Modern Android-based smartphones are distinguished by an aggressive RAM management system that seeks to close everything unnecessary in order to save battery power. This often leads to important apps, such as navigators, instant messengers, or activity tracking applications, closing suddenly, interrupting tasks. Users are faced with a situation where the music stops playing and the GPS tracker resets the route immediately after turning off the screen.
The solution to the problem lies in correctly setting priorities for specific software. The Android system provides users with tools to manually control the behavior of apps in the background, allowing them to be fixed in active memory. This action tells the operating system that this application is critical and should not be terminated forcibly, even if the device is experiencing a lack of resources.
In this guide, we will examine in detail all the available methods for securing software, from using the built-in interface functions to deeply configuring system parameters. You will learn how to bypass power saving restrictions and ensure stable operation of the necessary services without having to constantly return to the running tasks menu.
Using the lock function in the running applications menu
The fastest and most affordable way to prevent a app from closing is to use the lock function, available directly in the multitasking menu. This method works on most shells, such as Samsung's, Xiaomi's or OPPO's, although the visual appearance may vary slightly. The essence of the method is to place the application icon in a special protected list, which is ignored by the “Clear all” button. One UI from Samsung, MIUI from Xiaomi or ColorOS from OPPO, although the visual design may vary slightly. The essence of the method is to place the application icon in a special protected list, which is ignored by the “Clear all” button.
To activate this protection, you need to open the recent applications menu, usually this is done by swiping up from the bottom while holding or pressing the corresponding navigation button. Find the card of the desired application and perform a specific action: most often you need to hold your finger on the card or pull it down. In the menu that appears, select the option Pin or click on the lock icon.
If the standard hold does not work, try swiping the application card to the side or find the lock icon directly on the preview window. After completing these steps, a closed lock symbol should appear next to the app name, indicating that the protection has been successfully activated. Now, even if you press the clear memory button, this application will remain hanging in the background.
☑️ Checking the application lock
It is worth considering that on some pure versions of Android this function may be missing or hidden in the multitasking settings. In such cases, the system relies solely on memory allocation algorithms, and the user has to resort to other methods of limiting the background activity of competitors.
Configuring exceptions in power saving mode
The main reason for forced termination of processes is the aggressive power saving policy built into the Android kernel and reinforced by device manufacturers. For an application to work stably, it must be added to the exceptions list, where the system is prohibited from limiting its background activity. This is critical for apps that must constantly receive data from the network or use sensors.
Go to the main settings of your smartphone and find the section responsible for the battery or power. Depending on the device model, this item may be called Battery, Energy saving or Device care. Inside this section, look for a subsection with the name Background restrictions, Startup applications or Battery optimization.
In the list that opens, find the desired application and change its status from “Optimized” or “Limited” to “No restrictions” or “Allow background activity”. This action removes the limits on the use of CPU time and network access when the device's screen is turned off.
⚠️ Warning: Completely removing the limits for a large number of applications will lead to a noticeable increase in battery consumption. Add to exceptions only those apps that really require constant work in the background.
On Xiaomi and Huawei devices, the process may be more complex and include additional steps, such as allowing auto-run and display on top of other windows. Ignoring any of these points may result in the system still “killing” the process when there is insufficient memory, despite the battery settings.
If you cannot find the battery settings for a specific application, try using the search in the phone settings by entering the name of the app - the system will often prompt you directly to the desired menu.
Pinning through accessibility settings
One of the most reliable but rarely used methods is to pin the screen or use accessibility features to keep the application active. This approach is often used in kiosk modes or when you need to protect the application as much as possible from accidental termination. It requires a deeper dive into the system menus, but gives an almost guaranteed result.
First, activate the screen pinning mode in the security settings. The path usually looks like this: Settings → Biometrics and security → Other security settings → Pin an application. After enabling this feature, you can pin the current window so that you can exit it only with a combination of buttons.
An alternative option is to use the accessibility service. Many monitoring or screen recording applications require accessibility rights. When granting such rights, the system often assigns a high priority to the process because it considers it important for interaction with a user with disabilities.
| Pinning method | Security level | Battery impact | Configuration complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blocking in the task menu | Medium | Low | Low |
| Exclusion from optimization | High | Medium | Medium |
| Screen pinning | Maximum | High | High |
| Developer mode (processes) | High | High | High |
Using the docked screen mode has its own peculiarities: you will not be able to minimize the application or switch to another until you unpin it. This is convenient for navigating while driving or watching videos, but inconvenient for multitasking.
Managing background process limits for developers
For advanced users for whom standard methods are not enough, there is a menu for developers that allows you to manually manage the number of background processes. Here you can set a hard limit on the number of simultaneously running applications or completely prohibit the system from killing background services.
To get to this menu, you must first activate developer mode by clicking 7 times in a row on the build number in the section About the phone. After the new item appears in the settings, go to the section For developers and find the "Applications" category.
You are interested in the parameter Background process limit. By default, it is set to "Standard limit", but you can select the option "No background processes" (which will kill everything) or, conversely, increase the limit if such an option is available in your firmware. However, more effective is the item Do not unload activities, which prohibits the system from terminating processes.
Risks of changing developer settings
Incorrectly setting background process limits can lead to unstable system operation, interface freezes, or rapid discharge of the device, since the memory will be full of inactive applications.
Be careful when changing these settings. Increasing the number of allowed background processes without sufficient RAM will cause the phone to actively use the page file, which will significantly slow down its operation.
Specifics of working with instant messengers and navigation
Different categories of applications require an individual approach to setting up background work. Messengers, such as Telegram or WhatsAppuse their own push notification mechanisms through Google Play services, so they are less likely to require full pinning, just allowing notifications.
Navigation applications, for example, Yandex.Maps or Google Maps, on the contrary, critically depend on the continuous operation of the GPS module and screen. For them, you must combine pinning in the task menu with disabling battery optimization, otherwise the route may be interrupted at the most inopportune moment.
Applications for tracking physical activity or smart watches also require special attention. If the system closes such an application, data synchronization will stop and statistics for the training period may be lost. In such cases, it is also recommended to disable data saving for a specific application.
⚠️ Attention: Settings interfaces may change with operating system updates. If you do not find the described menu item, check the official help for your version of Android or the manufacturer's shell.
For music players, it is important to allow work in the background and display notifications on the lock screen. Often the problem is not closing the application, but preventing the display of controls, which creates the illusion of a non-working player.
Diagnosing and solving problems with unloading
If, after following all the recommendations, the application is still unloaded from memory, the reason may lie in a critical lack of RAM or a software version conflict. In such situations, it is necessary to conduct diagnostics to understand what exactly is causing the system to terminate the process.
Check the amount of free memory in the device settings. If less than 10% of the total RAM is free, the system will aggressively close any applications, regardless of pinning settings. In this case, only closing other heavy apps or rebooting the device will help.
It is also worth checking for updates for the application itself and the operating system. Errors in the app code can lead to a crash, which the user mistakes for a forced unload by the system.
An integrated approach that combines blocking in the task menu, adjusting the battery and checking free memory guarantees maximum stability for important applications.
In extreme cases, you can use third-party utilities to manage memory, but this should be done with caution, as how they themselves can consume resources and conflict with the Android system mechanisms.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Does pinning an application affect the speed of the smartphone?
Yes, pinning a large number of applications in the background takes up RAM, which can lead to slower switching between tasks and the operation of the interface. It is recommended to pin only the 2-3 most important apps.
Why does the application close even if it is pinned with a lock?
The lock icon only protects against manual cleaning through the task menu. If the system is critically low on memory or an aggressive power-saving algorithm is triggered, it can terminate the process, ignoring the lock. It is also necessary to set up exceptions in the battery section.
How to pin an application on pure Android without a lock menu?
On stock Android, you can use the "App Pinning" function in the security settings or add an application widget to the desktop, which in some OS versions increases its priority.
Do I need to pin system ones? applications?
No, system services and applications from the manufacturer already have high priority and are optimized to run in the background. Interfering with their work through the developer menu can lead to system instability.
Are pinning settings reset after rebooting the phone?
No, battery exception settings and locking in the task menu (if supported by the shell) are retained after reboot. However, the application itself will be closed when the power is turned off and will need to be restarted.