. Download an alternative player that supports this format: 🎵 Smart AudioBook Player – Supports.m4b,.mp3,.flac. 🎵 Voice Audiobook Player – Optimized for.aax (Audible). 🎵 VLC Android – a universal player for all formats.

⚠️ Note: If the audiobook is.aax (from Audible), you can't just copy it to another player, you need to log in through your Amazon account. Use only the official Audible app or special players like Audiobooks.com.

4. background activity and limitations of MIUI

Even if you have disabled battery optimization, MIUI has additional restrictions on background activity, such as Privacy Protection, which can block applications from accessing the microphone or speakers, causing them to stop playing.

What to check:

• 🔒 Settings → Confidentiality → Special permits → Auto-start → turn on for your player.
• 📱 Settings → Annexes → Application management → [appendix] → Permits → Access the Warehouse, Microphone (if any) and Notices.
• 🔄 Settings → Battery and productivity → Performance mode → Choose Balanced (not Energy Saving).

Some models (such as the Xiaomi 12T or Redmi K50) have a hidden permission menu for background processes.

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 5 times on the MIUI version to activate the developer mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Find the Background Process Limitation and set the Standard Limit.

💡

If after all the manipulations of the audiobook still stops - try to install the player manually as a system application through ADB.

5. Problems with cache and application data

Sometimes the playback stop is due to a damaged cache or application data, which is especially true for services like LitRes or Bookmate, where audiobooks are loaded in pieces.

How to clean the cache and data:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Choose your audiobook player.
3. Slip the vault. → Clear the cache.
4. If it doesn’t help, click Clear the data (⚠️ This will remove all downloads and settings within the application!).

After data clearing:

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone.
• 📥 Go to the application and wait for the re-download of audiobook metadata.
• 🎧 Try to reproduce the book again.

If the problem persists, uninstall the app and install it again from Google Play or AppGallery (for models without Google services).

Clear cache | Clear data |Reboot phone |Delete app |Install the latest version from the official store-->

6. Advanced Solution: ADB and System Settings

If all previous methods failed, the problem may lie in the deep limitations of MIUI, which are not disabled through standard settings, in which case the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) team will help.

⚠️ Note: This method requires connecting a smartphone to a computer and basic knowledge of working with the computer. ADB. Incorrect commands can disrupt the system.

Instructions:

1. Download Platform Tools (the official tool from Google).
2. Put the debugging on. USB smartphone: 📱 Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (slip 5 times). 🔧 Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers. 🔌 Turn on Debugging. USB.

cmd

Platform Tools

com.example.app

ru.litres.audiobooks

adb shell dumpsys deviceidle whitelist +com.example.app

adb shell cmd appops set com.example.app RUN_ANY_IN_BACKGROUND allow

Once you have completed the commands, restart your smartphone. If you don't know the app package, find it through the App Inspector (available on Google Play) or the APKMirror website.

7. Alternative ways to listen to audiobooks

If none of these methods worked, consider alternative options:

• 🎧 Use another player: Try it. VLC, Musicolet or Otto Player – They are less dependent on optimization MIUI.
• 📱 Install custom firmware: For example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience (requires unlocking the bootloader).
• 🔊 Listen through an external device: Connect the audiobook to a smart speaker (like Xiaomi Mi Smart Speaker) or Bluetooth headphones with your own battery.
• 💾 Convert files: If the problem is in a format, convert.m4b or.aax in.mp3 via Audacity or FFmpeg.

⚠️ Note: When using custom firmware, you lose the official Xiaomi warranty, and some services (such as Audible) may block playback on uncertified devices.

FAQ: Frequent questions about stopping audiobooks on Xiaomi