Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face intrusive notifications about the release of new versions of the MIUI or HyperOS shell. The system regularly checks servers for updates, suggesting that they be installed immediately. For many users, this becomes a problem, especially if the new version contains errors, reduces autonomy or simply changes the familiar interface.
Disabling updates is not always an obvious process, as the manufacturer does not provide a single simple “Never Update” button, but there are several proven methods to block this process: You can restrict system applications’ access to the Internet, use special commands through a computer, or even block update servers at the router level.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all available ways to stop automatic software installation. We will look at both software methods through the settings of the smartphone itself, and more advanced options using ADB (Android Debug Bridge).
⚠️ Warning: Disabling security updates may leave your device vulnerable to new threats. Use these techniques knowingly if you know exactly why you need an older firmware version.
Why Users Want to Stop Auto Updating
The desire to keep the current version of the operating system is often driven by negative experiences. New MIUI builds can run unstable on older smartphone models, causing the processor to overheat or quickly drain the battery. In addition, frequent updates take up a significant place in internal memory, which is critical for devices with low storage capacity.
Another reason is the change in functionality: developers can remove familiar functions or change the logic of the interface, which causes discomfort to users, and there is a risk of turning the device into a brick if you make an error during installation, although this is rare when using official channels.
Some enthusiasts prefer to stay on the version with the obtained root rights. Any official update, as a rule, flies the root access and restores the original bootloader, which requires a repeated complex procedure of unlocking and patching.
Disconnecting through MIUI notification settings
The easiest, but not always 100% effective, method is to disable notifications from the system updater. This doesn't block the download of files in the background, but eliminates pop-ups with an offer to update. You'll need to find a system application responsible for updating.
Go to the Settings menu and select About Phone. At the top of the screen, find the MIUI or HyperOS logo and click on it several times to open the Update Check menu, but we don't need to check them, but go to the settings of that app.
Go back to the main settings menu and go to the Apps → All Apps. In the upper right corner, click on three dots and select Show System Processes. In the list, find the System Update app. Inside the app's menu,
- 📢 Find the Notifications item and completely disable them from displaying.
- 📶 Select Data Use and disable data transfer for both Wi-Fi and mobile network.
- 🗑️ Press "Clear» → «Clean Everything" to delete the installed file already downloaded.
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If after disabling the rights to the Internet application still loads data, try also to disable the "Out-Start" item in the properties of the System Update application.
Using ADB to remove Updater
A more radical and reliable way is to completely remove or “freeze” the system application updates through debugging. USB. For this you will need a computer, USB-cable and installed utility ADB. This method requires the inclusion of the developer mode on the smartphone.
First, activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly press 7 times on MIUI Version (or OS Version). After the message "You've become a developer" appears, go to Additional → For Developers. Turn on USB Debugging Toggle.
Connect your smartphone to your PC. Open the command line (CMD) or terminal in the folder with ADB and enter the following command to check the connection:
adb devicesYou'll see a debugging request on your phone screen, confirm it. If the device serial number appears in the terminal, the connection is established. Now, execute the command to delete the update component:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.updater☑️ Check before ADB-team
Once you've done the command, the application will disappear from the installed list. If you want to return it, you'll need to reset it to the factory settings, because there's no standard reinstall command for system packages. Be careful.
⚠️ Warning: Uninstall removes the application only for the current user (user 0) without affecting the system partition. ADB-Toolkit each time you decide to restore functionality through resetting.
Blocking through hosts file (Root Requires)
For owners of devices with obtained superuser rights (Root), the most effective method is to block domain names of update servers at the system level, which prevents any request of the smartphone to Xiaomi servers for new firmware.
You will need a file manager with access to system partitions (such as Root Explorer or MT Manager). Go to /system/etc/hosts. Open the file to edit and add the following lines at the end:
127.0.0.1 update.miui.com
127.0.0.1 update.intl.miui.com
127.0.0.1 api.update.intl.miui.com
127.0.0.1 http.update.intl.miui.comSave the changes and restart the device. Now, when you try to check for updates, the system will redirect requests to a local address (localhost), where, of course, no firmware files are present, which guarantees 100% protection against accidental installation.
Comparison of blocking methods
To make it easier for you to choose the right option, we have systematized the methods in a table, each method has its advantages and disadvantages depending on your situation and level of knowledge.
| Method | Difficulty | I need a Root. | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disabling notifications | Low. | No. | Low (notifications only) |
| Disconnection of network access | Low. | No. | Medium (files don't swing) |
| Removal via ADB | Medium | No. | High (app removed) |
| Modification of hosts | Tall. | Yes. | Maximum (blocking at the network level) |
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The safest and easiest way for the average user is to disable data transfer for the System Update application in the application settings.
Blocking at the router level
If you don’t want to make changes to the software part of your smartphone, you can block access to update servers at the level of your Wi-Fi router, a method that is especially handy if you have multiple Xiaomi devices in your home and you don’t want any of them updated.
Go to the router settings (usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1).Look for Parental Control, Access Control or Firewall. You need to create a domain name blocking rule (URL Filter/Blacklist).
Add to the list of banned domains the addresses listed earlier (update.miui.com and variations thereof). Once you have set up the settings, all devices on your network that try to access those addresses will be denied connection.
What to do if the update has already started?
Possible risks and consequences
Before permanently blocking updates, it's worth weighing the pros and cons. The main problem with not having updates is security holes. Google and Xiaomi regularly release patches that close vulnerabilities through which hackers can access your data.
Some modern applications may also stop working properly on too old versions of Android or shells. Software developers focus on current standards, and over time support for legacy versions ceases, this may affect banking applications or instant messengers.
However, if your smartphone is stable, your battery is well-maintained and your interface is fine, keeping the current version is a smart decision, and remember to back up important data manually, as automated cloud backups may also depend on the software version.