Owning a modern Xiaomi smartphone opens up access to a huge number of digital services, but sometimes users face unexpected costs. Automatic renewals of subscriptions to apps, gaming currencies or streaming platforms can be an unpleasant surprise when you write off funds. Understanding exactly where these settings hide is the key to controlling your personal budget.
Android under the MIUI or HyperOS shell has multiple levels of payment management, which is often confusing. It is important to know that a subscription signed through Google Play does not turn off in the settings of the application itself, but requires intervention in the system services of the account, and ignoring this rule leads to the fact that even after the removal of the program, money continues to be written off.
In this guide, we will look at all possible ways to stop automatic payments, learn to distinguish between Google subscriptions, Mi Account services and direct debits from a bank card, which will allow you to completely clear your account of unnecessary obligations and avoid blocking funds.
Analysis of active subscriptions through Google Play
The main distribution channel for applications on Xiaomi smartphones is the Google Play store. This is where trial periods are most often drawn up, which automatically go into a paid subscription. To start the check, you need to open the Play Store app and go to the user profile by clicking on the avatar in the upper right corner of the screen.
In the menu that opens, select Payments and Subscriptions, then go to Subscription, and you will see a complete list of all active services linked to your Google account, and if the list is empty, you have no valid obligations through this channel, and you need to look elsewhere for the reason for the write-offs.
If you find an unnecessary service, click on it to open the details. The system will offer two options: change the tariff or cancel. It is important to choose the "Cancel subscription" button, since removing the application from the desktop does not terminate the contract with the developer.
- 📱 Open the Google Play app on your device.
- 👤 Click on the profile icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
- 💳 Select the Payments and Subscriptions menu to view your history.
- ❌ Click on active subscription and select the cancellation option.
Once you confirm the cancellation, you will receive a notification of when the paid period will be valid, and often access to the functionality is saved until the end of the current billing cycle, even if you cancel the autorenewal today.
Manage Subscriptions with Mi Account and GetApps
Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO also have a built-in app store, GetApps (formerly Mi Apps), which uses its own Mi Account payment system, which is independent of Google. If you've ever bought themes, fonts or premium statuses in system applications, the check should be done here.
To access financial management, open the GetApps app or go to Smartphone Settings. In the settings menu, look for the Mi Account (or Mi Account). Inside the profile, you need to find a tab related to subscriptions or purchase history. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI.
⚠️ Note: Subscriptions made through Mi Account do not appear on Google Play, and vice versa: Google services are not visible in the settings of the Xiaomi account.
In the subscription section, you can see services like Xiaomi Cloud (extended storage) or premium themes. To turn off, click on the appropriate option and select Auto Renewal Management. The system will require an account password confirmation or biometric unlock.
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Check the Operations History section of the Mi Account regularly to see the test subscriptions you signed up for bonuses.
Some features, such as advanced cloud storage or antivirus protection, can be integrated deep into the system, and these are canceled through the same account management interface, but require a stable connection to Xiaomi servers.
Verification of third-party applications and direct write-offs
Not all services use standard payment gateways. Many streaming platforms, dating apps, and online cinemas practice direct credit cards within their interface, in which case the money is not written off through the app store, but directly by the acquiring bank under a contract with the developer.
To detect such subscriptions, you need to go to the settings of the app itself, which is supposed to be causing the write-offs. Usually the path looks like Profile → Settings → Subscription Management or Payment. This often hides the auto-renewal cancellation button, which is not visible on the home screen.
If you can't find the settings inside the application, the only reliable way is to analyze the bank statement. The transaction description often includes the name of the payment system or merchant (for example, Yandex Plus, IVI, Netflix), and if you know the recipient, you can contact their support team to close the contract.
- 🔍 Carefully study the description of the transaction in the banking application.
- 📲 Go to the customized application and find the payment section.
- 📞 Contact the service support if the cancellation button is not in the interface.
- 🚫 Block the card in the bank if the charges are fraudulent.
There is also the risk of encountering “dark patterns” of design when the cancel button is specifically made barely visible or hidden in the depth of the menu.In such cases, a search by phone settings with the keywords “subscription” or “subscription” sometimes helps to find the hidden control point.
Cancellation of subscriptions through the banking application
The most radical and effective way to stop debits is to manage your linked cards, and the banking apps of SberBank, Tinkoff, Alpha Bank, and others let you see what regular payments are set up on your card, a level of control that overrides all previous methods.
Log into your bank's mobile app and find the security or card settings section, which can be called Payments, Autopayments or Subscription Management. Modern banking systems automatically classify recurrent payments into a separate group.
Here you will see a list of all merchants who are authorized to write off funds. You can turn off a particular service or, in extreme cases, reissue the card. CVV-code and numbers) will be terminated automatically, as old details will become invalid.
| Method of disconnection | Efficiency | Difficulty | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through Google Play | Tall. | Low. | No. |
| Through the Mi Account. | Tall. | Medium | No. |
| Through the bank (blocking) | Maximum | Tall. | You need to update the map everywhere. |
| Deletion of the annex | Zero. | Low. | The money will keep writing off. |
☑️ Checklist of full check
Specifics of working with recurrent payments
A recurrent payment is an automatic charge for periodic service provision, and you legally authorize a store or service to charge money without additional confirmation each month, which is why simply locking your phone or uninstalling your app is not enough.
Many users mistakenly believe that if they stopped using the service, they don't have to pay, but automatic renewal works on the principle of "do not cancel, so use." Even if you haven't logged in to the application for six months, the subscription could continue to operate and accumulate debt or write off funds.
In case of disputes where money has been charged after a subscription has been cancelled, screenshots of confirmations of cancellation must be saved.This proof will be required for a chargeback (refund) through a bank or Google support. 90-180 day-to-day.
⚠️ Note: If you have signed up for a free trial, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the trial period ends, otherwise the system will automatically charge the full cost for the first month.
Time zones are also worth considering: Google and Apple servers run on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), so the time of debiting may be different from your local time. Always focus on the date indicated in the check, not the current time of day.
Protection against accidental purchases and fraudsters
So that the problem of where the money went is not going to happen in the future, you have to set up restrictions on the device, you can enable mandatory authorization for each purchase on Google Play, which means that even if you have a linked card, the system will ask for a password or fingerprint before paying.
To set up, go to Settings → Authentication in the Google Play menu and select Require Authorization for purchases. It is recommended to select “For all purchases through Google Play on this device” option, which will create an additional barrier to random spending or activities of children.
What to do if a child subscribes?
Also, check the list of devices that have access to your account regularly, and if you see an unfamiliar phone or tablet, log out immediately on that device and change your password, which will prevent new subscriptions from being signed up by attackers.
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The most reliable protection is enabled two-factor authentication and mandatory confirmation of each purchase by biometrics.