Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face intrusive notifications from the pre-installed app store GetApps. This system service, which is analogous to Google Play, is set up by default to automatically update programs, which can lead to unexpected traffic and battery consumption.
Many users are wondering how to get rid of this component completely or at least stop it from doing its own thing. Unlike regular applications, GetApps is deeply integrated into the MIUI or HyperOS shell, so simple desktop removal is often unavailable or temporary.
In this article, we will discuss all available ways to deactivate the service, from standard system settings to using advanced methods through ADB. You will learn to block notifications, disable auto-updates and prevent the re-activation of hidden system processes.
What is GetApps and Why is it Constantly Active?
GetApps (formerly known as the Mi App Store) is Xiaomi’s official app store, preinstalled on all devices of the brand and designed to distribute software, games and themes, and the main reason for its constant activity lies in the system permissions that allow it to work in the background even after closing.
The main feature that annoys users is auto-update, the service periodically checks for new versions for installed programs, and if the settings are not limited to Wi-Fi, this process can occur over the mobile network, which leads to financial losses.
In addition, the app is often responsible for advertising notifications about discounts, new games or promotions. Even if you do not use this store, the system considers it an important component and tries to keep it up to date, which puts an extra burden on the processor.
- 📱 It is a system application with high privileges in Android.
- 🔄 Automatically launches software version verification services.
- 📢 Generates push notifications if marketing emails are not disabled.
It is important to understand that completely removing GetApps can disrupt some of the system functions that depend on the libraries of this store, but the right permissions can make it completely inactive for the user.
Basic setting: disabling auto updates within the application
The easiest and safest way to stop the constant updates is to change the internal settings of the store itself, a method that requires no connection to a computer and is available to every smartphone owner.
To start, look for the GetApps icon on your desktop or in all apps menus. Run it and go to the user profile, usually indicated by the person icon in the lower right corner, and here we're interested in the settings menu hidden under the gear.
☑️ Set up auto-updates
In the Auto Update section, you'll see a few options. The default is often "Wi-Fi Only." You need to select "Never" -- this action will prevent the store from downloading and installing service packs on its own.
⚠️ Note: After disabling auto updates, you will have to manually check for new versions in Google Play or GetApps to get security fixes.
Also on this menu, it is recommended to find the Notification item and remove all ticks associated with recommendations, promotions and “hot” new products, which will significantly clear the notification curtain from information noise.
Limiting background activity through Android settings
Even if you have banned auto-updates within the app, the service can continue to hang in memory. To completely freeze its operation, you need to use the Android system settings.
Go to Settings, then select the Apps (or "All Apps") section. Search GetApps in the list. If the search doesn't work, try clicking on three dots in the corner and select "Show System Processes."
Inside the app menu, you are interested in Autostart. Turn off this switch. This will prevent the system from starting the store when you turn on the phone. Next, look for Saving Charge (or "Activity Control") and select No Limits mode (in some versions of MIUI, you need to choose "Strict Limit", experiment with available options, the goal is to prohibit background work).
| Parameter | Recommended value | The effect |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-start | Off. | The app does not start when the phone is turned on |
| Background mode | Limited. | The service does not work when the screen is off. |
| Notifications | Forbidden. | Total absence of pop-up messages |
| Data (Mob network) | Forbidden. | Blocking traffic through SIM card |
Also remember to ban mobile internet and Wi-Fi from the Network and Internet section of the app settings, and if the app doesn't have network access, it won't be able to physically check for updates.
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If the "Outstart" option is not in the application menu, find it through the global search for settings for "Outstart" and disable GetApps in the general list.
Removing updates and cleaning up data
Sometimes the app store starts to behave incorrectly or continues to consume resources due to accumulated cache, in which case the reset to a factory state helps.
Return to the Apps → GetApps → Memory. Here you will see two buttons: Clear cache and Clear everything (or "Reset"). Click on reset. This action will return the application to the version that was installed in the factory, deleting all your settings and temporary files.
If you have a Remove Updates button on your device (often in the three-dot menu at the top right of the app information screen), make sure to use it.This will roll the system component back to the base version, which is often less voracious and lacks the latest ad modules.
Why can the deletion button be inactive?
After cleaning the data, you need to re-go through the procedure for banning auto-updates described in the previous sections, since all settings will be reset to factory values.
Radical method: Disconnection through ADB (for advanced)
If standard methods don’t work and you want to get rid of the app completely, you can use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) toolkit, which allows you to remove or disable system applications without Root rights.
To start, you’ll need a computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux) and a USB cable. On your smartphone, activate the developer mode: press 7 times the build number in the About Phone section. Then in the Advanced Settings menu → For developers, turn on USB Debugging.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.mipicksThis command will remove the GetApps store (com.xiaomi.mipicks) only for the current user. Physically, the files will remain in the system, but will stop downloading and working. If you want to return everything back, use the command:
adb shell cmd package install-existing com.xiaomi.mipicks- 💻 It requires a computer and USB-cable.
- ⚙️ No Root Rights Requires, Which Keeps Guarantee.
- 🔙 It makes it easy to restore the application if necessary.
⚠️ Note: Be careful when typing commands ADB. Removing mission-critical system packages (non-GetApps) could lead to a cyclical smartphone reboot.
Using ADB is the most effective way to freeze a service forever, and once you execute the command, the app icon will disappear and the processes will stop running.
Blocking via hosts file and DNS (network layer)
Another layer of protection is to prevent the smartphone from connecting to Xiaomi update servers, which can be done by writing the rules in the hosts file or configuring the DNS.
Root rights are usually required to change the hosts file on Android. DNS-filtering, you can do this without superuser rights. Go to Settings → Connection and sharing → Private DNS.
Enter a reliable address DNS-This server automatically blocks requests to known advertising and tracking domains, including analytics servers and GetApps updates.
This method will also help remove ads in other MIUI system applications, such as Explorer, Music and Themes, which is a complete privacy solution.
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Using a private DNS with filtering is the best way to remove ads and block network activity of system applications without deep interference with the system.