How to permanently disable updates to the robot vacuum cleaner Xiaomi: official and hidden methods

Automatic firmware updates in Xiaomi’s robot vacuum cleaners (including Mi Robot, Dreame and Viomi brands) are often a headache for users, and the manufacturer imposes new versions of the software that can degrade functionality, from intrusive notifications to complete navigation failure. For example, after updating to MIUI Robot 3.5.8_0043 Many Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop owners 2 Pro faced the fact that the vacuum cleaner began to ignore virtual walls and cleaning areas.

In this article, 5 proven ways to disable updates, including official settings in the Mi Home/Dreamehome app and hidden methods for power users. We tested the instructions on models from 2018 to 2026, including the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop P, Dreame D9 and Viomi V3. All methods do not require root rights and do not violate the warranty if executed correctly.

Why you should disable updates: real cases from practice

Manufacturers market updates as “improvements,” but in practice they often cause more problems, and here are typical complaints from users after a firmware upgrade:

• 🔄 Resetting: The vacuum cleaner forgets stored room maps, cleaning schedules and suction settings (often found after upgrading to firmware 3308 on Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Lite).
• 🚫 Blocking features: In some regions (e.g. the EU) after the update, turbo or wet cleaning options are disabled due to “environmental regulations".
• 🐢 Slowdown: New navigation algorithms could increase cleaning time 30–40% (Confirmed by Dreame tests Z10 Pro after updating to 4.6.0_2112).
• 🔌 Problems with charging: After upgrade to MIUI Robot 3.5.6 Some vacuum cleaners stopped correctly determining the battery level, showing 100% at real 60%.

According to a survey on the 4PDA forum, 68% of owners of Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaners have experienced a deterioration in work after an update, while rolling back firmware to the previous version by official methods is impossible - the manufacturer blocks downgrade.

Method 1: Disable updates in the Mi Home/Dreamehome app

The easiest method is to use the built-in app settings. It is suitable for most models, including the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2, Dreame D9 Pro and Viomi V2 Pro. Importantly, this method does not guarantee 100% blocking, since the manufacturer can force the update through the cloud.

Instructions:

1. Open the Mi Home app (or Dreamehome for Dreame vacuum cleaners).
2. Go to the Devices tab and select your vacuum cleaner.
3. Press three points (⋮) top-right → Settings.
4. Scroll down to the About Device → Firmware Update.
5. Turn off the Automatic Update switch (in some versions of the application, this item may be called Update automatically).

If there is no automatic update, then your model is using a cloud-based update system (see Method 3).

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI Robot 3.5.4_0039) After disabling automatic updates in the application, the vacuum cleaner can still download the new version when connecting to Xiaomi servers. 4 (lockdown DNS).

Method 2: Restricting Internet access (for Wi-Fi models)

If your vacuum cleaner is connected to your home Wi-Fi network, you can block access to update servers through router settings, which works 100% for all models, but requires access to the router's administrator panel.

Steps for popular routers:

How to find out MAC-vacuum-dress:

1. In the Mi Home app, go to device settings → About device → Network information.
2. Or look at the sticker on the bottom of the vacuum cleaner (usually the MAC is listed next to the serial number).

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If your router does not support blocking by MAC or domains, you can use an alternative method: connect the vacuum cleaner to a separate network (guest Wi-Fi) without access to the Internet. To do this, in the router settings, create a second network with Internet Access disabled.

Method 3: Lockdown DNS-Update servers (for advanced users)

This is a method that works for those who are willing to dig a little bit into network settings, and the idea is to redirect vacuum cleaner requests to update servers to "empty" IP-Addresses, thereby interrupting communication with Xiaomi.

Instructions:

1. Go to the router control panel (usually at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1).
2. Find the DHCP or Local Network section.
3. Add static binding IP for the vacuum cleaner (specify it) MAC-address and assign a fixed IP, for example, 192.168.0.200).
4. In the router server DNS settings or in the hosts file on the router itself (if supported), add the following entries: 127.0.0.1 ota.mi.com 127.0.0.1 api.io.mi.com 127.0.0.1 app.mi.com
5. Save the settings and restart the router.

For routers with OpenWRT or DD-WRT firmware, you can use more flexible firewall rules, for example, add to /etc/firewall.user:

iptables -I FORWARD -d ota.mi.com -j DROP


iptables -I FORWARD -d api.io.mi.com -j DROP

⚠️ Attention: After blocking DNS The vacuum cleaner may stop syncing cleaning cards with the Xiaomi cloud. If you are interested in this feature, use a non-existent 127.0.0.1 instead of a non-existent one. IP (0.0.0.0, for example, will avoid connection errors.

Method 4: Disable updates via ADB (only for Android tablets in the docking station)

This method is relevant for owners of vacuum cleaners with a docking station that are controlled through an Android tablet (for example, Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Ultra or DreameBot X30 Ultra). In such models, the vacuum cleaner firmware is updated through the tablet and can be blocked at the system level.

This will require:

• 🔧 Computer with drivers installed ADB (You can download from the Android Developers website).
• 📱 Initiated debugging mode USB dock-board.
• 🔌 USB-cable.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the docking station tablet to your computer and allow debugging over USB.
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type: adb devices Make sure the device is defined.
3. Block the update service: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.mitv.upgrade adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.ota
4. Reboot tablet: adb reboot

After that, the automatic vacuum cleaner firmware updates will be disabled. To get it back, use the command:

adb shell pm enable com.xiaomi.mitv.upgrade

Method 5: Physically disabling the Wi-Fi module (extremely)

If software methods don't work, and updates continue to mess up the vacuum cleaner, you can take drastic measures to turn off the Wi-Fi module physically, which will permanently solve the problem with updates, but will deprive you of the ability to remotely control through the application.

How to do this:

1. Remove the top cover of the vacuum cleaner (usually it is attached to latches or screws under the cross screwdriver).
2. Find a Wi-Fi module is a small board with an antenna connected to the main board via a connector (usually marked as a WiFi Module or ESP8266).
3. Carefully unplug the plume or remove the module from the connector. In some models (for example, Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum 1S) the solder module - in which case it must be cut or closed with a foil screen.
4. Get the vacuum cleaner back.

After that, the vacuum cleaner will be offline, it can only be controlled from physical buttons on the case, cleaning cards and schedules will be stored in the device's memory, but they will not sync with the cloud.

⚠️ Attention: Physical interference with the vacuum cleaner design will void the warranty. If you are not sure about your skills, it is better to contact the service center or use software methods to block updates.

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Disabling the Wi-Fi module is the only way to 100% prevent forced upgrades, but it deprives the vacuum cleaner of all “smart” functions. Use this method only if other options have not worked, and updates critically spoil the device.

What to do if the vacuum cleaner has already been updated and is not working properly

If you missed the moment of updating and the vacuum cleaner started to glittle, there are several ways to bring it back to life:

• 🔄 Reset to factory settings: Most models do this by holding down power buttons + Home within 10 seconds. Attention: after the reset, you'll have to reset the maps and schedule.
• 📥 Old version manual firmware: For some models (e.g. Dreame) D9) Enthusiasts post archives with previous versions of firmware on forums like 4PDA or XDA Developers. The firmware is done through USB-cable and special utilities (for example, DreameTool).
• 🔧 If the vacuum cleaner after the update completely stopped turning on (for example, stuck on the Mi logo), you can try to reflash it through the service. USB-In official service centers Xiaomi this service is provided for a fee (from 1500 rubles).

Important: Before any firmware manipulation, back up your cleaning cards. Go to vacuum cleaner settings → Maps → Export (if available) in the Mi Home app.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner updates