Background connections in Xiaomi: where to look, how to manage and why they are worth controlling

Have you noticed that your Xiaomi smartphone is running out too fast and mobile traffic is melting away — even when you’re not using the Internet? — Background connections are often the culprit: apps that quietly share data with servers, update content or send analytics. MIUI These processes are hidden deep in the settings, and finding them is not as easy as it seems.

In this article, we will not only show you where to look for background connections in firmware. MIUI 12-15, but we'll also explain which ones can be safely turned off and which ones shouldn't be touched:

• 🔍 Precise paths to hidden menus with background processes (including variations between versions) MIUI).
• ⚡ How to Disable Unnecessary Connections to Save Battery and Traffic.
• ⚠️ What processes cannot be blocked so as not to break the system or key applications.
• 📊 Methods of monitoring background activity with built-in and third-party tools.

The information is relevant for all modern smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO (Including models from 2023 to 2026 if you have an Android One device (e.g. Mi). A3), Some menu items may be different – we’ll mention that too.

1.What are background connections and why should they be monitored

Background connections are the network activity of applications and system services that happens without you directly participating.

• 🔄 Synchronization of data (mail, messengers, cloud services).
• 📲 Push notifications (alerts from social networks, news applications).
• 🤖 System processes (software update, diagnostics, analytics Xiaomi).

According to research, up to 30% of Xiaomi’s battery consumption is due to background activity, and many users are unaware that their device:

• 📡 Supports a permanent connection to Google and Mi Cloud servers.
• 🔋 Wakes up the processor every few minutes to check for updates.
• 🌍 Sends anonymous usage statistics (even if you have disabled this option in your settings).

Controlling background connections helps:

• 🔋 Extend battery life by 15-40% (depending on model).
• 📉 Reduce mobile traffic consumption by 200-500 MB per month.
• ⚡ Speed up the work of the smartphone by reducing the load on the processor.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling all background processes completely may result in you not receiving notifications from messengers or emails.

2.Where to look for background connections in MIUI: step-by-step

V MIUI We've got all the background settings scattered across a few menus, and we've put together all the possible paths for the firmware versions. 12–15 (relevant to Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12/13, POCO F5/X5 etc.).

Main menu "Background activity"

The most obvious (but not the most complete) way is:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three points in the upper right corner and select Background Activity.
3. You will see a list of applications indicating the level of battery consumption and data.

Here you can:

• 🔕 Disable background work for a specific application (click on it) → Background activity → Limit).
• 📊 See traffic and energy consumption statistics for the day/week/month.

Hidden menu "Special Permits"

More in-depth settings are hidden here:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Special Permissions → Autorun.
2. Turn off auto-run for unnecessary apps (this will prevent them from activating when you turn on your smartphone).
3. Go back and select Background work – here you can completely block background activity.

Please note: in MIUI 14/15 The path may be slightly different:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → [Select App] → Battery → Background Activity

Battery and performance settings

Another way to limit the background processes:

1. Open Settings → Battery and Performance.
2. Select Battery Management → Choice of regime.
3. Activate Power Saving or Super Energy Saving (limit background activity for all applications).

For point control:

1. In the same menu, go to Battery Use.
2. Tap on the app. → Limit background activity.

Make sure that the app is not used for notifications

See statistics on battery consumption and traffic

Backup of important data

Check if the application is connected to system functions (e.g. Mi Cloud)-->

Mobile network and Wi-Fi settings

Background connections consume not only battery, but also traffic, to limit them:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Transfer of data.
2. Select Background Data Transfer and turn it off for unnecessary applications.
3. For Wi-Fi, repeat the steps in Settings → Wi-Fi → Additionally. → Background data transmission.

V MIUI 15 Ways Simplified:

Settings → Connections and Sharing → Data Use → Background transmission

⚠️ Note: On Android One devices (e.g. Mi) A3) The path to background activity settings is different: Settings → Annexes and notifications → Additionally. → Special access → Optimizing the battery.

3. which background processes can be turned off and which ones can not

Not all background connections are equally useful. Některé You can lock it safely, and some of it's not worth touching:

3.1. It is safe to disconnect

• 🎮 Games (if you do not use cloud storage).
• 📰 News applications (they constantly update content).
• 🛒 Stores (AliExpress, Wildberries – they monitor your activity even in the background).
• 🎵 Music services (if you don’t listen to music offline).

Disconnect with caution

• 💬 Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram – no background activity will not receive notifications).
• ✉️ Postal mail (if it is important to receive letters on time).
• 📅 Calendar and reminders (alarm clocks may not work).

Never turn off

• 🔄 System Services (com.miui.securitycenter, com.android.phone).
• ☁️ Mi Cloud (if you are using backup).
• 🔒 Google Play Services (responsible for many applications).

To understand what processes you can block, use the built-in monitor:

1. Open Settings → Battery → Battery Use.
2. See which apps consume the most power in the background.
3. If you see an unknown name (e.g. com.xiaomi.mipicks), check it through a search – it could be an advertising module.

💡

To quickly find hidden system processes, install the App Inspector app from Google Play, which will show all background services and their purpose.

4.How to disable background connections for specific applications

Let’s take a look at the step-by-step instructions on the example of popular applications.

4.1. Disabling background activity for social networks

For example, for Facebook or Instagram:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Facebook on the list and tap on it.
3. Select Battery → Background activity → Limit.
4. Go back and turn off AutoRun in Special Permits.

After that, the annex will not:

• 🔄 Update the tape in the background.
• 📊 Track your activity for targeted advertising.
• 🔔 Send notifications (except when you open the app).

4.2.Blocking background activity for games

Games like this PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact often consume resources even when you’re not playing them:

1. Open the settings → Battery → Battery management.
2. Find the game in the list and select Limit background activity.
3. Additionally, disable Notifications in the application settings.

This will prevent:

• 🔋 Battery consumption for background download updates.
• 📡 Using mobile traffic to synchronize game data.

Limitation of system processes

Some Xiaomi system applications are too active, such as com.miui.analytics sending data about smartphone usage to turn it off:

1. Install ADB on your computer and connect your smartphone.
2. Follow the command: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.analytics
3. Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: Disconnecting system processes through ADB This can lead to unstable firmware. Do this only if you are confident in your actions. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

5. How to monitor background connections in real time

To understand which apps are active in the background, use built-in and third-party tools.

Built-in battery monitor

The easiest way is:

1. Open the Settings. → Battery → Schedule of use.
2. See which apps were consuming power when the screen was turned off.
3. Slip on the app to see detailed statistics.

Pay attention to:

• 📉 Sharp consumption (e.g., at night).
• 🔋 Applications with high consumption in the background (more than 5% per hour).

5.2 Traffic manager

To track who is consuming mobile data:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Using traffic.
2. Select Background Data Transfer.
3. See which apps have used traffic without your knowledge.

Third-party annexes

For advanced monitoring, set:

• 📊 AccuBattery – shows detailed statistics of battery consumption by process.
• 🛡️ NetGuard – Blocks background network access for individual applications.
• 🔍 Greenify – Freezes unnecessary background processes.

An example of NetGuard's work:

1. Install the app and provide root access (or use without root in limited mode).
2. Turn on traffic filtering.
3. Select the applications for which you want to block background network access.

💡

Regular monitoring of background activity helps to identify “gluttonous” applications and extend the life of the battery by 20-30%.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When working with background connections, users often face difficulties. Let's look at typical cases.

After the background activity is turned off, notifications stop coming

If you blocked background work for messengers (WhatsApp, Viber), notifications will stop coming.

• 🔔 Allow background activity for messengers in Settings → Annexes → [Select a messenger] → Battery.
• 📩 Enable Auto Run for these applications in Special Permits.
• 🔄 Check the notification settings inside the messenger itself.

6.2 The smartphone has become slower to work after the restriction of background processes

If you've turned off too many system services, the device can brake.

• ⚡ Return the battery settings to the default state (Settings) → Battery → Resetting settings).
• 🔧 Enable Background Activity for Google Play Services and Mi Cloud.
• 📱 Restart your smartphone – sometimes it helps you restore normal operation.

Background processes are activated after restarting

Some applications (especially system ones) recover their permissions after a reboot.

• 🔒 Use Greenify or AppOps to permanently block.
• 🛠️ Turn off auto-start for problematic apps.
• 📵 Install Xiaomi. ADB/Fastboot Tools for deep customization (PC required).

6.4 High traffic consumption in roaming due to background connections

If you are traveling and notice that traffic is flying away in roaming:

1. Open the Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Transfer of data.
2. Turn off Background data transfer for all applications.
3. Turn on Traffic Saving mode in the same menu.

⚠️ Attention: In roaming, some operators block access to mobile network settings. In this case, use NetGuard to force background traffic to be disabled.

7. Additional Optimization Tips

Beyond managing background connections, there are other ways to improve Xiaomi’s autonomy and performance.

Configuring the energy saving mode

MIUI Offers several battery modes:

• 🔋 Balanced – Optimal for most users.
• ⚡ Energy saving – limits background activity and screen brightness.
• 🔌 Super energy saving – disables almost all background processes (suitable for emergencies).

To set up:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Mode.
2. Choose the appropriate mode or set up the Individual.
3. Activate the option Automatic switching, so that the smartphone chooses the mode depending on the level of charge.

Optimization of auto-start

Many apps run automatically when you turn on your smartphone or connect to Wi-Fi. To fix this:

1. Open the Settings. → Annexes → Special permits → Auto-start.
2. Turn off autoplay for unnecessary apps (such as games or stores).
3. Leave it on only for messengers, mail and system services.

7.3.Use of Tasker for automatic control

With the help of the Tasker application, you can create rules for automatically disabling background processes:

• 📴 Night mode - block background activity from 23:00 to 7:00.
• 📡 Savings in roaming – turn off background traffic when connecting to foreign networks.
• 🔋 Emergency mode – activate super-energy saving at a charge level below 15%.

An example of a simple rule in Tasker:

1. Create a new task (Task → Net → Mobile Data)
2. Add the condition to the State. → Power → Battery Level (e.g., Battery Level, < 20%).
3. Select the Net action → Mobile Data → Off for background applications.

Regular cleaning of the cache

A cluttered cache can increase background activity to clean up:

1. Go to Settings → Storage → Cleaning.
2. Click Clear (remove unnecessary temporary files).
3. For deep cleaning, use the settings → Annexes → [Select an application] → Clear the cache.

💡

The combination of background connection management, autostart optimization, and proper battery mode can increase smartphone life by 30-50% without recharging.

FAQ: Frequent questions about background connections in Xiaomi