Automatic updates on Xiaomi smartphones are a double-edged sword, ensuring security patches and new MIUI features are received in a timely manner, and can interrupt an important call, drain the battery at the wrong time, or even install firmware with bugs that are sometimes difficult to roll back, and a particularly pressing problem for owners of devices with limited memory is that an unexpected download of a 2-3GB update file can paralyze the phone.
In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to disable auto-updates on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, from standard settings to hidden features for power users. Importantly, some methods require unlocking the bootloader or root rights, which can affect the warranty, and we will specify the risks for each option so that you can choose the best one.
Why Xiaomi is imposing auto updates and can they be safely disabled?
Xiaomi is actively promoting a policy of regular updates to:
- 🔒 Cover security vulnerabilities (critical patches are released monthly)
- 📱 Testing new functions MIUI wide audience
- 📊 Collect data about device usage (anonymous telemetry)
- 🛠️ Remove bugs in previous versions of the firmware
But forced updates are often a source of frustration, with Redmi Note 10 Pro owners complaining in 2023 about the automatic MIUI 14 installation, which caused the processor to overheat and quickly drain the battery, and in the case of POCO F3, the upgrade to Android 13 disrupted the camera in third-party apps.
Can you turn off auto-updates without risk? Yes, but with reservations:
- ✅ Standard methods (through settings) are safe but are temporary
- ⚠️ Shutdown through ADB Root can disrupt Google and Xiaomi services
- ❌ Deleting the com.android.updater system application will result in a loss OTA-renewal
Method 1: Disable auto updates via standard MIUI settings
The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in system options, which is suitable for all devices on MIUI 12-15 (including Redmi and POCO) and does not require additional rights.
- Open the Settings app (cog icon)
- Go to the About Phone section. → Update MIUI
- Slap the icon. ⋮ (three points) in upper right corner
- Select the Update Settings
- Turn off the slider Automatic download via Wi-Fi
- Also deactivate Automatic Update Installation (if available)
After that, the system will stop downloading updates in the background, but there are nuances:
- 🔄 On some firmware (Xiaomi) 12T, POCO X5 Pro) option resets after rebooting
- 📥 Update files that have already been downloaded will remain in memory (they must be manually deleted)
- 🔔 Notifications about new versions of the software will come, but the installation will not start automatically.
☑️ Preparing for disabling auto updates
If you don’t have an update settings on your menu, try an alternative path:
Settings → System and device → Additional → System update⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI for POCO (for example, POCO F4 GT) You can search by settings (magnifying glass icon) and type "update".
Method 2: Remove the cache and data of the "Update" application
If the standard shutdown does not work, you can reset the settings of the system application responsible for OTA-This will delete all downloaded firmware files and reset auto-update settings to factory ones:
- Open Settings → Applications
- Select Application Management (or just scroll through the list)
- Find the Update app (or Updater, com.android.updater)
- Tap Storage → Clear cache and Clear data
- Return to the main menu of the app and click Stop (if the button is active)
This method helps in 80% of cases when auto updates continue to download despite the settings that are disabled.
- 🔄 After clearing the data, the application may again request auto-update permission at the next launch.
- 📁 All previously downloaded firmware files will be deleted (1-3 GB of memory will be freed)
- ⚠️ On some devices (Xiaomi 13 Ultra), this can cause an update check error.
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If the update app disappears from the menu after cleaning the data, don't worry. It will recover the next manual update search or after the phone restarts.
Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (without root rights)
For advanced users who are ready to work with Android Debug Bridge, there is a more reliable method: it blocks the background activity of update services at the system level, but requires connecting the phone to a PC, the advantage is that it works even on a locked bootloader.
What you need:
- 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS
- 📱 USB-cable (preferably original)
- 🛠️ Utilities. ADB Fastboot (download from the official website)
- ⚙️ Included debugging by USB phone-on
Instructions:
- Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (Tap 7 times)
- Return to Settings → More → For developers and enable USB Debugging
- Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your trust in the device
- Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Linux/macOS) in the folder with ADB
- Follow the commands in turn: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.updater pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.update
These commands are off:
- 🔄 Main Update Application (com.android.updater)
- 📢 Advertising Notification Service (com.miui.systemAdSolution) that sometimes runs updates
- 🔧 Additional module MIUI (com.miui.update, responsible for background check
⚠️ Note: Once you have completed these commands, you will not be able to check for updates through the standard menu. To return functionality, use the command: pm enable com.android.updater
What if the ADB can’t see the device?
Method 4: Block updates through a firewall (without root)
If you don't want to shut down the service completely, but you want to block it from the Internet, you can use a firewall, which is suitable for rootless devices and doesn't require a PC connection. We recommend the NetGuard app (free, no ads).
Step-by-step:
- Install NetGuard from Google Play
- Open the app and give access to the VPN (necessary to intercept traffic)
- Find the Update app (or com.android.updater) in the list
- Turn off Wi-Fi sliders and Mobile data
- Activate the option Block when roaming (in case of travel)
Advantages of the method:
- 🔒 Blocks only network activity without affecting system files
- 🔄 Easy to cancel (enable NetGuard access is enough)
- 📊 Lets you see how much traffic the update service consumes
Disadvantages:
- ⚠️ The application should work in the background (consumes) ~5% battery)
- 🔄 On some firmware (MIUI 15 for Xiaomi 14) system applications bypass VPN-lockdown
| Method of disconnection | Difficulty | PC required | Root is required. | Reversibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard settings | ⭐ | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. |
| Cleaning up the Updater cache | ⭐⭐ | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. |
| ADB-team | ⭐⭐⭐ | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. |
| NetGuard (firewall) | ⭐⭐ | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. |
| Removal through root | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No* |
* Can be restored through backup or flashing
Method 5: Radical solution – removing Updater through root (for experienced)
If you’re willing to sacrifice the ability to upgrade through OTA and have unlocked bootloader + root rights, you can completely uninstall the system update app.This method irreversibly removes the ability to receive updates over the air, but guaranteed to solve the problem of auto updates.
What you need:
- 📱 Phone with unlocked bootloader (instructions from Xiaomi)
- 🔧 Installed by Magisk or other root manager
- 🖥️ PC ADB/Fastboot (Optionally, for the backup)
- 🛡️ Backup copy of firmware (recommended)
Instructions:
- Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer)
- Go to /system/priv-app/Updater/ or /system/app/Updater/
- Delete files: Updater.apk Updater.odex (if any)
- Reboot the phone.
- Check that the Update app has disappeared from the menu
⚠️ Note: After that, you will not be able to update through the standard menu. The only way to install a new firmware is manually via Fastboot or Recovery. Some system functions may also stop working, such as: Check the relevance of firmware in Settings → About Phone Notifications of critical security fixes Factory reset function may not work correctly
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Removing Updater through root is a last resort, only if other methods have failed, and you are ready to manually monitor the release of new firmware on forums (such as Xiaomi.eu or 4PDA).
What if the auto update has already downloaded and requires installation?
Situation: You see the "Update ready to install" notification, or the phone itself reboots with the firmware installation screen. How do you cancel the process?
Options for action:
- 🕒 Delay installation: The update screen usually has a "Remind later" or "Cancel" button. Press it and immediately clear the Update app cache (see Method 2).
- 🔄 Reboot phone: If the update has not yet started to install, a prolonged press on the power button can interrupt the process.Risk: on some devices (Xiaomi) 12S Ultra) this leads to hanging on the logo.
- 🗑️ Delete the update file manually: Connect your phone to your PC Go to the folder /data/ota_package/ or /cache/ Delete the file with the.zip extension (weight) ~2–3 GB)
Reset the network settings
→ SIM-maps and mobile networks → Network resetIf the phone has already started installing the update (progress bar has appeared), do not force it to turn it off.
- 🔴 Brick (complete inoperability of the device)
- 🔄 Loaded loading (bootloop)
- 📵 Loss of data in internal memory