Owners of the legendary Redmi 5 Plus, also known as Vince, often face an obsession with the MIUI system to automatically update. While modern firmware versions bring new features, for this device with a Snapdragon 625 processor they can be fatal, causing overheating or critical slowdown. Many users prefer to stay on a stable version of Android 8.1 Oreo or even Android 7.1 Nougat to keep the gadget running.
Constant notifications of the new MIUI version are annoying and can lead to accidental installation of a “heavy” package that will turn a smartphone into a “brick” or significantly reduce battery life. Blocking this process requires a comprehensive approach, since Xiaomi uses several channels to check for updates. In this article, we will discuss all known methods, from simple settings to advanced manipulation of system files.
It is important to understand that completely disabling updates is a conscious step that deprives you of patches of security, but preserves the current stability of the system. Below we will look at proven ways that will help you forget about pop-ups forever with a suggestion to update MIUI. Follow the instructions carefully so as not to disrupt the operation of other system services.
Why you should block updates on Redmi 5 Plus
Redmi 5 Plus was released in 2017 and became a hit thanks to its excellent balance of features. However, Xiaomi’s support for this device has long been discontinued in terms of major Android updates, although MIUI patches can still come. Installing new versions of the shell on old hardware often leads to trottling (forced decrease in the frequency of the processor) and rapid battery discharge.
In addition, newer firmware versions often contain a modified system partition structure, which can cause root rights or custom TWRP receivers. If you have already set up your phone for yourself, installed the necessary Magisk modules and optimized the battery, a random update can reset all your efforts.
⚠️ Note: Installation of the latest official firmware available MIUI Redmi 5 Plus could lead to irreversible performance drops in everyday tasks and games.
Also worth mentioning is the risk of losing an unlocked bootloader. Some security updates can override vulnerabilities used to unlock or change the system integrity verification algorithms. For custom core enthusiasts, updating stock firmware is generally contraindicated without prior checkout of the cchlogging.
Disconnection through the settings of the MIUI Updater application
The easiest, but not the most reliable, way is to change the settings inside the update application itself. MIUI allows you to manage the frequency of checks in a user-friendly manner. First, go to the Settings menu, then select About Phone and click on the MIUI version icon.
In the window that opens, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Update Settings. Here you need to turn off Auto Update. It is also recommended to change the "Update Frequency" setting to "Do Not Check".
However, this method has a significant disadvantage: the system process Updater can ignore these settings in the presence of critical notifications from Xiaomi servers, and after cleaning the application cache, the settings can reset, so this method should be used only in conjunction with other, deeper methods of blocking.
Also remember to revoke the user agreement for the update service. In the settings menu, find Advanced Settings → Privacy → Statistics and Improvements Service (or a similar item in your version of MIUI) and disable data sending. This partially reduces the activity of background services associated with telemetry and updates.
Restriction of Updater App Rights in the Settings Menu
A more effective method is to completely restrict the MIUI Updater system application, so we need to ban it from the Internet and background activity. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications.
Search the System Update (or MIUI bootloader) app on the list, click on it and select Other Permits, you need to uncheck all check boxes, especially Wi-Fi and Mobile Data, without access to the network, the app will not be physically able to check for a new version.
☑️ Checking Updater's Restrictions
Next, in the same menu, find Battery or Energy Consumption. Set the background mode to No Limits (so that the system does not wake it up) or, conversely, in some versions of MIUI, setting a limit "No background activity" helps. Experiment with this option, as the logic of operation in different versions of MIUI 9, 10 or 11 may differ.
⚠️ Note: After updating the system itself MIUI (If you do decide to do so, permission settings can be reset by default and Internet access for Updater will return.
To fix the effect, it is also recommended to clear the data of this application. In the application menu, click Memory → Clear → All data. This will delete the cached files of the current validation and reset the timer until the next server survey.
Modification of the hosts system file to block servers
The most reliable method, working at the network level, is editing the system file hosts. This file allows you to redirect requests to certain domains to nowhere (local address 127.0.0.1). To do this, you will need root rights and a file manager with access to the system partition, such as Root Explorer or a file manager. MT Manager.
The hosts file is located on the /system/etc/hosts path. Open it for editing (don't forget to back up the original file!) and add the following lines at the end:
127.0.0.1 update.miui.com
127.0.0.1 update.intl.miui.com
127.0.0.1 api.miui.security.xiaomi.com
127.0.0.1 updater.miui.com
127.0.0.1 data.mistat.xiaomi.comOnce you save the file, be sure to restart the device. Now any attempts by the MIUI Updater app to contact the update servers will be blocked at the operating system level, which is effective even without disabling the rights in the settings menu.
What to do if the hosts file is not saved?
Using this method is especially relevant for users who want to completely isolate the phone from Xiaomi telemetry.Blocking stat domains not only prevents updates, but can slightly increase battery life due to the lack of background requests.
Using ADB commands to disable system packages
For advanced users who do not want to get root rights, the use of the tool is a great solution. ADB (Android Debug Bridge. This method allows you to freeze or completely disable the system update application, making it invisible to the system, USB-cable and installed drivers ADB.
Connect your smartphone to your PC, enable debugging over USB in the Developer Menu and execute the following command in the computer terminal:
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.updaterThis command disables the com.android.updater package for the current user (user 0). The app icon will disappear from the menu and the background processes will stop running. If you want to return everything as it was, use the command: adb shell pm enable com.android.updater.
| ADB Team Team | Action. | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| pm disable-user | Disable the application for the user | Low (can be returned) |
| pm uninstall | Complete removal (requires root or adb with flags) | Medium (more difficult to restore) |
| pm clear | Clearing the data and cache | Safe. |
Importantly, once you reset the settings to Factory Reset, all changes made through ADB will be reversed and the update app will be active again, so this method is ideal for your current phone session without deep file system interference.
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Use the ADB AppControl graphical shell for Windows if you're afraid of making commands wrong. It lets you disable Xiaomi system applications in one click through the interface.
Install custom ROM as an alternative to locking
If standard methods don’t seem reliable enough and the desire to get rid of MIUI is high, consider installing custom firmware. For Redmi 5 Plus (vince), there is a huge community of developers building stable builds based on LineageOS, Pixel Experience or Xiaomi.eu.
Custom firmware often lacks the intrusive services of Xiaomi and allows the user to decide when and what updates to install. Xiaomi.eu builds, for example, have a built-in Auto Update switch that works correctly and does not try to circumvent the user's desires.
However, installing a third-party OS requires unlocking the bootloader (via Mi Unlock's official website), which will result in the complete deletion of data from the phone.This is a radical but most effective way to extend the life of an old device and get a fresh version of Android without brakes.
⚠️ Warning: Unlocking the bootloader and installing a custom recavator will void the warranty (if it is still valid) and risk turning the device into a brick if you do the wrong thing!
The Redmi 5 Plus is especially popular with Android 10 and 11 firmware, which are even faster than the stock MIUI 9 on Android 7. It’s a great way to breathe a second life into the gadget, if you’re not scared by the initial complexity of the procedure.