Modern smartphones based on Android have powerful processors and a large amount of RAM, but the system by default tends to aggressively save battery power. This leads to messengers stopping sending notifications, navigators resetting the route, and music players going silent as soon as you turn off the screen. Understanding how how to run an application in the background and making it work reliably is a key skill for comfortable use of a gadget.
The problem lies not in the error of a particular software, but in the power management mechanisms that shell manufacturers implement on top of a clean one. Android. Companies like Xiaomi, Samsung or Huawei create their own add-ons that often block background activity much more tightly than Google's standards require. In this article, we will look at system settings, hidden developer menus, and specific features of popular shells so that your apps work exactly the way you need.
System settings for power consumption and battery
The first and most obvious step is to check the battery settings for a specific application. The operating system assigns each installed package a certain priority level. By default, many apps are included in the "optimized" list, which means that processes are automatically terminated when idle. You need to manually change this status to “without restrictions” or “do not optimize” so that the system does not interfere with the operation of the software.
To do this, go to Settings → Applications and select the desired app. Find the section related to battery or power consumption. Here you will see control options: "Limited", "Optimized" and "Unlimited". Selecting the last item ensures that it background process will not be killed by the system even when the device is low charged. However, it is worth remembering that this will lead to increased energy consumption.
Some shells hide these settings deeper. For example, on devices Samsung with an interface One UI the path may look like Settings → Device Maintenance → Battery → Background Limits. Here it is important to check two lists: “Apps in deep sleep” and “Unused apps”. If your app is included in any of these lists, it will not be able to send notifications or update data until you open it manually.
⚠️ Attention: Adding a large number of apps to the “No Restrictions” mode can reduce the battery life of your smartphone by 20-30% per day. Use this setting selectively only for mission-critical services such as messaging apps, activity trackers, or navigation.
Use the battery widget on your home screen to quickly monitor which apps are consuming the most power in the background. This will help you detect “parasitic” software in time.
Managing permissions and autorun
In addition to battery settings, system permissions play a critical role. Even if you have disabled power saving, no right to autorun will not allow the application to activate after rebooting the phone or clearing it from memory. In pure Android this option is often enabled by default, but in custom firmware it requires manual confirmation by the user.
Particular attention should be paid to permission to work in the background and access data in the background. Without this right, the application can only work when it is open on the screen. Check the list of permissions in the application card and make sure that the "Run in background" switch is active. In new versions Android 13 and higher, a separate permission to send notifications has also appeared, which must also be provided.
For users of devices Xiaomi (shell MIUI or HyperOS) there is a separate security menu. You need to go to the “Security” application, select the “Permissions” section and find the “Autorun” item. Here you need to manually turn on the toggle switch opposite the desired app. Without this step, the system will mercilessly unload the process from RAM immediately after the screen is locked.
- 🔋 Check the power saving mode: in the global background saving mode, the operation of many services is blocked at the system level.
- 🚀 Enable autorun: find the corresponding item in the security settings or permissions of your smartphone.
- 🔔 Allow notifications: make sure that the application is given the right to show notifications, otherwise you will not see the results of its work.
Features of working in popular shells
Smartphone manufacturers are constantly modifying the behavior of the operating system in order to stand out in the market or improve autonomy. This creates a situation where there is no universal instruction. For example, memory management algorithms in ColorOS from Oppo differ from the operating logic EMUI on devices Huawei. Understanding these differences helps you quickly find the right setting.
The table below shows the main paths to background settings for the most common manufacturers. Please note that the names of the items may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the general logic remains the same.
| Manufacturer | Path to settings | Key feature |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung | Settings → Applications → Select application → Battery | Availability of “Deep Sleep” and “Sleep” modes |
| Xiaomi | Security application → Permissions → Autorun | Aggressive termination of processes without explicit permission |
| Huawei | Settings → Battery → Launch applications | Three switches: Autorun, Indirect launch, Work in background |
| Oppo / Realme | Settings → Applications → Autorun | Separate background activity management manager |
Owners devices Huawei and Honor you should be especially careful. There are three independent switches in their application launch control menu. If you disable any of them, the application may behave unpredictably. It is recommended to switch the slider to the “Manage manually” mode and activate all three items: Autostart, Indirect launch and Work in the background. This will ensure maximum stability.
⚠️ Attention: Shell interfaces are updated regularly. If you do not find the specified items, use the search in the phone settings by entering keywords like “autostart”, “battery” or “background mode”.
Settings for developers and committing to memory
For advanced users, there is a deeper level of control - the developer menu. It allows you to manage background process limits on a global level. By default, the system can limit the number of applications running simultaneously in the background to save resources. Changing these settings requires caution, but gives full control over the behavior of OS.
To activate this menu, you need to go to Settings → About phone and quickly click on the build number seven times. After this, a new section “For Developers” will appear in the main settings. Inside, find the “Background process limit” item. Make sure it is set to Standard Limit or No Limit. Setting hard limits (for example, “No more than 2 processes”) is guaranteed to kill your applications.
Another effective method is to “pin” the application in RAM. This action tells the system that this process is a priority and should not be swapped out when clearing memory. This is usually done through the multitasking menu: open the list of running applications, find the one you need, click on the icon above the window or hold your finger on the window until the lock icon appears. Now, when you click the “Close all” button, this application will remain running.
☑️ Checking developer settings
Risks of changing developer settings
Changing the global limits of background processes can cause the phone to slow down due to full RAM. Return the default settings if you notice system instability.
Specifics of operation of navigators and streaming services
A separate category consists of applications that must work continuously with or without the screen on, for example, navigators (Yandex.Maps, Google Maps) and music services (Spotify, Yandex.Music). It is critical for them that GPS module or the audio stream is not interrupted. Often the problem lies not in the settings of the application itself, but in the screen and geolocation settings.
For navigators, you need to check the location settings. Go to Settings → Location → Application permissions. Make sure your navigator is set to "Always Allowed" rather than "Only When Used". If you select the second option, then when you minimize the map or turn off the screen, navigation will stop and you will lose your route. Also, in the screen settings, it is worth increasing the time before the display turns off or prohibiting it from turning off for a specific application, if such a function is supported.
The situation is similar with streaming services. Often, users accidentally activate the Data Saver mode within the application itself, which may conflict with the system's power saving settings. Additionally, some shells have a "Clean memory when locked" feature that can be configured to remove all applications except your favorites. Add your player to the exception list or “white list” of the cleaner.
- 🗺 For navigation, always select access to the geolocation “Constantly”, otherwise the route will be reset when the screen is off.
- 🎵 Disable data saving within music applications to avoid stream interruptions.
- 📱 Use the “Keep the screen on” feature in accessibility for long navigation sessions.
Diagnosing problems and forcing a stop
Sometimes it happens that all the settings are correct, but the application still does not work in the background. In such cases, a “soft reset” of the app state helps. You should not immediately uninstall and reinstall the software. Try going to Settings → Applications, select the problematic service and click the Stop (or “Close”) button. After that, launch it again. This restarts all associated services and resets hung processes.
If the problem persists, check whether the ultra-power saving mode is enabled on your device. In this mode, the phone essentially turns into a dialer: the Internet, synchronization and background operation of all applications, except the phone book and calls, are turned off. Exiting this mode instantly restores the functionality of all services. It is also worth checking system updates: sometimes bugs in a specific version prevent background tasks from working correctly, and manufacturers release patches. In extreme cases, when nothing helps, you can try resetting the network or application settings. This will not delete your personal data, but will return the app configuration to factory default. Often, after such a reset, the system re-requests all the necessary permissions, and the user, by granting them again, accidentally activates the desired operating mode, which could previously have been disabled by mistake. Android interfere with the correct operation of background tasks, and manufacturers release patches.
In extreme cases, when nothing helps, you can try resetting the network or application settings. This will not delete your personal data, but will return the app configuration to factory default. Often, after such a reset, the system re-requests all the necessary permissions, and the user, by granting them again, accidentally activates the desired operating mode, which previously could have been disabled by mistake.
⚠️ Attention: Forcibly stopping system applications (for example, “Google Play Services” or “Desktop”) can lead to unstable operation of the phone until a reboot. Stop only third-party user applications.
If the application is unstable, the sequence of actions should be as follows: check the battery → check permissions → save in memory → stop and start again.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why does the application close immediately after the screen turns off?
Most likely, the power saving mode is active or the application is in the “Deep Sleep” list. Go to the battery settings for this application and select the "Unlimited" mode. Also check if autorun is enabled in the security settings of your smartphone.
Does running in the background affect the rate at which the battery drains?
Yes, directly. Applications running in the background use the processor, network and sensors, which consumes energy. The more such apps, the faster the phone will run out. It is recommended to keep only the most necessary services, such as instant messengers, active in the background.
How to make sure that the music does not interrupt in games?
It depends on the specific game and version of Android. Try turning on the Game Mode or Game Launcher feature in your phone settings and adding music there as an exception. Also, some players have a “Play over other applications” setting.
Is it possible to completely prevent all applications from running in the background?
Yes, in the “For Developers” menu there is an item “Background process limit”, where you can select “No background processes”. However, this will make the smartphone practically unusable: notifications will not arrive, and switching between apps will occur with a complete reboot of each of them.
Why are the settings lost after updating Android?
Major system updates often reset application permissions and battery optimization settings to default values for the sake of security. After updating the firmware, it is always recommended to recheck the settings of critical applications, especially instant messengers and navigators.