How to Enable App Autostart on Android: Complete Guide

Introduction / Why This Is Needed

Autostart for apps on Android is a critically important setting for programs that need to run in the background: messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram), email clients, antiviruses, fitness trackers, and smart home apps. Without autostart permission, these apps cannot:

• Receive push notifications (you will only see messages when the app is open).
• Sync data after a device reboot.
• Perform background tasks (sleep tracking, weather updates).

In this guide, you will learn how to configure autostart on stock Android and on popular manufacturer skins (Xiaomi, Samsung, Huawei), as well as how to eliminate related battery-saving restrictions.

Requirements / Preparation

Before you begin, ensure that:

1. You have Android 8.0 (Oreo) or newer installed. On older versions, the autostart mechanism works differently and often depends on the specific firmware.
2. You know which specific app needs autostart permission.
3. You have access to system settings (usually does not require root access).
4. If necessary, install the latest system updates (Settings → System Update).

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Open the Target App's Settings

The most reliable method is through system settings:

1. Open your device's Settings (gear icon).
2. Go to the Apps section (may be called Apps & notifications, Application manager).
3. In the list, find and tap the app for which you want to enable autostart (e.g., Telegram or Kaspersky).

💡 Alternative method: On some skins (e.g., MIUI), you can long-press the app icon on the home screen and in the menu that appears, select App info (the i icon), which also opens the app's settings page.

Step 2: Find the Autostart Section

On the app's settings page, find the item responsible for autostart. The name and location vary greatly depending on the manufacturer and Android version.

What if there is no such item? On some firmwares (especially stock Android), autostart is managed exclusively through battery optimization settings (see Step 4). In this case, simply proceed to the next step.

Step 3: Allow Autostart

Once you have found the correct item:

1. Tap on it.
2. You will see a list of apps or a simple toggle switch.
3. Find your app in the list (if it's there) and turn on the switch next to it. If it's a button, press Allow.
4. On most skins, the On state is indicated by a colored toggle (usually blue or green) or a checkmark.

Step 4: Check and Disable Battery Optimization (CRITICALLY IMPORTANT)

Even with autostart enabled, the system can "kill" the app to save power. This is the most common reason why autostart "doesn't work."

1. Go back to Settings.
2. Find the Battery section (may be called Power saving, Energy saving, Battery).
3. Inside, find the item Battery optimization (or Expert settings → App launch).
4. In the list of apps that opens, find your app.
5. For it, select the mode No restrictions (MIUI), Don't optimize (Samsung, Huawei) or Not optimized (stock Android).
6. Confirm the action.

⚠️ Important: On Xiaomi (MIUI) devices, you also need to check the settings in Security → Autostart (a separate list) and Permissions → Autostart (another list). Ensure the app is allowed in both.

Step 5: Restart Your Device

Changes take effect after a reboot:

1. Press and hold the Power button.
2. In the menu, select Restart (or Power off, then turn it back on manually).
3. Wait for the system to fully boot.

Step 6: Verify the Result

After rebooting:

1. Check if your app appears in the Recent apps list (the button with three lines or square navigation).
2. Open the app and check if you received the expected notifications (e.g., a test message in a messenger).
3. For full certainty, you can use third-party utilities like Tasker or check in Settings → Apps → Your App → Usage (background runtime should have increased).

Verifying the Result

You can be confident that autostart is working if:

• The app automatically starts after turning on/rebooting the phone (visible in the Recent Apps list).
• You receive push notifications from the app, even if you haven't opened it for a long time.
• The app's background services (e.g., email sync) work without your intervention.
• In the usage statistics (Settings → Apps → App → Usage), the background runtime matches expectations.

If at least one of these points is not met, go back to Step 4 and re-check the battery optimization settings—this is the most common pitfall.

Potential Issues

Issue: Cannot find the "Autostart" item in app settings

Solution: On stock Android (Pixel, Android One) and some firmwares, autostart is managed only through battery optimization (Step 4). Focus on this step. On skins from Xiaomi, Samsung, Huawei, the item is usually present but may be hidden in a submenu.

Issue: Autostart is allowed, but the app still doesn't start after reboot

Solution:

1. Check if the app has an internal restriction (e.g., the messenger itself has a setting "Start on system boot" — enable it).
2. Ensure the app is not locked in the multitasking menu (sometimes there is a "Lock" button).
3. Re-check battery optimization—on some devices (Samsung), you need to turn off All optimizations for the app, not just one.

Issue: After configuring autostart, the app started to "drain" the battery

Solution: This is normal for some services (messengers, trackers). However, if the drain is abnormally high:

1. Check if the app has real-time sync enabled with a very short interval.
2. See if the app uses background location constantly.
3. If the power consumption is the issue, you might need to leave autostart enabled but limit background activity in the app's own settings or via the "Always sleeping" mode (on some skins).

Issue: Settings reset after a system update

Solution: After a major OS update (e.g., from MIUI 13 to 14), autostart and battery optimization settings may reset. You will have to repeat the process. It is recommended to check these settings after every system update.

Issue: The app is a system app (e.g., "Camera") and has no autostart item

Solution: System apps are usually managed differently. If you need a service (e.g., camera service for face recognition) to run, look for settings not in the app, but in Settings → Apps → System App → Permissions or Additional. Often, there is no manual autostart control for them—they are managed by the system kernel.