Updating your smartphone operating system to a new version is always an exciting process that promises new features, increased security and a fresh interface. For owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, switching to Android 12 (often in the shell of MIUI 13 or 14) gives you access to new generation widgets, improved privacy and smoother animations. However, if your device does not receive an “over-the-air” update or you want to install a clean system, you will need a manual installation.
The process of installing a new OS manually is very different from the usual update via the settings menu. You will need not only the firmware itself, but also the preparation of the computer, installing drivers, and unlocking the bootloader, which is a critical step. Attention: any manipulation of system partitions carries risks, so strict adherence to the instructions is the key to success.
In this article, we will discuss all the steps from checking the compatibility of your model to the final launch of the system, we will discuss installation methods through both the official Mi Flash Tool and Recovery mode, as well as discuss possible problems and ways to solve them.
Preparation of the device and compatibility check
The first step is to determine exactly the model of your smartphone and the code name of the device. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, firmware is strictly tied to specific code names (for example, cepheus for Mi 9 or vayu for POCO X3 Pro).
Make sure your device has USB debugging enabled. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on MIUI build number seven times. Then, in the Advanced Settings menu → For developers, activate Debugging via USB. You also need to link your Mi Account to your device and enable access to Mi Cloud if you plan to unlock the bootloader by official means.
Make a full backup of all important data. The firmware process, especially when unlocking the bootloader, involves full formatting of internal memory. Photos, contacts and correspondence will be deleted without the possibility of recovery through standard means.
- 📱 Exact device model (checked in Settings) → The phone).
- 🔋 Battery charge at least 60-70% prevent.
- 💻 Computer with Windows OS and is in good working order USB-cable.
- 🔐 Mi Account with a linked phone number.
Unlocking the bootloader: the necessary stage
Most modern Xiaomi smartphones come with a locked bootloader.This is protection against installing modified software, but it also prevents the manual installation of Android 12 if you want to change the firmware region or install custom Recovery. Without unlocking, you can only install official global or Chinese firmware through Recovery, but you can not use Fastboot mode for deep flashing.
To unlock, you will need the Mi Unlock Tool utility on your PC. After logging into your account in the program and transferring your smartphone to Fastboot mode (clamping the Volume Down buttons). + Powered when your phone is off, the system will check the status of the device. If you unlock the device for the first time, you'll probably have to wait 7 days (168 hours) This is a security limitation that you can't legally circumvent.
⚠️ Warning: Unlocking the bootloader automatically cancels the software warranty in some regions and triggers the process of a full data reset (Wipe Data) on the first activation.
It is important to understand the difference between Global and China firmware, and when you switch from Chinese firmware to global (or vice versa), unlocking a bootloader is a must. If you are just upgrading within the same region, you can try Recovery, but it is less reliable for changing the Android version.
What is an anti-rollback??
Search and download official firmware
Finding the right firmware file is the most important thing. Files for Xiaomi usually have the extension.zip (for Recovery) or.tgz (for Fastboot). To manually install Android 12, we need Fastboot firmware, since it contains the full image of the system, including the boot boot loader, modem and boot sections.
You should only download firmware from trusted resources, such as the official website miui.com or authoritative aggregators like xiaomirom.com. Pay attention to the type of firmware: it should be marked as Fastboot. The file title usually contains the region code: MIUI_Global, MIUI_EEA (Europe), MIUI_RU (Russia) or MIUI_CN (China).
After downloading the archive, it must be unpacked. The path to the folder should not contain Cyrillic characters or spaces, otherwise the firmware utility may not see the files, C:\rom\.
☑️ Pre-firmware check
Install ADB and Fastboot drivers on PC
For a successful communication between a computer and a smartphone, you need to install the appropriate drivers. Without them, the PC will see the device as "Unknown". USB-The device" and won't be able to pass firmware commands.The standard driver set often comes bundled with Google's platform tools.
Download the SDK Platform Tools from the official Android developer site. Unpack the archive into a handy directory. To check your work, connect your phone in Fastboot mode and open the command prompt (CMD) in the tool folder. Enter the command fastboot devices. If you see the serial number of the device, then the drivers are installed correctly.
fastboot devices
1234567890 fastbootIn some cases, especially on Windows 10 and 11, you may need to manually install drivers through Device Manager. Find a device with a yellow exclamation mark, select Update Driver → Select a driver from the list of available → Android Bootloader Interface. This will provide a stable connection in firmware mode.
💡
Use the original. USB-Cheap charging cables often do not support data transmission, leading to firmware errors.
The process of firmware through the Mi Flash Tool
The most reliable way to install Android 12 on Xiaomi devices is to use the Mi Flash Tool utility.This tool allows you to completely overwrite memory partitions, eliminating errors of the previous system. Launch the program on behalf of the administrator and press the refresh button to make sure that the phone is visible.
Press select and point the path to the folder with the unpacked firmware. At the bottom of the window, select firmware mode. To install Android 12 cleanly, with no remnants of old files, select clean all. This mode clears internal memory completely. Clean all and lock mode will also lock the bootloader back, which is recommended if you return the device to factory state for sale.
| Firmware mode | Data retention | Locking the loader | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Update | Yes (retained) | No. | Update the MIUI version without losing data |
| Clean all | No (full reset) | No. | For a clean Android 12 installation (Recommended) |
| Clean all and lock | No (full reset) | Yes. | To return the device to its original state |
After you select the mode, press flash. It takes 200 to 500 seconds. USB-cable, even if the smartphone screen is gone or the indicator flashes. interruption of recording in the boot section can lead to the inability to turn on the device.
Possible errors and methods of their elimination
There may be bugs in the firmware process that the program outputs. MissMatching image and device code means you're trying to install the firmware for the wrong model. Check the code name of the device. Flash except All data storage error often occurs when you try to flash a locked bootloader or when you use Recovery firmware in Fastboot mode.
If the process is stuck at a certain percentage (e.g. 48% or 99%), try replacing it. USB-cable or reconnect the phone to another USB-port, preferably USB 2.0, located on the motherboard behind the system unit, also helps to reboot the phone in Fastboot mode again.
⚠️ Warning: If your phone goes into an endless bootloop after firmware, try doing Wipe Data via Recovery Mode. + If this doesn't work, you may need to re-firmware with Clean All mode.
Another common problem is the signature verification error, which occurs if the Mi Account that was unlocked is not the same as the one on the phone, or if not enough time has passed since the unlock, in which case you will have to wait for the timer to expire or use another account to re-order the unlock.
💡
The main reason for firmware failure is inattention to the choice of version (Recovery vs Fastboot) and region. Always make sure that the firmware file is designed specifically for your device codename.