How to permanently disable updates on Xiaomi phone: working methods for 2026

Automatic MIUI updates on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones are often a source of inconvenience, from sudden reboots to loss of root access (root) or resetting personal settings. The manufacturer insists on regular updates "for security and stability," but many users prefer to stay on a proven version of the firmware - especially if the new version brings bugs, brakes or removes favorite features.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to disable updates, from standard MIUI settings to hidden commands for power users. Importantly, some methods require unlocking the bootloader or superuser rights, which can affect the warranty. We’ll highlight the risks and alternatives for each option, and explain why disabling updates through the removal of system applications (e.g. com.android.updater) on new versions of MIUI 14+ often results in a “perpetual” error on Google services.

Why Xiaomi is imposing updates and whether it is safe to disable them

Xiaomi has an aggressive update policy for several reasons:

• 🔒 Security: Closing vulnerabilities in Android and MIUI (Critical patches are released monthly).
• 📊 Analytics: Collecting data on user behavior to improve firmware.
• 💰 Monetization: new versions MIUI Often add advertising to system applications.
• 📱 Device support: artificial life limit of the device (for example, Redmi Note 8 stopped receiving updates after 3 years).

However, forced-updates (forced updates) can:

• 🚫 Breaking work scenarios (for example, after updating to the MIUI 14 stopped working gestures on POCO F3).
• 🔋 Increase battery consumption (newer versions are often better optimized than older versions).
• 🛠️ Reset root or custom firmware settings (e.g. Pixel Experience).

Can you turn off the updates without consequences? Yes, but with reservations:

• ✅ Safe: Disconnection through settings MIUI or limiting background activity of Updater.
• ⚠️ Risky: Removing Systemic Removal APK or lock-in ADB (It can lead to bootloop on some models).
• 🔓 For advanced: disable via fastboot or build.prop modification (requires unlocking the bootloader).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI Global Stable version 13.0.5+ Disabling updates via Updater removal may cause the com.google.process.gapps error.

Method 1: Disable updates through standard MIUI settings

The simplest method, which works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones without root rights, is suitable for users who want to temporarily suspend updates or reduce the frequency of checks.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to the About Phone section. → Update MIUI.
3. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings (⚙️).
4. Turn off the automatic download slider via Wi-Fi.
5. Turn on the option to suspend updates (available on MIUI 12+).

Limitations of the method:

• 🔄 Updates will still be checked manually when you open the Update section. MIUI.
• 📶 Notifications about new firmware versions will continue to arrive (but will not be downloaded automatically).
• 🔧 Does not work on devices with corporate update policies (e.g., some Redmi Note 11 Pros)+ 5G for the Chinese market).

Turn off mobile internet before changing settings |Reboot phone after disabling updates | Check if the application "Security" from a third-party manufacturer |Update MIUI to the latest version (sometimes bugs are fixed in new builds)

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To completely disable notifications:

1. Press your finger on the update notification → select Disable notifications.
2. Or go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → MIUI Update → Notifications → Turn off all sliders.

Method 2: Block updates via ADB (without root)

The method for users willing to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge is suitable for devices on MIUI 11–14, But it may not work for Xiaomi. 13/14 The series due to tightening security policies.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap the assembly number → return to additional settings → Developer parameters).
• 🛠️ Google's Platform Tools utility.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command line (or Terminal) in the folder with the platform-tools.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices must appear serial number of the device.
4. Run the command to disable the update service: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.updater
5. Reboot your phone: Adb shell reboot

To return the updates back, use:

adb shell pm enable com.android.updater

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T) This command can cause an Operation not allowed error, in which case, try an alternative method: adb shell dumpsys deviceidle whitelist. +com.android.updater

Method 3: Remove the Updater system application (requires root)

A radical method for users with unlocked bootloader and root rights. Suitable for devices on MIUI 10–13, but on MIUI 14+ can lead to loss of functionality of Google services due to the integration of Updater with system components.

Pre-launch warnings:

• 🚨 Bootloop risk: On some models (e.g. Redmi) K40) Removing Updater breaks the job OTA-server.
• 🔄 Loss of warranty: bootloader unlock and root void official warranty.
• 🔧 Recovery difficulty: Recovery updates will require you to reflash your phone via fastboot.

Instructions:

1. Install Root Explorer or FX File Explorer on your phone.
2. Click on /system/priv-app/Updater/ or (on some firmware): /system/app/Updater/
3. Delete or rename files: Updater.apk Updater.odex (if any)

Reboot the phone.

Alternative method (via ADB root):

adb shell


su




mount -o rw,remount /system




rm -rf /system/priv-app/Updater




mount -o ro,remount /system




reboot

💡

Before removing Updater.apk, backup /system/priv-app/Updater via TWRP or ADB. This will help restore files if the phone stops booting.

Method 4: Modify build.prop (for power users)

This method involves editing the build.prop system file, which contains the firmware configuration, suitable for devices with an unlocked bootloader, but does not require root (fastboot access is sufficient).

What's changing:

• 📝 Add a string that “deceives” the system, making it think that the device is already on the latest version.
• 🔧 Disable verification of updates at the kernel level.

Step-by-step:

1. Download build.prop from your phone: adb pull /system/build.prop
2. Open the file in a text editor (e.g. Notepad++).
3. Add the following lines to the end of the file: ro.build.version.incremental=V13.0.5.0.SKUCNXM # Replace with the current version of your firmware ro.miui.ota.version=V999.999.999 # "cheating
4. Save the file and download back: adb push build.prop /sdcard/ adb shell su mount -o rw,remount /system cp /sdcard/build.prop /system/build.prop chmod 644 /system/build.prop mount -o ro,remount /system reboot

Verification of the result:

• 🔍 After restarting, open the settings. → The phone. → Update MIUI.
• 📵 If you have the message “You have the latest version” – the method worked.

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect editing of build.prop can lead to loss IMEI or a mobile network failure.Before you change, back up the original file!

Method 5: Using Magisk modules (for custom firmware)

If your phone is running on custom firmware (like LineageOS, Pixel Experience, or crDroid), the most reliable way to disable updates is to install a dedicated Magisk module.

Popular modules:

• 🛡️ Disable OTA Updates – Blocking everything OTA-system-level update.
• 🔧 MIUI OTA Disabler – Specialized for Firmware MIUI.
• 🚫 Disable Flash Recovery – prevents automatic flashing recovery (relevant to Xiaomi.eu).

How to determine:

1. Download the module in.zip format.
2. Open Magisk Manager → Modules → Install from storage.
3. Select the downloaded file and confirm the installation.
4. Reboot the phone.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Does not require the removal of system files.
• ✅ Easy to roll back (just remove the module in Magisk).
• ✅ It works on most custom firmware.

Through settings MIUI|ADB-team|Removal Updater.apk|Editing by build.prop|Magisk modules|Don't turn off updates.-->

What to do if the update has already downloaded and requires installation

Sometimes the system downloads the update in the background, and the next time you turn on the phone, a notification appears: "Update ready to install. Restart the device." In this case, the standard disabling of updates will not help - you need to delete the downloaded file manually.

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and enable File Transfer Mode (MTP).
2. Go to the folder: /data/ota_package/ or (on some firmware): /cache/ota/
3. Delete the file with the.zip extension (for example, miui_HMNote10Pro_V13.0.4.0.SKFCNXM_*.zip).
4. Reboot the phone.

If the /data folder is not available:

• 🔧 Use it. ADB: adb shell su rm -rf /data/ota_package/* reboot
• 📱 Or root conductor (e.g. Mixplorer).

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi) 12/13 series /data/ota_package It's dm-verity protected, and you'll need to temporarily disable the check through the Magisk Disable DM-Verity module.

FAQ: Frequent questions about disabling updates on Xiaomi