How to cancel and disable MIUI updates on Xiaomi

Many owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones face intrusive notifications about the release of a new version of the MIUI shell. Often these updates come to already well-functioning devices, promising new features that the user does not need, or fixing bugs that did not exist on his model. Instead of the expected improvement, the user gets overheated, reduced autonomy or the appearance of new advertising.

The company's update system is designed to insist on installing the latest software. It happens automatically in the background, consuming traffic and CPU resources. If you want to keep the current build stable and prevent potentially raw firmware from being installed, you need to manually block this process. In this article, we'll look at all the known methods, from simple menu switches to advanced ADB actions.

It’s important to understand that turning off updates completely prevents you from getting critical security patches, but if you’re using your phone on an isolated network or just prefer a time-tested version of the system, blocking updaters is a smart solution to optimize your device.

Why you should consider turning off automatic updates

Xiaomi’s policy is to support devices on a regular basis, but in practice it often means having to install heavy MIUIs on older models. Smartphones that worked well on Android 10 or 11 may start to slow down after the upgrade, because new features require more processing power than the processors of the past years already have.

In addition, updates often include changes to system services responsible for advertising. Blocking system applications updates through ADB is the only way to guarantee that ads in standard programs are removed without obtaining root rights. Users often notice that after an update, new banner ads appear in the standard Explorer or Music, which were not previously available.

Another reason is the loss of functionality. There are cases when a new version of the shell stopped working some custom themes, widgets or even unlock the bootloader became impossible due to changes in security policy. Keeping the current version of the software allows you to record the state of the system in a convenient way for you.

There is a perception that disabling updates increases security, but that's not always the case. On the other hand, if you don't visit questionable sites and install apps from unknown sources, the risk is minimal. The key is to be aware that you're taking responsibility for the relevance of security patches.

Disconnection through standard MIUI system settings

The easiest and safest way to prevent automatic downloads and updates is to use the built-in tools of the system. Xiaomi has left the option of manual control, although it has hidden it deep enough in the menu, which does not require a connection to the computer and does not violate the warranty.

You need to go to the settings menu first. Find About Phone and click on MIUI. This shows the current build. Next, click on the three dots in the top right corner of the screen and select Update Options. This is where the key switches are hidden.

In the menu that opens, you need to find the Auto Update option and put the slider in an inactive state, which will prevent the phone from downloading firmware files in the background on its own, and it is also recommended to turn off the Mobile Download option so that you do not accidentally waste traffic if the first switch resets.

• 📱 Go to Settings. → About the phone and click on the version MIUI.
• 🔘 Click on three dots in the corner and select “Update Options».
• 🚫 Turn off the switchboard "Auto Update" and "Boot over Wi-Fi».
• ✅ Make sure that the status of the updates now requires your manual confirmation.

It's worth noting that this is a soft lock, and the system may remind you of a new version from time to time, but it won't install it without your knowledge, which is the best option for those who just want to avoid accidental installation, but are not prepared for radical measures.

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Check for updates manually every few months to ensure you don’t miss critical security patches if they’re really important to your model.

Block Updater system components through application settings

If standard settings don’t help, or you want to make sure that the update process doesn’t start even accidentally, you can work directly on the Updater system application.This method is effective on most versions of MIUI and HyperOS, but requires careful execution.

The key is to clear the application data and stop it from doing so. First, look for the Apps section in the settings, then select All Apps. You need to find Component Update or Updater in the list. If the search doesn't work, click three dots and turn on the system processes.

Inside the app menu, click on Stop and then Clear Data and Clear Cache, which will delete temporary files and reset the update bootloader status. Then go back a step and find Other Permits or Permissions, where you want to deny the app network access (Wi-Fi and mobile Internet).

Without Internet access, Updater cannot physically check the server for new firmware, but it has a caveat: once the device is restarted or scheduled, the system can automatically re-enable network access for this process, so it is better to combine it with other methods.

⚠️ Warning: Do not remove the Component Update app entirely through third-party tools if you are unable to restore it, which may result in system errors or permanent error notifications.

Using ADB to completely remove or freeze the updater

The most radical and effective way is to use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) debugging tool, which allows you to not just disable, but freeze or remove the system package responsible for updates for the current user, which does not require superuser rights (Root), but requires the presence of a computer.

To start, turn on the developer mode on your smartphone. To do this, quickly click on the MIUI version 7 times in the About Phone menu. Then go to Settings → Advanced Settings → For developers and activate the Debugging by USB option. Connect the phone to the PC with a cable.

On the computer, you need to run the command line or terminal in the folder with ADB. Enter the command to check the connection:

adb devices

You'll see a request for debugging permission on your phone screen, confirm it. Once you've successfully connected, you'll run a command to disable the update pack:

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

This command makes the application invisible and inactive to the main user. In the interface, it will disappear, 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.

• 💻 Connect your smartphone to your PC and activate debugging mode USB.
• 🖥️ Launch it. ADB on the computer and enter a command to disable the package.
• 🔍 Make sure the Update app is missing from the installed list.
• 🔄 To return the functionality, use the enable command to ADB.

Comparison of blocking methods: efficiency table

The right way to choose depends on your technical skills and the degree of protection you want from updates. Simple switching off in settings is convenient for beginners, but less reliable. Using ADB gives the maximum result, but requires caution. Below is a comparison of the basic methods.

As you can see from the table, the middle ground for most users will be a combination of shutting down settings and denying network access for a system application, which provides a sufficient level of protection without the need to use a computer.

Blocking at the level of router and file hosts

For those who want to create an insurmountable barrier, there is a method of blocking requests at the network level. You can configure your Wi-Fi router so that it blocks smartphone requests to Xiaomi update servers, which will allow the phone to work on the Internet, but not to see the server with firmware.

In the router settings (parental control, firewall or URL Filter) you need to add lock rules for the following domains:

• 🌐 update.miui.com
• 🌐 update.c.mi.com
• 🌐 api.device.miui.com
• 🌐 resolver.msg.xiaomi.net

The alternative is to edit the hosts file on the device itself, but that requires Root rights. If you have them, you can add the update domain redirect lines to the local address 127.0.0.1, which will make the phone think that the update servers are on the device and not responding.

This method is especially useful in corporate networks or if you have multiple Xiaomi devices in your home. By setting up lock once on the router, you will protect all connected gadgets at the same time.

⚠️ Note: When blocking domains on the router, make sure you do not block Mi Cloud or Mi Account services, otherwise the phone may lose the ability to synchronize contacts and search for the device.

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A comprehensive approach that combines phone settings and traffic filtering provides a 100% guarantee of no unwanted updates.

Possible impacts and problem-solving

Once you disable updates, you may find that some applications stop working properly or require a newer version of MIUI. These are rare cases, but they are possible. For example, new features in the smart home ecosystem may require up-to-date software.

If you've used ADB and you want to get it back, just turn it on. If you've changed your router settings, delete the filtering rules.

Check your important functions regularly. If you notice strange behavior, try temporarily allowing updates, installing the proposed patch, and locking the system again. Sometimes problems are temporary and fixed by subsequent hotfixes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)