How to ban app updates to Xiaomi: Full Guide

Xiaomi smartphone users often face a situation where the device decides when and which applications to update. This can be annoying, especially if the new version of the program is unstable, consumes more resources or simply changes the usual interface to a less user-friendly one. In the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem, the update process is deeply integrated into the system, but it is quite manageable.

Disabling automatic updates allows you to save the working version of the software, save traffic and battery power, but it is worthwhile to understand that the rejection of updates carries certain security risks. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods of blocking, from simple settings in the menu to advanced methods through the use of the Internet. ADB-team.

Before you start, decide what you want to stop: updating the system components of the shell, Google services or third-party programs from the store. There are tools for each type of task, and the combination of these gives the maximum effect.

⚠️ Warning: Fully blocking security updates can make your device vulnerable to viruses. Only disable auto-updates for applications you are confident in.

Setting up the Google Play Store

The most common source of updates on Android smartphones is the official Google app store, which is where most users download software, and this is where the automatic download of new versions is enabled by default, and to manage this process, you need to go to the settings of the Play Store app itself.

Open the app store and click on your account avatar in the top right corner of the screen. In the menu that opens, select Settings. Here you are interested in Settings, and inside it is the option “App Auto Update.” By default, it is in the “Wi-Fi Only” position, which means that updates are constantly downloaded from the background when you have a network.

Select “Do not update apps automatically” option, after which no program will update without your direct participation, you will see notifications of available updates, but installation will only begin after you manually click the “Update” button for each specific application.

• 📱 Open the Play Store app on the main screen.
• 👤 Click on the profile icon in the top corner of the interface.
• ⚙️ Go to Settings. → Settings → Auto-update of applications.
• ❌ Select the option “Do not update apps automatically».

It’s important to note that this setting is global for the entire Google account on a given device, and if you use multiple profiles, you’ll have to repeat the procedure for each, and it’s also worth remembering that some critical Google system services may ignore this ban and update through their own mechanisms.

Block updates in GetApps (Mi Store)

Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners are familiar with the branded app store GetApps (formerly the Mi Store), which is often pre-installed and can update both the company's native apps and third-party software if it was downloaded from here.

Go to the GetApps app and go to the tab "My Profile" or "My Apps." In the upper right corner, there is usually a gear icon or three dots indicating the settings menu. Find the item "Auto-Update Apps" and put the switch to an inactive state.

The section “Update via Wi-Fi” deserves special attention. Even if you ban auto-update, the store can continue to scan the versions of programs in the background, consuming the battery. Completely turning off the background activity of the store in the Android battery settings will also help solve this problem.

Note that Xiaomi system applications such as Themes, Security or Explorer are often updated through this channel.Blocking the store will stop them from updating, which can be useful if the new version contains errors or ads.

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If you have removed GetApps but it keeps appearing and updating, disable it through your app settings: find in the list, click “Disable” or “Delete Updates.”

Disabling Auto-Update for Specific Applications

Sometimes you don't have to block updates everywhere, and you might like a program running smoothly, like a navigator or messenger, while the rest of the software can be updated without any problems, so you can set exceptions for each application separately.

In the Google Play Store, find the app page you want. Click on the three dots in the top right corner (near the Open or Install button). In the drop-down menu, uncheck the "Update Automatically" box. Now, this program will have a custom rule, regardless of the global settings.

This is convenient because it allows you to manage your software flexibly, for example, you can allow auto-update for antivirus so that the threat databases are always up to date, but you can ban it for banking applications if you are afraid of changes in the interface or functionality.

• 🔍 Find the app in the search for the Play Store.
• ⋮ Click on the three-dot menu in the corner of the screen.
• ✅ Uncheck the box from the option “Update automatically».
• 🔄 Repeat the procedure for all important programs.

Unfortunately, in the GetApps store, this feature is less explicit or may not be available in some versions of the shell, where you often have to rely on global shutdown or manual control through the Updates section.

Use of energy saving regimes

One effective but not obvious way to prevent background updates is to use aggressive power saving modes, both MIUI and HyperOS are known for their strict background management policies, which can be used to their advantage.

When you turn on Power Saving or Super-Saving mode, the system limits application background activity, synchronization, and network connectivity for programs you’re not using right now, physically preventing the app store from checking for updates or downloading them.

You can set this mode to automatically turn on on schedule, such as at night, when scheduled updates are most common. Go to Settings → Battery → Energy Saving and create a schedule.

But there's a downside to this: you can skip important notifications from messengers or calls if the app goes too deep, so it's better to use it situationally rather than constantly.

⚠️ Warning: In super-saving mode, notifications from WhatsApp, Telegram and other messengers may not arrive until the screen is unlocked.

Advanced method: Disconnection via ADB

For power users who want to guarantee that updates to system components or the app store itself are prohibited, there is a method through USB debugging and the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) utility, which allows you to disable specific system packages responsible for updates.

First, activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7 times on MIUI Version (or OS Version). Once you have the message “You’ve become a developer”, go back to the main settings menu, find Advanced Settings → Developer → and turn on “Debugging on USB”.

Connect the phone to your computer, install drivers and ADB. You can use the command line to disable service packs, for example, to disable the updater, you can use a command that blocks the corresponding service.

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

This command will shut down the Google Play Store, which will completely stop updates through it. To return functionality, the command must be replaced with enable. Be careful: disabling critical system services can lead to unstable smartphone operation.

Comparison of blocking methods

The choice of method depends on your goals and level of training. Simple settings on the menu suit most users, while ADB requires technical literacy. Below is a table to help you choose the best option.

By combining these methods, you can gain full control of the device, such as disabling auto-update in store settings, and using ADB for system components if standard tools don’t help.

Don’t forget to check for updates manually periodically. Developers often release patches that close critical security holes, and ignoring them for too long can be dangerous.

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The optimal strategy is to disable auto-update in store settings and manually check them every 1-2 weeks, installing only verified versions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)