Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a situation where the device starts updating programs at the most inopportune moment, this can occur against the background of the mobile Internet turned on, which leads to rapid traffic consumption, or during active use of the phone, causing the interface to slow down.
MIUI and HyperOS are defaults for maximum software relevance, which should in theory ensure security and stability. However, in practice, automated processes often interfere by installing unnecessary functions or changing the user's interface without the user's knowledge. Disabling auto-updates is the first step to taking full control of your gadget.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can block updates, how to set up system settings, work with the Google Play store, and use advanced tools for advanced users, and the risks associated with abandoning new versions of the software.
Setup of the system bootloader Xiaomi
The first step to limit background activity is to set up the built-in application manager. In the MIUI and HyperOS shells, the system component is responsible for this process, which often ignores the general network settings. To access its settings, you need to open the Security application, which is preinstalled on each device of the brand.
Inside the security menu, find App Update, which is where the master switch for automatically downloading new versions of programs is hidden, and it is activated by default, and the system decides when and which apps to update, often prioritizing heavy games and Google services.
- 📱 Open the Security app on the desktop.
- ⚙️ Go to App Update (may be in the three-point menu).
- 🚫 Activate Auto Update and select No or Wi-Fi Only.
⚠️ Note: Even when selecting Wi-Fi Only mode, the system can update critical system components in the background if it deems it necessary for security.
It’s important to understand that settings on Xiaomi’s system bootloader take precedence over settings for individual stores. If you ban auto-update here but leave it enabled on Google Play, setting conflicts can cause updates to still download, so a comprehensive approach to configuration is needed.
☑️ Checking system settings
Managing Updates in Google Play Market
The main source of content for most users remains the Google Play store, which is independent of the system settings of MIUI, so you need to configure them separately, which is especially important, since many applications depend on Google services and update through this channel, ignoring system limitations.
To change the settings, go to the user profile by tapping the avatar in the upper right corner of the screen. In the menu that opens, select Settings, then Network Settings. Here you will find Application Auto Update. We recommend selecting the option Do not update apps automatically if you want to have full control over the process.
You can also customize updates for specific applications. If you want your bank or messenger to be updated always, and your games never, use customization. Go to the app page in the store, click three dots in the corner, and uncheck the box from the "Enable Auto Update."
| Setup parameter | Description of action | Impact on traffic |
|---|---|---|
| Through any network | Updates are downloaded immediately through 3G/4G/5G | High. |
| Only through Wi-Fi. | Download is possible only when connected to a wireless network | Low. |
| Not update | Complete ban on automatic download of updates | Absent. |
Don’t forget to check this section periodically, as major updates to the Google Play app itself can reset your settings to factory values.Manual configuration check once a month will help avoid unpleasant surprises with your mobile bill.
Disable updates for GetApps (Mi Store)
Xiaomi smartphone owners are familiar with GetApps (formerly the Mi Store), a service that often imposes installation of its own versions of programs that may differ from those in Google Play.
To stop this process, open the GetApps app and go to your profile. In the settings menu, look for App Auto Update. The logic is similar to Google Play, but there's a caveat: the store can try to update even those apps that have been installed from other sources, replacing them with their own versions.
- 🛍️ GetApps (Mi Store) App Launched).
- 👤 Click on the profile icon in the lower right corner.
- 🔧 Select Settings and find Auto Update.
- 📉 Set the value off or only through Wi-Fi.
⚠️ Note: Disabling GetApps does not remove the store from the device.To completely delete you will need superuser (Root) rights or use ADB-commands, as it is a system application.
Many users don’t know that GetApps can work even when the screen is off, and this causes the device to heat up and drain the battery. If you don’t use this store, it’s wiser to turn off its notifications and background activity completely through the App menu in the system settings.