How to turn off updates on Xiaomi Redmi: a full guide

Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones running MIUI shells or the new HyperOS are often updated without the user’s knowledge. This can be annoying, especially if the new version contains errors, consumes more battery power or simply changes the usual interface to a less convenient one. Many device owners face a situation where the phone suddenly starts downloading gigabytes of data in the background, slowing down the system.

However, the upgrade process is not always evil: developers close security vulnerabilities and optimize the work of the hardware. However, if you are firmly determined to stay on the current version of the firmware, you will need to perform a number of specific actions. Standard methods do not always block the download of updates completely, because the system insists on installing them.

In this article, we will discuss all known ways of blocking, from simple switching in menus to the use of hidden engineering codes and computer utilities. You will learn how to prevent automatic downloading of packages and disable notifications about the new version of the software. It is important to understand that each method has its own features for different versions of Android.

Disconnection through standard MIUI settings

The first step that any Redmi or Poco user needs to do is check the basic settings, and while they don't guarantee 100%, they make it much less likely to boot automatically, go to the Settings menu and look for About, and there's a version icon that clicks on the update menu.

In the window that opens, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Update Settings. You must uncheck Auto Update. This action will prevent the phone from downloading files in the background on its own, but a notification of a new version may still appear.

Additionally, you should limit the background activity of the system application responsible for updates. Go to Settings → Apps → All applications. Find the Component Update or System Updater in the list. From the menu of this application, select AutoRun and disable it, and also prohibit work in the background.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling system components completely may cause the phone to stop receiving critical security patches.

Remember that the interface may vary depending on the regional version of the firmware (Global, China, EEA). In some cases, menu items may be called differently or hidden. If the standard path doesn't help, move on to deeper customization methods.

Use of engineering menus and codes

A more advanced way to control the system involves using hidden menus. For Xiaomi devices, there is a special code that opens the test menu. Enter the combination ##6485## in the Phone app. If the code works, you will see a list of battery and system parameters.

Some versions of MIUI have update status information available here, but debugging menus are more commonly used to directly disable it. Enter ##717717## (not available on all models). If the menu is open, search Auto Update and set Disable.

If the codes don't work (which is often the case on newer versions of HyperOS), you can try resetting the update app settings.

• 🔴 Go to Settings. → Annexes → All applications.
• 🟠 Find the Update of Components (Updater).
• 🟢 Click Clear the data → Clear it all up.
• 🔵 Immediately turn off the Internet and deny the application access to the network in the settings.

This method requires speed, because if you have a Wi-Fi connection, the system can instantly resume checking for updates.

Blocking through hosts file (Root rights are not required)

One of the most effective ways is to block the smartphone from accessing Xiaomi update servers, which previously required Root rights, but now you can use a local VPN or special blocking applications such as Blokada or AdGuard.

The method is to redirect requests to non-existent addresses, and you need to add the following domains to the hosts file or the DNS block list:

127.0.0.1 update.miui.com


127.0.0.1 update.cdn.miui.com




127.0.0.1 api.update.miui.com




127.0.0.1 resolver.msg.xiaomi.net

If you use an ad-blocking app, just blacklist those domains, which will prevent any contact your phone has with the version-check server, and even if you click the "Check Updates" button, the system will give you a connection error.

⚠️ Note: Blocking system domains may disrupt other services, such as themes or widgets, if they use the same addresses to load content.

For users with Root rights, the task is simplified: you can use a file manager with access to the system partition (such as Root Explorer), go on the path /system/etc/hosts and manually write the above lines, and then you need to restart the device.

Disconnecting via ADB (for advanced users)

The most reliable method, which does not require Root rights, but requires a computer. You will need the ADB utility (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to completely freeze or remove the system update application for the current user.

First, enable USB debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone (7 times click on MIUI) → Advanced Settings → Developer → USB debugging. Connect your phone to your PC and start the command prompt.

Enter the following command to remove the update pack:

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

Some firmware uses a different name for the package, like com.miui.updater. If the first command fails, try the second one. Once run, the phone will report success, and the update icon will disappear from the menu.

To get it back to normal, you just have to run the command: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.android.updater. This is reinstalls, a system package. It's safe because it doesn't physically delete files, it just hides them for the main user.

Comparison of blocking methods

The choice of method depends on your technical background and goals. Below is a table comparing the effectiveness of different approaches to stopping updates on Redmi and Xiaomi.

As you can see from the table, using ADB is the best thing to do, but it requires a computer and basic knowledge. DNS locking is a good middle ground for those who don't want to connect the cable.

You will have to repeat the locking procedure again.

Possible problems and solutions

When you turn off updates, you may experience unexpected behaviors, such as the update icon appearing in the notification curtain all the time, and then clearing the cache of Google Play and MIUI Updater will help.

Sometimes, after blocking, notifications from system applications using the same communication channels stop coming. If you notice that notifications from email or messengers are missing, try unlocking the domain api.update.miui.com, leaving only the direct firmware download address blocked.

Another common problem is the update application's "resurrection" after rebooting, which occurs if the background process has not been completely stopped before applying locks. Always use Forced Stop in the application settings before making changes.

⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to delete system files manually through a file manager without Root rights.This can result in a cyclic bootloop and require the device to flash over.

If the phone is still updated and you don’t like the new version, the only way out is to roll back to the previous version through Recovery mode or use the Xiaomi Flash Tool utility on your computer.

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Use Flight Mode when you first set up the new Redmi.This will prevent the update from instantly loading when you first turn on, allowing you to apply locking techniques immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The most reliable way to forget about updates forever is to combine disabling settings and locking domains through a local VPN or hosts file.

In conclusion, it is a right for every user to control their device, and while Xiaomi’s ecosystem is dedicated to keeping all devices up to date, sometimes stability is more important than novelty.