Background connection in the Xiaomi phone: what it is, why you need and how to configure

Have you ever noticed that some Xiaomi apps continue to work even after they're closed? For example, messengers show new messages, music services play tracks, and email clients update emails without you being involved. This is all due to a background connection, a mechanism that allows programs to interact with the Internet and servers in hidden mode. But how exactly does this work in MIUI firmware, why does background activity sometimes drain the battery and can it be turned off?

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones have a unique background management system that is different from pure Android. It has its own optimization algorithms, application limitations, and even hidden settings that many users don’t know about. If you want to extend battery life, speed up your phone, or just understand why some notifications come with a delay, this information will be useful. We won’t go into the technical wildspots, but give clear instructions that will work on any device of the brand, from the Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

What is a background connection and why it is needed

Background connectivity is the ability for applications to communicate with servers even when they are folded or not active on the screen, and without this mechanism, many of the functions of modern smartphones would simply stop working.

• 📱 Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber): receive new messages and display notifications.
• 🎵 Music services (Spotify, Yandex Music, Mi Music): play tracks in the background.
• 📧 Email clients (Gmail, Mail.ru): check new emails and sync folders.
• 📍 Maps and navigators (Google Maps, Yandex Maps): track location for routes.
• 🔔 Social networks (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok): update the feed and send push notifications.

Without background activity, you would have to manually open each app to check for updates, but there is a downside to this mechanism: constant running in the background consumes battery power, loads the processor and consumes mobile traffic, especially on low-end Redmi or POCO models, where hardware resources are limited.

In MIUI, background connectivity is implemented through a combination of standard Android tools and Xiaomi proprietary solutions, for example, the system decides which applications can work in the background and which will be suspended to save energy, and the logic of this optimization is not always transparent to the user.

How background processes affect battery and performance

The main complaint users have about background connectivity is increased charge consumption, and tests show that some apps (like Facebook or TikTok) can eat up to 15-20 percent of their battery per day from background activity alone, and the problem is compounded on MIUI devices where power optimization is not always working properly.

Here are the key points to consider:

• 🔋 Constant sync: Apps like Gmail or Slack can check for updates every 5-15 minutes, even if you don’t use them.
• 📡 Mobile traffic: background processes consume up to 50-200 MB per month (depending on the number of applications).
• 🖥️ CPU load: Even folded applications take up a portion of the resources CPU, which can cause lags.
• 🔄 Autorun: Some programs (AliExpress, Wildberries) are automatically enabled when the system is booted.

To assess the impact of background processes on your Xiaomi, check the statistics in the Settings menu → Battery → Battery Use. If the apps that you rarely use are leading, that’s a signal to action.

⚠️ Warning: On devices with MIUI 14 and later, there is a hidden Intelligent battery saving feature that aggressively restricts background activity, which may prevent notifications from messengers. To fix this, add the desired applications to the exclusion list (more on this below).

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If the battery is running out too quickly, try turning on Charge Saving mode in Settings → Battery. It automatically limits background activity for all applications except system ones.

Where in MIUI are the background connection settings

Unlike pure Android, where background management is concentrated in one place, MIUI has these settings spread across multiple menus.

1. Settings → Applications → Application Management → [Select App] → Battery → Background Activity
2. Settings → Battery → Selection of battery mode (here you can turn on Economy mode)
3. Settings → Special features → System optimization → Autostart (to manage boot)
4. Settings → Applications → Permissions → Autostart (alternative path)

The most important section is the background activity in the settings of a particular application.

• 🔄 Allow or prohibit background work.
• 📶 Limit the use of mobile data in the background.
• 🔋 Enable battery optimization (limits low-charge activity).

For example, if you want WhatsApp to always receive messages, but you don’t want AliExpress to waste battery in the background, you need to manually configure each one.

Step-by-step: How to disable background connection for unnecessary applications

If you notice that some programs are wasting power, you can limit them. Here is a universal guide for all Xiaomi smartphones (relevant to MIUI 12-14):

Let’s look at the example of Instagram:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the list, find Instagram (or another app) and tap on it.
3. Select Battery.
4. Press Background Activity.
5. Turn off the switch to Allow background activity.
6. (Optional) Enable Battery Optimization if you want to further restrict the application.

After that, Instagram won't be able to update your feed or send notifications when you're not using it, but it will still work as normal when you open it.

⚠️ Warning: Do not turn off background activity for system applications (e.g., Google Play Services, MIUI System or Security).This can cause smartphone malfunctions, including notification, sync and update issues.

If you want to massively limit background activity for all but important applications, use Battery Saving Mode:

1. Go to Settings. → Battery.
2. Select the Battery Mode Select.
3. Activate Economic Mode or Supereconomic Mode.
4. In the list of exceptions, add messengers and other critical applications.

Hidden MIUI settings: how to manage background processes through ADB

On some MIUI firmware (especially Chinese or custom builds), standard settings may be limited, and ADB debugging, a tool for advanced users that allows you to manage system parameters through a computer, will help.

Here's how it works:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on your phone: go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect the phone to your computer and install ADB- Drivers (e.g., via Mi PC Suite).
4. Open the command prompt (cmd on Windows) and type:

adb shell cmd appops set < application package > RUN_ANY_IN_BACKGROUND ignore

Replace the <app package> with a real identifier (e.g. com.facebook.katana for Facebook). To find out the package, use the command:

adb shell pm list packages | grep "appendix name"

To remove restrictions, use:

adb shell cmd appops set < application package > RUN_ANY_IN_BACKGROUND allow

⚠️ Warning: Misuse of ADB may disrupt the system. Before experimenting, back up your data via Settings → System → Backup.

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ADB- commands allow you to bypass the limitations of MIUI, but you need to be careful. If notifications stop coming after the changes, check the sync settings in your Google or Mi Account.

Frequent Background Connection Problems and How to Solve Them

Xiaomi users often face typical background problems, and here are the most common ones and solutions:

1. notifications are delayed or not received at all

Reason: MIUI aggressively optimizes background activity to save battery, especially in charge saving mode.

Decision:

• 📱 Add the app to the exclusion list: Settings → Battery → Battery Mode Selection → Apps.
• 🔄 Disable battery optimization for messenger: Settings → Applications → [Messenger] → Battery → Battery Optimization → No Limits.
• 🔧 Check your sync settings in your Google or Mi Account.

2.The apps themselves close in a few minutes

Reason: MIUI has a Memory Cleanup feature that forcibly closes unused programs.

Decision:

• 🚫 Turn off automatic cleaning: Settings → Applications → Memory Cleanup → Auto Cleanup → Turn off.
• 🔒 Lock the application in multitasking: open recent apps and swipe down the program icon (a lock icon will appear).

3.The battery is rapidly discharged due to background processes

Reason: Some apps (especially social media and games) consume a lot of power in the background.

Decision:

• 🔋 Enable Economy Mode in Settings → Battery.
• 📵 Limit background activity for unnecessary programs (instruction above).
• 🔄 Update your firmware: In the newer versions MIUI, energy optimization works better.

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If the notification problem persists, try disabling the Second Space feature (if it is enabled).

How to Check Which Apps Are Working in the Background Right Now

To see the list of active background processes, you don't need to install third-party utilities -- MIUI has built-in tools. Here are two ways:

Method 1: Through Task Manager

1. Open Settings → Applications → Memory Cleanup.
2. Slip on RAM (at the top of the screen).
3. You will see a list of running processes and the amount of RAM they occupy.

Method 2: Through the Developer's Hidden Menu

1. Activate Developer Mode (as described above).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For Developers → Processes.
3. All active processes, including system processes, are displayed here.

If you see apps that haven’t been used in a long time, you can either manually close them or limit background activity (as described earlier).

Important: Do not close system processes with the names android., com.miui. or com.google.* – this can lead to unstable operation of the smartphone.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Background Connection in Xiaomi