How to Disable Autostart Apps in Android: A Complete Guide

Introduction / Why This Is Needed

Autostart of applications in Android is a feature that allows programs to launch automatically when the phone is turned on or after a reboot. While this is convenient for messengers and email clients, for most applications (games, services, utilities) it leads to:

• Reduced performance: The system spends resources launching unnecessary processes.
• Battery drain: Apps run in the background, consuming power.
• Slower OS boot time: The phone takes longer to wake from sleep.

This guide will help you find and disable autostart for any application on your device, regardless of the Android version and manufacturer's skin (Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, etc.).

Requirements / Preparation

Before you begin, ensure that:

1. You have an up-to-date version of Android (8.0 or higher is recommended).
2. You have access to your phone's settings (administrator rights are usually not required).
3. You have decided which applications you want to disable from autostart (it's recommended to start with rarely used or "heavy" apps).

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Find the system autostart settings

The most universal method is through the menu of each individual application.

1. Open your phone's Settings (gear icon).
2. Go to the "Apps" or "Apps & notifications" section.
3. Select "App management" or "All apps".
4. In the list that appears, find the app whose autostart you want to disable (e.g., "Yandex.Maps", "VK", "Gosuslugi") and tap on its name.

Step 2: Disable autostart in the app's settings

Inside the specific app's menu, look for the item responsible for background activity.

1. Press the "..." (three dots) button in the top right corner or scroll down.
2. In the dropdown menu, find one of the following items:
   • "Autostart"
   • "Auto-launch"
   • "Background work" or "Background restriction"
   • "Permissions" → "Additional permissions" → "Autostart"
3. If such an item exists, toggle the switch to the OFF position (gray color).
4. Press "OK" or "Save", if required.

⚠️ Important: The name and location of items heavily depend on the manufacturer and firmware version. In stock Android (Pixel, Android One), this setting is often absent from the interface.

Step 3: Use the manufacturer's special menus (alternative method)

Firmware from Chinese manufacturers (Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Realme) has a separate, often hidden, menu for managing autostart.

For Xiaomi / Redmi / Poco (MIUI / HyperOS):

1. Open Settings → "Password & security".
2. Find and open "Autostart".
3. In the list, disable the toggles next to unnecessary apps.

For Samsung (One UI):

1. Open Settings → "Apps".
2. In the top right corner, press three dots → "Special access".
3. Select "Autostart" and disable unwanted apps.

For Huawei / Honor (EMUI):

1. Open Settings → "Apps" → "Autostart".
2. Disable the switches.

Step 4: Check the result using a third-party app

If you are not sure the setting worked, install a monitoring utility.

1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. Find and install the app "Autostarts" (by Root Tools) or "Background Process Manager".
3. Launch the utility. It will show a complete list of apps that have permission to autostart.
4. Find the apps you previously disabled in the list. If there is no checkmark or the status is "Disabled" next to them, the setting was successful.

Verifying the Result

1. Reboot your phone. After turning on, the system should boot faster because there are fewer background processes.
2. Monitor notifications. If you disabled autostart for a messenger, its notifications may be delayed (only when you open the app). This is normal.
3. Check your battery statistics after a week: go to Settings → "Battery" → "Usage". You should see a reduction in consumption from the disabled apps.

Potential Issues

• The "Autostart" item cannot be found. This means the manufacturer has hidden this setting or it is called something else. Try combinations from Step 3 or use third-party apps (see Step 4).
• The app reappears in the autostart list after an update. Some system or app updates can reset settings. Repeat the procedure.
• After disabling autostart, the app stops working properly. Revert the setting. This is a sign that the app truly requires background activity (e.g., an antivirus or call filter). In this case, it's better to look for alternative software.
• No access to "Special access". Make sure you have all system updates installed. In rare cases, the feature is only available after installing additional manufacturer services (e.g., "Mi Services" from Xiaomi).