Owners of the popular Redmi Note 7 often wonder about extending the life of their device through the installation of a newer version of the operating system. Although official support for this model by the manufacturer can be completed or limited, there are proven methods of updating the software. Properly executed procedure allows not only to get a new interface, but also to improve data security, as well as improve the stability of the smartphone.
The process of upgrading MIUI can range from a simple click of a button to a complex manual installation of archives through an engineering menu. The choice of method depends on the current version of the firmware, the region of the device and the desired result. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available methods so that you can choose the best option for your situation without risking damage to the gadget.
Preparation of the device before the procedure
Before any manipulation of system software can be undertaken, a number of critical actions must be taken: ignoring the preparatory stage can lead to loss of personal data or, in the worst case, to the device becoming a brick. The first step is to make a full backup of all important files, contacts and messages, since during the upgrade process, the memory can be completely cleared.
The battery should be at least 60% charged and ideally fully charged, and interruption due to battery discharge is one of the most common causes of critical loader failures.
Also make sure that the device has enough internal storage freed up. Update files can take 2 to 4 gigabytes, and if there is a shortage of space, the installation will simply not start or end in an error, Recommended to remove unnecessary applications or transfer media files to your computer or cloud storage.
- 📱 Make a backup of data via the Mi Cloud cloud or locally on PC
- 🔋 Check the battery level (minimum 60%)
- 💾 Free up at least 5GB of internal memory
- 📶 Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network
☑️ Checking the readiness of the smartphone
Automatic update via settings (OTA)
The easiest and safest way to get a new version of the software is to use the built-in OTA (Over-The-Air) mechanism, which does not require a connection to a computer or special knowledge.
To start the check, go to the Settings menu, then select About Phone and click on the large MIUI version icon. The device will contact the server and, if there is a version available for your region and specific model, prompt you to download it. After download, click Reboot, and the phone will install the packages itself.
But automatic updates come in waves, which means that one device may have a notification today and another device may have a notification in a few weeks, an approach that developers use to monitor stability and prevent mass failures.
If the server didn't find updates, but you know the new version already exists, you can try a forced request. To do this, click on the three dots in the top right corner of the update menu and select "Check for updates." Sometimes changing the region in the settings helps, but this does not always work and depends on the company's policy for the particular Redmi model.
💡
If the automatic check doesn’t find updates, try changing the region in the settings (for example, India or Global), checking for availability, and then returning your region back.
Manual installation via Recovery (Method 1)
When the automatic method doesn't work or you want to upgrade to a particular version without queuing, manual installation is used. This method requires you to download the firmware archive from an official source. It is important to download the file specifically for your model, since the firmware from Redmi Note 7 (codename: lavender) will not work for the Note 7 Pro.
After downloading a file with the.zip extension (it should not be unpacked), place it in the root folder of the smartphone's internal memory. Next, go to the update menu, click on three dots and select "Select the update file." The system will find the archive and suggest you update.
There is an important nuance when switching between Android versions: If you are upgrading from Android 9 to Android 10 or higher, you may need to clean up the data, in which case, after selecting a file, click on three dots and select Reboot to Recovery.
In Recovery mode, you can control volume and power buttons. Select English, then Wipe Data -> Wipe All Data. After cleaning, go back to the main menu, select Install, and select the previously downloaded zip archive, which is the most reliable method for major system updates.
Why is data cleanup important?
Using the Mi Flash Tool for PC
For more advanced users who are facing serious problems or want to install a global version instead of the Chinese one, the Mi Flash Tool is designed. This method requires a Windows computer and installed drivers. ADB/Fastboot.
The process begins with the smartphone switching to Fastboot mode, and you need to press the device that's turned off with a combination of power buttons and volume reduction, and you'll see a hare in a hat, which signals that you're ready to run the firmware, and connect the USB cable to your computer.
| Parameter | Description | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Mode of work | Clean All | High (full cleaning) |
| Mode of work | Save User Data | Medium (data retention) |
| Drivers. | Qualcomm / Xiaomi USB | Critical |
| Battery | Charge > 50% | Critical |
In the Mi Flash Tool, press the Refresh button to let your computer discover the device. Select the folder with the unpacked firmware (the folder must contain the file). flash_all.bat In the lower right corner, select firmware mode: “Clean all” will delete the data completely, “Save user data” will try to save it, but may cause errors.
Press Flash and wait until the process is complete. The green word "Success" means successful installation. Don't turn off the cable until the end, even if it seems to be stalling, at which point the system partitions are being recorded.
💡
Using the Mi Flash Tool with Clean All mode is the cleanest installation method, ensuring no compatibility errors, but requiring complete data loss.
Solving common mistakes
During the update process, Xiaomi users may encounter various errors such as “Can’t get update information” or “Backage is damaged.” Often the problem lies in an unstable Internet connection or a crowded cache of the system application “Update”.
One of the common reasons is time desynchronization or an incorrect region. Check that the date and time are set automatically. It is also worth trying to clear the Update app cache through the Settings -> Apps -> All Apps -> Update -> Clear -> Clear the cache.
⚠️ Warning: If you see a message "Backage damaged" when manually installed, it almost always means that the downloaded firmware does not match the current version or region of the device. ROM china ROM without unlocking the loader and completely flashing.
Another problem is Error 5, which often occurs when you try to roll back a version (downgrade). Android security policy prohibits installing an older version of the bootloader on top of the new one. In such cases, only a complete flashing through the Fastboot with data cleaning helps.
What to do if the phone stops turning on
In rare cases, especially when interrupting the recording process or using modified files, the smartphone can go into an endless reboot or hang on the Mi logo. This state is called bootloop.
The first step is to try a hard reboot by holding the power button for 10-15 seconds. If that doesn't work, you need to go into Recovery mode. If the Recovery menu opens, try resetting to the factory settings (Wipe Data).
If the phone doesn’t respond to buttons or the screen is black, the bootloader may be damaged, in which case only Emergency Download (EDL) mode, which on Qualcomm processors is activated by a special combination or disassembly of the case to close contacts on the board, will help.
To log in to EDL indiscriminately, you can try to connect the phone turned off to the PC and quickly press the volume button 10 times (does not work on all builds). If the computer makes a device connection sound (Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008), then login is possible, and you will need to contact the service or use paid accounts for firmware.
⚠️ Attention: Regime EDL modern-day MIUI It often requires an authorized Xiaomi account with engineer rights.