Background mode on Android Redmi: how it works, why you need it and how to set it up

Have you ever noticed that applications are on your Xiaomi Redmi or POCO suddenly “fall asleep” in the background? Or, conversely, do some apps continue to eat up battery power even when you are not using them? All this is the work of one of the most controversial functions in the firmware. On the one hand, it saves smartphone resources, on the other hand, it can interfere with the normal operation of instant messengers, music players or navigators. background mode, one of the most controversial features in the firmware MIUI. On the one hand, it saves smartphone resources, on the other hand, it can interfere with the normal operation of instant messengers, music players or navigators.

In this article we will figure out what it is background mode on Android Redmi, how it affects performance and autonomy, and also learn how to manage it. You will find out why notifications stop coming, how to make it work in the background without restarting, and what settings should be changed for the optimal balance between battery saving and convenience. We’ll also reveal a few WhatsApp notifications stop coming, how to force Google Maps work in the background without restarting, and what settings should be changed for the optimal balance between battery saving and convenience. We’ll also reveal a few hidden features of MIUI 14/15that are not written about even in the official documentation.

What is background mode and why do you need it

Background mode (or background mode) is a mechanism for managing processes that run on your smartphone when you are not using them directly. For example, when you minimize Telegram or VKontakte, but want notifications to arrive and chats to be updated - this is work in the background.

On smartphones Xiaomi Redmi (and other devices c MIUI) the background mode works more aggressively than on “pure” Android. This is due to firmware optimizations, which:

• 🔋 Save battery power - limiting the activity of unnecessary processes;
• ⚡ Speed up system operation - freeing RAM from "sleeping" applications;
• 📱 Extend the life of the device - reducing load on the processor.

However, these optimizations often run counter to the user experience. For example, MIUI can automatically “kill” background processes Yandex.Navigator 5 minutes after minimizing, which is why the route has to be restarted. Or notifications stop coming from Viberbecause the system decided that the application "hung in the background for too long."

⚠️ Attention: Starting from MIUI 12, Xiaomi has introduced dynamic management of background processes, which adapts to the smartphone model and Android version. This means that the Redmi Note 12 and POCO F5 settings may differ, even if both work on Android 13.

How the background mode affects the operation of the smartphone

Let's take a look at what exactly happens when an application goes into the background, and why it causes problems:

It is interesting that MIUI divides applications into categories according to the degree of "importance":

• 🌟 Priority (system, instant messengers, navigators) - can work in the background longer;
• ⚠️ Regular (social networks, games) - are limited after 30-60 minutes;
• ❌ Background (advertising SDKs, rarely used apps) - close almost immediately.

Where to find background settings on Redmi

Management of background processes in MIUI is scattered across several menus, and this is one of the main reasons for confusion. Here are the main ways (relevant for MIUI 14/15 based on Android 12/13/14):

1. General settings autorun and background:

Settings → Applications → Manage applications → [Select application] → Autorun / Background activity

2. Battery optimization (the most insidious section!):

Settings → Battery and performance → Battery optimization → Select application

3. Special permissions (for advanced users):

Settings → Accessibility → Special application permissions → Autorun / Work in background

4. Hidden developer menu (requires activation):

Settings → About phone → MIUI version (click 7 times) → Return to Settings → Advanced → For developers → Process limit

⚠️ Attention: On some models (for example, Redmi 10C or POCO M5), the path to the background settings may differ. If you do not find the item you need, use the search in the settings (magnifying glass icon at the top).

Open Settings → Battery

Check if "Adaptive optimization" is enabled

Go to "Battery optimization" and look at the list of restricted applications

Open any problematic application (for example, Telegram) and check startup permissions and background work-->

How to disable background restrictions for individual applications

If you are tired of constant restarts Google Maps or missing notifications from VK, here are step-by-step guide for freeing the application from restrictions:

Step 1. Allow autorun

Without this, the application will not be able to launch on its own after a reboot or memory clearing:

Settings → Applications → Manage applications → [Application] → Autorun → Enable

Step 2. Disable battery optimization

This is the most important thing! MIUI By default, limits the background activity of almost all applications:

Settings → Battery → Battery optimization → [Application] → No restrictions

Step 3. Enable background activity

Even if autorun is enabled, background activity can be blocked:

Settings → Applications → Manage applications → [Application] → Background activity → Enable

Step 4. Fix the application in memory (optional)

For critical applications (navigators, music players) you can use "fixing":

• Open Recent applications (swipe up with a delay);
• Find the application you need and swipe down, but not all the way - a lock icon will appear Lock;
• Click on the lock to lock the application in RAM.

Hidden background mode settings (for advanced users)

If standard methods do not help, you can dig into hidden settingswhich Xiaomi does not advertise. Here's what you can do:

1. Change the limit of background processes

Default MIUI limit the number of background processes to 4-8 (depending on the model). You can increase this value:

Settings → Advanced → For developers → Process limit → Standard limit (or "No limit")

2. optimization"

This feature dynamically adjusts background activity, but often works too aggressively:

Settings → Battery → ⚙️ (gear at the top) → Adaptive optimization → Disable

3. Use ADB commands to reset restrictions

If the interface MIUI does not provide the necessary options, you can use the command via ADB:

adb shell dumpsys deviceidle whitelist +com.example.app

Where com.example.app is the batch name of the problematic application (you can find it out via App Inspector or website APKMirror).

⚠️ Attention: Changing hidden settings can lead to increased battery consumption and overheating of the device. If you notice that the phone begins to discharge in 3-4 hours, return the settings back.

Top 5 problems with background mode on Redmi and how to solve them

Now let's look at specific scenarios that most users face Xiaomi Redmi:

Problem 1: Notifications from messengers do not arrive

Solution:

• 📱 Disable battery optimization for the messenger;
• 🔔 Enable "Show notifications" in the application settings;
• 🔄 Restart the application after changes (sometimes required).

Problem 2: Navigator (Google Maps/Yandex.Maps) closes in the background

Solution:

Problem 3: Music players (Spotify, YouTube Music) stop

Settings → Battery → ⚙️ (gear) → Reset optimization settings

Settings → Applications → ⚙️ (gear) → Reset application permissions

1. Turn off the phone;
2. Press Power button + Volume up until the logo appears MI;
3. Select Wipe & Reset → Reset Settings (control - volume buttons, confirmation - power button).

Settings → About phone → MIUI version