Many Xiaomi smartphone users are faced with a situation where after the next automatic update, the application begins to work incorrectly, new unwanted functions appear, or the interface becomes less convenient. In the ecosystem Android and shell MIUI the update process often occurs without the knowledge of the device owner, which can cause irritation and reduce the performance of the gadget. This is especially true for owners of older models, where new versions of software may be too “heavy” for the existing hardware.
Fortunately, the system provides flexible tools to control this process. You can completely disable automatic downloading of updates, configure their installation only via Wi-Fi, or completely block changing versions for specific apps. In this article we will analyze in detail all available methods: from standard store settings Google Play to advanced methods through the engineering menu and ADB.
Managing software versions is not just a whim, but a necessity for the stable operation of the device. Sometimes a new version contains bugs that the developers will fix only in a few days, and you need to work here and now. Understanding how to manage this process will give you complete control over your smartphone.
Disable auto-updates in the Google Play Market
The most common way to obtain new versions of apps is through the official application store. Default Google Play is configured to automatically download and install updates when connected to the network. To change this behavior, you need to go to the settings of the store itself. Open the application Play Market and click on your profile icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
In the menu that opens, select the item Settings, and then go to the section Network settings. Here you will find the Automatic application updatesoption. The system will offer three options for action. You can choose "Only via Wi-Fi" to save mobile data, or "Never" to completely disable the automatic process. Choosing the latter option means that you will have to manually check for new versions for each installed software.
If you selected the “Never” option, do not forget to go to the “Manage applications and device” section once a month to manually update critical apps, especially antiviruses and banking clients.
Remember that these settings apply globally to all applications downloaded from this source. If you want to leave automatic updates for most apps, but disable it for one specific one, this method will not work - there are individual settings for this, which we will discuss below. It is also worth noting that some system services Xiaomi can ignore these settings and update through their own store.
- 📱 Open your profile on Google Play
- ⚙️ Go to Settings → Network settings
- 🚫 Select the item “Never” to disable it completely
- 📶 Or select “Only via Wi-Fi” to save traffic
Configuring updates for individual applications
Often there is a need to prohibit updating only for one specific app, for example, if a new version removes a useful function or requires more resources. In the store Google Play the ability to individually control each installed product has been implemented. Find the desired application in the search or in the “Manage applications and device” list and go to its page.
In the upper right corner of the application page there is a button with three dots. By clicking on it, you will see a menu where there may be a checkmark Enable auto-update. If it is active, remove it. After this, this application will only be updated when you personally click the “Update” button. This is the ideal compromise between security and stability of your favorite software.
☑️ Checking individual settings
It is worth considering that the store interface changes periodically, and the location of these items may differ slightly on different versions. Android. If you do not find such a checkmark, the application developer may have blocked this feature, and the update will occur according to the global store settings. In such cases, the only way out is a complete ban on auto-updates for all apps, described in the previous section.
Blocking updates to Xiaomi system applications
Smartphone owners Xiaomi, Redmi i POCO know that in addition to Google Play, the system has its own application store GetApps (formerly Mi Store). It is through it that system utilities, themes, wallpapers and shell services are often updated. MIUI. Disabling updates in Google Play will not affect this process, so you need to configure the second source.
Go into the application GetApps and go to profile or settings (usually the person or gear icon). Find the section Auto-update and disable it. It is also recommended to go into the settings of the phone itself, find the section Applications → All applications, find GetApps, go to item Other permissions and deny network access or autostart if you want to limit its activity as much as possible. However, be careful: completely limiting system services can lead to unstable operation of themes or widgets.
⚠️ Attention: Full disabling network activity for Xiaomi system applications may interfere with push notifications, synchronization with Mi Cloud, and correct display of themes. Use this method only if you understand the consequences.
Another important point is updating the shell itself MIUI. It happens through the app Update in the phone settings. Once there, click on the three dots in the corner and select Update options. Here you can disable “Auto-download updates” and “Update notifications”. This will prevent you from accidentally downloading a new firmware version in the background, which can take up a lot of space and slow down the phone.
| Update source | Where to disable | Risk when disconnected |
|---|---|---|
| Google Play | Network settings in the Play Market application | Outdation of third-party applications |
| GetApps (Mi Store) | Settings inside the GetApps application | Crash of themes, widgets and system utilities |
| System MIUI | Settings → About phone → Update options | Lack of OS security patches |
Using developer mode and ADB
For advanced users who want to gain total control over the device, there are methods that do not require root access, but use USB debugging. Using the tool ADB (Android Debug Bridge) you can disable the component responsible for checking for updates. This is a more radical method that works at the system level, not a specific store.
First you need to activate developer mode. Go to Settings → About phone and quickly click on the item MIUI version seven times until a message appears stating that you have become a developer. Then, in the advanced settings, enable USB debugging. Connect your phone to your computer, install drivers and ADB, then run the command to disable the update service.
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.vendingThis command disables the Google Play store itself for the current user. Be extremely careful: after completing this, you will not be able to install new applications through the store until you turn it back on with the command enable. This method is suitable for those who install software only through APK files and want to completely eliminate any network interaction between the store and Google servers.
How to get everything back?
To activate the store back, connect the phone to the PC and enter the command: adb shell pm enable com.android.vending. After this, restart the device, and the Play Market will work as normal.
It is also possible to freeze MIUI system update applications via ADB, but this requires knowing the exact names of the packages, which may differ depending on the firmware version and region. Incorrectly disabling system packages can lead to a bricked device or an endless reboot, so use this method only if you have experience working with the command line.
Limiting background activity and traffic
If you don’t want to use complex commands or change global settings, you can go the tricky route - limit the background activity of applications responsible for updates. In your phone settings, go to the Applications → All applicationssection. Find in the list Google Play Market and Google Play Services.
Go to item Battery saving (or “Activity control”) and select the option No restrictions (for permission) or, conversely, a strict restriction if your goal is blocking. However, a more effective method is to ban background data. In the application menu, select Network and turn off the toggle switch Background mode. Now the application will be able to access the network only when you keep it open on the screen.
⚠️ Attention: Disabling background data for Google Play Services may interfere with Messenger push notifications, contact syncing, and geolocation. Use this setting with caution.
This method is good because it does not require deep intervention in the system and can be easily canceled. You can temporarily disable background activity before an important event, when you cannot risk the stability of the software, and then return everything as it was. This also helps to significantly save battery power, since services will not constantly poll servers for new versions.
- 🔋 Go to the settings of a specific application
- 📡 Open the "Network" or "Battery Saver" section
- 🚫 Disable "Background Mode" or “Transferring data in the background”
- ✅ The application will be updated only with active use
Risks of not updating and security
A complete ban on application updates carries certain risks that should not be forgotten. Developers release new versions not only to change the design, but also to close security vulnerabilities. An outdated application, especially a browser, banking client or instant messenger, can become an easy target for attackers using known holes in old versions of the code.
In addition, some services require an up-to-date version to work correctly. If you don't update the application for too long, the server may simply deny you access, giving you a version mismatch error. This often happens with online games and banking applications, where encryption protocols change regularly.
The optimal strategy is to disable automatic updates for all applications, but manually check and install critical security and banking software updates every 1-2 weeks.
Therefore, before deciding to completely block them, weigh the pros and cons. Perhaps a better solution would be to set up updates only over Wi-Fi at night when you are not using your phone. This will avoid sudden interface changes during business hours, but will keep the software up-to-date.
Is it possible to update the application if auto-update is turned off?
Yes, of course. Disabling automatic mode does not block the possibility of manual installation. You simply go to Google Play or GetApps, find the desired application and click the “Update” button manually when you consider it necessary.
Why is the application updated even if I disabled everything?
This can happen if the update came through another source, for example, through the internal mechanism of the application itself (built-in updater) or through the GetApps store, the settings of which you did not changed. Check all installation sources.
Does disabling updates affect the Xiaomi warranty?
No, changing software settings within the user menu does not affect the warranty. However, using ADB commands to disable system components can be regarded as interference with the software in complex cases of accessing the service.
How to find out which version of the application is currently installed?
Go to Phone Settings → Applications → All applications. Find the desired app in the list. The number of the currently installed version will be indicated under its name. The same information can be seen in the application store on the app page.
Is it worth disabling updates for MIUI system applications?
It is better not to touch system applications (camera, gallery, phone) unless absolutely necessary. Their updates often contain fixes for critical errors that affect the stability of the entire system. Disable them only if the new version clearly worsens the performance of the device.