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Verifiedintermediateest. 15 minutes

Stop Android from Aggressively Killing Background Apps

Music stops playing, fitness trackers disconnect, and VPNs close automatically. Configure unrestricted battery usage and lock apps in memory.

background-appsmultitaskingbattery-saver

Confirmed working on: Android 11 · Android 12 · Android 13 · Android 14

Before you begin

Match the environmentUse this guide only for Android 11, Android 12, Android 13, Android 14 or a clearly compatible setup.
Protect recoveryBack up important data and save encryption or account recovery keys before changing system state.
Know when to stopMake one change at a time and stop if the result differs from what the guide describes.

Problem overview

Apps running in the background are constantly force-closed by the operating system. Background music stops playing, fitness trackers lose connection, and you frequently have to reload apps from scratch.

Common causes

  • Manufacturer-specific aggressive battery management (MIUI, One UI, ColorOS)
  • RAM limits being reached
  • Apps lacking the proper ‘foreground service’ permissions

Solution 1: Use ‘Unrestricted’ battery profiles

  1. Open Settings > Apps > See all apps.
  2. Find the app being killed prematurely.
  3. Tap Battery.
  4. Change the profile to Unrestricted.

Solution 2: Lock the app in memory (OEM specific)

  1. Open the app you want to keep alive.
  2. Swipe up and hold to enter the Recent Apps overview screen.
  3. Tap the app icon at the top of the card.
  4. Select Keep open or Lock this app. A lock icon will appear, preventing the OS from sweeping it away during memory cleanups.
Expert Tip

Visit dontkillmyapp.com to find specific, step-by-step instructions for disabling aggressive app killers on heavily customized devices like Samsung, Huawei, and Xiaomi.

Solution 3: Check RAM expansion settings

  1. Go to Settings and search for RAM Plus or Memory Extension.
  2. If enabled, the system might be aggressively shuffling apps between fast RAM and slow flash storage.
  3. Try toggling this feature off, as it can sometimes introduce stuttering and app reloads on devices with plenty of physical RAM.

Confirm the result

  1. Repeat the exact action that originally triggered the problem.
  2. Confirm the original error or symptom is gone and no new warning has appeared.
  3. If the guide changed a driver, service, package, or system setting, restart once and test again.
  4. If the result is worse or unexpected, stop. Reverse only the last change using its documented restore option; if none is documented, use your backup or qualified support.

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