Xiaomi Mi A1 has become a legendary device, having entered the program Android One and received a clean operating system. However, official support for this device has already ceased, and the last available update is Android 10. Many users still use this device, but face the inability to get current security patches or new features through the standard menu.
There are several ways to upgrade your software if the standard way of settings doesn't work: you'll have to choose between going back to factory settings or manually installing your firmware archive. In this article, we'll take a look at all the methods available, including Recovery Mode and Fastboot.
Before you start taking action, you need to understand the risks. Interrupting the data recording process can cause the phone to stop loading, so carefully study each step and prepare all the necessary tools in advance.
⚠️ Note: You perform all manipulations with the firmware at your own risk.The author of the article is not responsible for possible software failures of your device.
Device preparation and backup
You start by making a complete copy of all the important data, and the process of updating, especially manually, often requires a complete cleanup of internal memory, and if you miss this step, you risk losing contacts, photos and correspondence in messengers without the possibility of recovery.
Use your Google account to sync your contacts and calendar, and use Google Photos for photos or copy files to your computer, and check your battery power: your power level should be at least 60-70% so that your device doesn’t turn off at a critical time.
Remember to free up space in memory if you plan to download the service pack directly to your phone. For stable operation of the system, it is advisable to have at least 4-5 GB of free space, even if the firmware file itself weighs less.
- 📸 Back up your photos and videos to external media or the cloud.
- 📞 Export contacts to.vcf or sync with your Google account.
- 🔋 Charge the Xiaomi Mi smartphone A1 minimum%.
- 💾 Free up at least 5GB of internal memory.
Check integrity USB-Cheap charging cables are often not suitable for data transmission, which can cause errors when trying to communicate with a PC.
Official method of updating through OTA
The easiest and safest way is to use the built-in OTA (Over-The-Air) update system. Even if official support is complete, servers can still give the latest version available to your region.
To start, go to the settings menu and find the System section, and there's System Update, and click on it, and the device will contact the server to check for new packages.
If an update is found, the system will prompt you to download and install it, which will take 15 to 40 minutes depending on the speed of the Internet and the amount of data, and during the installation, the phone will reboot several times, and the screen may go out — this is normal behavior.
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Use a stable Wi-Fi connection to download, as service packs can weigh more than 1.5GB.
If the system says that the device is running the latest version, but you know that there is more new software, it may be that the update comes in waves, and in this situation, you can try changing the region in the settings or using the manual installation method.
Manual installation via Recovery Mode
If the automatic search didn't work, you can download the firmware file manually, and you'll need to find a.zip archive specifically for the MI A1 (codenamed tissot), which is important not to confuse with firmware for other Xiaomi models.
Copy the downloaded file to the root of the phone's internal memory, then go to recovery mode, turn off the smartphone and press the Volume Down and Power buttons simultaneously until the logo appears.
From the Recovery menu, select a language (if available) and click System Update (or Apply update from internal storage). The system will find a zip archive and suggest starting installation. This method often helps you jump through multiple versions of the software at once.
☑️ Algorithm of actions in Recovery
Once the process is complete, the phone will suggest a reboot, the first run can last longer than usual — up to 5-7 minutes. Don't panic if you see the Android logo for a long time, it's an application optimization.
Use of Fastboot and Mi Flash Tool
For advanced users who want to completely clean the system or restore the phone after a crash, Fastboot is suitable.It requires a Windows computer and the Mi Flash Tool installed.
First, you need to unlock the bootloader if you haven't done it before. Without an unlocked Bootloader, installing custom or global firmware through Fastboot will not be possible, and you will also need ADB and Fastboot drivers.
Download the firmware image in.tgz and unpack it. Launch the Mi Flash Tool, select the folder with the unpacked files, and connect the phone in Fastboot mode (clamping Volume up + Power when the phone is off).
| Mode of work | Data retention | Difficulty | Risk of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| OTA (Online) | Preserve. | Low. | Minimum |
| Recovery (ZIP) | More often, they persist | Medium | Low. |
| Fastboot (Clean) | Complete removal | Tall. | Medium. |
| Fastboot (Save) | Preserve. | Tall. | Medium. |
In the utility, select Clean All mode for full cleanup or Save user data if you want to save files. Press Flash and wait until the process is over. Successful firmware will be indicated by a green message in the program log.
What to do if Mi Flash is making an error?
Solving errors during the update
During software upgrades, Xiaomi Mi A1 users often face typical problems, one of the most common is the message "Can't check the update" which can mean a corrupt download file or a server failure.
Another common situation is the endless reboot after installation. If the phone is stuck on the logo, try logging into Recovery and doing Wipe data/factory reset, which will delete all the data, but often brings the device back to life.
If your computer doesn’t see your phone in Fastboot mode, check Windows Device Manager. You may need to manually update your driver by selecting the device with an exclamation point and pointing the way to the ADB driver folder.
- 🔄 Verification error: Clear the cache of the "System Update" application in the application settings.
- 🔌 Not defined USB: Use a different port or cable, preferably the original one.
- 🚫 Bootloop: Complete Data Reset via Recovery Menu.
- 💾 Small space: remove all the excess before the procedure.
⚠️ Note: If your fingerprint or camera stopped working after the firmware, it may have been installed from another model or region, in which case only a return of the stock global version will help.
Alternative firmware and custom solutions
As the official support for Android 10 for the Mi A1 is over, many users are turning to custom firmware.Popular builds based on LineageOS or Pixel Experience, which allows you to get Android 11, 12 and even later.
Installing such systems requires an unlocked bootloader and TWRP Recovery installed, which gives you full control of the device, the ability to obtain root rights and fine-tuning the interface, but the stability of banking applications in such systems is not guaranteed.
Before installing custom, be sure to check the 4PDA or XDA Developers forum, where you can find relevant links to files and instructions for fixing bugs in a particular build. Remember, this is the way for enthusiasts.
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Custom firmware is the only way to get Android above version 10 on the Xiaomi Mi A1, but it requires technical knowledge to install.
If you are not prepared for the possible instability, it is better to stay on the latest official version, which provides maximum compatibility with hardware and proven over the years, the work of all communication and multimedia modules.