Why Xiaomi Auto Updates Are Irritating to Users
Owners of Xiaomi smartphones and TVs regularly face unexpected device reboots due to forced firmware updates.The company is actively promoting its MIUI and PatchWall ecosystem, but not always new versions are beneficial.Frequent updates can slow down gadgets, reset settings or even break the functionality of applications.
It’s especially frustrating when an update is installed at the most inopportune time, such as during an important call, watching a movie or playing a game. On Xiaomi TVs with PatchWall, auto-updates can interrupt IPTV or streaming services, requiring a device to restart, and it’s often impossible to roll back the firmware without a full reset.
In this article, we will look at all the available ways to disable automatic updates, from standard settings to technical methods for power users, learn how to block updates on MIUI smartphones, PatchWall TVs, and what to do if the manufacturer artificially limits this ability.
Method 1: Standard disabling in MIUI settings (for smartphones)
The easiest way is to use the built-in system options, which is suitable for most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones based on MIUI 12-14. However, be aware that after major updates (for example, from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14), the settings may reset.
Instructions:
- Open the Settings app (cog icon).
- Go to the About Phone section. → Update MIUI.
- Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings.
- Turn off the automatic download slider via Wi-Fi.
- You can also disable notifications about new updates.
⚠️ Note: On some models (such as Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12), after disabling auto updates, the system can still show notifications about critical security patches. ADB-commands (see Method 3).
☑️ What to check after disabling auto updates
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Method 2: Block updates on Xiaomi TVs (PatchWall)
Xiaomi Mi TV, Redmi Smart TV and PatchWall models are updated even more aggressively than smartphones, and the manufacturer often forcibly installs new firmware versions, which can lead to:
- 📉 Slowing down the interface (especially on budget models with 1-2 GB of RAM).
- 🎮 Loss of support for older applications (e.g., Kodi or IPTV Pro).
- 🔌 Problems with connecting peripherals (keyboards, gamepads).
- 📺 Disappearing your favorite widgets from the main screen.
To disable auto updates on TV:
- Press the Home button on the remote and select Settings (cog icon).
- Go to About TV. → Updating the system.
- Turn off the automatic update option.
- For reliability, also turn off the download over Wi-Fi.
⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi TVs TV A2 After disabling auto-updates, the system can block access to certain services (for example, Mi Home or Xiaomi Cloud) after disabling auto-updates, in which case only manual updates through the use of a new service will help. USB (see Method 4).
What to do if the settings are gray and inactive?
Method 3: Disable updates via ADB (for advanced users)
If standard settings don’t work, you can block the system-level update service with Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a technique that works on smartphones and TVs but requires a PC connection.
Step-by-step:
- Download and install ADB Tools on your computer.
- On Xiaomi, turn on Developer Mode (7 times tap the MIUI version in your phone settings).
- Include USB debugging in the developer menu.
- Connect the device to the PC and execute in the command line:
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.updater
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.updateFor Xiaomi TVs, use:
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.droidlogic.OTAUpdate⚠️ Attention: After completing these commands:
- ✅ Notifications of new versions will disappear MIUI/PatchWall.
- ✅ The system will stop downloading updates in the background.
- ❌ You may break the manual check of updates (you will have to return the settings with the pm enable command).
- ❌ Some system applications (such as Mi Video or Mi Browser) may require an update to work.
💡
If Xiaomi services stopped working after disabling updates (for example, Mi Account or Mi Home), try the alternative command: Adb shell pm hide com.android.updater It hides the update app, but does not remove it completely.
Method 4: Manual USB update control (for TVs)
If you want to control which firmware to install on your Xiaomi TV, you can use a local flash drive update to:
- 🔄 Reverse to the old PatchWall version if necessary.
- 🛡️ Avoid Forced Updates with Bugs.
- 📥 Install modified firmware (for example, with remote Chinese services).
Instructions:
- Download the desired firmware version from the official Xiaomi website (choose a TV model!).
- Unpack. ZIP-archive and copy the file update.zip on USB-storage device FAT32).
- Put the flash drive in the TV port.
- Go to Settings → About TV → System Update → Local Update.
- Select the update.zip file and confirm the installation.
⚠️ Note: When updating locally:
- 🚫 Do not turn off the TV during the process (risk of bricking").
- 🔄 After installing the old firmware, the system may suggest updating again - block it through ADB.
- 📥 Firmware from unofficial sources may contain viruses or spyware.
| Method | Difficulty | Suitable for | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard settings | ⭐ | Smartphones, TVs | Maybe drop out after the update. |
| ADB-team | ⭐⭐⭐ | All devices. | Requires PC, can break system functions |
| Local Update | ⭐⭐ | Televisions | Risk of errors in firmware |
| Root access | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Smartphones | Loss of warranty, risk of brick |
Method 5: Radical measures – root access and modification of system files
If no other method works, you can get root rights and remove the system components responsible for the updates, which is only suitable for advanced users, because:
- 🔓 Violates the device warranty.
- 🛠️ Requires unlocking the bootloader (Bootloader Unlock).
- 💥 Can lead to a brick (complete inoperability) in case of an error.
What can be done with root:
- Remove the updates (/system/priv-app/Updater/Updater.apk).
- Freeze services via Titanium Backup or Lucky Patcher.
- Edit the build.prop file by adding ro.ota.disable=1.
⚠️ Note: On new Xiaomi smartphones (for example, Xiaomi 14 or Redmi) K70) Unlocking the bootloader requires waiting 7-15 days after the Mi Account is tied:
- 🏦 Banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff).
- 🎮 The game with protection (Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile).
- 📱 Certain functions MIUI (Second Space or App Lock).
What to do if nothing helps: alternative solutions
If Xiaomi blocks all attempts to disable auto-updates (for example, on corporate or regionally blocked devices), you can take drastic measures:
- Turn off the Internet for updates: On your smartphone: use NetGuard or the built-in Firewall (root required). On your TV: set up parental controls on the router by blocking update.mi.com and api.io.mi.com domains.
Install custom firmware:
Projects like LineageOS or Pixel Experience completely remove Xiaomi components, including the update service. However, this requires unlocking the bootloader and is only suitable for smartphones.
Use "deception" for the system:
Some users create an empty update.zip file on a flash drive and "update" the TV. The system thinks that the firmware is relevant, and ceases to remind about updates (does not work on all models).
⚠️ Note: Blocking update domains via a hosts file on new Xiaomi devices often doesn’t work because of DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH). VPN with traffic filtering (e.g. AdGuard) VPN).
💡
If you use a Xiaomi TV only for IPTV or streaming, the most reliable way to avoid updates is to completely disconnect it from the Internet and connect to the network only when necessary (for example, to install applications).