How to disable the update on Xiaomi: a step-by-step guide

Users of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face an obsessive desire to upgrade to a new version of MIUI or HyperOS. Sometimes the current build works stably, and the new software brings bugs, overheating or simply changes the familiar interface beyond recognition. In such situations, there is an urgent need to completely prohibit the device from searching and installing updates.

The Chinese-made Android shell system is designed so that standard methods can’t disable only one update service. The “Disable” button in the app menu is often inactive or hidden. However, there are proven ways to circumvent these restrictions using hidden settings, system commands, and server access locks.

In this article, we will look at all the current methods to “freeze” the current version of the firmware, you will learn to hide system components, block domains through the hosts file and use it. ADB-commands for deep deactivation of updater services, which will help keep your gadget performance at the current level.

Why you should turn off automatic updates

Many Xiaomi owners prefer not to update immediately after the release of a new version, because the first builds often contain critical errors that developers fix only in patches.

In addition, newer versions of the MIUI or HyperOS shell often require more resources. On older phones, this can lead to noticeable decreases in performance and increased power consumption, the battery starts to drain faster, and the heating of the case becomes noticeable even for simple tasks.

Another reason is the change in interface logic, because users are getting used to the arrangement of elements, and the sudden change in visual style is uncomfortable, and disabling updates allows you to preserve the ecosystem and functionality that you have already adapted to, and this is especially important for enterprise devices that require uniform software.

⚠️ Warning: Fully blocking security updates can leave your device vulnerable to new viruses and exploits. Use this method only if you are fully aware of the risks.

Method One: Hiding through Application Settings

The easiest, but not always the most effective, way is to try to disable the component through the standard application menu, which in some versions of the firmware allows you to temporarily stop the version-checking process, and you need access to a hidden menu of system processes.

To start, activate the developer mode if it is not already enabled. Go to Settings → About phone and quickly click 7 times on the MIUI version or OS version. After the notification that you have become a developer, go back to the main settings menu.

Now look for the additional settings → For developers. scroll down to the “Enable USB Sign-in” and activate it. Next, search for settings, type the word “update” or search for the system component of MIUI bootloader in the application list.

• 📱 Find the System Update app or «MIUI bootloader in the list of all programs.
• 🚫 Click the “Stop” or “Stop” button if it is active.
• 🗑️ Select “Clear Data” and “Clear Cache” to reset your current state.
• 🔒 Try to revoke rights if the system allows you to do so without root rights.

Unfortunately, in the latest versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14, the shutdown button is often blocked, in which case the system will automatically restart the service after a while, then you will have to resort to more radical measures, described below.

Use of hidden update menu

There's a special engineering menu in the MIUI shell that's designed to test updates, and this is where you can try to turn off automatic verification, and you use a special dial code to enter this menu.

Open the Phone app and dial ##6485##. If the code works, you'll see a table with technical information, and we're not so much interested in the information as the ability to navigate to the update check menu, which is sometimes available through this interface or adjacent items.

A more effective way is to find the “Update Check” item in the standard menu and click on the MIUI version icon (three dots in the corner or logo) several times in a row, which should open the extended menu, where sometimes the “Stop Autoupdate” option or the ability to select a server manually appears.

If you can find the automatic update switch, turn it off. It is also recommended to manually select a download server other than the current one, or leave the field blank if the system allows, which will create an artificial conflict when trying to connect to the server.

Blocking through the hosts file (Root and without Root)

The most effective method is to block the connection to the update servers at the system level, using a hosts file that redirects domain name requests to nowhere, which makes the phone “think” that the server does not exist.

If your device has Root rights, the process is simple. You need any file manager with access to the system partition (like Root Explorer or Solid Explorer). Go to /system/etc/hosts and add the following lines to the end of the file:

127.0.0.1 update.miui.com


127.0.0.1 update.intl.miui.com




127.0.0.1 api.miui.security.xiaomi.com




127.0.0.1 updater.miui.com

For devices without Root rights, it's a little bit more complicated. You'll need an app that can create local access. VPN-filter to block ads and trackers, such as Blokada or AdGuard. In the settings of such applications, you need to add a custom list of hosts or domains to block them.

Once you add the rules, be sure to restart the device. Check the method by trying to manually run the update. If the system says "failed to check for updates" or freezes during the checkout phase, then the lock is working correctly.

Deactivation through ADB (No Root Rights)

The most professional and reliable way to avoid super-user rights is to use the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) debugging bridge, which allows you to freeze system applications, making them invisible to the operating system, but leaving the possibility to return everything back.

First, get your computer ready. Download the Platform Tools package from Google's official website and unpack it. On your phone, turn on Debugging by Debugging. USB» Connect your smartphone to your PC with a cable and allow debugging on your device screen.

Open the Command Prompt (CMD) or PowerShell in the ADB folder and enter the command to check the connection:

adb devices

If you have a device that has device status on the list, you can move to lock, we need to disable the update packet.

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

In some regions or firmware versions, the name of the package may differ, such as com.miui.updater or com.xiaomi.disupdater. If the first command fails (the update icon is not lost or the process does not stop), try alternative packet names.

⚠️ Note: pm disable-user does not delete the application, but only hides it for the current user. To return everything as it was, use the command adb shell pm enable com.android.updater.

Comparison of blocking methods

The choice of method depends on your technical skills and the availability of Root-rights. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, which should be considered before starting the procedure.

Simply disabling through settings is the safest but least effective option.Blocking hosts is good for advanced users but requires caution when editing system files.ADB is the "middle ground," offering deep control without the need to hack the system.

Below is a table comparing the main characteristics of the methods considered:

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If you use the ADB method, write down the commands somewhere on paper. Once you reset your phone or update your firmware, the ADB settings will fly off, and you'll have to repeat the procedure.

Possible problems and solutions

You may encounter a number of difficulties in blocking updates: MIUI has self-healing mechanisms that can return disabled components after restarting or cleaning the cache.

Sometimes, after the application of locks, some system functions that depend on Xiaomi servers, such as topics or device search, stop working, in which case you need to analyze which domain was blocked by the redundant one and remove it from the list of exceptions.

If the phone starts to behave unstable, the best solution is to completely reset (Hard Reset) with pre-saving data, which will return the system files to their original state.

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The most reliable way is a combination of methods: blocking domains through the hosts/router plus application freeze via ADB. Double protection virtually eliminates accidental updates.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)