Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 9T smartphone often wonder about the timeliness of getting new versions of the operating system. Android 11 was a landmark update, bringing an improved resolution system, widgets on the desktop and a redesigned notification interface. For users who bought this device at the beginning of its life cycle, the wait for a stable version of the software was quite long.
Xiaomi uses its own MIUI shell, on top of which Android is based. It is the speed of adaptation of MIUI to new versions of the “green robot” that determines when a particular user will get access to new features. In the case of Redmi 9T, which was released on the global market in early 2021, the situation with updates was mixed due to differences in regional versions.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the chronology of the release of updates, explain why some devices still have the old version, and consider the technical nuances of the transition to Android 11.
Official status and schedule of updates
The Redmi 9T (also known as the Redmi Note 9 4G in some regions and the Poco M3 Pro in some versions) originally came with a MIUI 12 shell based on Android 10. The official release of the stable version of MIUI 12.5, based on Android 11, for the global version of the device took place in the second quarter of 2021.
There is a direct correlation between the region the device is intended for and the rate of updates. European versions (EU) are usually the first to receive updates, whereas models for Asian or Latin American markets can wait weeks or even months.
⚠️ Note: If your device was purchased on a gray import (for example, the Chinese version with global firmware, cross-stitched by the seller), automatic update over the air (OTA) In such cases, the system considers the device to be incompatible with the update servers.
The update process is controlled by Xiaomi servers that check the compatibility of a particular instance of the device. Even if you see that a friend with the same phone already has Android 11, this does not guarantee that you will have an instant update.
Technical Features of Android 11 on Redmi 9T
The transition to Android 11 is not only visual changes, but also deep system improvements. For the Redmi 9T, equipped with a Snapdragon 662 and 4 GB processor or 6 GB of RAM, optimizing memory has become critical. The new version of the OS better manages background processes, which has positively affected the autonomy of the device.
One of the main features of the system is the Bubbles for messages, which allows you to communicate without leaving the current application, and there are one-time permissions to access the microphone, camera and location, which significantly increased the security of personal data of the user. The interface has become smoother, although the owners of Redmi 9T Sometimes there was an increase in resource consumption in the first days after the update.
- 🚀 Improved notification management with prioritized dialogues as a separate category.
- 🔒 Advanced privacy settings, including hiding location data when providing approximate coordinates.
- 🎮 Game Turbo features additional optimizations to reduce input delays.
It is important to understand that MIUI 12.5 and later versions based on Android 11 If your device has been filled with media files, the installation process may end in an error. 3-4 GB of free memory before starting the procedure.
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Before installing a major update, back up important contacts and photos to the Mi Cloud or Google Photos cloud service to avoid data loss in the event of a crash.
How to Check and Install Update Manually
If the automatic notification didn't arrive, don't panic. Often the update is already available on the server, but the push signal just didn't reach your device. The first step should always be to manually check through the standard settings menu. You should go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and click "Check Updates".
In some cases, the system may report that there are no updates, even if they have already been released. This may be due to data caching or temporary problems with connecting to the server. Try switching from Wi-Fi to mobile Internet (or vice versa), and then try again.
☑️ Checklist before update
There is a manual server selection method that sometimes helps to wake up update checks. In the software version check menu, you can click multiple times on the MIUI logo icon to open a hidden menu. You can choose India, Global or Europe servers. However, be careful: choosing the wrong region can lead to incompatible firmware installation, which will cause errors in telemetry or banking applications.
⚠️ Warning: Never choose a firmware region other than yours SIM-If you're not sure what you're doing, it can block the ability to return to factory settings without losing data.
Installation of firmware through Recovery (Manual Update)
For advanced users who don’t want to wait for OTA, there is a method of manual installation via Recovery mode, which allows you to force the current version of MIUI with Android 11, downloading the full firmware package (Full ROM) from the official website, which is safe and does not require unlocking the bootloader, unless you change the region.
First, you need to download the archive with firmware for your model. For Redmi 9T (codename lime), it is important not to confuse it with firmware for Redmi 9 or Redmi Note 9 5G. The file should have a.zip extension and weigh about 2.5-3 GB. After downloading, place the file in the root of the internal memory of the device.
We follow the instructions:
- Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
- Click on the menu (three dots) in the upper right corner.
- Select the option "Choose update package".
- Find the downloaded one. ZIP-archive and confirm the choice.
The system will check the integrity of the file and, if all is right, prompt you to start restarting and installing.The process takes 5 to 15 minutes, at which time the phone will be unavailable, and the Xiaomi logo and progress bar will be displayed on the screen.
What to do if you have a "Can't verify update" error?
Compatibility table for MIUI and Android versions
Understanding version numbering helps you navigate which operating system is installed on your device. Below is a shell version matching table for Redmi 9T.
| MIUI version | Android version | Status of support | Key developments |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI 12 | Android 10 | Basic (factory) | New design, privacy protection |
| MIUI 12.5 | Android 11 | Stable. | Memory optimization, Android 11 features |
| MIUI 13 | Android 11 / 12 | Current | New widgets, fonts, security |
| MIUI 14 | Android 12 / 13 | The last one (for the model) | Lightweight design, improved multitasking |
As you can see from the table, Android 11 is the foundation for MIUI 12.5 and partly MIUI 13. If you have a newer shell installed on your device, then the base version of Android could also be updated in the background. You can check the exact version of the kernel in the About Phone → All settings, where the numbers are indicated in the "Android Version" line.
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Having a newer version of MIUI doesn’t always mean an automatic update to Android. The basic version of the OS changes only with major firmware updates.
Possible problems and solutions
The upgrade process rarely goes smoothly for all users. Redmi 9T owners may encounter a number of typical problems after installing Android 11. Most users complain about fast battery drain in the first 2-3 days. This is normal: the system indexes files and optimizes applications in the background.
Another common problem is the disappearance of some messages or contacts, which occurs if the user did not back up before updating or if the data migration process is interrupted, and there are also rare reboots or "hangs" of the interface, which can be treated with a complete cache cleaning or, in extreme cases, reset to factory settings (Wipe Data).
- 🔋 Quick discharge: wait 3-4 active day of operation to complete optimization.
- 📉 Heating the case: Avoid heavy games and charging during the first cycles of operation after the update.
- 📱 Interface Lags: Remove Unused Widgets and Reduce Live Wallpaper.
⚠️ Warning: If the phone is in a continuous bootloop cycle after the upgrade, don’t try to charge it endlessly. You need to enter Recovery mode (pressing the power and volume button up) and perform a data reset (Wipe Data), first making sure that there is a backup.
In rare cases, antivirus apps or banking software may stop working properly due to the increased security requirements of Android 11, requiring reinstallation of a problematic application or waiting for an update from its developer, and the system has become more tightly controlled access to the file system, which can disrupt the work of old file managers.