How to cancel the update on Xiaomi phone: full instructions

MIUI updates on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones usually go smoothly, but sometimes users are faced with the need to cancel the process - whether due to errors in the new firmware, lack of space or simply wanting to stay on the verified version. Unlike a firmware rollback (a full return to the previous version), canceling the update means interrupting the current installation process or blocking the automatic download of new versions.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to cancel an update on Xiaomi, from simply resetting a stalled process to radical measures such as disabling update servers via hosts. MIUI During the update, you need specific actions to avoid turning the device into a brick. MIUI 12–14 and HyperOS (2026).

1. How to interrupt the update if the process has not yet begun

If you just received a notification about an available update or it loaded in the background but hasn't been installed yet, cancelling the process is the easiest thing to do.

• 📱 Delete the Update File: Go to Settings → The phone. → Update MIUI, Tap on the three dots in the top right corner and select Delete the downloaded packet. The file usually weighs 1.5-3 GB, so that will make room.
• ⚙️ Turn off automatic boot: in the same update menu, turn off the option Auto boot over Wi-Fi. This will prevent the firmware from rebooting.
• 🔒 Block notifications: Press the update notification and select Disable notifications for the Update app (called Updater on some firmware).

If the update file is already downloaded, but you don't want to install it, you can simply ignore the notification - MIUI will not force you to install the firmware without your confirmation, but remember that the next time you connect to Wi-Fi, the system may suggest that you update again.

⚠️ Note: If you deleted the update file, but the phone still offers to install the firmware – check the folder /sdcard/MIUI/downloaded_rom It's all over any file manager. Sometimes there's copies of the packages.

2.Cancel the update during installation (if the phone does not freeze)

If the upgrade process is already running (the progress bar is going off with percentages), but the phone is still responding to the presses, you can try to interrupt it without consequences.

1. Press and hold the Power button for 10-15 seconds until the screen goes out. On some models (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12), you may need to pinch Power + Volume up.
2. After the reboot, the phone should return to the previous version of MIUI. If a notification of a failed installation appears, just ignore it.

This method only works if the update has not yet reached the packet verification stage (usually the first 10-20% of the process), and if the progress bar has stalled by 50% or more, a forced shutdown can damage system files.

3.If the phone is stuck on the MIUI logo during the update

The most unpleasant situation is when the update hung during the installation phase, and the phone does not respond to any buttons, cyclically restarting or showing the logo. MIUI/HyperOS. There is no longer any need for radical measures.

Try a soft reset first:

• 🔄 Squeeze the power. + Volume up for 20-30 seconds until the device vibrates and reboots.
• 🕒 If the logo appears and disappears, wait 5-10 minutes: sometimes the system itself recovers after a long pause.

If the soft reset does not help, you will need to enter the Recovery mode:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power for 10+ seconds).
2. Press Power + Volume Up until the Recovery menu appears (on HyperOS it may look different).
3. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (this will delete all user data, but save the system).
4. After resetting, the phone should boot in its original state.

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO F5, Xiaomi 12T) After resetting via Recovery, you may need to re-activate your Mi Account. If you do not remember the password, use the official unlock tool from Xiaomi.

4. Full rollback to the previous version of MIUI (for experienced)

If the new firmware is already installed but is not stable, you can return the previous version of MIUI. This method requires an unlocked bootloader and is only suitable for users who are ready for the risk of “bricking” the device.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with drivers installed ADB/Fastboot and the Mi Flash Tool.
• 📦 Official firmware (Fastboot) ROM) for your model from the site MIUI Download.
• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (if not unlocked – use the official Xiaomi tool).

Step-by-step:

1. Transfer the phone to Fastboot mode: turn off the device, then press Power + Volume down.
2. Connect your phone to your PC and start the Mi Flash Tool.
3. Select the downloaded firmware file (.tgz) and press Refresh to allow the program to detect the device.
4. At the bottom, select Clean All (full reset) or Save User Data (save data, but may cause errors).
5. Press Flash and wait until it is completed (5-10 minutes).

On models with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/2 processor (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra), a self-return can block IMEI. In such cases, it is better to contact the service center.

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Before rolling back, check the firmware version in settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version). Only install the build that previously worked stable - new security patches may not support older versions.

5. How to permanently disable automatic updates

If you don't want to receive update notifications anymore, you can block them completely, and the methods vary in difficulty:

Method 1: Through MIUI settings (the easiest)

• 📵 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Update MIUI → Three points. → Settings.
• 🔕 Turn off Auto Boot over Wi-Fi and Update Notifications.

Method 2: Blocking through hosts (for root)

If you have root rights, you can block the update servers:

1. Open /etc/hosts via Root Explorer or Termux.
2. Add the lines: 127.0.0.1 update.miui.com 127.0.0.1 api.io.mi.com
3. Save the file and restart the phone.

Method 3: Remove the Updater system application (risky)

Only for experienced users with root or ADB:

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.updater

This will remove the Update app for the current user, but may disrupt some system features.

⚠️ Note: Blocking updates through hosts or removing Updater may cause problems getting important security patches. Use these techniques only if you are prepared for the risks.

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Disabling automatic updates does not prevent you from manually installing firmware via Recovery or Fastboot.You can always update manually if required.

6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When you cancel updates, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

• 🔴 Cannot verify update error: occurs when a corrupt firmware file is damaged, so you can download the package again from the official website and check its hash (SHA-1).
• 🔄 Cyclical reboot after reset: means system files are damaged.
• 🔒 Requires a Mi Account after reset: if you forget your account details, use official recovery or contact support.
• 📱 Phone not visible in Mi Flash Tool: check drivers ADB, try another USB-cable.

Another common mistake is to try to roll back on unofficial firmware (e.g. HyperOS to MIUI 13), which almost always ends in a bootloop (infinite reboot), as new devices do not support older versions of the software.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions