How to disable automatic app updates on Xiaomi: the full guide

Automatic updates on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often cause unexpected problems, from sudden consumption of mobile traffic to malfunctions in older versions of programs, and many users prefer to control this process manually — especially if it comes to critical utilities like banking applications or instant messengers, where the new version can bring more bugs than improvements.

In this article, you will find three proven ways to disable auto-update: through the Google Play settings, MIUI system settings, and even a radical method for power users using ADB. We will also discuss why sometimes updates continue to be installed despite all prohibitions, and what to do about it. The instructions are relevant for all modern Xiaomi devices based on MIUI 12-14 and Android 10-14, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T and others.

Before you start, consider: disabling updates can affect the security of your device. Some applications (such as banking or antivirus) require regular updates to protect against vulnerabilities. Weigh the risks - or configure a selective update only for individual programs.

Method 1: Disabling Auto Update in Google Play

The easiest and most versatile method is to configure update options directly in the Google Play Store, which works on all Xiaomi devices, since it uses standard Android features.

To completely prohibit automatic updates:

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

If you want to leave auto-update, but only through Wi-Fi, select the appropriate item. This will save mobile traffic, but will not eliminate unexpected updates.

⚠️ Warning: Even after disabling auto-update in Google Play, some system apps MIUI (For example, Mi Browser or Security can be updated through the GetApps store. To prevent this, go to the next section.

Method 2: Disable updates via GetApps (branded Xiaomi store)

Xiaomi devices use not only Google Play, but also its own app store, GetApps (formerly the Mi App Store), which is responsible for updating branded utilities such as Mi Home, Mi Remote or Themes. To disable auto-update here:

1. Open the GetApps app (the icon with the blue robot).
2. Go to Profile (the icon of the person at the bottom of the screen).
3. Click on Settings (cog in the upper right corner).
4. Select Auto-Update of Applications.
5. Set the switch to the off position.

Unlike Google Play, there is no Wi-Fi-only upgrade option here, only a complete shutdown. Also note that some system applications (like Security) can be updated through GetApps even if you didn't install them manually.

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If some apps are still updated after disabling auto-update in GetApps, check for duplicates in Google Play. Sometimes the same program is installed from both stores, and updated through the one where auto-update is enabled.

Method 3: Disabling updates for individual applications

If you need to disable auto-update only for specific programs (like Facebook or Instagram), do the following:

1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. Find the right app through search.
3. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the app card.
4. Uncheck the checkmark from Auto Update.

For apps from GetApps:

1. Open GetApps and find the app.
2. Slip on three points next to the Update button.
3. Select Cancel Auto Update.

This method is handy if you want to leave auto-update for most programs, but control critical ones. For example, you can disable WhatsApp's automatic update, but leave it for Google Maps.

Radical method: disabling updates via ADB (for experienced)

If standard methods don’t work, you can use the Android debugging bridge (ADB), which requires connecting your smartphone to your computer and basic command line knowledge, but is guaranteed to block all automatic updates, including system updates.

Instructions:

1. Turn on the Developer Mode on your smartphone: go to Settings → About phone and 7 times tap on the item MIUI version.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB Tools and execute the command:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.vending


adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.mipicks

These commands disable the Google Play Store and GetApps for the current user. To get it back, use:

adb shell pm enable com.android.vending


adb shell pm enable com.xiaomi.mipicks

⚠️ Note: Turning off Google Play via ADB This will make it impossible to install or update applications through it, and some system functions that depend on Google services (such as Google Pay) may also stop working!

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The ADB method is the only way to completely block updates to MIUI system applications that ignore the settings of Google Play and GetApps.

Why do updates continue to be installed despite the bans?

Even after auto-update is disabled in both stores, some apps may be updated.

• 🔄 Duplicate installations: The app is installed from both Google Play and GetApps. Updates the version where auto-update is not disabled.
• 🤖 System Updates: Xiaomi’s proprietary utilities (such as Security or Cleaner) can be updated via OTA-manufacturer's servers.
• 📥 Background downloads: Some apps (like Facebook) download updates in the background and suggest installing them later.
• 🔧 Resettings: After Updating MIUI or phone reset auto-update settings may return to factory.

To check if there are any duplicate installations:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find a suspicious app (like Facebook).
3. If there are two versions, remove one (usually the smaller one).

Critical information: Some Xiaomi devices (e.g. Redmi Note 11 on MIUI 13) have system applications like Mi Browser updated via the hidden service com.miui.systemAdSolution, which requires root access or ADB use with the adb shell pm hide command com.miui.systemAdSolution.

How to return auto-update if something goes wrong

If after disabling updates you have encountered problems (for example, banking applications or instant messengers stopped working), you can return everything back in a few steps:

• 🔙 Repeat the path from Method 1 and select Auto Update over any network or Wi-Fi Only.
• 🔄 Through GetApps: Enable the Auto Update Apps Switch in Store Settings.
• 💻 Through ADB: Follow the commands adb shell pm enable com.android.vending and adb shell pm enable com.xiaomi.mipicks.
• 📱 Resetting: If nothing helps, reset Google Play settings in Settings → Annexes → Google Play Store → Warehouse → Clear the data.

After the auto-update return, it is recommended to manually update all critical applications (banks, instant messengers, antiviruses), as they could be left without the latest security patches.

FAQ: Frequent questions about disabling updates on Xiaomi