Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO reminders not working?

On Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO phones, reminders usually fail because MIUI or HyperOS stops the app in the background and won't let it start again by itself. Turn on Autostart for the app, set its battery saver to No restrictions, and lock it in recent apps. Then check that it may set exact alarms and show notifications.

The steps use Buzzley as the example; they apply to any reminder or alarm app on these phones.

Why reminders fail on Xiaomi phones

Xiaomi's software is stricter about background apps than most Android phones. Two settings matter more than anything else:

• Autostart. An app without it can't start itself after a restart or after the system closed it. A reminder app needs to start itself to ring.
• Battery saver. Each app has its own battery setting. Anything other than No restrictions can hold an app's alarms back.

On top of that, Clear all in the recent apps screen closes every app that isn't locked there, and the built-in cleaner in the Security app can do the same.

How to fix it on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO

MIUI and HyperOS move these settings around between versions. If a menu isn't where this guide says, search Settings for its name.

1. Turn on Autostart

Open the Autostart list and switch Buzzley on. Depending on the version it's in the Security app (under permissions or app management) or on Buzzley's own app info page (Settings > Apps > Buzzley). With Autostart on, Buzzley can set its alarms again after a restart or after it was closed in the background.

2. Set Battery saver to No restrictions

In Buzzley's app info, open Battery saver (just Battery on HyperOS) and choose No restrictions.

3. Lock Buzzley in recent apps

Open the recent apps screen, long-press Buzzley's card and tap the lock. When you clear all apps, Buzzley keeps running. This step needs Buzzley to be open in the background once, so open the app first.

4. Allow exact alarms and notifications

In Buzzley's app info, check that notifications are allowed, including on the lock screen and as floating notifications. Then search Settings for Alarms & reminders and allow Buzzley. Without that permission Android may deliver a reminder late.

5. Leave Buzzley out of cleaners

If you use the Security app's cleaner or another cleaning or boost tool, keep Buzzley out of it. A forced stop cancels Buzzley's alarms until you open the app again.

What Buzzley does on a Xiaomi phone

Buzzley's Android app treats Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO as one brand. In its Alarm not ringing? screen, under Steps for Xiaomi phones, it lists the first three steps above. The Open settings buttons jump straight to the Autostart list and the battery screen where the phone allows it. If a screen can't be opened on your version, the button opens Buzzley's app info page instead.

Above the brand steps, the same screen runs four checks: "Notifications are off", "Reminders may ring late", "Alarms can't fill the lock screen" and "Battery saver may delay reminders". Each failed check has a Fix button. Open the screen from Settings > Full-screen alarms > Alarm not ringing?, or from the Help button on the home-screen banner Buzzley shows when something blocks reminders.

When everything is set, a reminder in the Alarm style rings full screen on the alarm volume and passes through silent mode and Do Not Disturb.

Common questions

I turned on Autostart, but reminders still come late. What else?

Check the battery saver (step 2) and the recent apps lock (step 3). On Xiaomi phones Autostart alone is often not enough: the battery saver can still pause the app.

Do these settings survive a restart?

Yes. Autostart, the battery setting and the lock stay as they are. Buzzley sets its alarms again after a restart, and they ring even before you unlock the phone.

Does locking the app in recents use more battery?

It keeps the system from closing the app when you clear the list. Buzzley still does nothing between reminders, apart from location reminders, which let the phone watch the places you saved.

My phone is a different brand

The same idea applies, with different names. See the general Android guide, the Samsung steps or the OnePlus steps. Why Android delays reminders in the first place is explained in why Android reminders are late.