Problems with specific phone brands

AppBlock is designed to work across all Android devices, but some manufacturers customize Android in ways that can interfere with background services — including AppBlock’s blocking and Accessibility features. Below you’ll find specific steps for the most common brands.

If you can’t find your brand here, go to Profile → Help → Troubleshooting in AppBlock for general guidance, or visit Don’t Kill My App for device-specific tips.

How to find your brand on this page

• On desktop: use Ctrl+F (Windows) or Cmd+F (Mac) to search.
• On mobile: scroll to your brand or use your browser’s find function.

Huawei

Huawei devices are among the most challenging for background apps, as their custom software often ignores Android best practices for background task management.

Battery settings

• Settings → Battery → Power Plan → set to Performance.
• Settings → Battery → Protected apps → mark AppBlock as Protected.
• Settings → Apps → AppBlock → Battery → enable Power-intensive prompt and Keep running after screen off.

Ignore battery optimizations

Go to Settings → Apps → Special access → Ignore battery optimization → All apps → find AppBlock → set to Allow.

Device Admin

If problems persist, enable AppBlock as a device administrator: go to Profile → Help → Troubleshooting and follow the steps there.

For more detail, see the Don’t Kill My App guidance for Huawei.

Xiaomi / MIUI

Xiaomi’s MIUI software is known for aggressively killing background apps. The exact steps vary depending on your MIUI version.

Pin AppBlock in recent apps

1. Open the recent apps tray.
2. Drag AppBlock downward or tap the down arrow next to its name and select Lock.
3. Once pinned, it won’t be removed even if you clear recent apps.

Battery management

• Settings → Battery → Power Plan → set to Performance.
• Settings → Battery → App Battery Saver → AppBlock → set to No restriction.
• Settings → Additional Settings → Battery & Performance → Manage apps’ battery usage → switch power saving to Off → find AppBlock → set to No restrictions.

Autostart

Open the Security app → Permissions → Autostart → enable for AppBlock.

Device Admin

If all else fails, go to Profile → Help → Troubleshooting and enable device administrator mode for AppBlock.

Note: Avoid using Ultra Battery Saver mode on Xiaomi devices — it stops most background apps from functioning.

For more detail, see the Don’t Kill My App guidance for Xiaomi.

OnePlus

OnePlus devices may randomly reset battery optimization settings, which can cause AppBlock to stop working.

Battery optimization

Go to Settings → Apps → Special Access → Battery Optimization.

Find AppBlock and set to Don’t optimize.

Note: OnePlus phones may randomly revert this setting back to “Optimized.” Check it periodically if AppBlock stops working.

Auto-launch

Some OnePlus devices have an App Auto-Launch feature that prevents background apps — disable it for AppBlock.

Doze mode (if needed)

Some users have reported needing to disable Doze mode in Developer Options.

For OnePlus 5 specifically:

Go to Settings → Battery → Battery optimization → three dots → Enhanced/Advanced optimization → disable.

For more detail, see the Don’t Kill My App guidance for OnePlus.

Samsung

App Power Monitor

Samsung’s App Power Monitor can interfere with AppBlock. To whitelist AppBlock:

1. Go to Settings → Device Maintenance → Battery.
2. Scroll to the bottom → tap Unmonitored apps.
3. Tap the three-dot menu → add AppBlock to unmonitored apps.

Battery optimization (alternative path)

Go to Settings → Apps → three-dot menu → Special Access → Optimize Battery Usage.

Find AppBlock and make sure it is not selected.

Accessibility permission issue

If AppBlock is greyed out in Accessibility settings, see “How to give accessibility permission if restricted?” above.

Edge Lighting

If Edge Lighting is enabled for AppBlock, it may prevent the block screen from appearing correctly. Remove AppBlock from the Edge Lighting apps list if you experience this.

For more detail, see the Don’t Kill My App guidance for Samsung.

Oppo

Oppo devices often aggressively kill background and Accessibility services.

Pin AppBlock in recent apps

1. Open the recent apps tray.
2. Tap the down arrow next to AppBlock.
3. Select the Lock icon.

Battery optimizations

Long-press the AppBlock icon → App Info → Battery Usage → enable Run in the Background.

Auto-launch

Go to Settings → App Management → Auto-launch apps → find AppBlock and toggle to Allow.

For more detail, see the Don’t Kill My App guidance for Oppo.

Vivo

Pin AppBlock in recent apps

1. Open the recent apps tray.
2. Tap the down arrow next to AppBlock → select the Lock icon.

Disable battery optimizations

Long-press AppBlock → App Info → Battery Usage → set to Unrestricted.

Note: Avoid Ultra Battery Saver mode on Vivo devices.

For more detail, see the Don’t Kill My App guidance for Vivo.

Realme

Pin AppBlock in recent apps

1. Open the recent apps tray.
2. Tap the down arrow next to AppBlock → select the Lock icon.

Battery management

• Settings → Battery → App battery management → AppBlock → allow Background activity, Foreground activity, and Auto-launch.
• Settings → Battery → Power saver options → disable Sleep standby optimization.

For more detail, see the Don’t Kill My App guidance for Realme.

Sony

Sony’s Stamina Mode significantly limits third-party background apps.

Battery optimization

Go to Settings → Battery → three dots → Battery optimization → Apps → AppBlock → disable optimization.

Note: Stamina Mode cannot be worked around from AppBlock’s side — you’ll need to disable it or whitelist AppBlock in your Sony battery settings.

For more detail, see the Don’t Kill My App guidance for Sony.

Nokia

Under some circumstances, Nokia devices place AppBlock on a background restrictions list.

Battery management

Go to Settings → Apps → Battery → AppBlock → make sure no restrictions are applied.

For more detail, see the Don’t Kill My App guidance for HMD Global devices.

Meizu

Meizu devices, like some other Chinese brands, often ignore Android best practices for background tasks.

Battery management

• Settings → Advanced Settings → Battery Manager → Power Plan → set to Performance.
• Settings → Advanced Settings → Battery Manager → Protected apps → mark AppBlock as Protected.
• Settings → Apps → AppBlock → Battery → enable Power-intensive prompt and Keep running after screen off.

For more detail, see the Don’t Kill My App guidance for Meizu.