Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often experience a situation where the device starts to update installed programs on its own, which can occur at the most inopportune moment, such as when you are roaming or running out of memory.
Disabling automatic updates is an effective way to take full control of your gadget, and you can decide when to install the new version by reading feedback from other users or checking the list of changes. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available ways to ban updates on the shell of MIUI and HyperOS.
There are several levels of locking, from setting up a specific app store to completely banning background data transfers for system services. We will review each method so you can choose the most suitable for your purposes. It is important to understand that refusing to updates can deprive you of new features and patches of security vulnerabilities.
Disabling Auto Updates in Google Play Store
The most common source of updates on Android is the official Google Store, and that's where most third-party software is located, and that's where the Play Market is set up by default to automatically download new versions, and to change this behavior, you need to go to the settings of the app itself.
Open the Play Store app and click on your profile icon in the top right corner of the screen. In the menu that appears, select Settings, then go to Settings (or Preferences) and find the App Auto Update bar and click on it.
In the window that opens, you will be offered three options: Select Do not update apps automatically. After that, the system will stop downloading and installing new versions of programs without your knowledge. You will receive notifications about available updates, but the installation will only happen after you confirm.
- 📱 Wi-Fi only: saves mobile traffic, but updates programs when you’re home.
- 🚫 Never: Complete ban requiring manual intervention for each program.
- ⚙️ For each application: flexible setting, where you can set rules for individual programs.
⚠️ Note: By disabling auto-updates in Google Play, you take responsibility for security.Old versions of apps may contain vulnerabilities that have already been patched by developers in new versions.
It's worth noting that the settings may vary slightly depending on the version of the Android operating system and the version of the store itself. If you don't find the items described, try looking for them in the general settings menu of the phone, in the "Apps" section, where you can find the Google Play Store and clear its data, which sometimes returns the standard settings menu.
Set up the GetApps store on Xiaomi and Redmi
Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones have their own app store called GetApps (formerly Mi Apps), which often updates pre-installed system apps and programs from the brand ecosystem. Even if you disable auto-updates on Google, GetApps can continue to work in the background.
To manage this process, run the GetApps app and go to the Profile tab (human icon), which is usually in the lower right corner. Next, select Settings. Here you are interested in the Auto Update section of the Applications.
Inside this menu, switch the slider to Off or select the option Do Not Update. It is also recommended to disable the option Update over the mobile network if it is active separately, which ensures that no application from this directory will update without your permission.
☑️ Checking the settings of GetApps
GetApps interface can be intrusive and periodically suggest turning on auto updates back.Be careful when using your phone, as pop-ups may appear after major updates to the MIUI shell itself. Check this section regularly to make sure the settings are maintained.
| Parameter | Google Play | GetApps (Mi Apps) | Galaxy Store (for comparison) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location of the menu | Profile → Settings | Profile → Settings | Menu → Settings |
| Impact on the system | Third-party annexes | Systemic and branded | Not relevant to Xiaomi |
| Frequency of discharge | Rarely. | After the MIUI updates | — |
| Account necessity | Google account | Mi Account. | Samsung Account |
Blocking Updates for Individual Applications
Sometimes the user does not need a global shutdown, but only one specific program is not allowed to update, which is true if the new version of the application is slow, contains advertising or lacks the usual functionality, Google Play and GetApps have the ability to customize individually.
In the Google Play Store, go to the app page you want. Click on the three dots in the top right corner of the screen. In the drop-down menu, uncheck Auto Update. Now this program will only update manually, even if the rest are automatically set.
The GetApps store has a similar algorithm. Find the app in the directory or in the installed list. You can also find an auto-update switch on the program page. However, the GetApps interface is less standardized, and the location of the button can vary across different versions of the shell.
Why is the app updated despite the ban?
This method requires discipline, and you will need to check critical programs manually periodically to keep up with critical security updates, especially for instant messengers and banking applications, where older versions may no longer be supported by the server.
Limiting background data and traffic
A radical but effective way to prevent stealth updates is to limit background data transfers, so if an app doesn’t have internet access in the background, it won’t be able to download the updated version without your active involvement.
Go to Settings, select the Apps section, and find All Apps. Go to Google Play Store or GetApps. Go to Data Use or Mobile Data and Wi-Fi. Turn off the Background Connection or Background Data Switch.
After that, the app store will only be able to go online when you open it on the screen, and as long as the app is folded, it will not consume traffic and will not be able to initiate update downloads, and this will also have a positive impact on the autonomy of the device.
- 📉 Battery savings: background processes do not consume charge.
- 📶 Traffic Control: Ideal for Internet-Limited Tariffs.
- 🛑 Instant effect: updates stop immediately after settings are applied.
⚠️ Note: If you turn off background data, you may stop receiving notifications of new messages from stores or synchronizing purchases.
Some versions of MIUI also have Traffic Saving Mode, which, if activated, will ask permission for every application trying to get online, creating an additional barrier to automatic updates.
Use of flight mode and offline mode
The easiest, temporary way to stop updates is to shut down all communications. Airplane Mode breaks all connections: mobile, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. As long as the phone is in this mode, no updates are possible at all.
This method is useful if you want to install a specific version of the application from APK-You're afraid that the store will immediately try to replace it with a newer one. Turn on flight mode, set the desired version, then in the application settings, disable auto-updates, and only then turn off flight mode.
There are also dedicated firewall applications, such as NetGuard, that allow you to flexibly manage Internet access for each installed software, and they can block network access only for upgrade services, leaving the rest of the phone online.
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Use Flight Mode when installing modified versions of applications (MODs) so that the system does not detect a signature change and does not attempt to automatically replace the file with the original from the store.
However, keeping your phone in flight mode is inconvenient, as it makes it impossible to receive calls and messages, so this method should be considered as a temporary solution or a tool for spot setting, rather than a permanent measure.
Consequences of Failing to Update and Security
When deciding to disable automatic updates, it's important to be aware of the risks, because developers release new versions for a reason, often containing security patches that close holes through which hackers can access your data, passwords or banking information.
In addition, older versions of applications may not work properly with new versions of servers, you may experience login errors, inability to download content, or crashes, and very old versions will be completely discontinued over time.
If you've turned off updates to save space, consider an alternative: regular cache cleaning. The accumulated junk file often takes up more space than the update itself. Use built-in MIUI tools to optimize memory.
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Failure to update completely increases the vulnerability of the device to viruses and scams, and it is recommended to manually check and install critical security updates at least once a month.
Also, some applications, especially banking and government services, may require an update to continue, in which case you will have no choice but to manually update to access your funds or services.