Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face a situation where messages in messengers come with a delay or do not appear at all before the application opens. This is not a bug, but a feature of the aggressive MIUI energy management system that seeks to maximize the battery life of the device. HyperOS also inherited these strict algorithms, which makes the problem relevant even for new models.
The system can force WhatsApp's background processes to stop, considering them an extra load on the processor. To fix this, you need to manually adjust several settings in the menu of your smartphone. In this article, we will discuss all possible reasons for blocking push notifications and provide step-by-step instructions for eliminating them.
Application permissions are the first and most obvious barrier to overcome, because without network access and notifications, the messenger simply won't be able to tell you about the new message, but even with all the permissions, the system can ignore the incoming data due to battery settings.
Checking permissions and basic notification settings
First, make sure that the application has all the necessary permissions to work. Often users accidentally deny access when installing or after updating the system. Go to the Settings menu → Apps → All apps, find WhatsApp and select Permissions.
This should activate access to contacts, microphone, camera and critically, notifications. If the switch is off, the system blocks any pop-ups and sounds. Also check if the back-end limit is worth it.
Inside the messenger itself, there are also settings that can conflict with the system: Open WhatsApp, click three dots in the corner, and select Settings → Notifications. Make sure the sliders are enabled for personal and group chats.
⚠️ Note: If the system settings allow notifications to be accessed but they are turned off inside the app, no messages will come.
Sometimes, a complete reset of notification settings for a particular application helps, which will clear the notification cache and restart the alert services.
Configuring energy saving and auto-start
The most common reason WhatsApp doesn't get notifications on Xiaomi is because of its power saving mode. MIUI by default limits the background activity of apps to save power. You need to add messenger to the exceptions.
Go to the Security app (green lightning icon) → Battery → gear button on the top right → App energy saving. Find WhatsApp on the list and select No Limits mode, which will prevent the system from killing the messenger process.
💡
After updating MIUI or HyperOS, the energy saving settings may reset. Always check this item after updating the firmware.
The second important option is AutoRun. If it's disabled, WhatsApp won't start itself after you reboot the phone until you manually open it. In the same Security menu, find AutoRun and activate the switch opposite WhatsApp.
☑️ Checklist of battery settings
Don’t ignore these settings, as they are the foundation of stable operation of any messengers on Xiaomi shells. Without permission for background work, messages will only come after unlocking the screen and launching the application.
Notification management in MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi shells have their own notification manager that can override system settings. New versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14 have expanded control over notification categories. Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification Management.
Find WhatsApp in the list. Make sure the Allow Notifications switch is active. Below you'll see a list of categories: Messages, Calls, Groups. Go to each of them and check that the notification style is set as a "Pop-up Notice" or "Banner" rather than just "No Sound."
Also worth noting is “Important Notifications.” In some regions, Android requires validation of the app’s importance. If the system asks if WhatsApp is important to you, be sure to confirm this, which will make the process prioritize the task queue.
⚠️ Warning: Do Not Disturb (moon in curtain) mode can block sound and vibration even if all other settings are correct.
Network settings and traffic restriction
The problem may lie not in the system, but in network restrictions. Xiaomi allows you to prevent applications from accessing the Internet in the background or through the mobile network. Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Data Transfer → Limit traffic.
In the list that opens, look for WhatsApp. Make sure that the checkmarks (or green icons) for "Wi-Fi" and "Mobile Network" are ticked off. If mobile is prohibited, then when Wi-Fi is turned off, messages will not come.
Another nuance is using a VPN or ad blockers, where if you have AdGuard, AdBlock or a third-party VPN installed, they can intercept the connection and block Google push services (GMS) through which notifications come.
Try temporarily disabling VPN or adding WhatsApp to your blocker exceptions. It's also worth checking your DNS settings. If you're using DNS (like AdGuard), try switching to Auto or Google's DNS (dns.google).
Comparison of settings: MIUI vs HyperOS
With the release of the new HyperOS shell, the menu structure has changed a little, although the logic has remained the same. Users often confuse where to look for the right switches after the update. Below is a table of differences in the paths to settings.
| Parameter | The Way to MIUI 12-14 | The Way to HyperOS |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-start | Safety → Auto-Run | Settings → Applications → Auto Launch |
| Saving energy | Security → Battery | Settings → Battery |
| Notifications | Settings → Notifications | Settings → Notifications and Status Line |
| Permits | Settings → Applications | Settings → Applications → All applications |
As you can see from the table, in HyperOS, many features have moved from the Security app to the basic Settings system, which is done to unify with pure Android, but the accustomed MIUI users need time to adapt.
Hidden features in HyperOS
Specifics of WhatsApp Business
If you use the version of WhatsApp Business, the same rules apply, but users often forget to configure the second app separately.The system sees WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business as two different packages. All the above actions (launch, battery, notifications) must be repeated for the business version.
Pay special attention to tags and shortcuts in the business version. Sometimes filtering chats inside the application creates the illusion of no notifications, although they come, but are hidden in the archive or marked as read automatically due to the integration settings with other Meta services.
Critical error: Install two identical applications via cloning (second space) without setting the rights for the clone.If you use "Second Space" or "App Cloning", set up notifications for the clone separately in the corresponding profile.
Additional causes and solutions
If none of the above has worked, the problem could be deeper: the app itself may have cache damaged or Google Play Services versions conflict. Try clearing WhatsApp cache: Settings → Apps → WhatsApp → Memory → Clear cache. Don't confuse it with Clear All, otherwise delete correspondence without a backup.
Also worth checking is the date and time. Wrong system date can disrupt the job. SSL-Certificates, which prevents the WhatsApp servers from being connected. Set Network Date and Time to Automatic.
💡
In 90% of cases, the problem is solved by a bundle: Auto-run VLN + Battery "No restrictions".
In a pinch, if the problem has occurred after a system update, resetting your network settings may help, which won’t delete your photos or contacts, but will return your Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile settings to factory values.