How to completely cancel the updates of Android Xiaomi applications: all ways

Automatic app updates on Xiaomi smartphones often cause unexpected problems, from sudden traffic consumption to malfunctions in the usual programs, especially for owners of devices with limited memory (Redmi 9A, POCO M3) or weak hardware (Redmi 6, Mi A2 Lite), where each update can “steal” precious megabytes and slow down the system.

In this article, we’ll look at all possible ways to undo updates, from standard settings in the Google Play Store to hidden MIUI features and commands for power users. You’ll learn how to block updates for individual applications, disable auto-update completely, or even return the previous version of the program if the update is already installed. The instructions are valid for all modern devices Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and Black Shark based on Android 10-14.

Why you should disable automatic application updates

At first glance, auto-updates seem like a convenient feature: you don’t have to monitor the release of new versions, and this only contributes to security and stability.

• 📉 Uncontrolled traffic consumption: Updates can eat up to 500MB per month, especially if you have a lot of games or social media installed.
• 🐢 Smartphone slowdown: Newer versions of apps often require more resources, which is critical for budget models (Redmi) 8A, POCO C31).
• 🔄 Loss of functionality: Developers often remove useful features in new versions (example: VK YouTube).
• 📱 Conflicts with MIUI. Some updates break Xiaomi’s optimization for specific models (like Google Play Services issues on Redmi Note 10 Pro).

Also, updates through the Play Market are not always stable, and there are times when a new version of an app contains critical bugs that stop it running, such as in 2023, Xiaomi users complained about an update to WhatsApp that left the messenger dyed up when sending voice messages.

⚠️ Note: Disabling updates for system applications (e.g. Mi Security or Google Play Services) may lead to security vulnerabilities.

Method 1: Disabling Auto Updates in Google Play Store

The easiest and most secure method is to configure update options directly in the Google Play Store, which is suitable for all Xiaomi devices, since the Play Market is a standard component of Android.

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 Updates → Auto-Update applications.
5. Select one of the options: Through any network - updates are downloaded automatically (not recommended); Only through Wi-Fi - a compromise option; Do not update automatically - a complete disconnect.

For individual applications, you can block updates individually:

1. Find the app in the Play Market.
2. Press three points (⋮) top-right.
3. Uncheck the checkmark from Auto Update.

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi devices with custom firmware (MIUI Global, MIUI EU) Auto Update may be elsewhere. If you don't find the section, try the path: Settings → General. → Auto-update of applications.

Method 2: Block updates via MIUI settings

MIUI offers additional tools to manage apps that are not available in pure Android, one of which is the limitation of background activity, which indirectly affects updates.

How it works:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want to block updates for (like Facebook or Instagram).
3. Slip on the Battery → Background Limitation.
4. Choose Limit.
5. Go back and press Permissions → turn off System Settings Change (if available).

This method does not block updates directly, but prevents them from being installed in the background.The app will need your manual confirmation to update. Effective for the Redmi Note 11, POCO X3 Pro and other models on MIUI 12/13/14.

Method 3: Removing updates and rolling back to the factory version

If you already have the update installed and want to return the previous version of the app, you can do this through Android settings. The method works for most user applications (but not for system ones!).

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the app you want (like Google Chrome) and tap it.
3. Press three points (⋮) top-right.
4. Select Remove Updates (if the item is inactive – the application has not been updated).
5. Confirm the action.

After that, the app will return to the version that was installed out of the box to prevent the re-update:

1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. Find this app.
3. Press three points (⋮) and uncheck the auto update box.

⚠️ Note: For system applications (Mi Browser, Mi Video), the option to delete updates may be blocked. ADB (see method 5).

💡

If you want to completely uninstall a Xiaomi app (such as Mi Music or Mi Community), use the ADB command:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.player

com.miui.player

Method 4: Use of alternative app stores

One radical way to avoid automatic updates is to install apps from third-party sources and opt out of the Google Play Store, a method that is suitable for power users who are willing to sacrifice convenience for control.

Popular alternatives:

• 📱 Aurora Store is an open client for Google Play with the ability to disable updates globally.
• 🔍 APKMirror is a reliable source APK-file-history.
• 🛡️ F-Droid – an open source app store (no auto updates).

How to install the application without auto-updates:

1. Download the APK version from APKMirror (check the hash amounts!).
2. In Xiaomi settings, allow installation from unknown sources: Settings → Applications → Special Rights → Installation of unknown applications.
3. Install the APK manually.
4. Freeze the Google Play Store via ADB or App Freezer (root rights required).

Cons of the method:

• No automatic security updates.
• Risk of installing malware (always check sources!).
• Some apps (such as Google Maps) may require a current version of Google Play Services.

💡

The use of alternative stores is a last resort, and we recommend resorting to it only if other methods do not help, as this increases security risks.

Method 5: Blocking updates via ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a low-level system management tool that allows you to completely block updates for any application, including system ones, without root rights.

What you need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times) → Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB.
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command prompt (cmd) and type: Adb devices Make sure the device is defined.
3. To block updates for a specific application (e.g. Facebook), follow: adb shell dumpsys package com.facebook.katana | grep versionCode Remember the current versionCode.
4. Freeze the updates with the command: adb shell pm install --user 0 -d -r /path/to/base.apk (where /path/to/base.apk is the path to the original APK application).

To completely disable the auto-updates of the Google Play Store, use:

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

Attention.

Play Market

adb shell pm enable com.android.vending

Frequent problems and their solutions

When you turn off updates, Xiaomi users often encounter common errors, and consider the most common and ways to fix them.

Problem 1: Play Market Settings Reset After Rebooting

• 🔹 Reason: Conflict with optimization MIUI cache-dropping.
• 🔹 Solution: Clear the Google Play Market data (Settings) → Annexes → Google Play Store → Warehouse → Clear the data. disable battery optimization for Play Market.

Problem 2: You can’t remove updates for system applications

• 🔹 Reason: MIUI Blocks changes to pre-installed programs.
• 🔹 Solution: Use ADB (See Method 5. Install custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience) where there are no such restrictions.

Problem 3: The app stopped working after the version rolled back

• 🔹 Reason: New version requires updated Google Play Services or libraries.
• 🔹 Solution: Update Google Play Services manually through Play Market. Install the latest compatible version of the app (check the requirements on APKMirror).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions