How to disable the update of applications on Android Xiaomi

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face a situation where the device starts to download and install new versions of programs at the most inopportune time. This can occur in the midst of an important conversation, when using a navigator or during a game where every megabyte of RAM is on the account. Auto update is designed to improve security and functionality, but in practice it often leads to unwanted changes in the interface or the appearance of new bugs in stable software.

In addition, background downloading updates can significantly consume mobile Internet traffic if you forget to switch to Wi-Fi, and take up precious space in internal memory. Disabling automatic updates allows the user to decide when and what changes to make your gadget work, this gives full control over the device and helps to avoid surprises after a night reboot.

In this guide, we will take a look at all the available methods to stop this process, from standard store settings to advanced system constraints, learn how to manage updates for each application separately or ban them globally for the entire system, and understand these mechanisms is necessary for anyone who wants to optimize the performance of their smartphone.

Why limit background updates to MIUI and HyperOS

Xiaomi’s modern operating shells tend to keep all software up to date, believing that the new version is always better than the old one. However, in reality, developers often release patches that change the familiar interface or implement advertising modules that were previously absent.

Another critical reason for limiting background activity is resource savings: the process of checking for new versions, downloading them and then installing them loads the processor and radio module, which leads to faster battery discharge, especially if there are a dozen “heavy” applications in the queue for an update, blocking this process helps to extend the battery life of the device.

Also worth mentioning is the stability of the work. Sometimes new versions of programs contain bugs that developers find and fix only a few days later. If your smartphone is stable, there is no point in taking risks and putting experimental builds. Manual update management is the only way to ensure that the system does not appear critical bug that disrupts the functions that are important to you.

• 🚫 Saving traffic: preventing gigabytes of data from being downloaded via mobile network.
• 🔋 Charge retention: no background activity of the processor and communication module.
• 🛡️ Stability: Bug protection in new, untested versions of software.
• 💾 Memory control: the ability to decide for yourself when to free up space under the installer's cache.

Disabling Auto Updates in Google Play Store

The main source of new Android software is the Google Store, which is where most of the installed software is stored, and it's Google Play Services that most often initiates background downloads. To stop this process, you need to change the settings of the app store itself, which is a basic step that should be done first.

To start, open the Play Store app and click on your profile icon in the top right corner of the screen. In the menu that opens, select Settings and then go to Preferences. Here you are interested in the option “Auto-Update Apps.” By default, it can be set to “Only via Wi-Fi” or “Always.” You need to select “Do not update apps automatically.”

Once this is changed, the system will no longer search for and install new versions on its own, but it’s worth remembering that some security-critical banking applications may insist on updating each run, in which case you’ll have to manually update them whenever you want to.

Setting up the GetApps app store on Xiaomi

Xiaomi smartphone owners know that the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS has its own app store called GetApps (formerly known as the Mi Store), which runs parallel to Google Play and also has its own automatic update settings that often ignore general system limitations.

To turn off the auto-update in GetApps, launch the app and go to the Profile or Mine tab, which is usually in the lower right corner. Click on the gear icon or Settings. In the list that opens, find the Auto-Update option. Here you also need to select Off or Never mode to completely stop the background activity of this service.

Special attention should be paid to Xiaomi system applications that are updated through this store, which can be Explorer, Music, Themes and other built-in utilities, and if you do not turn off auto-update here, they will continue to download data packets even if Google Play is banned.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling GetApps completely may make it impossible to update Xiaomi system components, such as theme engine or security services.

Managing Updates for Individual Applications

Sometimes the user doesn't need a global shutdown, but only wants to disable the update for one particular program. For example, you're using the older version of the messenger you like best, or the game stopped working after the last patch. The Google Play Store has a flexible mechanism to manage each application separately.

Go to the Google Play store, search for the app you want through a search or in the App and Device Management list. Open the program page. In the top right corner, next to the Open or Install button, there is a three-dot icon. Click on it and in the drop-down menu, uncheck the "Update Automatically" box. Now for this particular application, the rule will be ignored, even if globally auto-updates are allowed.

This method is particularly useful for those who use specific software that requires a specific version to work correctly, and it helps to maintain a balance between the security of the rest of the system and the stability of mission-critical programs.

System restrictions through battery settings

MIUI and HyperOS have an aggressive energy-saving system that can be used to block background activity, so if you stop an application from running in the background, it won't physically check the servers for updates until you open it, which is a radical but effective method.

Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the list of Google Play Store or GetApps. Go to Battery (or Energy Saving). Select No Limits mode for normal operation or, conversely, Restrict Background Activity / Hard Limit if you want to block background processes completely.

Keep in mind that applying severe restrictions to Google system services can disrupt push notifications in other apps that depend on those services. Use this method with caution, understanding the implications for the entire Android ecosystem.

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Use the “Do Not Limit” mode only for instant messengers so that messages arrive instantly, and for app stores, be sure to set restrictions.

Use of the traffic saving regime

One of the easiest ways to prevent unwanted update downloads is to activate traffic saving mode. When this feature is enabled, the Android operating system prevents applications from using the mobile network to transmit large amounts of data, including updates.

You can activate the function through the Quick Settings Panel (curtain) or in the Settings menu. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Traffic savings. Turn on the switch. In this state, applications can request permission to use data, but the background download of updates will be blocked by the system automatically.

It's worth noting that some apps may ignore this restriction if you've granted them an exemption. So after turning on traffic savings, check the exception list and make sure app stores don't get there. This ensures that no bytes are wasted.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Global disabling auto updates gives you full control over your device, but requires the user to be disciplined in manually checking the security of important applications.