How to completely disable updates on Xiaomi phone: system, MIUI and applications

Why users want to disable updates on Xiaomi and when they really need to

Updates to MIUI firmware and apps on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones are often a source of annoyance. Automatically downloading new versions in the background consumes traffic, takes up space in memory and can lead to unstable device performance, especially for owners of budget models with limited resources, such as the Redmi 9A or POCO M3, where each update significantly slows down the system.

But there are more compelling reasons to turn off updates:

• 🔋 Battery savings – background check updates discharge the battery by 5-15% per day.
• 📱 Maintaining stability - new versions MIUI Often contain bugs that impair productivity.
• 🛡️ Data security – some updates result in resetting or loss of root rights.
• 📶 Limited Internet – downloading firmware weighing 1-3 GB can exhaust the limit of mobile traffic.

It's important to understand that completely disabling updates has the downside: you lose security patches and new features, but if your Xiaomi is stable and the current version of MIUI is fine, there's no point in taking risks.

Method 1: Disable automatic MIUI updates through settings

The safest and most reversible method is to deactivate background checks through the standard menu, which is suitable for all modern firmware versions (MIUI 12-14) and does not require superuser rights.

Step instructions:

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to the About Phone section. → Update MIUI.
3. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings.
4. Turn off the sliders: 🔄 Automatic booting via Wi-Fi 📶 Automatic download via mobile network 🔔 Notifications of updates

30 days pause

Put off

Settings Open → About Phone → Update MIUI|

All sliders are disabled in the update settings |

30 days pause activated |

Reboot the phone to apply changes-->

Method limitation: this method only suspends the check for a month; after 30 days, the system will remind you of the update again; additional actions will be required to completely eliminate notifications (see Method 2).

⚠️ Note: Some models (Xiaomi 12 Pro, Redmi Note 11) may stop manually checking after automatic updates are disabled. To return it, you will have to reset your network settings to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting settings.

Method 2: Block notifications about updates through system applications

Even after the automatic download is disabled, the system continues to check for new versions and display notifications. To remove them, you need to limit the rights of the Updater application.

How to do this:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 In the search bar, type the Update and select the Updater app (the icon with the down arrow).
• 🔔 Tap Notifications and turn off all switches.
• 🚫 Go back and press Limit background activity.
• 🔒 In the Permissions section, disable access to the Warehouse and the Internet.

After this manipulation, Updater will become virtually useless — it will not be able to check or install updates, but will not interfere with the system, and if you need to return functionality, just turn back permissions and notifications.

💡

If other system features (such as themes or the cloud) have stopped working after Updater’s rights are restricted, try clearing the app cache in the same Application Management menu.

Method 3: Disable app updates in Google Play and Mi App Store

System updates aren't the only problem, and apps from Google Play and Mi App Store also update automatically, which can lead to:

• 📱 Increased traffic consumption (especially noticeable on mobile data).
• 🔋 Increased battery consumption due to background activity.
• 🚫 Loss of functionality (for example, after the Mi Fit update, some fitness trackers stopped working).

To disable auto-update:

1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. Slip on the profile avatar → Settings → Network settings.
3. Select Auto-Update Applications → Never.
4. For the Mi App Store, go to Settings → App Update and turn off automatic download.

If you need to block updates for specific applications:

• 📌 Find the app on Google Play.
• 🔧 Tap it on three points. → Remove from auto-update.
• 📱 For system applications (such as Mi Video or Mi Browser) use Settings → Annexes → [Name of the annex] → Notifications → Disable updates.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi apps (such as Security or Cleaner) are updated through the Package Installer system service. To block them, you will need to disable permissions for this service, but this may disrupt the installation. APK-file.

Method 4: Radical methods – disabling through ADB and removing Updater

If standard methods don’t work, and updates keep coming, you’ll have to resort to advanced techniques, which require connecting your phone to your computer and using the Android Debug Bridge (ADB).

Warning: these methods can lead to unstable system operation or loss of warranty.We recommend that you back up your data before starting.

Instructions for deactivation through ADB:

1. 🖥️ Install Platform Tools on PC.
2. 📱 Turn on Debugging. USB on the phone: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Tap 7 times to activate the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB.
3. 🔌 Connect your phone to your computer and confirm your trusted device.
4. 📋 Open the command line in the adb folder and execute: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.updater adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.updater

These commands will completely remove the Updater app for the current user. To return it, you will need to reset or manually install the APK. Alternatively, freeze the app via ADB:

adb shell pm hide com.android.updater

To block system application updates (such as Mi Security or Mi Account) use:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.securitycenter

💡

Disabling through ADB is the most reliable way, but it requires technical skills. If you are not sure about your actions, it is better to focus on standard methods (Methods 1-3).

Method 5: Using third-party tools (without root)

If you don't want to mess with ADB, you can use specialized utilities that allow you to block updates without making deep changes to the system.

Popular applications for this task:

• 🛡️ App Ops – manages permissions for system applications, including Updater. ADB (adb shell pm grant com.limboemu.appops android.permission.GET_APP_OPS_STATS).
• 🔧 Package Disabler - allows you to disable system services responsible for updates. Works without root, but you need rights ADB.
• 📱 MIUI Hidden Settings – reveals hidden settings MIUI, including update options. Available on Google Play.

Example of working with App Ops:

1. Install the app from GitHub.
2. Find the MIUI Update (Updater) in the list.
3. Turn off permissions: 🌐 Internet access 📁 Warehouse 🔔 Display of notifications

Advantage: does not require deletion of system files, changes are reversible, disadvantage: some applications (for example, Package Disabler) can conflict with MIUI and cause errors.

Method 6: Completely remove Updater via TWRP (for advanced users)

If you're willing to go to extreme lengths and have a custom TWRP recavator installed, you can physically remove update files from the system partition, a method that's suitable for users with unlocked bootloader and root rights.

Step-by-step:

1. 📱 Boot in. TWRP (hold on to food + Volume up when switched on).
2. 🔧 Go to Advanced. → File Manager.
3. 📁 Delete the following folders and files: /system/priv-app/Updater /system/app/Updater /data/app/com.android.updater* /cache/ota (Here are the downloaded firmwares)

🔄 Reboot the phone.

After that, Updater will be gone forever, but be prepared for some features (like checking firmware relevance via ##54298###) to stop working.

⚠️ Note: Deleting system files may result in bootloop ( looped boot) or loss of functionality MIUI. Before manipulation, be sure to create a backup copy through TWRP → Backup by selecting System and Data.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after the updates are disabled, users face unexpected challenges, and let's look at typical situations and how to fix them.

If after manipulating the updates, the phone stopped turning on or got stuck on the MI logo, try:

• 🔄 Hard reset: clamping down on the power supply + Volume up for 10 seconds.
• 📱 Recovery with Fastboot: Fastboot Flash System system.img fastboot reboot
• 🔧 Flashing through Mi Flash Tool (requires PC and original firmware).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions