How to permanently disable updates on Xiaomi Mi 9: from simple ways to ADB-team

Automatic updates on the Xiaomi Mi 9 can be a real headache: they eat up traffic, drain the battery in the background and sometimes lead to unstable smartphone performance after installing a new firmware. This is especially true for owners of the Mi 9 (codename cepheus), where MIUI updates are not always optimized for old hardware. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to disable updates from standard settings to hidden commands for developers.

It is important to understand that Xiaomi actively resists users’ attempts to block updates: after resetting settings or reflashing, many restrictions return. So we will consider not only temporary solutions, but also methods with deep blocking through ADB, changing system files and even rolling back to a stable version of MIUI. If you are tired of constantly notifying about new versions of the software, this guide is for you.

Why MIUI updates to Xiaomi Mi 9 can be harmful

On paper, the updates are supposed to improve the smartphone, but in practice, Mi 9 owners face the opposite effect.

• 🔋 Increased battery consumption: Background downloads of updates (especially large 1.5–2GB packets) can eat up to 15–20% of charge per night.
• 📶 Unpredictable traffic: MIUI It downloads updates even on the mobile Internet, unless it's configured otherwise.
• 🐢 Slowing down the system: New versions MIUI (13+ ) Optimized for fresh iron, and Mi 9 with Snapdragon 855 begins to “brake” after the upgrade.
• 🚨 Critical bugs: Users report problems with the camera, fingerprint sensor and Bluetooth after updates (e.g. in versions) MIUI 12.5.7 and 13.0.4).

According to statistics from Xiaomi Community, about 30% of Mi 9 owners refuse to upgrade after the first negative experience, and the company does not provide an official way to disable them – all methods described below require manual actions.

⚠️ Attention: Disabling updates deprives you of security patches.If you use your smartphone to make payments or store sensitive data, weigh the risks.The alternative is to manually install only critical patches via Recovery.

Method 1: Disable updates through standard MIUI settings

The simplest method, which works on all versions of MIUI (10 to 14), but has a limitation: Xiaomi can reset these settings after rebooting or updating Google services.

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Slap the icon. ⚙️ (gear) in upper right corner.
3. Turn off the “Automatic booting over Wi-Fi” slider.
4. Select “Never” below in the Update Check Frequency section.
5. Go back and click Remove the downloaded update (if any).

This method does not block notifications of new versions of MIUI, but will appear in the curtain, and to remove them, you need to use the methods in the following sections.

Method 2: Blocking notifications about updates

If you're annoyed by the constant pop-ups that suggest you upgrade, you can turn them off separately, and that won't stop you from downloading updates in the background, but at least it will eliminate annoying reminders.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, type “Update” and select System Update (or Updater).
3. Slip Notifications and turn off all sliders.
4. For reliability, block AutoRun: go back and select AutoRun → Block.

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 12.5 for the global version), AutoRun may not be available, in which case the background activity may be limited:

• 📵 In the same System Update menu, select Battery → Limit background activity.
• 🔒 Disable access to mobile data and Wi-Fi in the Data Use section.

⚠️ Note: After major updates MIUI (So, for example, 12 to 13, you reset those settings, and you have to do it again.

Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work, you’ll need to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which is guaranteed to block system-level updates, but requires a PC connection and basic command line knowledge.

Preparation:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
3. Download ADB Tools on PC and unpack the archive.
4. Connect the Mi 9 to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.

Now execute commands in the terminal (command line) in order:

adb shell


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




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

These teams:

• 🗑️ Remove the standard application System Update for the current user.
• 🔇 Blocking its re-launch.

After the smartphone reboot, the updates will be permanently disabled until you execute a reverse command or reset the settings.

Method 4: Modifying system files (root access)

For the most determined root users, there is a radical method: removing the system files responsible for updating, an irreversible process that will make it impossible to update using standard tools (only manually through Recovery).

Instructions:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Mi Account and wait 7-14 days).
2. Install custom Recovery (such as TWRP) and get root through Magisk.
3. Use Root Explorer or Mixplorer to get on the path: /system/priv-app/Updater/
4. Delete or rename files: Updater.apk Updater.odex
5. Reboot your smartphone.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Complete removal of the update mechanism (will not recover even after resetting).
• ✅ Released. ~50–100 MB of system memory.

Risks:

• ❌ Loss of warranty (if it is still valid).
• ❌ Inability to renew OTA (Only through fastboot or recovery).
• ❌ Potential security issues (no patches for vulnerabilities).

💡

Before deleting system files, make a backup folder /system/priv-app/Updater/ on SD-This will allow you to restore the update function if necessary.

Method 5: Reverse to a stable version of MIUI

If you are not satisfied with the current firmware, but you do not want to completely disable updates, you can manually install a stable version of MIUI that works without failure. For Xiaomi Mi 9, these are considered:

How to install the old version:

1. Download the firmware you need with Xiaomi Firmware Updater (choose Stable for cepheus).
2. Rename the file to update.zip and place it in the root of the phone’s memory.
3. Go to Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system → ⋮ → Select a firmware file.
4. Confirm the installation and wait for the reboot.

⚠️ Warning: If you roll back on an older version of Android (for example, from 12 to 11), be sure to reset to factory settings (Wipe Data in Recovery.

💡

Reverse to the old version MIUI — The only way to get back to stable is if the current firmware is slowing down. But remember, after a rollback, the automatic update may turn on again, so combine this method with the ADB-lock-in.

What to do if updates are still installed

Sometimes Xiaomi ignores user settings and enforces updates, and this is what will help in this situation:

• 🛡️ Firewall Block: Install NetGuard app (no root) and deny internet access for System Update.
• 🔄 Disconnecting Google Services: Some updates come through Google Play Services. Go to Settings → Accounts. → Google → Sync your account and disable Auto-Update apps.
• 📡 Use of the VPN Domain blocking: Set up AdGuard or Blokada to block domains: update.miui.com api.update.miui.com data.miui.com

If the update has already been downloaded and is trying to install:

1. Reboot your smartphone in Recovery (clip Power + Volume up).
2. Select Wipe → Wipe Cache (this won’t delete your data).
3. Go back to the main menu and reboot.

This will interrupt the installation process, but it will not delete the downloaded file. To erase it, use the File Manager and find the /cache/ota folder.

FAQ: Frequent questions about updates on Xiaomi Mi 9