Modern operating systems systems, and Android in particular, are built on the principle of aggressive resource saving. Developers strive to extend the battery life of the device, so the system automatically “puts to sleep” or completely closes processes that the user is not currently using. This often leads to important notifications from instant messengers arriving with a delay, and music players or navigators stop working as soon as you switch to another window or lock the screen.
Users often wonder how to leave an application in the background so that it functions smoothly. The problem is especially relevant for owners of smartphones of Chinese brands, such as Xiaomi, Huawei or Honor, where branded shells have their own, very strict memory management algorithms. In this article, we will analyze in detail the methods of setting up the system, which will allow you to fix the necessary software in RAM.
Why Android closes applications automatically
The main reason for the forced termination of processes lies in the architecture of working with RAM. When the free volume begins to shrink, the system activates the mechanism. This process identifies low priority applications and terminates them to free up resources for the currently active task. Even if you have a powerful smartphone with 8 or 12 gigabytes of memory, the algorithms can work proactively. RAM begins to contract, the system activates the mechanism Low Memory Killer. This process identifies low priority applications and terminates them to free up resources for the currently active task. Even if you have a powerful smartphone with 8 or 12 gigabytes of memory, the algorithms can work preventively.
In addition, there are energy saving settings that limit background activity. The system considers that an application that is not on the screen should not consume processor power or use mobile data. This is true for most apps, but is critical for specific software that requires a constant connection to the server.
⚠️ Attention: Constantly running a large number of apps in the background can significantly reduce battery life and cause heating of the device case.
It is also worth considering that different manufacturers implement these restrictions differently. On “clean” Android from Google the settings are more flexible, while in shells OneUI or MIUI there are additional levels of battery protection that must be turned off manually.
Setting exceptions in optimization batteries
The most effective way to keep an application active is to add it to the exclusion list of the power saving system. In standard settings Android this item is usually hidden in the “Applications” or “Battery” menu. You need to find a specific app and change its operating mode to “No restrictions.”
To do this, go to Settings → Applications and select the desired software from the list. Inside the application menu, find the section Battery or Charge consumption. Here you will see three options: "Limited", "Optimized" and "Unlimited". Selecting the last item tells the system that this application has high priority and should not be closed even if there is insufficient memory.
On devices with shell from Samsung path may be slightly different. Often you need to go to Settings → Device Maintenance → Battery → Background Limits. Here you can not only configure individual applications, but also add them to the “Apps that never sleep” list. This ensures that processes will continue even when the screen is in deep sleep mode.
If you cannot find the item you need in the battery settings, use the search bar in the top settings menu by entering the name of the application.
After making changes, the system will stop applying standard “putting to sleep” rules to the selected software. However, remember that this is not 100% guaranteed on all models, especially if the device is overheating or is in extreme power saving mode.
Pin an application to the recent tasks list
Another effective method available on most smartphones is to lock the application in the recent task manager. When you minimize apps, they end up in a special list, which is usually brought up by swiping up from the bottom or pressing the square navigation button. By holding your finger on the icon of the desired application or by clicking on the lock icon, you can pin it.
A pinned application is marked with a special icon, such as a lock or a pin. This action instructs the memory manager not to unload this process from RAM when clearing all other apps with the “Close All” button. This is especially useful for music players or voice recorders.
⚠️ Warning: Pinning too many applications may result in new apps being unable to launch due to insufficient free RAM.
Task Manager interface may vary. On some models Xiaomi you need to pull the application card down so that the lock icon appears. On Huawei you need to click on the card itself and hold until the lock symbol appears. It is important to study the features of your specific firmware.
☑️ Check that the application is pinned
Using this function in combination with battery settings gives the best result. The system sees the user's explicit prohibition on closing the process and tries to bypass standard memory clearing algorithms.
Features of proprietary shells
Owners of smartphones from Chinese manufacturers face additional difficulties. Shells MIUI, ColorOS, Funtouch OS have their own autostart and battery protection managers that work on top of the standard one Android. Even if you have allowed work in the background in the system settings, the proprietary utility may block the process.
For example, MIUI there is a “Security” application. Inside it there is a section “Permissions” and “Autorun”. You need to manually turn on the toggle switch opposite the desired application in both sections. Without this step, the system will kill the process immediately after locking the screen, ignoring standard settings Android.
In shells from Honor and Huawei you should pay attention to the “Launch applications” item in the battery settings. There you need to disable automatic control for a specific app and manually allow “Autorun”, “Indirect launch” and “Work in the background”. Only comprehensive inclusion of all three parameters will ensure stability.
| Brand / Shell | Where to look for settings | Key parameter |
|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi (MIUI) | Security application | Autostart and Permissions |
| Samsung (OneUI) | Settings → Battery | Applications that never sleep |
| Huawei (EMUI) | Settings → Battery | Running applications (manual control) |
| Oppo (ColorOS) | Manager phone | Allow autostart |
Understanding the specifics of your interface is critically important. Universal tips may not work if the manufacturer has implemented strict restrictions at the firmware level.
Why are settings reset after a reboot?
Some manufacturers deliberately reset autorun permissions after rebooting the device for security purposes. This is done so that malware cannot register itself in startup forever. Every time you turn on the phone, check the status of important applications again.
Using developer mode
For advanced users, it is possible to fine-tune settings through the developer menu. This section is hidden by default, but activating it allows you to manage the number of background processes globally. To enable the menu, you need to click on the build number several times in the “About phone” section.
In the For developers section, find the item “Background process limit”. By default, there is a standard restriction or “No restrictions”. Make sure the No Limit or Standard Limit option is selected. Setting a hard limit, for example, “No more than 2 processes,” will cause all unnecessary applications to be closed instantly.
Also in this menu there is an option “Do not save actions”. If enabled, the system will destroy application activity as soon as the user leaves it. Make sure this switch disabled. This is a common reason why apps do not return to their previous state after minimizing.
⚠️ Warning: Changing settings in the developer menu may affect the stability of the entire system. Do not change parameters whose purpose you do not know.
Using these tools gives you complete control over the behavior of the operating system, but requires caution. Incorrect settings can cause the phone to slow down due to memory overflow.
The developer menu allows you to remove global restrictions on the number of background processes, but does not replace setting exceptions for specific applications.
Additional methods and tips
Sometimes the problem lies not in the phone settings, but in the features of the application itself. Some apps require you to enable additional permissions, such as "Display on top of other windows" or "Ignore power saving mode." Check the list of permissions in the application card and grant all the necessary rights.
It is also worth paying attention to the power saving modes. When Ultra or Maximum Economy mode is enabled, it will force close all background processes, ignoring your custom settings. In this mode, only the phone and messages can support work in the background.
In extreme cases, if standard methods do not help, you can use third-party utilities to manage memory, although modern versions Android do not work very well with them. Most often, it is enough to simply disable adaptive brightness and geolocation for a specific application in order to reduce its “visibility” for the economy system.
Why does the application close even after all the settings?
This may occur due to a critical lack of RAM. If you are running a heavy game or shooting a 4K video, the system will free up memory in any way, even closing pinned applications. Also, the reason may be a malfunction of the firmware itself.
Does pinning an application affect battery consumption?
Yes, it does. If an application actively uses the Internet, GPS, or processor in the background, the battery will drain faster. Pin only those apps that you really need to run all the time, for example, instant messengers or activity trackers.
Do you need to restart your phone after changes?
Usually changes take effect instantly. However, to apply some settings in the developer menu or after updating the firmware, you may need to completely reboot the device.
Is it possible to leave 10 applications in the background at once?
Technically it is possible, but not recommended. This will create a high load on the processor and memory, which will lead to reduced interface performance and rapid battery drain.