Why Xiaomi phone does not open applications – a full analysis of the causes and solutions

Are you trying to open WhatsApp, TikTok or a banking app on your Xiaomi, but instead of running you see a black screen, an “App Not Responding” error, or an endless download, POCO And Black Shark, and it can have a dozen reasons, from the banal to the critical, and in this article, we're not just going to list the possible malfunctions, but we're going to give you specific instructions based on the specifics of the firmware. MIUI (version MIUI 14/15 Android 13/14).

It’s important to understand that if apps stop opening all at once, it’s almost always a system problem (like a Google Play Services crash or a conflict after an update). If only one app is bugged, either it or Xiaomi’s security settings are to blame, we’ll examine both scenarios, and we’ll also explain how to distinguish a software failure from a hardware failure (like wear and tear on eMMC memory in older models).

We warn you that some solutions will require resetting or even flashing, but don't worry, we'll give alternative methods for those who don't want to lose data.

Basic checks: what to do first

Before digging deep into the settings MIUI, Make sure the problem isn't the trivial stuff. Here are 4 steps that solve 60 percent of cases:

• 🔄 Reboot your phone. Hold the power button 10 seconds before vibration, and that will clear the RAM and shut down the "hang" processes. POCO F5 Redmi Note 12 sometimes helps even a normal reboot through the menu.
• 📶 Internet check: Many apps (like YouTube or Instagram) require a network to run. Make sure mobile data or Wi-Fi is working (try opening the site in your browser).
• 🕒 Dates and times. Incorrect settings can block authorization in applications. Check Settings → Additionally. → Date and time that the "Autodetermination" option is included».
• 🔋 Battery charge. Xiaomi with a severely discharged battery (<15%) The system can artificially restrict background processes, which causes applications to not run.

If you've had a problem with this, we'll move on to more serious measures, but first, a small survey that will help narrow the search.

If apps don’t open until you connect to Wi-Fi, the problem may be in the router (e.g., locking). DNS Or parental controls restrictions. Try switching to mobile Internet.

2. Mistakes MIUI: Why does the system block applications?

Firmware MIUI She is known for her aggressive approach to optimization and security, sometimes playing against the user. Here are 3 key settings that can interfere with the launch of applications:

Autocleaning of memory (RAM Booster)

Function Memory Cleanup in MIUI It can kill the processes of the applications you're trying to open to disable it:

1. Go to Settings. → Annexes → Cleaning up memory.
2. Turn off the Auto Clean option or add the problem app to the exceptions.
3. For gaming phones (Black Shark 5, POCO F4 GT) Check the settings in the Game Turbo.

2.2 Security permits

MIUI It can block apps from running if they don't have the right permissions, like banking apps requiring access to SMS and Phone, and Google Play Services requiring access to Contacts:

• 🔓 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 📋 Select a problem application → Permits.
• ✅ Make sure all necessary permissions are included (especially Auto Start and Show over Other Windows»).

Energy saving mode

Active Energy Saving or Super Energy Saving may limit background processes to check:

1. Open the settings → Battery and performance.
2. Click on the icon. ⚡ In the upper right corner and select “No restrictions».
3. For individual applications, set exceptions in Battery Settings → Choice of applications.

Xiaomi with MediaTek processors (like Redmi Note 11 on Helio) G88) The energy saving modes are more aggressive than the Snapdragon. If it didn't work, try rolling back the battery settings to the factory.

3. Google Play Services and Cache Problems

If apps are installed but not opened, Google Play Services crashes or a damaged cache could be to blame, especially for Xiaomi, where conflicts between Google and Google services often arise. MIUI.

Here is the step-by-step cleaning instruction:

If the apps still don’t work after cleaning up, try updating Google Play Services:

1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. In the search, type “Google Play Services” and update the app.
3. If there are no updates, remove the updates (the “Delete Updates” button in the app settings).

For Xiaomi users without Google Services (for example, on Chinese firmware), the solution is one – installation. GMS through MIUI Global ROM Or hand-stitching Google Installer, but that's a topic for a separate article.

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If after cleaning the cache, the application started to fly out with the error "Google Play Services stopped", try to disable VPN Proxies – they can block the connection to Google servers.

4.Conflicts after the MIUI update

Updates MIUI Often, not only new features, but also bugs, and if apps stop opening immediately after the update, the blame may be on the app:

• 🔄 Incompatibility of old apps with the new version of Android (for example, after switching to Android 14, some games on Unity stop working).
• 🔒 Lockdown MIUI due to the modified permits (in MIUI 14+ New Privacy Dashboard protection mechanism).
• 🗃️ Damage to system files when updating "over the air" (especially if the process is interrupted).

Decisions:

Reverse update (if the problem has recently appeared)

If the phone is updated through the settings → Update the system, you can try to roll back:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Slip the MIUI version several times to activate the developer mode.
3. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
4. Connect your phone to your PC and use the Mi Flash Tool to run the previous version without clearing the data (select Save user data option).

Critical information: On models with a MediaTek chip (e.g. Redmi) 10C) Firmware rollback may block IMEI. Before the procedure, make a backup copy through Settings → Additionally. → Backup.

Resetting settings MIUI (data-free)

If rollback is not possible, try resetting only the system settings without affecting user data:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select “Reset all settings” (not “Reset to factory”!).
3. After restarting, set up your phone again, but don’t restore the backup – it may contain errors.

5. Viruses and malware: a hidden threat

One of the most frustrating reasons is viruses that disguise themselves as system processes and block applications from launching.

• 📱 Established APK Unverified sources (e.g. modified games).
• 🔓 Disabled security check in Settings → Confidentiality.
• 🌐 Connecting to public Wi-Fi (in cafes, airports).

How to check and clean your phone:

Scan for viruses

Use the built-in scanner. MIUI or third-party antiviruses (Malwarebytes, Dr.Web):

1. Open Security. → Scanning.
2. Start a deep scan (may take a while) 10-15 minute).
3. Remove all threats and reboot your phone.

5.2. Verification of the rights of the superuser (root)

If there is root access on the phone (for example, after unlocking the bootloader), viruses can get unlimited rights.

• Install the Root Checker app from Google Play.
• If access is confirmed, remove any suspicious applications with su rights.
• For complete cleaning, you may need to flash the loader lock.

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Viruses are often disguised as system applications (e.g., "com.android.system.update"). → Apps – Google their names before deleting them!

6. Hardware problems: when the "iron" is to blame

If none of the software methods worked, the problem could be hardware. Here are 3 of the most common "iron" reasons:

To diagnose hardware problems, use:

• 📊 AIDA64 (check of temperature, memory status).
• 🔧 CPU Throttling Test (Trottling Test of the Processor).
• 💾 AndroBench (read/write memory speed test).

If the phone falls into a bootloop after trying to open the app, it may indicate partition damage. /data. In this case, only flashing through Fastboot with full cleaning will help.

7. Specific problems for different Xiaomi models

Some Xiaomi models have unique bugs associated with app launches.

7.1. Redmi Note 8/9 Pro and error: Application not installed»

In these models, due to a failure in MIUI 12.5 applications may "disappear" after the update:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Enable the display of all applications (including system ones).
3. Find the “disappeared” app and click Enable.

7.2. POCO F3/F4 GT and game problems

On these phones, Game Turbo and Google Play Games may not be running games due to conflict.

• Open the Game Turbo from the app menu.
• Turn off the “Productivity Improvement” option.
• In the game settings, turn off Screen Recording and Notification Locking.

7.3. Xiaomi 11/12 The series and the error "Insufficient memory»

On the flagships with Snapdragon 888/8 Gen 1 bug-in MIUI 13 The system may display a false warning of memory shortage:

1. Restart your phone in Safe Mode (click the power button) → «Restarting in Safe Mode»).
2. If Safe Mode opens apps, the problem is with third-party software.

FAQ: Frequent questions about broken apps on Xiaomi