Have you ever noticed that some apps on your Xiaomi Mi keep updating data even when you don't open it? For example, messengers show new messages instantly, and the weather widget is always up to date. This is due to the background connection, the mechanism that allows programs to share data with servers in hidden mode. But how exactly does this work on Xiaomi devices, why it is sometimes worth turning it off, and how does this affect autonomy? In this article, we will analyze all the nuances from technical basics to practical tips on optimization.
Xiaomi smartphones (especially MIUI-based ones) have a unique background management system. Unlike pure Android, there are additional limitations that can save battery power and interfere with applications. For example, users often find that WhatsApp or Telegram do not send notifications on time - and the fault is precisely the background connection settings. Next, you will learn how to check current settings, which applications can be safely limited, and for which it is better to leave background access.
What is a background connection and why it is needed
Background connectivity is a mechanism that allows applications to communicate with the Internet even when they are folded or not active on the screen. Without it, many of the features of modern smartphones simply would not work:
- 📩 Instant notifications in messengers (Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram).
- 🔄 Automatic synchronization of mail, calendars, cloud storage (Google Drive, Mi Cloud).
- 📊 Update widgets (weather, currency rates, news feeds).
- 🎵 Playing music in the background (Spotify, Yandex Music).
- 📍 Location tracking for maps (Google Maps, Yandex Navigator).
At Xiaomi, this process is controlled by two systems:
- Android Doze Mode is a standard battery saving mechanism in Android that limits background activity during prolonged device inactivity.
- MIUI Battery Saver is a proprietary optimization from Xiaomi, which more aggressively blocks applications to prolong the running time.
The problem is that MIUI by default severely restricts background activity for most applications, which causes notifications to arrive late, and some features (like fitness tracker) to work incorrectly.
How background connectivity affects Xiaomi battery
On Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12 and later, background activity can eat up to 15-20% of battery life per day if not configured correctly, and it is not so much the applications themselves that are to blame as the inefficient management of the system processes.
- 🔋 Permanent wake-ups of the processor (wakelocks) due to frequent notification checks.
- 📶 Active use of mobile internet in the background (even when Wi-Fi is available).
- 🔄 Duplicate tasks (e.g. when both Google Play Services and the app itself sync the same data).
To understand which applications are using up the most, go to Settings → Battery → Battery Use and look at the chart. Note programs marked “Background Activity” – they are worth checking first.
| Annex | Typical flow in the background (in 8 hours) | Can we limit it? |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5% | ❌ No (notifications will stop coming) | |
| Google Play Services | 8–12% | ⚠️ Partially (may disrupt other services) |
| Mi Fit | 2–4% | ✅ Yes (unless you use tracking 24/7) |
| 5–10% | ✅ Yes (notifications will come less frequently) | |
| Yandex Maps | 1–3% | ✅ Yes (unless you use background navigation) |
⚠️ Warning: If you notice that the battery is running too fast (more than 1% per hour on standby), check Settings → Battery → Battery Mode. The Super Savings option can completely block background activity, which will stop apps from updating.
How to turn on or off background connection on Xiaomi
The setup of the background connection on Xiaomi consists of two parts: permissions for individual applications and global system constraints.
Method 1: Configure for a specific application
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Select the application you want (such as Telegram).
- Go to Resolutions → Background activity.
- Enable the option "Allow background activity".
- Go back and check AutoRun – it should be on too.
Open the application settings |Enable background activity |Check autorun |Deactivate battery optimization |Reboot smartphone-->
Method 2: Global settings of MIUI
If notifications don’t come even after you set up individual apps, check:
- Settings → Battery → Battery Mode – Select Balanced (not Super Savings).
- Settings → Special features → Battery optimization – turn off for critical applications.
- Settings → Applications → Autostart Management – Allow autorun for instant messengers.
For devices with MIUI 14 and later, the option of Deep Optimization is also available in the battery settings, which is better turned off if you want applications to work in the background without delay.
💡
If notifications still don’t come after the changes, try clearing the cache of the Google Play Services app in Settings → Apps. This often solves background synchronization problems.
Why Xiaomi is blocking background activity more aggressively than others
Xiaomi smartphones are known for their long battery life, and in many ways this is due to the aggressive optimization of MIUI. Unlike the "pure" Android or even Samsung One UI, there are several unique mechanisms:
- 🛡️ Security Center is a continuous scanning process and suspending suspicious processes.
- ⚡ MIUI Optimizer automatically closes applications that hang in the background for a long time.
- 🔄 "Intelligent Battery Saver" dynamically adjusts background activity depending on the level of charge.
These mechanisms are useful for saving battery life, but often interfere with the normal operation of applications.
- WhatsApp may not show notifications if its process has been suspended.
- Google Maps stops tracking location in the background after 10-15 minutes.
- Spotify stops music playback when the screen is locked.
To check if the system is blocking your application, use the command:
adb shell dumpsys deviceidle force-idleIf the application starts working correctly after it is executed, the problem is precisely in optimizing MIUI.
How to Turn Off MIUI Optimization (For Power Users)
What applications can be safely restricted
Not all programs need constant background activity, some can be safely limited to save battery power without losing functionality.
| Category | Examples of applications | What happens when you're limited? |
|---|---|---|
| Social media | Facebook, Instagram, TikTok | Notifications will come less often (once every 1-2 hours) |
| Games | PUBG Mobile, Clash Royale | There will be no background updates (such as in-game events) |
| News aggregators | Yandex News, Google News | The tape will only be updated when opened. |
| Fitness trackers (unless you use 24/7) | Mi Fit, Google Fit | The data will only be synchronized when opened. |
| Cloud storage | Dropbox, OneDrive | Files will only be downloaded manually. |
Here are some apps you can’t limit if you want them to work correctly:
- 📩 Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) will stop receiving notifications.
- 📍 Navigators (Google Maps, Yandex Navigator) will not track the route in the background.
- 🎵 Music services (Spotify, Yandex Music) – music will stop when the screen is locked.
- 🏦 Banking applications – may not update balance or block access.
⚠️ Warning: On devices with MIUI 13+, there is a hidden Adaptive Optimization feature that automatically limits rarely used applications. To disable it, follow the command: adb shell settings put global adaptive_battery_management_enabled 0 This will help avoid random restrictions on important programs.
How to check if the background connection is working
If you have set everything up according to the instructions, but notifications still don’t come, here are 3 ways to diagnose:
Method 1: Test with messenger
- Open Telegram or WhatsApp.
- Run background music playback (e.g. YouTube Music).
- Close all applications and lock the screen.
- Ask a friend to send you a message.
- If the notification came immediately, the background connection works. If it was delayed (or not received) the problem remains.
Method 2: Checking with ADB
For advanced users:
- Connect your smartphone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell dumpsys battery unplug
- Look at the line work duration – if the value is more than 10%, then background processes are actively consuming energy.
Method 3: Traffic monitoring
Install NetGuard or GlassWire and check which programs are using the Internet in the background. If there is no traffic, access is blocked.
💡
If after all the checks notifications do not come, the problem may not be in the settings of the smartphone, but in the application itself. Try reinstall it or check the settings of notifications in the account (for example, Telegram needs to enable "Notifications" in the chat settings).
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even after setting up the background connection correctly, Xiaomi users face typical problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:
- 🔕 Notifications come with a delay (10–30 minutes): → Check Settings → Apps → [app] → Notifications – turn on Important. → Turn off Adaptive Notifications in the battery settings.
- 🔊 Music stops when you lock the screen: → Enable “Unlimited Background Process” for the player in Settings → Special Features → Battery Optimization. → Check the power saving settings in the application itself (for example, Spotify has the “Stop” option).
- 📍 The Navigator loses GPS signal in the background: → Enable “High Precision Location” in Settings → Location. → Add the app to “Optimization Exceptions” (see section above).
- 🔄 Applications close themselves in a few minutes: → Turn off Memory Cleanup in Settings → Additional → Memory Cleanup. → Check if Game Turbo is on – it aggressively closes the background processes.
If none of these methods worked, try resetting your network settings (Settings → SIM- Maps and Mobile Networks → Network Resets). Sometimes problems with the background connection are due to incorrect mobile Internet settings.