How to set up autorun applications on Android

Modern mobile operating systems, such as Android, strive to maximize the consumption of device resources. To do this, manufacturers often limit the background activity of apps, which leads to the forced stop of important instant messengers, habit trackers or smart home devices. The user is faced with a situation where the application does not send notifications or simply “falls asleep” after being minimized.

The solution to the problem is setting autostart (autostart). This function allows the system to launch selected software immediately after loading the operating system or after clearing the RAM. However, there is no single “enable everything” button, since each vendor (Xiaomi, Samsung, Huawei) makes its own changes to the standard interface.

In this article we will analyze in detail all the ways to activate automatic start: from standard settings menus to advanced methods via ADB. You will understand why your favorite software turns off, and learn how to create exceptions for it so that it works stably at any time of the day.

Why applications do not start automatically

The main reason for disabling background processes lies in an aggressive energy saving policy. Smartphone manufacturers are struggling with battery life, so system optimizers they mercilessly “kill” processes that, in their opinion, are not being used right now. This often applies even to the apps you need.

In addition, there is a concept Doze Mode (deep sleep mode) built into the Android kernel. When the screen is turned off and the device does not move, the system limits network activity and access to the CPU. Without proper settings, the application simply will not be able to wake itself up to complete the task.

⚠️ Attention: Uncontrolled autorun of dozens of apps can lead to rapid battery drain and heating of the case. Allow autorun only for those applications that really need to run in the background constantly.

Some manufacturers, for example Xiaomi or Huawei, have their own add-ons for Android (MIUI, EMUI), where autorun control is placed in a separate hidden or hard-to-reach section. Google's standard settings are often powerless here without additional intervention.

Setting up autorun on Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones

The shell MIUI (and its successor HyperOS) is famous for the tightest control of background processes. To allow a app to start automatically, it is not enough to simply open it. You need to go through a special path in the “Security” system application.

Go to the application Security (green icon with lightning). Select section Permissions, and then find item Autorun. Here you will see a list of all installed apps. Just switch the slider opposite the desired application to the active position.

In addition to allowing autorun, it is critically important to pin the application in memory. Open the menu of running applications (swipe up from bottom and hold or the “Menu” button), find the desired app and pull it down. lockshould appear next to the icon. This ensures that memory clearing will not affect this process.

Instructions for Samsung and the One UI shell

In devices Samsung the operating logic is different. There is no separate “Autostart” item in the classical sense, but there is an “Autostart applications” function that controls which apps can start after a reboot.

Go to Settings → Applications. In the upper corner, click on the three dots and select Special. access (or Special features). Find item Auto-launch applications. In the list that opens, activate the switches for those apps that should run constantly.

It is also important to set the sleep mode in Samsung. In the menu Settings → Device maintenance → Battery → Restrictions in the background make sure that the application you need is in the list Applications in sleep mode (to exclude them from there) or in the "Never sleep applications" section.

For advanced users, it is possible to use ADB commands to force a change in the status of the package, but for most cases the standard settings are sufficient One UI. Do not forget that after major firmware updates these settings may be reset.

Process management on Huawei and Honor

Smartphones of brands Huawei i Honor use the EMUI and MagicOS shells. Here the memory protection mechanism is also very strict. The main control tool is located in the phone manager.

Open the application Phone Manager (shield icon). Go to section Launching applications. The default setting here is automatic. Turn off the toggle switch in the upper corner to access the manual list. Phone Manager “Autostart”, “Indirect startup” and “Work in the background”. For stable operation of instant messengers or navigators, you must activate all three checkboxes. This gives the application maximum rights to exist in the system. Automatically in the top corner to access the manual list.

A window will appear with three options for each application: “Autostart”, “Indirect launch” and “Work in the background”. For stable operation of instant messengers or navigators, you must activate all three checkboxes. This gives the application maximum rights to exist on the system.

If you do not find these settings, try entering the word battery or launchin the settings search. The interfaces of different versions of EMUI may differ slightly in the menu layout, but the essence remains the same: you need to manually confirm trust in the application.

Using the engineering menu and ADB commands

Sometimes the standard settings are hidden or blocked by the manufacturer. In such cases, ADB commands (Android Debug Bridge) comes to the rescue. This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer and enabling USB debugging.

To enable autorun of a specific package, you can use a command that changes the state of the component. However, a more universal method is to remove the application from the battery optimization list. Run the following command in the terminal:

adb shell dumpsys deviceidle whitelist +com.example.package

Replace com.example.package with the real package name of the desired application. You can find it out through applications like App Inspector. This command adds the app to the system white list, prohibiting it from “falling asleep” in Doze mode.

ADB Command	Action	Risk
dumpsys deviceidle whitelist +...	Add energy saving exception	Low
pm grant ... android.permission.REQUEST_IGNORE_BATTERY_OPTIMIZATIONS	Issue rights to ignore optimization	Medium
appops set ... RUN_IN_BACKGROUND allow	Allow work in the background	Medium
pm disable-user --user 0 ...	Disable system applications	High

⚠️ Attention: Working with ADB requires caution. Entering incorrect commands can lead to unstable operation of the system or bricking of the device. Always check the package name before entering.

For users who do not want to tinker with the computer, there are helper applications such as NoFreeze or Hailthat work through permissions ADB (without Root) and allow you to control freezing and autorun in one click.

Problems with autorun on pure Android

In “pure” Android (smartphones Google Pixel, Motorola, Nokia), the concept of autorun is implemented differently. There is no explicit list of permissions here. The system relies on the mechanism App Standby Buckets.

If an application is used frequently, the system automatically assigns it high priority and allows it to run in the background. If you rarely open the app, it ends up in a “bucket” with restrictions. To “push” the system, just use the application actively for several days.

It's also worth checking your notification settings. Often, users accidentally disable notifications for an application, and the system perceives this as a signal that the app is unnecessary, stopping it from autorunning. Go to Settings → Applications → Notifications and make sure they are enabled.

Secret setting for developers

In the "For" menu developers" you can find the item "Background process". If a limit is set there (for example, “No more than 2 processes”), then autorun of third-party applications will not work. Set the value to “Standard Limitation.”

Another important aspect is the permission to display on top of other windows. For some types of autorun (for example, pop-up chats) this is critical. You can find this in Settings → Applications → Special. access → On top of other applications.

Optimization and common user errors

Many users make the mistake of installing several memory cleaners and antiviruses at once. These apps conflict with each other and with the system, trying to kill the same processes at the same time. This leads to autorun becoming useless.

Key error — enabling autorun for heavy games or social networks that you rarely use. This will not speed up their operation, but is guaranteed to drain the battery. Autostart is needed exclusively for service apps: messengers, alarm clocks, trackers, synchronizers.

If after all the settings the application still crashes, try clearing its cache and data. Sometimes corrupted configuration files prevent the service from starting correctly. Do this in the menu Applications → Storage → Clear.

Remember that interfaces change. Manufacturers regularly update firmware, transferring menu items. If you do not find the described path, use the search in the settings by entering the keywords: “battery”, “startup”, “background mode”.

Does enabling autorun affect the speed of the smartphone?

Yes, it can. If you enable autorun for 20-30 applications, the system boot time will increase and the free RAM will decrease. This may cause the interface to slow down. Include only the essentials.

Do you need root access to configure autorun?

In most cases, no. Modern Android shells allow you to configure this through the standard menu. root access is required only for deep system intervention or the use of specific initialization scripts.

Why are autorun settings reset after a reboot?

This may occur due to the work of third-party antiviruses or “optimizers” that apply their own energy saving profiles when the system starts. Check the settings of such apps and add the necessary applications to their exceptions.

How to find the name of the application package for ADB commands?

The easiest way is to install an application like “App Inspector” or “Package Name Viewer” from the Play Market. It will show the exact system name (for example, com.telegram.messenger) for any installed app.

Is it possible to enable autorun for system applications?

System applications usually start automatically by default. Forcibly enabling or disabling their autorun through third-party tools can lead to unstable operation of the phone or loss of connection.