Hey guys! Are you a YouTube Vanced user on a MIUI device and facing issues? Don't worry; you're not alone! Many users experience hiccups when trying to get YouTube Vanced running smoothly on Xiaomi's MIUI. This guide dives deep into optimizing YouTube Vanced on MIUI, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable viewing experience. We'll cover everything from common problems to step-by-step solutions, so stick around!

Understanding the MIUI Challenge

MIUI, Xiaomi's custom Android skin, is known for its aggressive battery management and memory optimization. While these features aim to improve device performance and extend battery life, they often interfere with apps running in the background, like YouTube Vanced. This interference can lead to various issues, such as:

• Background Playback Issues: YouTube Vanced might stop playing audio when you switch to another app or lock your screen.
• Notification Problems: Notifications might be delayed or not appear at all.
• App Crashing: The app might crash unexpectedly, especially during prolonged use.
• Battery Drain: Ironically, MIUI's battery-saving features can sometimes cause increased battery drain for specific apps.

The key to fixing these problems lies in understanding how MIUI handles app permissions and background processes. By making a few adjustments, you can ensure that YouTube Vanced receives the resources it needs to function correctly.

Essential MIUI Settings for YouTube Vanced

Alright, let's get our hands dirty and tweak those MIUI settings! Here's a comprehensive guide to configuring your device for optimal YouTube Vanced performance.

1. Granting Necessary Permissions

First, we need to ensure YouTube Vanced has all the necessary permissions. This is crucial for its basic functionality. Here’s how to do it:

• Go to Settings > Apps > Manage Apps.
• Find YouTube Vanced in the list.
• Tap on Permissions.
• Ensure the following permissions are enabled:
  • Storage: Allows Vanced to cache videos and other data.
  • Microphone: Required for voice search (if you use it).
  • Display pop-up windows while running in the background: Very important for background playback!
  • Start in background: Allows Vanced to start automatically after a reboot (optional).
• Also, check Other Permissions and enable:
  • Show on lock screen (if you want media controls on your lock screen).
  • Display pop-up window

Granting these permissions gives YouTube Vanced on MIUI the green light to access essential system features, preventing many common issues right off the bat. Ignoring these permissions can severely hamper the app's performance, so make sure to double-check them.

2. Auto Start

Next up, let's enable auto-start for YouTube Vanced. This ensures that the app can launch automatically after you restart your device. To do this:

• Go to Settings > Apps > Manage Apps.
• Find YouTube Vanced.
• Enable Auto start.

This simple step ensures YouTube Vanced on MIUI is always ready to go, reducing the chances of unexpected shutdowns and ensuring you don't miss out on notifications. It's a small tweak that can make a big difference in your overall experience.

3. Battery Saver Exceptions

MIUI's battery saver is notorious for killing background processes. To prevent this from happening to YouTube Vanced, you need to add it to the battery saver exceptions list. Here’s how:

• Go to Settings > Battery & Performance > Choose apps.
• Find YouTube Vanced.
• Select No restrictions.

By selecting "No restrictions", you're telling MIUI to leave YouTube Vanced on MIUI alone and let it run as it pleases. This is particularly important for background playback, as it prevents MIUI from prematurely killing the app to save battery. This ensures uninterrupted listening even when your screen is off or you're using other apps.

4. Lock the App in Recent Apps

Locking YouTube Vanced in the recent apps menu prevents MIUI from automatically closing it when you clear your recent apps. This is another crucial step for ensuring uninterrupted background playback. Here’s how to do it:

• Open YouTube Vanced.
• Open the Recent Apps menu (usually by swiping up from the bottom of the screen or pressing the dedicated button).
• Find YouTube Vanced in the list.
• Tap and hold on the app preview or tap the lock icon (depending on your MIUI version).

Once locked, a lock icon will appear on the app preview, indicating that it will not be closed when you clear recent apps. This ensures that YouTube Vanced on MIUI continues to run smoothly in the background, providing a seamless audio experience. This is a simple yet effective trick to keep your music and podcasts playing without interruption.

5. Disable MIUI Optimization (Advanced)

This is a more advanced step and should be done with caution. Disabling MIUI optimization can sometimes improve app performance, but it can also lead to other issues. Only proceed if you've tried the other steps and are still experiencing problems.

• Go to Settings > About phone.
• Tap on MIUI version multiple times until you see "You are now a developer!".
• Go to Settings > Additional settings > Developer options.
• Scroll down to Turn on MIUI optimization and disable it.

Warning: Disabling MIUI optimization can affect the performance of other apps and potentially lead to system instability. Only do this if you know what you're doing. After disabling, monitor your device for any issues. If you encounter problems, re-enable MIUI optimization.

6. Using a Custom ROM (Advanced)

For the tech-savvy users out there, consider using a custom ROM. Custom ROMs often offer more control over system settings and can bypass some of MIUI's aggressive optimization features. Popular options include LineageOS, Pixel Experience, and others.

Warning: Flashing a custom ROM can be risky and may void your warranty. Ensure you have a backup of your data and follow the instructions carefully. This is an advanced solution and not recommended for beginners.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even after optimizing your MIUI settings, you might still encounter some issues. Here are a few common problems and how to fix them:

• Background Playback Stops After a While: Double-check that you've added YouTube Vanced to the battery saver exceptions and locked it in the recent apps menu. Also, ensure that you haven't accidentally cleared the app from the recent apps list.
• Notifications are Delayed or Missing: Ensure that notifications are enabled for YouTube Vanced in the MIUI settings. You can find this option under Settings > Apps > Manage Apps > YouTube Vanced > Notifications.
• App Crashing Randomly: Try clearing the app's cache and data. You can do this under Settings > Apps > Manage Apps > YouTube Vanced > Clear data > Clear cache and Clear all data. If the problem persists, try reinstalling the app.
• High Battery Drain: While adding YouTube Vanced to the battery saver exceptions can help, it can also lead to increased battery drain. Monitor your battery usage and adjust the settings accordingly. You can also try using a different version of YouTube Vanced or a different microG build.

Conclusion

Optimizing YouTube Vanced on MIUI can be a bit of a hassle, but it's well worth the effort. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure a smooth and enjoyable viewing experience. Remember to grant the necessary permissions, add the app to the battery saver exceptions, and lock it in the recent apps menu. If you're still facing issues, try disabling MIUI optimization or using a custom ROM (at your own risk).

With a little bit of tweaking, you can get YouTube Vanced on MIUI running like a dream! Happy watching!