How to disable update notifications on Xiaomi: the full guide

Why is Xiaomi so intrusive about offering updates?

If you own a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone, you’ve probably encountered a situation where the system is literally “harassing” you with notifications of available updates. Even if you don’t plan to update right now — or at all — flashing icons on the status bar and pop-ups can be seriously annoying, especially for users who prefer to stay on a stable version of MIUI and don’t want to take the risk of installing fresh (and often raw) updates.

The reasons for this behavior lie in Xiaomi’s policy: the company is actively promoting the latest firmware versions to provide users with access to new features and security patches. However, in some regions (e.g. Russia), updates may be delayed or contain unnecessary local changes, making them unattractive to power users. 9A, POCO M3) newer MIUI They often work slower than the old ones because of optimization for more powerful iron.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to disable update notifications, from standard settings to hidden features for advanced users. It’s important to understand that some methods may require unlocking the bootloader or superuser rights (root), so choose the right option based on your level of training.

Method 1: Standard disabling in MIUI settings

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in options, which is suitable for most users and does not require any additional manipulation.

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to About Phone (usually at the bottom of the list).
3. Slip on System Update (or MIUI Update in older versions).
4. In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and select the Update Settings.
5. Turn off the switch Automatic boot over Wi-Fi.
6. Also deactivate the Notify of New Updates option (if available in your MIUI version).

Unfortunately, in the latest versions of MIUI 13/14, the option to disable notifications may not be available, in which case the system will still show the update icon in the status bar, but without pop-ups.

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If notifications keep coming after disabling, try clearing the System Update cache in the application settings. This will reset temporary files associated with checking updates.

Method 2: Disconnect via System Update application settings

System Update (com.android.updater) can be restricted to not show notifications, which works on all versions of MIUI, but requires manual configuration:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find System Update (or Updater) in the list and tap it.
3. Select Notifications.
4. Disable all available notification categories (usually General Notices and Download Notices).
5. For reliability, also disable the auto-run of the application in the Battery section.

This method only blocks pop-ups, but the icon in the status bar may remain.To remove it completely, you will need to turn off the update service itself (see Method 4).

Method 3: Using ADB to disable notifications (without root)

If standard methods don’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a tool for debugging Android devices, which does not require superuser rights, but requires connecting the smartphone to a computer.

Here's the step-by-step instruction:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on your computer (Windows, macOS or Linux).
2. Turn on the smartphone Developer Mode: go to Settings → About phone and 7 times tap on the item version of MIUI.
3. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
4. Connect your phone to your PC via USB (select File Transfer Mode when requested).
5. Open the command line (or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and execute: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.updater

This command will completely disable the System Update app, including all notifications and background processes. To return it back, use:

adb shell pm enable com.android.updater

Download ADB Tools on PC|Enable developer mode on Xiaomi|Activate debugging on USB|Connect phone to computer |Contact adb devices command

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Method 4: Disable the root update service (for advanced)

If you have root rights, you can completely remove or freeze the system update app, a radical method that is guaranteed to get rid of notifications, but requires caution.

Options for action:

• 🔹 Removal through TWRP: Go to the custom recavator, find the file /system/priv-app/Updater/Updater.apk And remove it. Risk: It could disrupt your job. OTA-renewal.
• 🔹 Freeze through Titanium Backup: Find System Update in the list and select Freeze.
• 🔹 Manual file renaming: with Root Explorer go to /system/priv-app/Updater/ and rename Updater.apk Updater.apk.bak.

Warning: Any manipulation of system files may result in unstable device operation or loss of warranty.Before deleting, back up via TWRP or MIUI Backup.

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Root methods give 100% results, but prevent you from getting updates over the air, and use them only if you are sure that you will not update through the standard updater.

Method 5: Hidden settings for specific Xiaomi models

Some Xiaomi models have unique ways to disable notifications, for example, on devices with MIUI for POCO (for example, POCO F3, POCO X3 Pro), you can use hidden developer mode:

1. Activate Developer Mode (7 taps according to MIUI version).
2. Go to Settings. → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find Disable MIUI Update (or Disable MIUI Update) and activate it.

On the Redmi Note 10 Pro and other devices with MIUI 12.5 Enhanced, this item may be called Disable OTA Updates. If it is not, try searching for the “update” option.

Also on some firmware there is a trick with changing the region:

• 🌍 Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Region.
• 🌍 Choose a country where updates are less frequent (e.g. India or Indonesia).
• 🌍 Reset the device.

This will not disable notifications completely, but will reduce their frequency.

What if the notifications returned after the reset?

After hard reset, all update settings return to default values to avoid resetting notifications:

1. Immediately after the first setup of the phone, turn off automatic update check (see Method 1).
2. If you use ADB or root, repeat the disabling procedure of com.android.updater.
3. Install an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher) that can hide the system notification icons.

On devices with MIUI 14, a critical security update notification may appear after a reset, and it cannot be disabled by standard methods - you will either need to install the update or use ADB to lock it.

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Back up your installed apps and their data using Mi Mover or Swift Backup (requires root) to quickly restore your settings after a reset, including disabled notifications.

Compatibility table with MIUI versions

Not all methods work on all firmware, and the following is the compatibility table for popular versions of MIUI:

If your version of MIUI is not listed in the table, try methods in order, starting with the safest (Method 1).

FAQ: Frequent questions about disabling update notifications

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI Global Stable (official firmware for the international market) some methods may not work due to manufacturer restrictions. ADB or go to custom firmware (e.g. xiaomi.eu), where there are advanced settings.

⚠️ Note: If you are using Xiaomi with a blocked bootloader and don’t plan to unlock it, avoid methods that require root or download. TWRP. Incorrect actions can lead to a brick (complete inoperability) of the device, in which case it is safer to use the device. ADB or limit to disabling notifications in settings.