How to permanently disable auto-update apps on Xiaomi Redmi 9: a detailed guide

Xiaomi Redmi 9 is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but its owners often face unexpected consumption of mobile traffic and battery power due to automatic updates of applications. The feature is useful for security, but can become a headache if you use a limited tariff or rarely connect to Wi-Fi. In this article, we will analyze all the ways to disable auto-update – from standard Google Play settings to hidden MIUI 12/13 options and even radical methods for power users.

The thing about Redmi 9, codenamed lancelot, is that it has customized MIUI firmware that sometimes ignores or restores Google Play settings after a reboot. We tested all of the methods on current versions of MIUI 14 (Android 11/12) and found the most reliable ones. If you're tired of apps being updated without your knowledge, read on.

Why Auto-Update Apps on Redmi 9 Are Dangerous for Budget and Battery

At first glance, automatic updates seem like a convenient feature: you don't have to manually check for updates, and apps are always up to date.

• 📉 Uncontrolled traffic consumption: Even background updates can eat up to 500MB per month (based on tests on Redmi 9 with 30 apps installed).
• 🔋 Accelerated battery drain: The update process triggers com.android.vending (Google Play service) that keeps the processor active.
• 📱 System freezes: on a budget processor MediaTek Helio G80 simultaneous update 5-6 applications can cause lags.
• 🛑 Update incompatibility: some applications after automatic updates stop working on the software MIUI lesions.

On Redmi 9 with firmware below MIUI 12.5, auto-update can be activated on its own after resetting or updating the system.This is due to a bug in the com.miui.systemAdSolution service, which Xiaomi has only fixed in later versions. If your smartphone has not received an update, be ready to check the settings after each reboot.

Before we get to the instructions, the key question is, can you turn off auto-update forever? Technically, yes, but it would require a combination of methods. Google Play alone won't give you a 100% guarantee -- you need additional action in the MIUI settings.

Method 1: Disable Auto-Update via Google Play (Basic Method)

The most obvious and safe way is to set up update options in the Google Play Store, but on Redmi 9, this method doesn’t always work: after updating MIUI or resetting, the settings can reset, but it’s the one to start with.

Instructions:

1. Open the Google Play Store (the icon of the color triangle).
2. Slip on the profile avatar in the upper right corner.
3. Select Settings → Network parameters.
4. Click Auto-Update applications.
5. Choose Never or Only via Wi-Fi (if you want to leave background updates, but without spending mobile traffic).

After that, the system will request confirmation, OK, but here's the catch: on Redmi 9 with MIUI 12 and below, this parameter can reset after:

• 🔄 Resetting the device.
• 📥 Firmware updates MIUI.
• 🧹 Cleaning up the Google Play Services cache.

Reboot your smartphone and check your settings again |Install a test app (e.g., "Hello World") and wait for the update |Browse the traffic log in Settings → Connections → Data Use |Background activity for Google Play Store in the app settings-->

Additional measure: To reduce the chances of spontaneous auto-update activation, turn off background activity for the Google Play Store:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Google Play Store and tap it.
3. Select the Battery → Background Activity.
4. Turn off the slider Allow background activity.

⚠️ Note: Google Play will not check for updates in the background, but you can update apps manually.

Method 2: Block Auto-Update via MIUI (Hidden Method)

MIUI has its own update management system, which sometimes conflicts with Google Play. Redmi 9 has hidden settings to block background activity of update services, a method that is more reliable than the standard one, but requires care.

Steps to shut down:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, type com.android.vending (this is the system name of the Google Play Store).
3. Slip on the app you found and select Permissions.
4. Disable all permissions related to: 📶 Mobile data (if you want to block updates only on the mobile network). 📡 Wi-Fi (if you want to completely disable background checks). 🔄 Auto-Start (prevents the service from starting when the system is booted).

Battery → Background activity

For security, we also block Google Play Services (but this may affect other features!):

1. In the same app management menu, look for Google Play Services (com.google.android.gms).
2. Turn off Background Activity and Mobile Data Permission.

Instructions for Nova Launcher:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play and make it the default launcher.
2. Install the Tasker app (paid, but there is a trial version).
3. In Tasker, create a task with the condition: Context: App → Google Play Market Action: Network → Disable Mobile Data (select only for this application)
4. Save the task and activate it.

The downside of this method is that launchers consume additional RAM (on Redmi 9 with 3/4 GB of RAM this can be critical), but you get full control over updates without the risk of breaking system settings.

⚠️ Note: Some launchers (such as Microsoft Launcher) are updated via Google Play themselves and may ignore your settings. MIUI.

Method 4: Radical method - Disconnection through ADB (for experienced)

If all previous methods failed, the most reliable, but also the most difficult, option is to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which is guaranteed to disable auto-update at the system level, but requires a connection to a PC and enable developer mode.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on Redmi 9: Go to Settings → About Phone. tap on MIUI Version 7 times. Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate USB Debugging.

Connect your smartphone to your PC through USB-Cable (use the original cable for stability).

ADB Tools

cmd

Terminal

adb devices

Make sure your Redmi 9 is displayed on the device list.

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.vending/.assetwizard.AssetWizardActivity


adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.vending/.update.AutoUpdateActivity

Reboot your smartphone.

After that, the Google Play Store will not be able to update the apps automatically. To return the feature, do:

adb shell pm enable com.android.vending/.assetwizard.AssetWizardActivity


adb shell pm enable com.android.vending/.update.AutoUpdateActivity

⚠️ Attention: misuse ADB It can cause Google Play to crash or even not be able to install new apps.Before executing commands, back up your data via Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

Method 5: Alternative app stores (for those who want full control)

If you’re tired of the constant Google Play issues on Redmi 9, consider using alternative app stores where auto-updates are either absent or easily managed, with the main advantage being that you decide when and what to update.

Popular alternatives:

• 📦 APKMirror: allows you to download specific versions of applications (including old ones). There are no auto updates, but you need to manually check for updates.
• 🛒 Aurora Store: Open client for Google Play with the ability to disable app-level auto-updates.
• 🔄 F-Droid: an open-source app store.Auto updates are disabled in settings.
• 📱 APKPure: has a built-in update manager where you can choose which apps to update automatically and which ones not.

Instructions for the Aurora Store:

1. Download and install the Aurora Store from the official website (permission to install from unknown sources is required).
2. When you first start, select an anonymous sign-in (without linking to your Google account).
3. Go to Settings → Updates.
4. Turn off the automatic updates option.
5. In the Blacklist section, add apps that should never be updated.

Cons of alternative stores:

• 🔍 Safety risk: when downloading APK Unverified sources can be used to catch a virus.
• 🔄 No guarantee of relevance: some applications (e.g. banking) may require the latest version.
• 📱 Conflicts with Google Play: when using multiple stores at the same time, install errors are possible.

💡

If you care about security, it’s better to stay on Google Play and set it up properly than risk installing pirated or modified APKs.

What to do if the auto-update still works

If you’ve tried all the methods, but the apps on Redmi 9 keep updating on their own, the problem may be:

• 🤖 Hidden services MIUI: Some system applications (e.g. com.miui.systemAdSolution) can overwrite your Google Play settings.

Radical measures:

1. Turn off sync with Mi Account: Go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Account. Turn off Application Data Sync.
2. Remove Google Play Store Updates: In Settings → Apps, find the Google Play Store. Tap three-points in the top corner and select Remove Updates.

Use the firewall.

• Install the NetGuard app (without root) or AFWall+ app (with root).
• Block internet access for com.android.vending.

However, on Redmi 9, this setting may reset after the reboot. Use the Aurora Store or ADB for reliability.

MIUI

• Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
• Sort the list by update date (tap by three-point → Sort → by update time).