You open the messenger, read the message, then press the “Home” button to check your mail, but when you return you see a loading screen instead of a conversation. Is this a familiar situation? Many users encounter that applications close immediately after you minimized them. This is not only annoying, but also significantly slows down the work with the smartphone, forcing you to spend extra time on re-launching apps.
Modern operating systems Android are designed to efficiently manage device resources, but aggressive memory optimization often leads to the forced termination of background processes. Owners of smartphones with a small amount of RAM or specific shells from manufacturers (such as Xiaomi, Huawei or Samsung) suffer from this most often. Understanding how the system works will help you regain control over multitasking.
In this article, we will analyze in detail the technical reasons for this behavior, from lack RAM to hidden settings, and provide step-by-step guide for fixing the problem. You'll learn how to set exceptions for important apps and why standard memory boosters may be part of the problem, not the solution.
The role of RAM and resource management
The main culprit for application closures is most often a lack of free RAM. When you minimize a app, it does not disappear without a trace, but goes into the background, continuing to take up space in RAM. If free space runs out, the system forcibly terminates the processes that it considers least important at the moment in order to free up resources for the active application or system needs.
Memory management algorithms in Android work on the LRU (Least Recently Used) principle, that is, those applications that you have not used for a long time are closed first. However, on devices with 4 GB of memory or less, this mechanism works too aggressively. Even simply switching between the browser and the camera can cause a heavy app to restart if the system decides that it does not have enough resources to process the video stream.
It is also worth considering that some manufacturers install their own add-ons on top of the clean one, which control background activity even more tightly to save battery power. This means that even if there is free memory, the application may be killed by the power saving service. You can check the current load in the settings, but the visual assessment is often deceptive due to data caching. Android, which control background activity even more tightly to save battery power. This means that even if there is free memory, the application may be killed by the power saving service. You can check the current load in the settings, but the visual assessment is often misleading due to data caching.
⚠️ Attention: A constant lack of memory may indicate not only a small chip, but also the presence of malware or “bloated” system services that consume resources in the background. If the problem suddenly appeared on a previously stable device, check the list of recently installed apps.
To diagnose the current situation, it is useful to know how much memory is actually available to the system after booting. Manufacturers often indicate the total volume, but system services reserve a significant portion for their needs, leaving the user less than stated.
Energy saving settings and battery optimization
In pursuit of increasing battery life, shell developers have introduced strict limits on background activity of applications. Function Adaptive battery or similar tools in firmware MIUI, OneUI i ColorOS can automatically limit the operation of apps that, according to the algorithm, are rarely used or consume too much energy.
When you minimize an application, the system can almost instantly freeze its processes or completely stop the network if it is subject to restrictions. This is especially critical for instant messengers, navigators and music players that must work continuously. The user perceives this as a failure, although technically this is the normal operation of the saving function.
To correct the situation, you must manually add important apps to the exclusion list. This is usually done through the battery settings menu, where for each application you can choose the operating mode “No restrictions” or “Do not optimize”. Ignoring this step will result in the fact that even a powerful device will close the services you need.
If you use third-party memory cleaning applications or “boosters”, remove them. They often forcefully close processes that the system was trying to cache to run quickly, thereby exacerbating the problem.
Please note that after major operating system updates, power saving settings may be reset to factory settings. Therefore, if the problem occurs immediately after updating the firmware, first check the access rights and restrictions for the background operation of key applications.
Developer options: background process limit
One of the most common reasons that even experienced users forget about is the activated option in the developer menu. There is a parameter that allows you to artificially limit the number of applications running in the background. If it is set to “No background processes” or “No more than 1 process”, the system will close everything immediately after minimizing.
You can get to this menu by repeatedly clicking on the build number in the “About phone” section. After activating developer mode, go to the appropriate section of the settings and find the item Background process limit. Make sure that the value is selected there Standard limit or a specific number is set that is sufficient for your tasks (for example, at least 4 processes).
Also in this section it is worth checking the setting Don't save actions (Don't keep activities). If this switch is active, the system will destroy any activity window as soon as the user leaves it. This is a useful tool for testing applications by developers, but disastrous for general use.
☑️ Checking developer settings
In addition to limits, pay attention to the parameter Background mode in the advanced settings. In some versions Android there you can forcibly prohibit specific applications from running in the background, which also leads to their instant closing when minimized.
Problems with specific applications and their cache
Sometimes the problem is not a system one, but local character. An individual application may close due to corrupted cache files or errors in its own code. If you notice that this behavior is observed with only one app (for example, only Instagram or only the banking application), the problem is most likely in its internal structure.
The accumulated cache can take up gigabytes of space and cause conflicts when you try to minimize the app. The system sees the process becoming unstable and terminates it to prevent the entire shell from crashing. Clearing the cache and data often solves the problem, although it requires re-authorization in the service.
It is also worth checking for updates for the problematic application. Developers often release patches to fix memory leaks that lead to crashes. If the application is outdated and not compatible with the current version Android, it may not correctly process the background signal.
| Problem type | Symptom | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Cache overflow | The application slows down before closing | Clearing the cache in the application settings |
| Outdated version | Crash when minimizing on new Android | Updating via Google Play |
| Version conflict | Closing after installing an OS update | Reinstalling the application with deleting data |
| Lack of memory | Instant restart of heavy games | Closing others background apps |
If cleaning does not help, try uninstalling and installing the application again. This ensures that all configuration files will be created anew without errors of inheritance from the previous version.
Specifics of manufacturers' shells (MIUI, OneUI, ColorOS)
Owners of smartphones from Chinese brands are often faced with the peculiarities of their proprietary shells. For example, in MIUI from Xiaomi there is aggressive autorun and activity control, which by default prevents many apps from running in the background. Without manual configuration, even powerful flagships can “kill” applications.
In the shell OneUI from Samsung The situation is similar, but the management tools are located in the “Device Maintenance” section. There you need to add applications to the “Non-sleeping applications” list so that the system does not limit their operation. Ignoring these settings makes multitasking almost impossible.
Users ColorOS (Oppo, Realme) should pay attention to the “App Freeze” feature. It is designed to save battery, but often works incorrectly, stopping the process completely instead of pausing it. Disabling this function for necessary apps solves the problem of minimizing.
⚠️ Attention: Menu interfaces and item names may differ depending on the firmware version and smartphone model. If you do not find the specified option, use the settings search by entering the keyword “Battery” or “Autostart”.
Secret setting for MIUI
In the Security application -> Permissions -> Autostart, turn on the switch for all important applications. This will prevent them from being forced to stop by the energy saving system.
Don't forget that manufacturers' policies may change with updates. What worked a year ago can today be moved to another menu or replaced with a new optimization algorithm.
Additional solution methods and prevention
If standard methods did not help, you should pay attention to deeper system settings. Sometimes the problem is caused by a conflicting system update or a service failure Android System WebView. Updating this component through the app store often stabilizes the operation of all apps that use web content.
Also an effective method is to reset the network settings or, in extreme cases, completely reset the device to factory settings. This will remove all accumulated system errors, but will require time to restore the data. Before doing this, be sure to create a backup copy of important information.
For prevention, try not to keep dozens of browser tabs and heavy games open at the same time if your RAM is less than 6 GB. Proper distribution of resources manually will help the system work more stable without the need to forcefully close applications.
The most common reason for closing applications is aggressive battery saving in the manufacturer’s settings. Adding apps to exceptions solves the problem in 90% of cases.
Regularly rebooting the smartphone at least once a week also helps to clear the system cache and terminate hung processes that may interfere with the correct operation of multitasking.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why do applications close only on locked screen?
This is due to the power saving settings, which put the device into deep sleep when locked. To fix this, allow the app to run in the background even when the screen is off in the battery settings.
Does installing widgets prevent apps from being minimized?
Yes, active widgets keep associated apps in memory, preventing the system from closing them. However, an excess of widgets can itself cause memory shortage and system instability.
Will increasing virtual memory (RAM Plus) help solve the problem?
The memory expansion feature using storage can help keep more applications in the background, but the speed will be slower than physical RAM. This is a compromise solution for devices with a small amount of RAM.
Why do apps close more often after updating Android?
New versions of Android often increase control over background processes to protect privacy and save energy. After the update, you need to re-configure permissions and exceptions for your apps.
Is it possible to completely prevent the system from closing applications?
It is impossible to completely prohibit it without obtaining root access, as this will lead to memory overflow and the phone freezing. However, you can minimize system interference through developer settings and battery exceptions.