Xiaomi smartphone owners often encounter an intrusive alert system that regularly suggests checking for a new version of the operating system.This can be annoying, especially if you prefer the stability of the current build or you have custom firmware installed, where official updates can disrupt the device.
Fortunately, the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS provide several ways to block these requests. You can limit background activity of the system application "Update" or completely deny it access to the network. Below we will discuss in detail all available methods, from simple settings to advanced commands via the computer.
Before you start blocking, it’s worth understanding that disabling notifications doesn’t delete already downloaded firmware files, it just stops bothering you with reminders. However, if you decide to block Internet access for the system component, automatic booting will become impossible.
Why does the system need to be updated constantly?
The main reason for the intrusion is the company’s policy to maximize user coverage with current security patches. Xiaomi’s algorithms are set to prioritize displaying a banner with a new version of Android or a security patch, often immediately after connecting to Wi-Fi or when the device is down.
Updater’s system application has high privileges and can run in the background, checking servers even when you have closed all windows. In some regions (especially global firmware versions), the aggression of update advertising is higher than in Chinese builds, due to the marketing strategy of promoting new features.
⚠️ Warning: Blocking updates could leave your smartphone vulnerable to known exploits if you don't follow the security news yourself.
In addition, there are so-called “recommended” updates that the system marks as critical, even if they are not. MIUI user interface is specifically designed to make the “Update” button the most visible, and the cancellation button the hidden or less bright. Understanding this mechanics helps to calm down the constant requests.
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If you use your smartphone to work with sensitive data, it’s best not to turn off security updates completely, but simply to hide notifications.
Disconnection through the settings of the “Update” application
The simplest and most secure method, which doesn't require a computer connection or special rights, is in the back of the update app's menu, where you can turn off notifications and prevent automatic downloading of files, which is a basic level of protection against intrusive banners.
To start, find the standard Update app (an icon with the MIUI or HyperOS logo) in the list of all programs or through a search. Open it and click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the screen. In the drop-down menu, select Settings. You will see a list of parameters that control the behavior of the system.
☑️ Set up updates
In the list you have to find and deaktivirovat (turn off) the following options:
- 📉 Autoboot – will prohibit downloading packages in the background.
- 🔔 Notifications – remove the icon from the status bar and pop-ups.
- 📶 Downloading over Wi-Fi – an additional barrier to download.
Once these settings are changed, the system will no longer initiate the verification process on its own, but in some firmware versions, the Notifications option may be missing or inactive, and then you need to move to more radical methods of managing applications through the phone’s general settings menu.
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Changing the settings inside the Update app is the first mandatory step, which removes 80% of visual noise, but does not block network access completely.
Restriction of background activity and network access
If internal settings don't work or if the right points are missing, you need to limit the rights of the application at the operating system level, which is effective for MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS. We will prohibit the application from working in the background and surfing the Internet, which will actually "freeze" its functionality.
Go to Settings → Applications → All Apps. Find the Update app (may be called Updater or have a system logo) and tap it to open the management menu. Here we are interested in the Other Permits or Application Permissions section.
You need to disable the following permissions:
- 🚫 Background start – the application will not be able to activate itself.
- 🌐 Mobile data and Wi-Fi – a complete ban on network access.
- 📢 Notifications – if the item is available for editing.
⚠️ Note: After the network is denied, the update icon may continue to hang if the file has already been downloaded before, in which case the firmware file will have to be manually deleted through the file manager.
It is also useful to clear the application data. In the same menu, click Memory and select Clear → All Data. This will delete the cache and temporary files that can trigger a reappearance of the notification. After this procedure, the system will "think" that you have never checked the updates.
| Action. | The effect | Risks. |
|---|---|---|
| Shutting down autoboot | Saving traffic | Minimum |
| Banning background activity | Reducing CPU load | Notifications may not come |
| Network access ban | Complete check lockdown | Inability to update manually |
| Clearing the data | Resetting of verification status | Resetting the application settings |
What if the system has enabled access to the network?
Using ADB to completely block the component
The most reliable way that works on even the latest versions of HyperOS is to use USB debugging and the ADB command line, which allows you not only to limit, but completely freeze or remove the system service pack for the current user.
First, you need to activate the developer mode. Go to Settings. → About the phone and quickly press 7 times on the item "Version" MIUI» Or "OS version." Then on the "Additional" menu» → «For developers, include “Debugging by USB». Connect your smartphone to your computer with a cable.
On your computer, open the command line (terminal) in the ADB tool folder and enter the following command to check the connection:
adb devicesYou'll see a debugging request on your phone screen, click "Allow." If the device serial number appears in the terminal, the connection is established. Now, execute the command to block the service pack:
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.updater⚠️ Note: pm disable-user command is reversible, but requires caution. Do not disable other system packages unless you know exactly what they are responsible for, otherwise the phone may go into a cyclical reboot.
Once you have completed the command, the Update app will disappear from the menu and all associated processes will cease. Notifications will no longer arrive guaranteed. If you want to return the ability to update, use the command: adb shell pm enable com.android.updater.
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The ADB method is the only 100% guaranteed way to get rid of updates on newer versions of Android, where standard settings can be ignored by the system.
Delete downloaded update files
Often you have disabled notifications, but the memory is occupied, and there is a download icon in the curtain, because the firmware file is already downloaded and lies in a hidden folder, and to free up space (usually 3-5 GB) and remove the visual indicator, the file must be manually deleted.
Open a standard MIUI Explorer or any file manager (such as Total Commander or FX File Explorer) and you need to access hidden system folders.
Internal memory. → downloaded_rom
Inside this folder, you'll see a file with the.zip extension and a long name that contains the firmware version. Just delete this file. downloaded_rom empty, but the place is taken, check the folder MIUI → downloaded_rom. After deleting the file, restart the device so that the system stops displaying boot indicators.
- 📂 Use a file manager with root or access rights Android/data, if the standard conductor does not see the folder.
- 🗑️ Do not delete other files in system folders, only archives with firmware.
- 🔄 After removal, it is advisable to clean the cache of the “Update” application again.
Possible problems and solutions
Even after all the manipulations, there may be nuances, such as after a major Android update (change version, for example, from 13 to 14), permission settings may reset, and the system will again check the updates, in which case the restriction procedure will need to be repeated.
Another common problem is the appearance of ads inside the Update app itself or in MSA (MIUI System Ads) services. Blocking updates does not always turn off ads. You need to go to the password and security settings separately → Access to personal data and disable msa, miuiDaemon, Analytics.
If you used ADB to turn off, but the phone started to behave strangely (for example, the Find Device feature does not work or time is reset), it is possible that the update package is associated with other services of Google or Xiaomi.