How to Disable Automatic Updates on Pixel [4 Methods]

There can be various reasons why you would want to disable automatic updates on your Pixel device. For instance, many users play the waiting game; they first want to hear the feedback from other users about the update. If the update doesn’t lead to any performance, stability, or battery degradation, then they proceed ahead to install the update; otherwise, they would skip that version.

In a more technical scenario, Google has introduced Anti Roll Back with a specific firmware build, which will prevent you from performing a downgrade. To avoid that ARB from impacting their device, users would straightaway block that [and subsequent updates] from being installed on their device. Whether that’s a good thing to do or not is a discussion for another day.

Likewise, if you haveobtained root on your device by patching and flashing boot/init_boot and an update gets installed, then it will replace the patched file with the stock one, and the root will be gone from your device, and so will all the modules. Well, there can be a plethora of other reasons why you would want to disable automatic updates on your Pixel device. So without any further ado, let’s make you aware of numerous methods to get this job done. Follow along.

  • How to Disable Automatic Updates on Pixel [4 Methods] The Prerequisite METHOD 1: Via ADB Commands [Non-Root] METHOD 2: Via Third-Party App [Non-Root] METHOD 3: Via ADB Commands [Root] METHOD 4: Via Third-Party App [Root]
  • Video Guide

How to Disable Automatic Updates on Pixel [4 Methods]

Disable Automatic Updates on Pixel - 1

Given here are four different methods that will help you carry out this task. Go through each of them and then try out the one that is in sync with your requirement. Droidwin and its members wouldn’t be held responsible in case of a thermonuclear war, your alarm doesn’t wake you up, or if anything happens to your device and data by performing the below steps.

The Prerequisite

Before starting with any of the four methods, you should turn off Automatic Updates from Developer Options. Do note that simply turning off this toggle wouldn’t be sufficient; you’ll have to take the help of one of the four methods as well.

  1. Head over to Settings > About Phone > Tap on Build Number 7 times.
  2. Then go to System > Developer Options > Disable Automatic Updates.
All the commands that are recommended and safe to use have been made bold in this guide

METHOD 1: Via ADB Commands [Non-Root]

  1. Download and extract Android SDK Platform Tools on your PC.
  2. Then enable USB Debugging and connect your device to the PC.
  3. Now open the Command Prompt inside that folder and type in: adb shell # Disable the System Update Service [Read Note 1 first] pm disable-user –user 0 com.google.android.gms/.update.SystemUpdateService # Disable the Global Update Receiver [Read Note 2 first] pm disable-user –user 0 com.google.android.gms/.update.SystemUpdateService$ActiveReceiver # Disable the Factory OTA package only if it’s there on your specific model pm disable-user –user 0 com.google.android.factoryota
  • NOTE 1: Disabling the Update Service and Receiver might also disable Google Play System Updates. So only use them if it’s fine with you.
  • NOTE 2: If the pm disable-user command is blocked by your system, you can use the pm uninstall -k –user 0 [package_name] command. However, in that case, if you wish to revert the changes, you’ll have to do a factory reset. So decide accordingly.

METHOD 2: Via Third-Party App [Non-Root]

You may use third-party apps like Canta [my favorite], ADB App Control [Mobile], or ADB App Control PC.

METHOD 3: Via ADB Commands [Root]

  1. To begin with, root your device using Magisk / KernelSU / APatch .
  2. Download and extract Android SDK Platform Tools on your PC.
  3. Then enable USB Debugging and connect your device to the PC.
  4. Now open the Command Prompt inside that folder and type in:
  5. Once done, reset the update engine using the below command: adb shell su -c “update_engine_client –reset_status”
  6. Clear the update files that were downloaded via the command: adb shell su -c “rm -rf /data/ota_package/” adb shell su -c “rm -rf /data/data/com.google.android.gms/app_dg_cache/”
  7. Disable the update service altogether # Disable Play Services Update Check [See NOTE 1] adb shell su -c “pm disable com.google.android.gms/.update.SystemUpdateService” adb shell su -c “pm disable com.google.android.gms/.update.SystemUpdateService$ActiveService” adb shell su -c “pm disable com.google.android.gms/.update.SystemUpdateService$Receiver” adb shell su -c “pm disable com.google.android.gms/.update.SystemUpdateService$SecretCodeReceiver” # disable the Framework Update Service [See NOTE 2] adb shell su -c “pm disable com.google.android.gsf/.update.SystemUpdateService” adb shell su -c “pm disable com.google.android.gsf/.update.SystemUpdateService$Receiver”
  • NOTE 1: Disabling the GMS service might also disable Google Play System updates.
  • NOTE 2: Disabling the two services related to the Google Service Framework may adversely affect Google account sync. So decide accordingly.
  • It’s also recommended to disable the Factory OTA app on your device: adb shell pm disable-user –user 0 com.google.android.factoryota

METHOD 4: Via Third-Party App [Root]

The shortest and easiest way out [if your device is rooted] is to simply flash this module via Magisk / KernelSU / APatch . This will execute all the commands in the backend for you and get the job done within seconds. Once the module is flashed, just do a restart and you’re good to go. [Credits for the module: XDA Recognized Developer/Recognized Contributor badabing2003. He’s the same guy who developed Pixel Flasher!]

Video Guide

YouTube video - 2 YouTube video - 3
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  • How to Bypass FRP on any Pixel Device
  • Custom Launcher Not Loading After Unlocking Pixel? Try This!
Google preferred - 4 Google preferred - 5

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