The built-in MIUI antivirus on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often causes conflicts with third-party apps, false positives, or simply annoys users with constant notifications. However, turning it off is not as easy as it might seem. The manufacturer deliberately hides direct deactivation settings to protect the device from potential threats. In this article, we will analyze all possible ways to disable the antivirus (including hidden ones), assess the risks and offer alternative solutions for those who want to get rid of intrusive checks without compromising security.
It is important to understand that antivirus in MIUI is integrated at the system level and is closely related to other security components such as Security Center and Mi Protect. Complete removal without root rights is impossible, but there are legal methods of temporary or partial disabling. We tested all of the methods described below on current versions of MIUI 14/15 (including HyperOS) and models from Xiaomi 11T to Redmi Note 13 Pro+.
If you decide to disable protection, do it consciously: without antivirus, your device becomes more vulnerable to malware, especially when installing APKs from unverified sources. At the end of the article, you will find an FAQ with answers to frequent questions and a method compatibility table with different versions of MIUI.
1. Temporary disabling of antivirus through MIUI settings
The easiest and safest way to do this is to deactivate the antivirus for a limited period, a method that does not require superuser rights and is suitable for most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models on MIUI 12-15.
Instructions:
- 📱 Open the Security app (shield icon) on the home screen or in the app menu.
- 🔍 Go to Antivirus (in some versions - Virus Protection).
- ⚙️ Click on the gear icon in the upper right corner to open Antivirus Settings.
- 🔄 Find the Automatic Check option and move the slider to the "Off" position.».
- 🕒 To completely disable, press Manual Check → Cancel the last check (if available).
Note that this method does not completely disable the protection, but only suspends automatic scanning. Antivirus will still start when you install new applications or suspicious activity.
⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra or POCO F5 Pro) after turning off the automatic check, a notification “Device not protected” may appear, which can be hidden through the security app notification settings, but this will not eliminate the antivirus itself.
2. Disconnection through the developer settings (hidden method)
If the standard method didn't work, you can use the developer mode, which is a deeper method, but requires activation of hidden functions, suitable for MIUI 13-15 and HyperOS.
Steps:
- Activate the Developer Mode: 🔧 Go to Settings. → The phone. 🔄 7 times press the version MIUI, The message is “You became a developer!».
Settings → Additional → For Developers
Do not check applications through MIUI Optimizing
🔄 Reset the device.
This option disables some background checks, but does not deactivate the antivirus completely. To completely disable it will require a combination of this method with others (for example, disabling notifications).
Make a backup copy of the data|Check the version. MIUI customized|Make sure there are no important payment apps on the device.|Turn off the automatic installation of security updates-->
3. Complete disabling via ADB (no root)
For users who are ready for more radical measures, there is a way to disable the antivirus using the help of the ADB-This method does not require root rights, but it will require connecting the smartphone to the computer.
Step-by-step:
- 💻 Install. ADB Tools on PC.
- 📱 Put the debugging on. USB on your smartphone: Go to Settings → Additionally. → For developers, activate debugging by USB.
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.securitycenter
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.guardprovider🔄 Reset the device.
These commands completely disable the Security app, including antivirus, garbage cleanup and other features. To get it back, use:
adb shell pm enable com.miui.securitycenter
adb shell pm enable com.miui.guardprovider⚠️ Note: After these commands are executed, all Security features will be lost, including: 🛡️ Antivirus and threat scanning; 🧹 Cleaning up cache and garbage; 🔒 Blocking calls and SMS; 📊 Traffic monitoring: We recommend using this method only as a last resort!
Disabling antivirus notifications (alternative)
If you're only annoyed by antivirus notifications, but you need protection, you can turn them off separately, and it doesn't affect the scanner, but it makes it less intrusive.
How to do this:
- 🔔 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
- 🔍 Find the Security app (com.miui.securitycenter).
- 📵 Click Notifications and disable all categories: 🛡️ Security threats; 🔄 Results of the audit; ⚠️ Warnings.
- 🔕 For reliability, also turn off Sound and Vibration in notification settings.
After that, the antivirus will work in the background, but will not disturb pop-ups, this method is ideal for those who want to maintain basic protection, but get rid of intrusive alerts.
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If the antivirus still shows pop-ups after disabling notifications, check the settings of Special Access in Settings → Applications → Special Access → Show on top of other applications and turn off the permission for Security.
5. Risks of disabling antivirus on Xiaomi
Before you deactivate the protection, assess the possible consequences: the built-in antivirus MIUI, although not perfect, but performs several important functions:
| Risk | Effects of consequences | How to minimize |
|---|---|---|
| 🦠 Viruses and malware | Vulnerability when installing APKs from unverified sources (e.g., APKMirror or torrents) | Install apps only from Google Play or trusted stores (APKPure, Aptoide with verification enabled). |
| 📱 Phishing attacks | Without protection, it is easier to get caught on fake sites or SMS with malicious links. | Use a browser with built-in protection (Google Chrome, Firefox) and do not follow suspicious links. |
| 🔓 Data breach | Trojans can steal logins, passwords or bank information. | Install a third-party antivirus (Malwarebytes, Bitdefender) or password manager (1Password, KeePass). |
| 📉 Decrease in productivity | Some viruses can load the processor or consume traffic in the background. | Regularly check active processes in Settings → Applications → Launched. |
Critical: On devices with an unlocked bootloader, the risk of infection increases by 3-5 times, since viruses can be embedded in system partitions. If you use custom firmware or Magisk, disabling antivirus without alternative protection is highly recommended.
6.Alternative antiviruses for Xiaomi
If the built-in antivirus doesn't suit you, but you don't want to leave the device completely unprotected, consider third-party solutions. MIUI:
- 🛡️ Bitdefender Mobile Security is a lightweight antivirus with minimal battery consumption and high threat detection.
- 🔍 Malwarebytes, which specializes in spyware and adware, offers a free version that allows manual checks.
- 🔒 Kaspersky Internet Security – Full-featured Security VPN It's paid, but there's a trial period.
- 📱 Google Play Protect is built-in Android protection, minimalist but reliable for basic security.
When choosing an alternative, pay attention to: compatibility with MIUI (some antiviruses conflict with the shell), resource consumption (avoid heavy decisions like Avast or Norton), the presence of Russian (not all applications are completely localized).
How to check if a third-party antivirus is working?
7. Frequent errors when disabling antivirus
Many users experience problems after trying to deactivate the protection, and here are the most common mistakes and how to avoid them:
- 🔧 It's not working. ADB-team → Solution: Check if debugging is included USB, And use the original cable. Some devices require PC authorization.
If after turning off the antivirus smartphone began to brake or overheat — most likely, the problem is not in the protection, and in another system process. Check the settings → Battery → Using the battery to identify the culprit.
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Turning off the antivirus won't increase smartphone performance. If your goal is to speed up the device, it's better to clear the cache or roll back to factory settings.