Modern smartphones based on Android are famous for their aggressive energy saving policy, which often goes against the needs of users. You open the messenger to read an important message, but it arrives with a delay, or the music player goes silent exactly an hour after the screen turns off. This happens because the operating system forcibly stops background processes in an attempt to conserve battery power.
Device owners are experiencing email clients that stop syncing and activity trackers that do not record exercise data. Forced stop System service is standard behavior, but it can be bypassed. In this article we will analyze all available methods: from simple menu settings to advanced manipulations via a computer.
You need to understand that the constant operation of apps in the background increases energy consumption. However, if it's critical for you to receive notifications instantly or maintain your smart home connection, these sacrifices are worth it. Let's look at how to configure the system correctly.
Understanding the mechanisms for limiting background processes
Starting with version Android 8.0 Oreo, Google has implemented strict restrictions on background activity. The system groups applications and limits their access to processor and network resources if the user does not interact with them directly. Background services now have execution time limits, after which they are “frozen.”
Smartphone manufacturers have gone even further by adding their own shells on top of the operating system. Companies like Xiaomi, Samsung i Huawei create super-aggressive memory cleaning algorithms. They can kill the process of even an important application if they consider that it consumes too many resources or simply has not been used for a long time.
⚠️ Attention: Constantly running heavy applications in the background can lead to significant overheating of the device and accelerated battery wear. Use these settings only for truly necessary apps.
It is important to distinguish between a normal pause and a complete stop. In the first case, the application simply waits for an event, in the second, its process is completely destroyed by the system. Our task is to transfer the necessary apps to exception status.
Basic setup through the app menu
The easiest and safest way to make the system “friend” with a specific application is to change its settings in the standard menu. You don't need superuser rights or a computer connection. Just find the desired section in the phone settings.
Go to the section Settings → Applications → Manage applications. Find the app that interests you in the list (for example, a navigator or messenger). Click on it to open a detailed control menu.
Here you are interested in the item Battery or Battery consumption. In the window that opens, you must select an operating mode. The standard “Optimize” option is what causes problems. You need to switch it to "No restrictions" or "Unlimited".
On some shells (for example, MIUI) this item may be called "Autostart" and located in a separate "Battery" menu in the general system settings.
After changing the parameter, the system will no longer forcefully terminate the process of this app. However, this does not provide a 100% guarantee on all devices, since memory clearing can occur using other algorithms.
Specific settings for different manufacturers
Different brands implement energy management in different ways. What works “pure” Androidcan be hidden deep in the custom shell menu. Below is a table to help you navigate the names of menu items for popular brands.
| Brand / Shell | Path to settings | Required action |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung (One UI) | Settings → Device care → Battery | Add an application to "Apps that never sleep" |
| Xiaomi (MIUI/HyperOS) | Security → Battery → Autostart | Enable the slider next to the application |
| Huawei (EMUI) | Settings → Battery → Startup applications | Disable automatic control and enable all 3 items |
| Sony, Motorola | Settings → System → Power saving mode | Exclude the application from the adaptive battery |
Particular attention should be paid to devices Xiaomi i Redmi. Their system MIUI has a separate “Close Applications” mechanism, which works regardless of the battery settings. To prevent the application from being turned off, you need to pin it in the running tasks menu.
To do this, open the list of recent applications, find the desired window, click on the lock icon or hold your finger on the preview until the lock icon appears. This is a signal to the system not to unload this process from RAM when cleaning.
☑️ Checking power saving settings
Using developer mode and ADB
If standard methods do not help, you can use debugging tools. Developer mode gives access to hidden process management functions. To activate it, you need to click on the build number 7 times in the section About phone.
In the menu for developers, find the item "Background processes" or Background process limit. Make sure it is set to "No restrictions". However, this setting is global and affects the entire system, so be careful.
A more advanced method is to use the command line ADB (Android Debug Bridge). By connecting your phone to your computer, you can send a command that prevents the system from putting a specific application to sleep. This requires USB debugging to be enabled.
adb shell am set-inactive com.example.app falseThis command tells the system that the application is not inactive. You can also use the command to ignore battery optimization:
adb shell dumpsys battery unplug⚠️ Attention: ADB commands require caution. Incorrect use of debugging functions can lead to unstable system operation or cyclic reboots.
For permanent changes via ADB, the command is often required:
appops set com.example.app RUN_IN_BACKGROUND allowWhere com.example.app need to be replaced with the real batch identifier of your application.
How to find the application batch identifier?
Batch ID (for example, com.whatsapp) can be found through special applications like "App Inspector" or by looking at the link to the application in the Google Play Store - it is located immediately after the "id=" symbol in the browser address bar.
Working with RAM and cleaning
A common reason for turning off applications is lack of RAM (RAM). When free memory becomes low, the system forcibly closes background processes, starting with those that have not been used for a long time. This is normal behavior Linux kernelson which Android is based.
Users often make the mistake of constantly clearing memory through the "Close All" button or built-in cleaning utilities. By doing this, you yourself kill the necessary processes, forcing the system to load them again, which consumes even more energy.
The best strategy is not to touch applications running in the background. If your device has little memory (3-4 GB), try to keep a minimum number of browser tabs and heavy games open. Freeing up the resource RAM will give the desired application a chance to stay alive.
Do not use “Task Killers” - they disrupt the system and lead to faster battery drain, forcing the processor to restart stopped services.
In some cases, disabling animations in the developer menu helps. This will not increase the physical amount of memory, but will speed up switching between tasks, reducing the likelihood that the system will consider the application “frozen” and close it.
Problems with the network and Doze mode
A separate category of problems is related to the network connection. Android has a feature Doze Modethat turns off network activity when the phone is lying still and the screen is off. This is done to save battery, but it also blocks receiving push notifications.
In order for an application to work online in the background, it needs permission to “Unlimited traffic consumption” or “Work in the background” in the mobile data settings. You can find this along the path: Settings → Connections → Data usage → Mobile data.
Select an application from the list and make sure the "Allow background data" switch is active. It is also worth checking the Wi-Fi settings: in the section Wi-Fi → Additional (or through the developer menu) there should be an option "Do not turn off Wi-Fi in sleep mode."
If you are using a corporate network or specific router settings, the problem may be on the side of the equipment that is interrupting connection when idle for a long time. In this case, the phone settings will not help, you will need to change the network configuration.
Additional recommendations and optimization
Sometimes the problem lies not in the system, but in the application version itself. Outdated versions may not work correctly with new versions Androidcausing conflicts and spontaneous closures. Update the software regularly through official stores.
It is also worth paying attention to the design theme. Some "heavy" live wallpapers or widgets on your desktop can consume resources that are taken away from background applications. Try removing unnecessary widgets if the problem persists.
⚠️ Attention: Settings interfaces may vary depending on the Android version and device model. If you do not find an exact match of the name of the item, look for synonyms (Energy Saving, Optimization, Battery).
In extreme cases, if all else fails, you can consider installing custom firmware, devoid of aggressive manufacturer restrictions, but this requires unlocking the bootloader and carries the risk of losing the warranty.
☑️ Final check
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why does the application still turn off after all the settings?
Perhaps a third-party antivirus or memory cleaner installed additionally is interfering. Try removing such apps. Also check if the device has a global “Super-saving” mode, which ignores individual settings.
Does running in the background affect Internet speed?
Yes, if an application is actively transferring data (for example, a torrent client or cloud photo synchronization), it may occupy the channel, causing other apps to work slower. In the settings, you can limit background transmission to Wi-Fi networks only.
Is it safe to give an application full rights in the background?
It is safe for system and trusted applications (navigation, instant messengers). However, you should not give such rights to unknown apps from unreliable sources, as they can mine cryptocurrency or transfer your data without your knowledge.
Are the settings reset after rebooting the phone?
Usually the permission and battery settings are saved after a reboot. However, if you used temporary ADB commands without pinning, they may reset. The standard “No restrictions” settings in the phone menu are permanent.
Can an Android update return restrictions?
Yes, when updating the operating system version (for example, from Android 13 to 14), the settings can be reset to factory settings. After a major update, it is recommended to re-check the status of applications that are important to you.