How to completely disable updates on Xiaomi phone: from simple settings to hidden commands

Automatic updates on Xiaomi smartphones are often a headache for users. The manufacturer aggressively promotes new versions of MIUI that are not always stable, and forced-updates can lock the device before installing fresh firmware, especially for owners of older models of Redmi Note 8 Pro, POCO F1 or Mi 9T, where new versions of the software slow down the system or disable favorite features.

In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to disable updates, from basic menu settings to advanced methods using ADB and editing system files. Importantly, some methods require unlocking the bootloader or root rights, which voids the warranty, we will specify the risks for each method and give recommendations for security.

Why is Xiaomi pushing for updates so hard?

Xiaomi has an aggressive update policy for several reasons:

📊 Statistics: New versions MIUI Contain updated modules to collect device usage data (even if you have disabled Improvement) MIUI" customized).
🛡️ Security: Closing vulnerabilities in older versions of Android (e.g., critical bugs in Android 10 for Redmi Note 7).
💰 Monetization: New firmware adds advertising modules (e.g., in MIUI 13 banners appear in "Security").
🔄 Forced rotation: On devices older than 3 years, updates can specifically "brake" the device, pushing to buy a new one.

The last point is confirmed by tests on the Redmi 5 Plus: after upgrading to MIUI 12.5, the system response time increased by 40% compared to MIUI 11.

📊 How often do you worry about Xiaomi updates?

Every week.

Once a month

Only critical.

Never updated.

Method 1: Disable updates through standard MIUI settings

The most secure method that works on all Xiaomi devices without risking warranty is suitable for MIUI 12-14:

Open Settings → About the phone → Update MIUI.
Slap the icon. ⚙️ (gear) in upper right corner.
Turn off the slider "Automatic boot over Wi-Fi".
In the same menu, select “Updates suspended” and set a maximum term of 365 days.

⚠️ Warning: This method only delays updates for a year, but does not delete already downloaded firmware files:

Go to Settings → Storage → Clean.
Select Downloaded Service Packs (usually 1.5-2.5GB).
Confirm removal.

Backup data | Check the MIUI version in About Phone | Connect to stable Wi-Fi | Charge your phone at least 50%-->

Method 2: Block updates through mobile data restriction

If your Xiaomi is trying to download an update via the mobile Internet (for example, on POCO X3 NFC), you can block this process:

Open the Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Transfer of data.
Select "Background Limitation" and add the com.android.updater app (or "MIUI Update") to the list.
Activate the slider "Prohibit background data transfer".

To fully block, also disable “Mobile Network Autoboot” in the update settings (see Method 1).

Locking method	Efficiency	Risks.	Need root?
Limitation of mobile data	Medium (blocks only mobile traffic)	Updates can be downloaded via Wi-Fi	No.
Disabling Auto Updates in Settings	Low (only postponed by a year)	I'll have to repeat it in a year.	No.
Remove apk updates (see Method 4)	Tall.	System errors may occur	Yes.
ADB-commands (see Method 3)	Tall.	Resetting settings in case of error	No.

Method 3: Disable updates via ADB (without root)

This method is suitable for users who do not want to get superuser rights, but are ready to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge).Works on all Xiaomi devices with an unlocked bootloader (even if the bootloader is locked, but debugging is enabled over USB).

Instructions:

Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap 7 times on the MIUI Version.
Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate: “Debugging by USB” “Allow debugging (factory unlocking OEM)” (if any)

ADB Tools

adb shell


pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.updater




pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution

⚠️ Note: After the device is restarted, the com.android.updater app can recover. To fix the result, add an automatic command to the cron (root required) when the system starts.

💡

If, after the execution, ADB-Update commands still appear, check for duplicate packets through the pm list packages command. | grep -i update.

Method 4: Remove system applets updates (root required)

To completely remove the update modules, you will need:

🔓 Unlocked bootloader (instructions for Xiaomi: official website).
🛠️ Root rights (e.g. via Magisk).
📱 File Manager with access to /system (For example, Root Explorer).

Step-by-step:

Install Magisk Manager and get root access.
Open Root Explorer and go to /system/priv-app/Updater.
Remove the Updater folder completely or rename it to Updater.bak.
Go to /system/app and delete (or rename) files: SystemUpdate.apk SystemUpdate.odex (if any)

Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: Removal of system applets may result in:

🔄 Cyclical reboot (bootloop) in case of an error.
🚨 Poose. OTA-Updates forever (you will have to manually stitch through Fastboot).
🔧 Disruption of work MIUI (For example, the missing item "Update" in the settings).

What to do if after removing applets the phone does not turn on?

If the device is gone to bootloop, try: 1. Log in Recovery Mode (press Power + Vol Up). 2. Select "Wipe Cache Partition." 3. Flash Updater.apk via ADB Sideload: adb sideload Updater.zip If it doesn't help - you need a full flashing through the Mi Flash Tool.

Method 5: Blocking update servers via hosts

This method intercepts requests to Xiaomi servers responsible for checking updates. Suitable for users with root or the ability to edit a hosts file via ADB.

Instructions:

Download any hosts editor (like Hosts Editor from Google Play).
Add the following lines to /system/etc/hosts: 127.0.0.1 update.miui.com 127.0.0.1 api.io.mi.com 127.0.0.1 sdkconfig.ad.xiaomi.com
Save the changes and restart the device.

To verify effectiveness:

Open the Settings. → Update MIUI.
If the error “I was unable to connect to the server” appears, the lock is triggered.

💡

Hosts editing is a temporary solution, and after resetting or updating MIUI, the hosts file will return to its original state.

What if Xiaomi blocks the phone before the upgrade?

Some devices (e.g., Redmi Note 9 Pro on MIUI 12.0.8) can block access to the system until the user installs a critical update. This is called a "forced update."

🕒 Wait 24-48 hours: Sometimes the lock is automatically removed.
📡 Use it. VPN: Connect to servers in India or Indonesia – forced-updates are less common.
⚙️ Download the Fastboot Firmware: Download the Old Version MIUI For your model with xiaomifirmwareupdater.com, use the Mi Flash Tool with the option "Clean All".

Install custom Recovery (TWRP)

MIUI EU

⚠️ Note: Firmware rollback on Xiaomi with bootloader lock (for example, on Redmi 10 2022) can lead to hard-brick (full "brickability!

FAQ: Frequent questions about disabling updates on Xiaomi

Can I turn off updates forever without root?

No, without superuser rights, you can only delay updates for a year (Method 1) or block them from downloading via a mobile network (Method 2). ADB, root.

Why do updates in the settings still come after disabling them?

Your device probably has a Critical Security Updates feature that cannot be disabled by standard means: Use ADB (Method 3) or hosts editing (Method 5).

Will the ADB method work on a locked bootloader?

Yes, but only if USB debugging is enabled. pm uninstall and pm disable-user commands do not require an unlocked bootloader, but their action can reset after a reboot.

Can I return the updates after they are disabled?

If you used ADB, do: adb shell pm install-existing com.android.updater Reflashing after deleting system files will be required.

Which Xiaomi models are most affected by forced-updates?

According to the community XDA Developers, most often forced updates are found on: Redmi Note 8/8 Pro (when switching to MIUI 12.5) POCO X3 NFC (Android update 11) Mi 9T / K20 (lock-in MIUI 13) Redmi 9A/9C (forced upgrade to Android 10)