Keep apps running
How to Stop OPPO and realme Killing Apps (ColorOS 16)
By the llcloud team 4 min read
Quick answer
On ColorOS 15 and 16 or realme UI, open Settings > Apps > App management, tap the app, then Battery usage, and turn on Allow background activity and Allow auto launch. Turn off Pause app activity if unused, lock the app in recent apps and keep Power saving mode off. If the app is still force-stopped, Android turns its accessibility service off until you turn it back on.
OPPO's ColorOS and realme UI, which is built on it, have a strict battery manager. Unless you allow it, an app is not trusted to run in the background, may not start itself, and can be frozen soon after the screen goes dark. Here is how to keep an app running on ColorOS 15 and 16 and on recent realme UI versions, and how to recover when it is closed anyway.
Why does my OPPO or realme phone close apps?
ColorOS decides by itself when an app may run without being on screen, unless you allow background activity for that app. It also blocks apps from auto launch, so a closed app cannot start itself again. Power saving modes and the built-in cleaner add more pressure. Quiet background apps, like a notification light or a DNS filter, are the first to go. Our hub guide on why Android kills background apps explains what all phone makers do.
How do I keep an app running on ColorOS and realme UI?
Do all of these. Names below are from ColorOS 15 and 16. realme UI uses the same menus on most models, and where a path differs it is noted.
1. Allow background activity and auto launch
- Open Settings > Apps > App management.
- Tap the app, then tap Battery usage.
- Turn on Allow background activity.
- Turn on Allow auto launch if it is listed. Leave Allow foreground activity on if your version shows it.
On some builds the same switches are reached through Settings > Battery > More settings > App battery management, and on some realme UI versions through Settings > Battery > Power saving settings > App battery management.
2. Turn off Pause app activity if unused
On the app's App management screen, switch off Pause app activity if unused. It can remove permissions from an app you rarely open.
3. Keep Power saving mode off
Open Settings > Battery and make sure Power saving mode is off, or set the phone to its balanced mode. Then open Power saving settings (the wording differs by version) and check that the phone does not switch into power saving by itself at a low battery level.
4. Lock the app in recent apps
- Open the app, then open recent apps.
- Tap the menu above the app's card, or long-press the card, and choose Lock.
- A lock shows on the card. Clear all now leaves it alone.
5. Turn off battery optimization
Search Settings for Battery optimisation or Optimise battery use. Find the app, switching to All apps if needed, and choose Don't optimise. On some versions this list is missing because step 1 already covers it.
6. Skip the cleaner
The Phone Manager cleaner and similar boosters force-stop apps to free memory. Avoid running them for the apps you depend on.
On realme phones, also check that the app is not on the App quick freeze list. Apps there cannot run in the background or receive notifications at all. Search Settings for quick freeze to find it, as its place differs by model.
Which switch does what?
If you only have a minute, this is what each setting protects against.
| Setting | What it stops | Skip it and |
|---|---|---|
| Allow background activity | Freezing once the screen is off | The app sleeps until you open it |
| Allow auto launch | Being blocked from starting itself | It stays closed after a restart or a clean |
| Power saving off | Phone-wide background limits | Every background app is held back |
| Recents lock | Clear all | One tap in recents can force-stop it |
| Not in App quick freeze (realme) | A full freeze | The app gets no notifications at all |
Can it still close the app after all this?
Yes, occasionally. These steps make stops much rarer, but no setting on ColorOS or realme UI is a guarantee. A low-memory moment or an aggressive clean can still end an app. Knowing how to recover takes the sting out of it.
If the light or the app's switch is off again
A force-stop switches off the app's accessibility service, and the app cannot switch it back on by itself. To do it by hand:
- Open Settings and search for Accessibility. On some versions it is under Additional settings.
- Tap Downloaded apps (or Installed apps), then the app.
- Switch it on and confirm.
AuraDisplay checks for this. Since version 3.5.4 it posts a notification when Android switches off its accessibility access, usually with a Turn back on button that goes straight to the right screen. Allow AuraDisplay to post notifications so that warning can reach you. Keep AuraDisplay Running, in the app's settings, adds a foreground service that makes stops rarer, though not impossible.
For a VPN-based filter such as Repel's tracker filter, search Settings for VPN, tap the app and turn on Always-on VPN if your version offers it.
What next?
OnePlus phones run on the same base, so the OnePlus guide is a handy cross-check. With the app running, set up the light using a notification light on Android, or edge lighting on any Android if your phone has no punch hole.
Sources
Questions
How do I allow an app to run in the background on OPPO?
Open Settings > Apps > App management, tap the app and tap Battery usage. Turn on Allow background activity, plus Allow auto launch if your version lists it. Then lock the app in recent apps and keep Power saving mode off. On some older ColorOS builds the switches sit under Settings > Battery instead.
Are realme UI settings the same as ColorOS?
Mostly. realme UI is built on ColorOS, so the battery usage switches, app management screens and recents lock work the same way, and the names are usually identical. A few labels and the order of screens can differ between models. If a path below does not match, search Settings for the switch name, such as background activity.
Why does my OPPO or realme phone turn off an app's accessibility?
Because the app was force-stopped. A force-stop switches the accessibility service off on any Android phone, and on ColorOS it often comes from the battery manager, a cleaner or Clear all in recents. The app cannot turn it back on itself. Turn it back on under Accessibility in Settings, then work through the steps here so it happens less.
