Android 12 on Xiaomi: How to install without errors and data loss

Upgrading to Android 12 on Xiaomi devices can dramatically change the way your smartphone works: a new Material You design, improved privacy, optimized power consumption and a lot of hidden features. OTA-Updates to manual firmware via fastboot or custom Recovery. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways for Redmi models, POCO and Mi, including those that no longer receive support from the manufacturer.

It’s important to understand that not all Xiaomi devices officially support Android 12. For example, the Redmi Note 8 Pro (2019) will remain on Android 11, while the POCO F3 or Mi 11 received an update without problems. If your model is on the supported list, you can update through Settings → About Phone → System Update. If not, you will have to use informal firmware like LineageOS or Pixel Experience, but this will require unlocking the bootloader and carry risks.

Before you start, answer three questions: 1. Are you ready for a possible loss of warranty? (Unlocking the bootloader will cancel it.) 2. Is there a backup? (Firmware erases internal memory.) 3. Are you able to use ADB/Fastboot or ready to learn?

If at least one question the answer is “no” – it is better to wait for the official update or contact the service center.

1. Compatibility Check: Does your Xiaomi support Android 12?

The first step is to make sure your device officially gets (or already gets) an update. Xiaomi publishes lists of supported models on the Mi Community forum, but the information is often scattered there.

If your model is not in the table, check it on the Xiaomi Firmware Updater website. Type the name of the device into the search - the system will show the available versions of MIUI and the basic version of Android. For example, for Redmi Note 8, the maximum firmware is MIUI 12.5 based on Android 10, and Android 12 is not provided for it.

⚠️ Warning: Installing Android 12 on an unsupported device via custom firmware can lead to broken sensors (gyroscope, NFC), Camera problems or overheating, such as Redmi Note 7, when LineageOS 19 is firmware is often disabled by Wi-Fi.

2. Device preparation: Backup and unlocking of the bootloader

If your model supports Android 12 officially, you can skip this section and update through Settings. If you don't, you'll have to unlock the bootloader and flash it manually.

• 📱 Contacts and Messages: Export through Google Contacts or Mi Mover App.
• 📸 Photo and video: Copy on PC or in the cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud).
• 🎮 Applications and Data: Use Settings → Google → Backup (Google account required).
• 🔑 Passwords and settings: Save screenshots of screens with important settings (e.g., settings for developers).

Now, unlock the bootloader. This is a must-have for manual firmware. Xiaomi lets you unlock the bootloader officially, but the process takes up to 7 days of waiting:

1. Link your Mi Account to your device: Settings → Xiaomi account.
2. Activate Developer Mode: tap the MIUI version 7 times in About Phone.
3. Turn it on. OEM-unlocking and debugging USB In Settings → For developers.
4. Install Mi Unlock Tool on PC and follow the instructions.

⚠️ Warning: Once the bootloader is unlocked, the smartphone will perform a hard reset. All data will be erased, even if you have backed up internal memory. Use an external card or PC to store backups.

Mi Account linked to device

Developer mode is on

OEM-unlocking activated

Installed ADB/Fastboot drivers on PC

Backup on external media made-->

Method 1: Officially Update via OTA or MIUI Updater

The safest method is to upgrade through built-in tools, which is suitable if your device officially supports Android 12 and gets an update.

1. Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (update weighs 1.5-3 GB).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
3. Click Check Updates. If you can upgrade to MIUI 13 (or newer) based on Android 12, download it.
4. After downloading, click Reboot and install.

If the update doesn’t come, try an alternative method through MIUI Updater:

• 🔄 Download the app MIUI Updater from Google Play.
• 🔍 Select your model and region (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro – Global).
• 📥 Download the latest stable firmware with Android 12 tag.
• 🛠️ Install through Settings → Updating the system → Select a firmware file.

Critical detail: if your device is custom firmware (for example, Xiaomi.EU), the official OTA-The update may cause the bricks to break, in which case you go back to the stock first. MIUI fastboot.

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An official update is the only way to keep warranty and avoid sensor issues.If OTA isn't available, check the firmware region: sometimes the update comes later for Global than for China or EEA.

Method 2: Manual firmware via Fastboot (for experienced)

If OTA It's not available, but your model supports Android 12, and you can flash the official firmware manually through fastboot, USB-Cable and basic command line knowledge. Here's a step-by-step instruction:

1. Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware Updater website. Look for files with the.tgz or.zip extension and fastboot tag.
2. Unpack the archive in a folder on the disk C:\ (for example, C:\miui_fastboot).
3. Connect your phone to your PC in fastboot mode: turn off the device, then press Volume Down + Power.
4. Open the command prompt in the firmware folder (press Shift + PCM → Open the PowerShell window here) and execute:

fastboot devices

(Your device serial number should be displayed. If not, install ADB/Fastboot drivers.)

fastboot flash all

(This team will stitch through all sections. The process will take 5-15 minutes.)

Once complete, the phone will automatically restart. The first launch can take up to 10 minutes - don't interrupt the process!

⚠️ Note: If an anti-rollback error appears during firmware, it means you are trying to install an older firmware version than the one already worth. EDL-Mode (requires an authorized Xiaomi account).

5. Method 3: Castom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience, Xiaomi.EU)

If there's no official update, there's a custom firmware option.

• 📱 LineageOS 19: Pure Android 12 without shell MIUI. It supports most Xiaomi devices, but may not work IR Blaster or NFC.
• 🎨 Pixel Experience: Firmware with Google Pixel design and features. well optimized but sometimes glitched camera.
• 🌍 Xiaomi.EU: Modified MIUI It's more stable than others, but it requires weekly updates.

The process of installing custom firmware:

1. Unlock the bootloader (see Section 2).
2. Install custom TWRP or OrangeFox recavators via fastboot:

fastboot flash recovery twrp.img


fastboot boot twrp.img

1. In TWRP, make a full backup (partitions Boot, System, Data).
2. Sweep through firmware and GApps (if you need Google services).
3. Clear the cache (Wipe) → Dalvik/ART Cache).
4. Reboot.

Example of commands for LineageOS firmware:

adb sideload lineage-19.1-20260510-nightly-alioth-signed.zip


adb sideload MindTheGapps-12.1.0-arm64-20220605_112439.zip

⚠️ Note: On some devices (for example, Redmi Note 9 Pro) custom firmware on Android 12 breaks the Widevine L1, Netflix and other services only show videos in the 480p. No solution - it's a hardware feature.

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Before installing custom firmware, check reviews on the XDA Developers forum. Look for topics marked "[ROM][UNOFFICIAL][alioth]" (where "alioth" is the code name of your device).

6 Solve problems after installing Android 12

Even after a successful firmware, bugs can occur, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If after upgrading to Android 12, the sound in the speaker disappeared, try:

1. Clear the cache in Settings → Applications → Application Management → Media.
2. Check the Dolby Atmos settings (if any).
3. Swipe the patch for sound (search on XDA for the device model).

Critical bug: Some devices (POCO X3 NFC, Redmi Note 8 Pro) after upgrading to Android 12, the IR Blaster stops working (controller) This is due to the lack of drivers in new versions of the kernel. There is no solution - only a rollback on Android 11.

7. rollback to the previous version of Android: when it is necessary

Sometimes Android 12 is worse than the previous version. For example, on the Redmi Note 9S, users complain about interface lags and overheating. In this case, you can go back to Android 11 or MIUI 12.5.

1. Download the official Android 11 firmware for your model with Xiaomi Firmware Updater.
2. Unpack the archive and go through fastboot:

fastboot flash all_except_storage

(This team will save your data, but it’s better to do a backup.)

If you need to clean the device completely:

fastboot flash all

For devices with a locked boot loader, rollback is possible only through EDL-Mode (requires an authorized account Xiaomi and box Qualcomm). it is difficult to do it yourself - it is better to contact the service.

⚠️ Note: Reverse to an older version MIUI If you see an anti-rollback check fail, the device will turn into a brick. EDL or replacement of motherboard.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Android 12 on Xiaomi