How to completely disable system updates on Xiaomi: all working methods

Automatic MIUI updates can be a real headache for owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones. The system stubbornly reminds you to install new versions of firmware, consumes traffic in the background and sometimes installs updates without your consent - especially if the device is connected to Wi-Fi. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to disable updates, including hidden settings and methods for devices with an unlocked bootloader.

The problem is compounded by Xiaomi regularly changing menu options and restricting access to certain features in newer versions of MIUI. For example, in MIUI 14 and HyperOS, the classic way to disable through settings stopped working for some users. We tested all methods on current firmware (2026) and selected only those that are guaranteed to work.

It is important to understand that completely disabling updates can affect the security of the device (no vulnerabilities fixes) and application compatibility (some programs require fresh versions of Android).If your goal is simply to get rid of intrusive notifications, it is enough to disable automatic download without blocking the updates from checking completely.

1. Standard method: through system settings

The simplest method, which works on most Xiaomi devices (including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13 and other models from 2022-2026), is suitable for MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS, but may vary depending on the regional firmware.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Settings app (cog icon).
• 🔍 Go to the About Phone (or About Device) section).
• 🔄 Tap on item Update MIUI (HyperOS - System Update).
• ⚙️ In the upper right corner, click on three dots (menu) and select Settings.
• 🚫 Turn off sliders: Auto boot over Wi-Fi Notify of new updates Automatic installation (if any)

Some firmware (e.g. global MIUI 14.0.4) may not have the Notify of new updates option, in which case the system will still check for updates, but will not download or install them without your confirmation.

⚠️ Note: On HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi 14 or Redmi) K70) When automatic updates are disabled, a notification of the new version available may remain, and you will have to use the methods in the following sections to remove it.

2. Disconnection through "Special Opportunities" (hidden method)

This method works on MIUI 13-14 and allows you to completely block the check for updates, including background processes.

Algorithm of action:

1. Go to Settings. → Special facilities.
2. Select Settings for developers (if there is no item, tap 7 times on the MIUI version in the About Phone section).
3. Scroll down and find the USB Debugging option – turn it on.
4. Return to Special Opportunities and select Special Opportunity Services.
5. Activate MIUI Optimization (or MIUI Optimization)
6. Reset the device.

After the reboot:

• 🔧 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Find the Update app (or Updater).
• 🛑 Click Stop, then Disable (if the option is active).
• 🔒 In the Permissions section, disable Auto Start and Background Activity.

⚠️ Note: On some devices (POCO F5, Redmi Note 11 Pro+) Disabling the application Update may cause system utilities to malfunction. If the Topic or Security has stopped working after that, return the settings back.

3. Blocking through ADB (for power users)

If previous methods have failed, you can use ADB debugging. This method requires a computer and basic command line skills, but is guaranteed to disable system-level updates.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📥 Installed Xiaomi drivers and package ADB Tools.

Step-by-step:

1. Enable USB debugging on your phone (see previous section).
2. Connect the device to the computer and confirm the trust in the PC on the smartphone screen.
3. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.updater


adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.updater

HyperOS may require an additional command:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.hyperos.updater

To get it back, replace the disable-user with enable.

⚠️ Note: After completing these commands, the application Update MIUI It's going to disappear from the menu and stop working, and to get it back, you're going to have to re-enter commands or reset the settings to the factory.

💡

If system utilities (such as Themes or Security) stop working through ADB after disabling the updates, try restarting the device, which solves the problem 80% of the time.

4. Update removal via TWRP (for unlocked devices)

The most radical method is the physical deletion of system files responsible for updates, which is only suitable for devices with an unlocked bootloader and a customized Recovery (TWRP) installed.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔒 Completely disabling file system updates.
• 🚀 There is no risk that the system will restore the updater after resetting.
• 🛡️ It works even after flashing (if you do not put the stock firmware on top of it).

Instructions:

1. Download TWRP for your Xiaomi model.
2. Install the Recovery via fastboot:

fastboot flash recovery twrp.img


fastboot boot twrp.img

1. In TWRP, go to Advanced → File Manager.
2. Delete the following folders and files: /system/priv-app/Updater /system/app/Updater /data/app/com.android.updater* /data/app/com.miui.updater*

Reset the device.

Once these files are deleted, the system will never check or install updates again, even after resetting to factory settings (unless you flash the device again).

5. Disable via the Settings Editor (for MIUI 14/HyperOS)

In newer versions of Xiaomi firmware, a hidden option has been added to disable updates through the system settings editor.The method does not require root rights, but does not work on all devices.

How to do this:

1. Download Activity Launcher from Google Play.
2. Open the application and find in the Settings list.
3. Tap on.settings.Special FeaturesSettings (or similar item with the word Special).
4. In the menu that opens, find the Disable MIUI Update option (or Disable MIUI Update) and activate it.
5. Reset the device.

If there is no such item, try another way:

• 🔧 In Activity Launcher, find com.android.settings.
• 🔍 Select.DevelopmentSettings (Developer Settings).
• 🔄 Scroll down and find it. MIUI Optimization – Turn it off.
• 🔒 Go back to the main settings and check if the Update section has disappeared. MIUI.

💡

Activity Launcher works on 60-70% of MIUI 14 and HyperOS devices, and if you don’t have an option, your firmware doesn’t support it.

6.Alternative methods: limiting traffic and hosts

If you need to temporarily block updates (for example, before the end of the month to save traffic), you can take advantage of the mobile data restriction or host lock.

Method 1: Limit background traffic

• 📵 Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Transfer of data.
• 📊 Select Data Use and find the Update app.
• 🚫 Turn off Background data slider and Wi-Fi (if any).

Method 2: Block hosts (requires root)

If you have root rights, you can block the domains that are downloading updates.

1. Install the Blockada or AdAway app.
2. Add the following hosts to the blacklist: update.miui.com api.account.xiaomi.com sdkconfig.ad.xiaomi.com ota.xiaomi.eu
3. Reset the device.

These methods do not disable update verification completely, but prevent them from downloading and installing.

7.What to do if the update has already downloaded?

If the system has downloaded the update but hasn't installed it yet, you can manually delete the update file.

Instructions for MIUI:

1. Open the File Manager (or any other file manager, such as Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /sdcard/MIUI/ota/ or /sdcard/download/rom/
3. Delete the file with the.zip extension (commonly referred to as miui_*_global_recovery.zip).
4. Clean the cache folder in the file manager.

For HyperOS:

• 📁 The update folder may be on the way: /sdcard/hyperos_ota/
• 🗑️ Delete all files inside and restart the device.

⚠️ Note: If the update has already begun to install (a screen with a progress bar appeared), it is absolutely impossible to interrupt the process - this can lead to a "brick" of the device (breaking the firmware). Wait for the installation to be completed or, if the phone freezes, wait for the battery to discharge and run the device through the Mi Flash Tool.

FAQ: Frequent questions about disabling updates on Xiaomi