How to completely disable auto-update applications on Xiaomi: instructions for MIUI 12, 13 and 14

Automatic updates to Xiaomi apps often cause unexpected problems, from sudden consumption of mobile traffic to malfunctions after updates, especially for users with limited Internet bundles or owners of devices with low memory, where each update can eat precious megabytes. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to disable auto-update – both through standard Google Play settings and using hidden features of the MIUI shell (including versions 12, 13 and 14).

It’s important to understand that Xiaomi uses not only Google Play, but also its own app store GetApps, as well as the system of updates through MIUI Updater. Each of these components can independently download updates in the background. We will show you how to block all of them, including little-known methods for power users (for example, through ADB or limiting background activity). If you are tired of the fact that the phone will spontaneously update programs at the most inappropriate moment, this guide is for you.

Why Auto-Update Apps on Xiaomi Can Be Harmful

At first glance, automatic updates seem like a convenient feature: you don’t have to manually check for new versions, and security is good for you, but in practice, this mechanism has serious drawbacks, especially on Xiaomi devices:

• 📉 Uncontrolled traffic consumption: Even if you are connected to Wi-Fi, some applications (e.g. system services) MIUI) can be updated via a mobile network, which leads to additional costs.
• 🔋 Increased battery consumption: Background download updates activate the processor and communication module, reducing battery life by 10-15%.
• 📱 Overflow of memory. Many updates do not delete old update files by taking up to 1–2 GB junk in the folder /data/app-lib.
• 🔄 New versions of applications may contain bugs, especially on custom firmware MIUI (For example, after updating Mi Home often stops working with smart devices).

This is especially critical for low-end Redmi models (for example, Redmi 9A or Redmi Note 10), where the amount of internal memory is limited to 32-64 GB. In such cases, auto-update can lead to the fact that the system will start to issue notifications about the lack of space, and the user will have to manually clean the cache or delete files.

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi devices (e.g, POCO F3 or Mi 11) after disabling auto-updates via Google Play, the system can still download updates for system applications (for example, Mi Browser or Security) through the system. MIUI Updater.To block this process completely, you will need to turn off background activity for the relevant services.

Method 1: Disabling Auto Updates in Google Play

The most obvious and versatile method is to configure update options in the Google Play Store, which works on all Xiaomi devices, regardless of the MIUI version (12 to 14) and model (whether it is the Redmi Note 12 Pro or Xiaomi 13 Ultra).

Instructions:

1. Open the Google Play Store app.
2. Slip on the profile avatar in the upper right corner.
3. Select the Settings item.
4. Go to the Network and Auto Update section.
5. Select the option to not update apps automatically.

If you want to leave auto-update but only via Wi-Fi, select the appropriate option, but note that even then some MIUI system applications may ignore this rule and update over the mobile network.

Open Google Play Market|Settings are on" → "Network and auto-renewal"|Selected "Do not update automatically"|Verified that background synchronization is disabled-->

For additional protection, you can prevent Google Play Market from using mobile traffic in the background:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Google Play Store and tap it.
3. Select Mobile Traffic.
4. Turn off the Background data option.

Method 2: Block Updates via MIUI Updater and GetApps

Unlike other vendors, Xiaomi uses its own update engine for system and proprietary applications. It works through two components:

• MIUI Updater is responsible for updating firmware and system applications.
• GetApps is a Xiaomi app store that can automatically update programs (e.g. Mi Home, Mi Fit).

To disable auto updates through these services:

1. For MIUI Updater: Go to Settings → The phone. → Update the system. ⚙️ (The gear is in the upper right corner. Turn off the automatic download update option. It is also recommended to disable the automatic installation if it is available.
2. For GetApps: Open the GetApps app. Go to Profile → Settings. Turn off App Auto Update. You can also block notifications of new versions from the same menu.

On some MIUI 13/14 firmware (e.g., Xiaomi 12T or POCO X5 Pro), the auto-update option in GetApps may be hidden.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find GetApps and select Battery and Performance.
3. Set a limit on background activity → Limit.

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If the app still updates after disabling auto-updates in GetApps, try clearing its cache and data in the app settings. This will reset all background processes.

Method 3: Limiting background activity for system services

Even after disabling auto-updates in Google Play and GetApps, some MIUI system processes may continue to load updates, which is because the shell uses its own services to update branded applications (e.g., com.miui.systemAdSolution or com.xiaomi.market).

To completely block their activity:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Enable the display of system applications (tap on the ⚙️ → Show all applications).
3. Find the following services and turn off background activity for them: MIUI Updater (com.android.updater), GetApps (com.xiaomi.market), Download Manager (com.android.providers.downloads) Google Play Services (com.google.android.gms)

1. Choose Battery and Performance.
2. Set up background activity. → Limit.
3. Turn off AutoRun (if available).

On MIUI 14 firmware (e.g., Xiaomi 13 Lite), you may need to further disable MIUI Optimization for these applications, as it allows the system to ignore battery limitations.

⚠️ Note: Disabling background activity for Google Play Services may cause Google services to crash (e.g. Gmail or Google Maps).If you notice problems, return settings back or add this app to battery optimization exceptions.

Method 4: Use ADB to disable updates completely (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool to block updates at the system level, which is suitable for users who are willing to work with the command line.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔒 Completely blocking updates for selected applications.
• 🛡️ It works even if the manufacturer has hidden the settings in the interface.
• 🔄 The possibility of changing at any time.

Instructions:

1. Install. ADB-computer-driver.
2. Turn on the developer mode on the phone (go to Settings → About phone and tap 7 times on the MIUI version).
3. Activate Debugging by USB in Settings → Additional → For developers.
4. Connect the phone to your PC and execute in the command line: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.vending adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.market These commands will disable Google Play Store and GetApps respectively.
5. To get it back, use: adb shell pm enable com.android.vending adb shell pm enable com.xiaomi.market

To block app-specific updates (such as Mi Browser), use the command:

adb shell dumpsys package com.android.vending setAutoUpdateDisabled <name packet>

Mi Browser

com.android.browser

adb shell dumpsys package com.android.vending setAutoUpdateDisabled com.android.browser

Method 5: Disable updates through your Mi Account settings

Many users are unaware that some updates on Xiaomi are tied to a Mi Account. For example, Mi Home, Mi Fit or Mi Browser apps can be updated through Xiaomi servers even if the auto-update on Google Play is disabled.

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Account.
2. Go to the Mi Account Settings (cog in the top corner).
3. Select Data Synchronization.
4. Turn off the Auto Update option (if any).
5. It is also recommended to disable the Application Recommendations so that the system does not suggest installing new programs.

If your MIUI version (like the Redmi Note 11) doesn’t have an explicit option to disable auto updates, you can do it another way:

1. Open the Settings → Memory.
2. Select the Cleanup (in the top menu).
3. Slip on Autoboot.
4. Find GetApps and MIUI Updater in the list, then turn off auto-start for them.

This doesn’t block updates completely, but it significantly reduces their frequency, as apps won’t be able to run in the background to check new versions.

Google Play Store |GetApps (branded store) | System applications (Mi Browser, Security) | Program side (WhatsApp, Instagram) | Didn't notice frequent updates-->

Additional Measures: How to Prevent Hidden Updates

Even after all the steps described above, some Xiaomi apps can be updated by “circumventions.”

• 📵 Disable Mobile Data for Update Services: Go to Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Data transfer. Select Application Data Use. Find Google Play Store, GetApps and MIUI Updater, then turn off mobile traffic for them.
• 🔒 Block Update Notifications: Click the Update Notification (e.g. from GetApps). Select Disable Notifications.

Clear the update cache

1. Regularly (once a month) clean the cache in Settings → Memory → Cleanup → App cache.
2. Pay special attention to the /data/app-lib folder where the update files are stored.

On devices with MIUI 14 (such as Xiaomi 13 Pro), you can use the built-in Traffic Monitor to track which apps are consuming data for updates:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Traffic monitor.
2. Activate the function and set a limit (e.g. 10MB per day).
3. Check the statistics to find out what are “gluttonous” programs.

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If you use custom firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.EU or PixelExperience), some system applications may be updated via the OTA-In this case, the only way to block these applications is to delete them through the firmware servers. ADB magisk.

FAQ: Frequent questions about disabling auto updates on Xiaomi