How to completely disable startup apps on Android: instructions for all versions

Autoloading applications is one of the main reasons why even a new smartphone on Android starts to “slow down” after a few months of use. Many apps, including instant messengers, social networks and system utilities, automatically launch when the device is turned on or after a reboot, consuming RAM, CPU resources and Battery charge. As a result, the phone heats up, quickly discharges, and background processes interfere with the operation of main applications.

In this article we will analyze all available ways to disable autoloading - from standard settings Android to advanced methods using ADB third-party apps. You'll learn how to determine which apps run automatically, how to block them without root access, and what to do if your phone manufacturer has restricted access to these settings. The instructions are suitable for most versions Android (from Android 8.0 Oreo to Android 14), including devices Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, Realme and other brands.

Before Before you begin, please note: some system applications (for example, services Google Play or proprietary utilities of the manufacturer) may enable autoloading again after updates. In this case, the procedure will have to be repeated. Also remember that disabling critical services (for example com.android.phone) can lead to unstable operation of the phone.

Why autoloading applications is harmful for Android

Automatic launch of apps when you turn on the phone is not just a “feature”, but a mechanism that is actively exploited by developers to speed up your applications. For example, Facebook or Instagram can be loaded in the background to open faster when first launched. However, in practice, this leads to the following problems:

• 🔋 Increased battery consumption: background processes consume energy even when the screen is off.
• 🐢 System slowdown: startup applications take up RAM, leaving fewer resources for active tasks.
• 📡 Traffic in the background: many apps (for example, instant messengers or news aggregators) update data without your knowledge.
• 🛡️ Security risks: some malicious applications use autoloading to mask their activity.

According to research, on devices with Android on average it automatically starts from 15 to 30 applications every time you turn on the phone. At the same time, users actively use no more than 5–7 of them. The rest simply “hang” in memory, wasting resources.

The problem is especially pronounced on budget smartphones with 2–4 GB RAM and entry-level processors (for example, MediaTek Helio G35 or Snapdragon 4xx). On flagships with 8+ GB RAM startup is less noticeable, but still affects battery life.

How to check which applications start automatically

Before disabling startup, you need to identify the “culprits”. In the standard settings Android there is no universal section for viewing startup apps, but there are several ways to get this information:

Method 1: Through application settings (without root)

On most devices you can see which apps have permission to autostart:

1. Go in Settings → Applications (or Applications and notifications).
2. Tap on the three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Special access → Autorun (on Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO) or Autostart when turned on (on Samsung).
3. View the list of applications with autorun enabled. Here you can also disable unnecessary ones.

Method 2: Using ADB (for advanced users)

If there is no startup section in the settings, you can use the command ADB to get a list:

adb shell dumpsys package | grep "auto-start"

This command will display a list of packages that have autostart permission to execute it. you will need:

• 🖥️ Install ADB drivers on PC.
• 📱 Enable USB debugging in the phone developer settings.
• 🔌 Connect your phone to the computer and run the command in the terminal.

What to do if ADB does not recognize the device?

If the command adb devices does not show your phone, try:

1. Reinstall the ADB drivers.

2. Enable/disable USB debugging on the phone.

3. Use a different USB cable (preferably the original one).

4. ADB commands.

Method 3: Third-party applications (for example, AutoStarts)

There are utilities that analyze startup without root access. One of the most popular is Google Play There are utilities that analyze startup without root access. One of the most popular - AutoStarts (No Root). It shows:

• 📌 List of all applications with the right to autostart.
• 🔄 What apps start when you turn on the phone, connect to Wi-Fi or charge.
• ⚡ Ability to disable autostart for selected applications (required on some firmware ADB).

Example interface AutoStarts:

Application	Autostart trigger	Status
Facebook	System loading	✅ Enabled
WhatsApp	Connecting to networks	✅ Enabled
Google Play Services	System boot	❌ Cannot be disabled
Miui Daemon	Reboot	✅ Enabled

Disabling autoloading through standard Android settings

If your phone is running on a “clean” one Android (for example, Pixel, Nokia, Motorola) or on firmware with minimal modifications (for example, OnePlus OxygenOS), you can disable autoloading without additional tools. Here are step-by-step guide:

For devices with Android 8.0–13

1. Open Settings → Applications and notifications → All applications.
2. Select the application whose startup you want to disable (for example, Facebook or TikTok).
3. Tap on Permissions (or Additional on some firmware).
4. Find item Autostart or Launch at system startup and disable the slider.

For Samsung smartphones (One UI)

On devices Samsung the path is a little different:

1. Go to Settings → Applications.
2. Click on the three dots (⋮) and select Special access → Battery optimization.
3. In the list, find the application and select Do not optimize (this will limit its background activity, including autorun).
4. To completely disable autoload, return to the list of applications, select the one you need and tap Battery → Allow background activity → disable.

For Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO (MIUI) devices

Xiaomi actively uses startup for its services, but gives users more control:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Manage applications.
2. Select an application and go to Autorun.
3. Disable the slider. If it is not there, check the section Permissions → Advanced → Autostart.

Make a backup copy of important data|Check the list of startup applications|Disable unnecessary instant messengers and social networks first|Do not touch system services unnecessarily|Reboot your phone after changes-->

If your firmware does not have an explicit "Autostart" item, try an alternative path:

• 🔍 Settings → Battery and performance → Battery management → Select applications (on Huawei i Honor).
• ⚙️ Settings → System → Advanced settings → Application permissions → Autorun (on some custom firmware).

Disable autoloading via ADB (without root)

If the standard settings do not allow you to disable autoloading for some applications, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge). This method works on most devices without the need for root access, but requires connecting the phone to the computer.

Step 1: Preparation

You will need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
• 📱 USB cable (preferably original).
• 🔧 Installed ADB drivers.
• 🔘 Enabled USB debugging on the phone (how to enable - see below).

To enable Debugging via USB:

1. Go to Settings → About phone → MIUI/software version (on Xiaomi) or Build number (on clean Android).
2. Tap on it 7 times until the notification “You have become a developer” appears.
3. Go back to Settings → System → For developers and enable USB debugging.

Step 2: Connecting the phone and executing commands

After preparation:

1. Connect the phone to the computer and select mode File transfer (not “Charging”).
2. Open a terminal (Command line on Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and enter:

adb devices

If the device is shown in the list, run the command to disable autoloading (replace com.example.app with the name of the application package):

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.example.app

Examples of popular application packages:

• 📘 Facebook: com.facebook.katana
• 💬 WhatsApp: com.whatsapp
• 📷 Instagram: com.instagram.android
• 🎵 Spotify: com.spotify.music

Step 3: Checking and reverting changes

To make sure that autoloading is disabled, restart your phone and check the list of running applications in Settings → Applications → Running.

If you need to return autoloading, do:

adb shell pm enable com.example.app

adb shell pm list packages | grep "keyword"

For example, to search for all applications from Facebook:

adb shell pm list packages | grep "facebook"

-->

Using third-party applications to manage startup

If you are uncomfortable working with ADB or access to startup settings is blocked in the phone's firmware, you can use specialized utilities. They offer a more convenient interface and additional functions, such as monitoring background activity or mass disabling applications.

1. AutoStarts (No Root)

One of the most popular utilities for managing startup.

• 📊 View a list of all startup applications.
• ⚡ Disable autostart for selected apps (on some firmware it is required ADB).
• 🔍 See which applications launch when connected to Wi-Fi, charging or an alarm clock.

You can download from Google Play, but keep in mind: on some devices (for example, Huawei or Samsung with the latest updates) the functionality may be limited.

2. Greenify

Greenify is a utility for “freezing” background processes. does not disable startup directly, but prevents applications from being active after they are launched. Suitable for:

• 🛑 Stopping unnecessary background processes.
• 🔋 Extending battery life.
• 📱 Speeding up your phone by freeing it up RAM.

For full operation on new versions Android you may need ADB or root access.

3. Brevent

Brevent - a more powerful tool that blocks background activity at the system level Features:

• 🔒 Complete disabling of autorun for. selected applications.
• 📉 Significant reduction in battery consumption.
• ⚠️ Requires ADB or root access to work.

Interface example Brevent:

Application	Status	Action
Facebook	🟢 Allowed	🚫 Block
Google Play Services	🔴 Blocked	⚠️ Not recommended
Telegram	🟢 Allowed	🔄 Optimize

What is the difference between Greenify and Brevent?

Greenify “freezes” applications after they closing, but does not block autostart when you turn on the phone. Brevent completely disables background activity, including startup, but requires more rights.

Before using third-party utilities, please note:

⚠️ Attention: Some applications for managing startup (especially those that require root access) may conflict with system services. For example, blocking Google Play Services will lead to inoperability of Google Play Market and other services Google. Always check the reviews and rating of the utility before installing.

Disabling startup on phones with root access

If your phone is root access (root), you get full control over startup, including the ability to disable system applications. However, this method is only suitable for experienced users, as careless actions can lead to device malfunction.

Method 1: Through a file manager with root access

Many system and user applications register startup in special files. To disable it:

1. Install a file manager with root support (for example, Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to the folder /data/system/package.xml or /system/etc/init.d/ (the path may vary).
3. Find lines that mention startup (for example <item name="android.intent.action.BOOT_COMPLETED">).
4. Delete or comment out these lines (make a backup copy of the file before editing!).

Method 2: through the app Titanium Backup

Titanium Backup is a powerful tool for managing applications on rooted devices. To disable startup:

1. Open Titanium Backup and find the desired application in the list.
2. Tap on it and select Freeze! (this will disable autorun and background activity).
3. To completely remove autostart, select Disable autostart (if the function is available).

Method 3: Through init.d-scripts

Experienced users can create their own script to block autostart. For example:

1. Create a file 99disableautostart in the folder /system/etc/init.d/.
2. Add commands to it to disable autostart (example for Facebook):

#!/system/bin/sh
pm disable com.facebook.katana

3. Save the file and restart the phone.

Advantages of root methods:

• 🔓 Full control over startup, including system applications.
• 🔄 Possibility of mass disabling unnecessary services.
• 📱 Significant improvement in performance and battery life.

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ Risk of “bricking” the phone if done incorrectly.
• 🔒 Loss of warranty (on most devices).
• 🛡️ Vulnerability to malware (root access opens up more opportunities for attacks).

What to do if autodownload turns on again

Many users are faced with the fact that after turning off autoloading through settings or ADB it is turned on again after updating the application or system. This happens because:

• 🔄 The application is updated and resets the settings.
• 📱 The phone manufacturer forces autostart for its services (for example, Miui Daemon on Xiaomi).
• 🤖 System services Google Play restore permissions for some applications.

To avoid re-enabling autostart:

1. Freeze the application

Use utilities like Titanium Backup (for rooted devices) or Shelter (to isolate applications in a separate profile). Freezing completely blocks app activity, including autostart.

2. Disable automatic updating

If autostart is enabled after updating the application, prevent it from updating:

1. Open Google Play Market.
2. Find the problematic application (for example, Facebook).
3. Tap on the three dots (⋮) and uncheck Auto-update.

3. Use ADB to permanently disable

Some commands ADB allow you to block autorun at the system level. For example:

adb shell cmd appops set com.facebook.katana RUN_ANY_IN_BACKGROUND ignore

This command prohibits Facebook working in the background, including autorun.

4. Install custom firmware

If the manufacturer is aggressively bringing back startup (as it does Xiaomi or Huawei), consider installing custom firmware, for example:

• 📱 LineageOS - clean Android without unnecessary services.
• 🔄 Pixel Experience - firmware with functionality Google Pixel.
• 🛡️ GrapheneOS - firmware with an emphasis on security and privacy.

Before installing custom firmware, please note:

⚠️ Attention: Installing unofficial firmware can lead to loss of warranty, unstable operation of the phone or problems with banking applications (due to changes in security certificates). Always check the compatibility of the firmware with your phone model.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about autoloading on Android

Is it possible to disable autoloading of system applications (for example, Google Play Services)?

Disable autoloading of critical system services (for example, com.google.android.gms or com.android.phone) not recommended. This can lead to:

• 📵 Loss of communication (calls or mobile data will not work).
• 🔒 Errors in the operation of Google Play Market and other services Google.
• 🔄 Unstable operation of the phone (random reboots, lags).

If you really need to limit the background activity of such applications, use Greenify or settings optimizing the battery in standard settings Android.

Why do some applications still start after turning off startup?

This can happen for several reasons:

1. The application does not start when the system boots, but during another event (for example, connecting to Wi-Fi or receiving a push notification). system boot, and during another event AutoStarts.
2. The phone manufacturer forces autostart for its services. This is typical for Xiaomi, Huawei and Samsung.
3. The application is being updated and resets settings for such apps in Google Play.

To completely block background activity, use ADBcommands or utilities like Brevent.

How to disable autoloading on Android 14?

Q Android 14 Google has tightened control over background processes, but autostart still works. To disable it:

1. Use the standard settings (the path may differ: Settings → Applications → Special access → Autostart).
2. If section no, use ADB-commands (see section above).
3. On some devices (for example, Samsung Galaxy s One UI 6) autoloading is controlled through Settings → Battery → Background activity.