Xiaomi Redmi 7, which is based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 processor, is still a popular device due to its reliability and maintainability. However, time is running out: official support from the manufacturer has stopped and the device is stuck on Android 9 (Pie). Many users are faced with bugs, lack of memory or a desire for a fresher interface, which makes the issue of flashing the firmware extremely urgent.
The process of replacing the software with Redmi 7 (codenamed onc) requires care, as there is a risk of turning the phone into a “brick.” Unlike the newer models, you can still unlock the bootloader in the official way, which opens the door to install custom recavators and third-party Android builds. Before you start, you need to clearly understand what you want to get: restore functionality or expand functionality.
In this article, we will take a look at all available software update methods, from standard air updates to deep Fastboot flashing. You will learn how regional firmware versions differ, how to properly prepare your computer and what tools you will need to install safely. Careful reading of the instructions before starting work will help avoid fatal errors.
Preparation of the device and choice of firmware method
The first step is to determine the current state of your gadget and choose the appropriate method of intervention. If the phone turns on, the touch screen is working and the settings are available, you are in luck - the range of possibilities is wide. In case the device hangs on the logo or goes into a cyclic reboot, the methods will be limited to recovery mode or Fastboot.
Regardless of the path chosen, backup is a must. If you change the firmware type (for example, from Global to China or from MIUI to LineageOS), all data on the internal drive will be permanently deleted.
⚠️ Warning: Before any manipulations, make sure that the battery is at least 60% charged. Interrupting the process of writing data to flash memory due to battery discharge can damage system partitions, which will require complex hardware repairs.
Also worth checking out is the model of your device. Redmi 7 has an international version and a version for the Chinese market, which may differ in partition markup. Don't try to stitch firmware from Redmi 6 Pro or Redmi Note 7 on this model - this is guaranteed to bring the phone down.
Official ways to update through Recovery
The safest and easiest way to refresh the software is to use an inbuilt update mechanism, which doesn't require an unlocked bootloader or a computer, but only works if you haven't changed the region of the device and are on the official version of the software.
To manually install the firmware archive through the regular backup, you need to download a file with the.zip extension corresponding to your current version of MIUI. The file should be placed in the root of internal memory or on a microSD card. After that, go to the Settings menu → About Phone → MIUI version and click on the tripoint in the corner of the screen.
In the menu that opens, select “Select a firmware file.” The system will check the integrity of the archive and, if correct, prompt you to start restarting and installing. This method is ideal for those who want to simply reinstall the system clean (Clean Install) or roll back to an earlier version if a new one is not working.
- 📱 Automatic Update: Checking Xiaomi servers and downloading an available update without user involvement.
- 💾 Hand-mounted ZIP: Using the local update file through the menu "Select firmware file».
- 🔄 Double tap: Quickly log into the expanded selection menu if you click on the version 10 times MIUI.
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If the system writes “File cannot be updated,” try renaming the firmware file to update.zip or clearing the Component Update app data in the application settings.
It’s important to understand that this method won’t allow you to change your firmware region (for example, switch from the Chinese version to the global version) or install the Android version higher than the one officially supported.
Fastboot Firmware with Mi Flash Tool
Fastboot is the most powerful tool in Xiaomi’s arsenal, allowing you to completely rewrite all memory partitions, effectively solving problems with software errors, viruses or a corrupt file system.
The process starts with putting the smartphone in bootloader mode, and you plug the device off into the computer by holding down the volume button, and you'll see a picture of a rabbit fixing an android on the screen, and you'll see the words FASTBOOT, and you'll have the phone ready to receive low-level commands.
In the Mi Flash Tool, you need to decompress the downloaded firmware image (.tgz format) into the root of the C disk so that the path does not contain Cyrillic or spaces. After selecting the firmware folder in the program interface, it is important to choose the correct method of cleaning the data in the lower right corner.
| Cleaning regime | Description of action | Data retention |
|---|---|---|
| clean all | Complete cleaning and re-marking | No (all removed) |
| save user data | Saving user data | Yes (risky) |
| clean all and lock | Cleaning and locking the loader | No (requires global) |
⚠️ Warning: Selecting clean all and lock mode when installing firmware that is not the same region as the device (e.g., Chinese firmware on the Global Device) will lock your phone (Hard Brick.
When you press the Flash button, you start recording, it can take 200 to 500 seconds, it's strictly forbidden to interrupt or pull the cable at this point, and successful completion will be marked with a green "Success" plaque in the program.
☑️ Preparation for Fastboot
Installation of custom TWRP Recovery
For those who want to go beyond MIUI, TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) is an indispensable tool, a third-party restore menu that allows you to install modified firmware, make full system backups and gain root rights. TWRP installation on Redmi 7 is only possible after unlocking the bootloader.
Unlocking the bootloader is a formal but long process, requiring a Mi Account that is tied to the device for at least 7 days (sometimes the wait time can be extended to 30 days), and a Mi Unlock Tool utility on the PC. Once successfully unlocked, you can switch to installing the Recovery.
The installation process is done via the Windows Command Prompt. Image file twrp.img, specially assembled for the onc model, placed in the folder with ADB-Then you put a command into the console to write the image to the recovery section.
fastboot flash recovery twrp_onc.imgOnce the recording is complete, you need to press the combination of power buttons and volume "up" to force the boot into the new menu. If you just reboot the phone in the usual way, Xiaomi's stock recavators can overwrite TWRP back.
- 🔓 Unlock: Mandatory procedure through Mi Unlock to access system partitions.
- 📲 Installation: Record image via Fastboot commands from a computer.
- 🛡️ Protection: TWRP may require entering a password to unlock the screen to access the data.
What if TWRP doesn’t see internal memory?
Problem Solving: Bootloop and Hard Brick
Even experienced users are not immune to errors. The most common problem after a failed firmware is Bootloop (cyclic reboot).The phone turns on, shows the MI or Android logo, and reboots again. In most cases, for Redmi 7, this is treated by logging into Recovery (pressing power and volume "up") and performing a full reset of Wipe Data/Factory Reset.
The more serious situation is Hard Brick. The screen is black, the phone doesn't respond to buttons, doesn't vibrate or make sounds when you connect to charging. The Windows Device Manager may have a Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 at that moment. This is the emergency boot mode of the processor.
To get out of the state 9008 on Redmi 7 often helps the method of short-term closure of contacts on the board (Test Point) when connecting to the PC, or a specific combination of buttons. After entering the 9008 mode, you can try to “revive” the phone through the QFIL (Qualcomm Flash Image Loader) program, the loader dump.
⚠️ Attention: Firmware through QFIL Using the wrong firehose file (.mbn) can permanently disable the power controller or memory, making repairs economically uneconomical.
If the phone goes into the bootloop immediately after installing custom firmware, try clearing the Dalvik/ART Cache and Cache sections through the TWRP menu. Also make sure the Android version is compatible with the installed kernel and drivers.
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In 90% of cases, Bootloop on Redmi 7 is solved by a complete reset (Wipe Data) after flashing. Don't be afraid to delete data if the system does not start.