How to disable antivirus on Xiaomi Redmi: 5 proven ways

The built-in MIUI Security antivirus on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is a two-way sword. On the one hand, it protects the device from malicious applications and phishing, and on the other hand, it can block legitimate files, slow down the system or interfere with the installation of APKs from third-party sources. If you encounter false positives, persistent notifications about “viruses” in downloaded files, or just want to temporarily suspend scanning, this instruction will help you do this without risk to security.

It is important to understand that completely disabling the antivirus deprives the device of basic protection. We recommend using alternative methods - for example, adding trusted files to exceptions or disabling scanning only for specific folders. In this article, we will consider all the available methods, including hidden MIUI settings, which are not obvious to most users.

The instructions are valid for all modern Redmi models (including Redmi Note 12/13 Pro, Redmi 10/11, POCO X5, etc.) based on MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS. If your device runs on an older version of the firmware, some menu items may differ - we will warn you about this separately.

1. Temporary disabling of antivirus through security settings

The easiest and safest way is to suspend the antivirus for a limited period of time, which does not require super-user rights (root) and is suitable for most tasks, such as installing an antivirus. APK-files from unknown sources.

Open the Security app (the shield icon) and go to the Antivirus section. Here you will see the three dots in the upper right corner — click on them and select Settings. In the menu that opens, find the Auto Scan option and turn off the slider. This will stop background file verification, but manual scanning will still be available.

• ⏳ Validity: until the next device reboot or manual activation.
• 🔄 Recovery: Antivirus is automatically activated after update MIUI.
• 📱 Models: Works on all Redmis with MIUI 10+.

⚠️ Warning: If you notice suspicious device behavior after turning off the automatic scan (such as overheating, fast battery drain, or unauthorized payments), run manual checks immediately or return settings to the original state.

2. disable scanning of specific folders or files

If the antivirus only blocks certain files (such as modified APKs or games), it makes no sense to disable it completely, instead adding problematic files or folders to exceptions, which will preserve protection for the rest of the system.

To do this:

1. Open Security. → Antivirus → Settings (⋮) → Exceptions.
2. Click Add Exception and select File or Folder.
3. Specify the path to the desired object (for example, /storage/emulated/0/Download/modded_apks/).
4. Confirm the addition by clicking Ready.

Note that MIUI limits the number of exceptions, usually no more than 20 files or 10 folders, and if the limit is reached, you will have to delete old records or use alternative methods.

Check the path to the file in the file manager

Make sure the file does not contain real threats

Remember the limit on the number of exceptions

Reboot the device after adding (optional)

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3. Completely disabling the antivirus through the developer settings

For power users who want to completely deactivate the built-in MIUI antivirus without root rights, there is a method through developer mode, which is more radical and requires caution, since it deprives the device of basic protection.

First, activate the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Click on the MIUI version 7 times in a row until you become a developer!
3. Go back to the main settings menu and open a new section for developers.

Next:

1. In the For Developers section, find the option to Disable MIUI (or Disable MIUI Optimization in English firmware).
2. Activate it and restart the device.
3. After the reboot, open Security → Antivirus → Settings and disable all scan options.

⚠️ Attention: Disabling optimization MIUI It can cause some system functions to function in an unstable way, such as navigation gestures or dark theme. If you notice bugs, return the settings to their original state.

Disabling the antivirus via ADB (for advanced users)

If previous methods have failed (e.g., custom firmware or enterprise versions of MIUI), you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires a connection to a computer but gives you more control over system processes.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-tool.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission on the device screen.
2. Open the command prompt (or Terminal on Mac/Linux) and execute: Adb devices Make sure your device appears in the list.
3. Enter the command to disable the antivirus: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.securitycenter This deactivates the Security app, including the antivirus.
4. To return to standard settings, use: adb shell pm enable com.miui.securitycenter

The advantage of this method is that the antivirus is turned off at the system level, and it can not be accidentally enabled through the interface, but it also disables all security features, including phishing protection and control of application permissions.

adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f backup.ab

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5. Removal of antivirus with root rights (extreme method)

If you are willing to take drastic measures and have root access (e.g., through Magisk), you can completely remove the system antivirus application, which is irreversible and only suitable for advanced users, as it can disrupt the stability of MIUI.

For removal:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Go to /system/priv-app/SecurityCenter or /system/app/SecurityCenter (the path may vary depending on the version of MIUI).
3. Delete the SecurityCenter folder or rename it (for example, in the SecurityCenter_bak).
4. Reset the device.

After that, the antivirus will disappear from the menu, but system updates can restore deleted files. To prevent this, use tools like Magisk Module to block automatic recovery.

6.Alternative solutions: replacing the standard antivirus

If the built-in MIUI antivirus does not suit you, but it is risky to completely disable protection, consider installing third-party antivirus software.

• 🛡️ Bitdefender Mobile Security – Lightweight, with minimal impact on performance.
• 🔍 Malwarebytes – specializes in spyware detection.
• 📱 Kaspersky Mobile Antivirus is a reliable protection, but it can conflict with the security of the mobile MIUI.
• 🆓 Google Play Protect – built-in solution in Google Play (free, but less functional).

Before installing a third-party antivirus, be sure to turn off the built-in scanner to avoid conflicts, and note that some applications (such as Kaspersky) may require additional permissions that you will have to confirm manually.

The advantage of this approach is that you keep the protection, but you get more control over the settings. For example, in Bitdefender you can flexibly configure exceptions for files and folders, and schedule scans at a convenient time.

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Antiviruses are often more efficient than those built into MIUI, but consume more resources, and Bitdefender or Malwarebytes is the best choice for balancing protection and performance.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When you turn off antivirus, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and how to solve them:

• 🔄 "Antivirus is turned on itself after restarting" → It's normal behavior. MIUI. To secure the disconnect, use ADB-commands (section 4) or set exceptions.
• 🚫 "I can't find out. APK Even after the antivirus is turned off" → Check if Installation from Unknown Sources is enabled in the security settings for a specific browser or file manager.
• ⚠️ "A notification of the virus appeared, but the antivirus is disabled" → Google Play Protect may be working. Turn it off in Google Play settings.
• 📱 "Security settings are not opened" → Restart the device or clear the Security app cache in Settings → Annexes.

If after turning off the antivirus, the smartphone started to slow down or overheat, it was probably not the problem with it, but with another system process. Use Settings → Battery → Using the battery to identify the “gluttonous” application.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions