How to completely disable the background work of applications on Xiaomi Redmi: from auto-run to hidden processes

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones based on the MIUI shell are known for their aggressive optimization of background processes, but sometimes this “care” about the battery turns against the user. Apps run spontaneously in the background, consume charge and traffic, and notifications come with a delay or disappear altogether. If you notice that messengers like WhatsApp or Telegram do not update on time, and games continue to “hang” in the task manager, the problem is precisely in the background activity.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to disable background work on Redmi (relevant to Redmi 7 models to Redmi 13), including hidden MIUI settings, ADB commands, and even radical methods for power users. It’s important to understand that completely disabling background processes can affect the stability of some services — so we’ll point out which apps can be blocked without risk and which ones are better left alone.

Before you start, check the version. MIUI In the Settings section → The instructions below are tested on the phone. MIUI 12–14 (including global and Chinese firmware, but may differ for older versions (e.g, MIUI 10 on the Redmi 5/6). If you POCO Black Shark – some functions may be called differently.

1. disable auto-run applications (the safest way)

Auto-start allows applications to automatically turn on when you boot or when you restart your phone, which is the main reason why messengers and social networks wake up on their own, and in MIUI, this mechanism can be turned off for each application separately.

How to do this:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Choose the appropriate app (such as Facebook or Facebook) VK).
• 🚫 Slip on Autostart and move the slider to the off position..
• 🔄 For full effect, also disable Secondary Start (if option is available).

⚠️ Warning: Disabling autoruns for system applications (e.g. com.miui.securitycenter) may cause disruptions MIUI. Do not touch services with the icon of the gear or shield in the list of applications.

Once you disable autorun, apps won’t start on their own, but you can still open them manually.This method doesn’t affect notifications if the app is already running (e.g., you’re actively using Telegram).

2.Restriction of background activity through "Battery and performance"

MIUI has a built-in tool for managing background processes, the Battery and Performance section, and you can not only see which applications are using up charge in the background, but also block their activity.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Consumption Management.
2. Select the App tab and find the right one (for example, TikTok or AliExpress).
3. Slip on the app and select Limit background activity.
4. Enable the option to Prohibit Background Activity (some firmwares call Deep Optimization).

🔋 What it does: The app won’t be able to update content in the background, but it will work fine when manually launched.For example, YouTube will stop preloading videos for recommendations, and Google Maps won’t track your location without you knowing.

Note that some applications (such as Mi Fit or Google Play Services) may stop working properly when you are optimizing deeply, and if you notice a failure after the restrictions, return the settings to their original state.

3.Use of the hidden menu "Special Permits"

MIUI has a hidden section where you can turn off background activity for applications that ignore standard constraints, which works even for system services, but requires caution.

How to open the hidden menu:

• 🔐 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Threefold (⋮) → Special permits.
• 📊 Choose Display on top of other apps or Run in the background (name depends on version) MIUI).
• 🚫 For each application, turn off the background permission (slider to off position.).

⚠️ Warning: Disabling background activity for com.android.systemui or com.miui.home may result in launcher departures or notification panel disappearing!

If you are not sure if you can block background activity for a particular application, use the FAQ at the end of the article, where we have collected answers to the questions.

4. Completely disabling background processes via ADB (for advanced)

If standard methods do not help (for example, the application still runs in the background), you can use the application. ADB-This requires connecting your smartphone to your computer and basic knowledge of working with Android Debug Bridge.

Step-by-step:

1. 🖥️ Install. ADB-PC drivers.
2. 📱 Enable Developer Mode on Redmi: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times).
3. 🔧 Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers and enable debugging by USB.
4. 🔌 Connect your phone to your PC and type in the command line: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.powerkeeper This command disables the system battery optimization service that is responsible for background processes.
5. 🔄 To disable background activity of a particular application (e.g. Facebook): adb shell cmd appops set com.facebook.katana RUN_IN_BACKGROUND ignore

Important: After you complete the commands, restart the phone. You can only restore the standard settings through resetting or re-entering. ADB-parameter `default` instead `ignore`.

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Before using ADB, back up your data via Settings → System → Backup. A team error can cause the system to crash.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling com.miui.powerkeeper can increase battery consumption as the system will no longer optimize background processes at all.

5. Alternative method: Freeze applications via Titanium Backup

If you have root rights, you can completely freeze unnecessary apps so they don’t even run manually, and you’ll need Titanium Backup (available on Google Play or XDA-Developers).

How to Freeze the Application:

• 🛠️ Install Titanium Backup and provide root access.
• 🔍 Find the app you want to block (such as Mi Video or Mi Music).
• ❄️ Slip on it and select Freeze.
• 🔄 Reboot the phone.

✅ Pros of the method: the application completely stops working, does not consume battery and does not appear in the task manager.

⚠️ Warning: Freezing system applications (e.g. com.android.phone) can cause network loss or other critical failures.Before experimenting, study what each application is responsible for.

6. Radical method: resetting battery optimization settings

If you've tried all the methods, but the background processes are still active, the problem may be that the optimization settings are wrong, and then resetting the battery back to the factory settings will help.

How to reset your settings:

1. Go to Settings. → Battery and productivity → Threefold (⋮) → Additionally.
2. Select Reset Battery Optimization Settings.
3. Confirm the action (a password may be required).
4. Reboot the phone.

🔋 Once reset, all the background restrictions will be removed, and you'll have to reset them, but it will help you get rid of the "glitch" when you're in the background. MIUI ignores your settings.

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Resetting the battery optimization is a last resort, and only use it if other methods have not worked, because after the procedure you will have to reconfigure all permissions for applications.

7.How to check if the application is working in the background

To make sure background activity is actually turned off, use the built-in Task Manager or third-party utilities like Greenify.

Methods of verification:

• 📊 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management, select the desired one and see the status in the Battery Use section.
• 🔍 Install Greenify (root required for full functionality) and check the list of active processes.
• 📉 Use the adb shell dumpsys battery in the command line to view detailed flow statistics.

If the application still appears on the active process list, you missed one of the permissions (e.g., Display on top of others or Auto Run). Go back to the first section and repeat the steps.

FAQ: Frequent questions about background processes on Xiaomi Redmi