Xiaomi Mi Notebooks often come with an operating system pre-installed, which may not suit the user due to language restrictions or unnecessary software. Installing a clean copy of Windows allows you to unlock the potential of the device and ensure the stable operation of all components. Owners of Xiaomi equipment often face features of the BIOS and disk markup, which require careful attention.
The installation process on the Chinese manufacturer’s devices is not much different from the standard procedure on other brands, but has its own nuances in the UEFI setting. You will need to prepare the bootable media in advance and take care of the safety of important data. Ignoring the preparatory stage can lead to loss of information or inability to boot from the flash drive.
In this guide, we will go through all the steps from creating an installation image to finding the necessary drivers, focusing on Secure Boot security settings, which often block external media from starting, and following the instructions, you can update or replace the operating system yourself without going to the service center.
Preparation of bootable media and choice of OS version
The first step is to choose the right operating system. For most current Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air and Pro models, Windows 10 or 11 will be the best choice, as they have better driver support. Older versions, such as Windows 7 or 8.1, may not have the necessary drivers for touchpad, Wi-Fi modules and power management.
To create a bootable flash drive, you will need USB-A minimum of 8GB drive is recommended, with proven utilities such as Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool or third-party Rufus.The latter option is often preferred as it allows you to flexibly configure the partition schema and target system.
⚠️ Attention: Before you start creating a bootable flash drive, make sure that there are no important data on it, since during the preparation process the drive will be fully formatted.
When using Rufus, consider selecting a partition scheme. For Xiaomi laptops released after 2016, be sure to choose GPT and non-CSM (UEFI) target system. This is a critical parameter, as trying to install in Legacy Mode (MBR) will lead to a boot error.
- 📥 Download the official ISO-Windows image from Microsoft or use Media Creation Tool.
- 💾 Prepare. USB-USB flash drive with a volume of 8 GB and copy all the important data to the computer.
- ⚙️ Run the Rufus program and select the downloaded image, diagram GPT filesystem NTFS.
- 🚀 Click the Start button and wait until the file writing process is over.
Setting up BIOS and loading with USB-storage
After preparing the installation media, you need to properly configure the BIOS/UEFI settings. On Xiaomi laptops, you can enter the settings menu by repeatedly pressing the F2 key immediately after you turn on the device. If the standard method does not work, try pressing the power button and then the F2 key.
In the BIOS, you're interested in the Boot or Security section. You need to disable Secure Boot if you're planning to install a modified build or if your flash drive doesn't have a Microsoft digital signature. For official Windows images, this step can be skipped, but disabling Secure Boot often solves the drive definition problems.
Next, go to the download menu. On some Xiaomi models, it is called by a separate key. F12 At the start, in other cases, you need to change the priority of the download in the BIOS. Choose yours. USB-If the flash drive is not displayed, try moving it to another port, preferably USB 2.0, or recreate the image with other settings.
What if the BIOS doesn’t see the boot drive?
An important point is the mode of operation of the disk controller. Make sure that the Advanced or SATA Configuration section selects AHCI mode. RAID or Intel RST mode can cause the Windows installer to simply not see your hard drive or SSD.
Disk markup and Windows installation process
Once downloaded from the flash drive, the standard installation process will begin. When choosing the type of installation, be sure to select Selective: Windows Installation Only (for power users), which will allow us to completely clear the disk of the old markup and avoid file system conflicts.
You'll see a list of partitions on your drive. Xiaomi laptops often have multiple hidden recovery partitions. For a clean installation, it's recommended to delete all partitions until one line is left "Unoccupied disk space." Be careful: if you have two physical drives, don't confuse them.
☑️ Checklist before installation
Select the space you have left and press "Next." The system will create the necessary EFI and MSR partitions on its own. The file copying process will take 10 to 30 minutes depending on the speed of your SSD. At this time, the laptop can reboot several times - do not remove the flash drive until the welcome screen appears.
| Parameter | Recommended value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sectional diagram | GPT | Required to be loaded in UEFI mode |
| SATA regime | AHCI | Ensures the correct operation of the SSD |
| Secure Boot | Disabled/Enabled | Depends on the signature of the installation image |
| File system | NTFS | Standard for the Windows System Partition |
Installation of drivers for Xiaomi components
After the first run of Windows, you may find yourself running out of drivers, which can be expressed in low-resolution screen, wifi or touchpad. Unlike many brands, Xiaomi doesn’t always provide a full driver package on a global support site, so it can take time to search.
First, run Windows Update. The system will find and install most of the necessary components, including chipset drivers and basic graphics. However, specific functions such as brightness control, charge indicator and Fn keys may require manual actions.
⚠️ Note: Do not install video card drivers from the site NVIDIA Intel prior to installing all Windows system updates to avoid library version conflicts.
Mi Notebook Pro and Air models often require manual installation of the ELAN or Synaptics touchpad driver, which can be found on Xiaomi’s Chinese support site or in the Windows Optional Updates catalog, and it’s worth checking for the Xiaomi Service Helper utility that adds hotkey functionality.
- 🖥️ Update the drivers of the graphics card through the Device Manager or the official website of the manufacturer GPU.
- 🔌 Install port management drivers USB Bluetooth from the Update Center.
- 🔊 Check the performance of Realtek audio drivers if the sound is missing or is not working correctly.
- ⌨️ Find a utility for working function keys (Fn) on the support site of your model.
💡
Use Device Manager (devmgmt.msc) to search for unknown devices. Right-click on the exclamation marker device and select "Update driver" -> "Automatic search, if you have internet access via an Ethernet adapter or USB-modem.
Solving typical installation problems
Owners of Xiaomi laptops can face a number of specific problems, one of the most common is the lack of a mouse cursor or a broken touchpad during installation. USB-Mouse or touchscreen if the screen model allows it.
Another common problem is that there are no Wi-Fi drivers after installation. Since you can't download them directly from your laptop, use your smartphone in mode. USB-Connect the phone with a cable, turn on modem modem in the settings Android/iOS, Windows will automatically install a temporary driver that allows you to log in.
If the installer says Windows cannot be installed on this drive, check the partition format. As mentioned earlier, the drive must be formatted into GPT. You can convert an MBR to GPT via the installer's command line, but it's easier to do this in advance or simply delete all partitions in the drive selection window.
💡
The main reason for errors when installing on Xiaomi is the inconsistency of the loading mode (UEFI/Legacy) and disk partition diagrams (GPT/MBR). Always use a bunch. UEFI + GPT modern-model.
Optimizing the system after installation
After successful installation and configuration of drivers, it is recommended to optimize the system. Xiaomi laptops have fairly compact housings, so it is important to adjust the power circuit for balance between performance and heating.
Make sure to check the BIOS updates on the official website. Manufacturers often release new versions of the microcode, which improve fan performance, battery life and peripheral compatibility. BIOS updates should only be done with the charger connected.
To extend the life of the SSD, turn off the defragmentation on a schedule (for SSD it is not necessary, the TRIM command is working) and make sure that the AHCI mode is turned on. It is also worth configuring the sleep mode settings, as some Xiaomi models may not properly leave hibernation without fresh power management drivers.