Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus: 15 life hacks for setting up, repairing and extending the life of a smartphone

Why Redmi 5 Plus is still relevant in 2026

Launched in early 2018, the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus (codenamed Vince) has become one of the most popular budget smartphones of its time. With a balance of price and performance — a 5.99-inch Full HD+ screen, a Snapdragon 625 processor and a 4,000 mAh battery — the device is still in use by millions of users. But even after 6 years of operation, owners have questions: how to unlock the bootloader, speed up work after updates, or restore IMEI after a failed firmware.

In this article, we’ve collected the latest 2026 instructions, from basic setup to complex repairs, all of which have been tested on the latest versions of MIUI 12.5 and LineageOS 20 (for custom firmware), and focused on the issues specific to the Redmi 5 Plus: overheating when charging, camera lags in apps, and the “No Command” error when resetting. If your smartphone is slowing down or you want to make the most of it, read on.

1. Unlocking the bootloader: official and informal ways

Without an unlocked bootloader on the Redmi 5 Plus, it is impossible to install custom recaps (TWRP), obtain root rights or flash alternative firmware. Xiaomi officially allows unlocking, but the process has become more difficult due to tightening security policies.

The official method is Mi Unlock Tool (powered by MIUI 12.5):

1. Link your Mi Account to your device in Settings → Xiaomi Account.
2. Enable OEM Unlock in Settings → For developers (if there is no item, update the firmware).
3. Download Mi Unlock Tool (version 5.5.224.30 and later).
4. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (keep Volume down + Power on).

⚠️ Note: From 2023, Xiaomi will block unlocking for accounts under 30 days.If your account is new, wait or use workarounds (see spoiler below).

Informal method (for experienced users):

• 🔧 Use it. EDL-Mode (emergency firmware) with a box Mi Flash Pro or a Deep Flash cable.
• 📱 Firmware through TestPoint - short circuit of contacts on the board for forced transition to the EDL. Risk of damage to the fee!
• 💻 Automatic services like XiaomiTool V2 (Free, but does not support all versions. MIUI).

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If the phone doesn’t turn on after unlocking (black screen), try flashing the anti-rollback version of MIUI via fastboot flash anti. For links to firmware, look for the XDA-Developers forum in the Redmi 5 Plus branch.

Installation of TWRP and custom firmware: from MIUI to LineageOS 20

The standard MIUI firmware on the Redmi 5 Plus eventually starts to slow down due to the accumulation of garbage and Xiaomi limitations. Alternatively, custom firmware like LineageOS, Pixel Experience or Havoc-OS, which give:

• 🚀 More smooth animation (thanks to an optimized core).
• 📱 Android support 13/14 (Instead of outdated Android 8.1 last MIUI).
• 🔒 Lack of built-in advertising and Chinese services.
• 🎨 Ability to fine-tune the interface (themes, gestures, status bar).

Step-by-step instructions for installing TWRP:

Download TWRP 3.7.0 for Vince

Install ADB/Fastboot drivers on PC

Make backup data (photos, contacts, SMS)

Charge your phone at least 60%

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1. Unpack the downloaded twrp-3.7.0-vince.img in the folder with ADB.
2. Open the command line in this folder and execute: fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.7.0-vince.img fastboot boot twrp-3.7.0-vince.img
3. In TWRP, go to Wipe → Format Data, type in yes and confirm (this will remove encryption).
4. Copy the firmware (e.g. LineageOS 20) to your phone via MTP to TWRP.
5. Install the firmware through Install → Select ZIP.

3. Performance Optimization: How to Speed Up Redmi 5 Plus Without Firmware

If you are not ready for the risks of custom firmware, but the phone has started to “dumb”, try these methods:

Turning off background processes:

• 🛑 Go to Settings. → Annexes → All applications.
• 📵 For every unnecessary app (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music) select Limit Background Activity.
• 🔄 B Settings → Battery → Performance mode set Balance (not High Performance!).

2.Cache and Dalvik cleanup (without root):

• 🧹 B Settings → Warehouse → Clear the cache (releases) 1-3 GB).
• 🔧 Install. SD Maid (free version) and run CorpseFinder to delete junk files.

3. Customize animation (requires developer options included):

• ⚡ Turn on Developers 7 times click on the Version MIUI In Settings → The phone).
• 🎭 B Settings → For developers install: Animation windows → Off or 0.5x Animation of transitions → Off, turn on. GPU-acceleration → On.

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The most effective way to speed up Redmi 5 Plus is to disable MIUI Optimization in the developer settings (Settings → Developer → Disable MIUI Optimization).This removes unnecessary processes, but can break some of Xiaomi’s chips (such as gestures).

4. Solving camera problems: blurred photos, errors and lags

The Redmi 5 Plus (12 MP, f/2.2) camera is even in 2026 capable of taking good pictures with the right settings.

• 📸 Blurrency in low light conditions (due to lack of light) OIS).
• 🐢 Lagami while shooting video in 1080p (Snapdragon 625 driver problem).
• 🚫 Error: "Can't connect to the camera" (often after updates).

How to fix it:

1. For blurry photos:

• 🔦 Use Google Camera (GCam) with Redmi Config 5 Plus, download the version. BSG 8.1 configuration Vince_1.3.xml.
• 📏 In the GCam settings, turn off HDR+ Enhanced and set Photo Compression to 100%.

For video lags:

• 🎥 Reduce the permit to 720p@30fps camera-only.
• 🔄 Restart your phone before shooting (frees up memory for video processing).

If the camera does not open:

• 🔧 Clear the Camera app cache and data in Settings → Annexes.
• 📱 Squeeze the camera mod through TWRP (requires an unlocked loader).

⚠️ Note: When using GCam on Redmi 5 Plus don't turn on Night Sight - this causes the processor to overheat and emergency shutdown of the camera. ISO (maximum 800) and exposure (until) 1/10s).

5. Battery: How to extend the life of the battery by 4000 mAh

The Redmi 5 Plus battery is one of its main advantages, but over time, the capacity drops. The average wear after 3 years is 20-30%, which leads to:

• ⚡ Quick discharge (c) 100% before 0% post 4-5 hours with active use).
• 🔌 Slow charging (less than 1% per minute).
• 💥 Sudden shutdowns in the event of 15-20% charge.

Diagnosis of battery status:

• 📊 Install AccuBattery and check battery health (normal 80% and higher).
• 🔋 Enter the code #4636 in the engineering menu## → Battery information → Look at the wear level.

How to extend the life of the battery:

• 🔌 Charging: Use the original Xiaomi power supply 5V/2A. Avoid "fast" charging on 18W+ — They accelerate degradation.
• 🌡️ Temperature: Do not allow heating above 40°C (remove the case when charging).
• 📵 Background Processes: Turn off application auto-update and geolocation for unnecessary services.
• 🔄 Calibration: Once in a while 3 Complete the full cycle of the month (0-100%) controller-drop.

If the battery is already worn out:

• 🔧 Replace the battery with the original (Xiaomi) BM47, ~1500 Forgeries are used in 2-3 less.
• 🛠️ To replace with your own hands, you will need: a plastic mediator (to avoid damaging the plumes), a hair dryer or a thermo-air station (to soften the glue). B-7000 fixing.

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If the phone suddenly shuts down at 15-30% charge, but after charging is connected, it shows 0% - this is a sign of a failure in the calibration of the controller. Corrected by completely discharging (wait for the shutdown) and charging to 100% without interruption.

Reset and unlock: what to do if you forgot your password or your phone is blocked

Forgotten pattern lock or PIN-Redmi 5 Plus code is a common problem, especially if you don’t have a Mi Account attached:

1. If a Xiaomi account is linked:

• 🔑 On the lock screen, press Forgot the password? → Enter the username/password from Mi Account.
• 📧 If you do not remember the data, restore the password via account.xiaomi.com (you will need an email or phone).

2. If the account is not tied (or forgotten):

• 🔄 Reset via Recovery: Turn off the phone. Press Volume up + Power before the Mi logo appears. In the recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data. Confirm reset (deletes all data!).

Reset via Fastboot (if recovery is blocked):

fastboot erase userdata


fastboot erase cache




fastboot reboot

3. If the phone requires an account after reset (FRP-block):

• 🛠️ Use Xiaomi. FRP Bypass Tool (works on the MIUI before version 12.0).
• 📱 For new versions MIUI I'll need a firmware through EDL remove FRP (only in service centers).