How to Remove Downloaded Update on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Why users want to remove the update to Xiaomi

Downloaded but not installed MIUI update can take up from 500 MB to 3 GB of internal memory – critical for devices with Xiaomi Redmi 9A or POCO M3, where free space is always in short supply. Moreover, some updates contain hidden bugs that lead to overheating of the processor or accelerated battery discharge (relevant for MIUI versions 14.0.3-14.0.6 based on Android 13).

Another common situation is that you have to install an update through notifications, and the system can remind you of a pending update every day, blocking access to certain features (like Settings → About phone) until the user agrees to install, which is annoying, especially if you prefer to stay on a stable version of the software.

Finally, some enthusiasts deliberately refuse to update to keep the bootloader unlockable or custom firmware available. For example, after upgrading to MIUI 15 on the Xiaomi 13 Pro, the method of unlocking via fastboot oem unlock stops working - it requires a 7-day wait.

Method 1: Remove through the "Software Update" menu

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which is suitable for all models (including Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 12T) if the update has not yet started to install automatically.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to the About Phone section.
3. Slip on the item MIUI Update.
4. In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and select Remove the downloaded package.
5. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

If the item Remove the downloaded packet is inactive (grey), it means:

• 🔄 Update is already installed (check version) MIUI In Settings → The phone).
• 📥 The update pack is not in memory (it may have been deleted automatically after restarting).
• 🔒 The device is in forced update mode (relevant for beta testers).

💡

If the packet reappears after a few hours after removal, turn off automatic update downloads in Settings. → Update MIUI → Settings (⚙) → Auto-update

Method 2: Manual deletion through file manager

If the standard method didn't work, you can manually find and delete the update file. The folder with the downloaded MIUI packets is usually along the way:

/sdcard/Download/rom/


or




/sdcard/DownloadedRom/

Instructions:

1. Open any file manager (such as embedded Files or MiXplorer).
2. Go to Download or DownloadedRom folder.
3. Find a file with the name of the species miui_*.zip (e.g, miui_GLOBAL_14.0.5.0.TKQMIXM_*.zip).
4. Hold your finger on the file → select Delete.

Enable the display of hidden files in the file manager settings

Check the free space on the device (needs a minimum of 100 MB)

Backup of important data

Restart the phone after removal-->

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files from the folder /system or /data — This can lead to a critical system failure and the need to flash through Fastboot.

Method 3: Recovery Mode Removal

If the update file is stuck in the system and is not deleted through the file manager, Recovery Mode will help, which works even without root rights, but requires caution:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select the language (usually English or ).
4. Go to Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
5. Confirm the cache cleanup (this will delete temporary update files).
6. Go back to the main menu and select Reboot → Reboot to System.

⚠️ Warning: Do not select Wipe Data or Factory Reset, which will result in complete data loss (photos, contacts, messages).If the Recovery menu does not have Wipe Cache option, your device uses stock Recovery from Xiaomi, where functionality is limited.

Method 4: Use of ADB (for power users)

If previous methods didn’t work, you can uninstall the service pack via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting your phone to your computer and basic command line knowledge, and is suitable for devices with an unlocked bootloader or USB debugging enabled.

Instructions:

1. Turn on Developer Mode (7 times tap the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone).
2. Activate Debugging by USB in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your trust in your computer.
4. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb shell


su




rm -f /sdcard/Download/rom/*.zip




rm -f /sdcard/DownloadedRom/*.zip




exit




exit

If the su command doesn't work, you don't have root rights, so try an alternative way:

adb shell rm -f /sdcard/Download/rom/*.zip

💡

ADB-commands delete files irrevocably. Before executing, make sure that the folders do not contain important data (for example, backup copies).

Method 5: Recoil through the Mi Flash Tool (extreme case)

If the update has already started to install and has “hang” during the verification phase, and the phone has stopped loading, you will need a full flash flashing through the Mi Flash Tool. This method erases all data, so use it only if:

• 📵 The device does not turn on or load into Fastboot.
• 🔄 The update was interrupted and caused a bootloop (cyclic reboot).
• 🛠️ Other removal methods did not work.

Step-by-step:

1. Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware website (choose the Fastboot version).
2. Uncancel the firmware file into a folder without Cyrillic characters.
3. Install the Mi Flash Tool on your PC.
4. Transfer the phone to Fastboot mode (clip Power + Volume down).
5. Connect the device to your PC and in the Mi Flash Tool, select the folder with the firmware.
6. Press Refresh, then Flash (select Clean all option for full cleanup).

⚠️ Warning: After flashing through the Mi Flash Tool, the phone will return to factory settings, and all data (including photos in internal memory) will be permanently deleted. If you have enabled Find My Device or Mi Cloud services, log in to the same account after firmware to unlock your device.

Xiaomi 13/14 Series

Redmi Note 11/12

POCO F/X series

Xiaomi Mi 11 or older

Another model-->

How to prevent automatic download of updates

To avoid re-downloading unnecessary updates, disable automatic MIUI updates:

1. Go to Settings. → Update MIUI.
2. Slap the gear icon (⚙) top-corner.
3. Turn off the options: 🔄 Auto-update 📥 Download automatically over Wi-Fi 🔔 Notify of new versions

For devices running MIUI 14+ (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Lite), the path may be different:

Settings → About Phone → Update MIUI → Settings (⚙) → Update → Manually Update

If even after disabling auto updates, the system continues to download packages, try:

• 📵 Limit background activity of the application Update MIUI In Settings → Annexes → Application management → Update MIUI → Battery → Limit background activity.
• 🚫 Use a firewall (such as NetGuard) to block Internet access for the com.android.updater process.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When you delete updates, users face typical problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If after removing the update, the phone began to slow down or issue errors, reset the cache:

1. Turn off the device.
2. Press Power + Volume up to enter Recovery.
3. Choose Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
4. Reboot the phone.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions