Update Android on Xiaomi 5 Plus: official and hidden ways

Xiaomi Mi 5 Plus (codenamed Gemini) was released in 2016, but is still in demand due to its powerful hardware and the ability to install modern firmware. However, official support for MIUI for this model has long been discontinued – the last stable release from Xiaomi came out in 2019. This does not mean that the device is doomed to an outdated version of Android: there are legal and informal ways to upgrade the system to current versions.

In this article, we will analyze all available methods of updating - from the standard to the standard. OTA-Update (if it is still available) to install custom firmware based on Android 10/11 through TWRP We will pay special attention to device preparation, data backup and solving common errors such as Error. 7 If you have never stitched smartphones yourself – do not worry: we will give step-by-step instructions with explanations for beginners.

1. Verification of the current firmware version and compatibility

Before you start updating, you need to determine exactly which version of MIUI and Android is installed on your Xiaomi Mi 5 Plus, which depends on the choice of firmware method and compatibility with new versions.

To get a version of the software:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Scroll down to MIUI version – the current firmware (e.g. MIUI 10.2.1.0) is listed here.
3. Click a few times on the kernel version bar and you will see information about Android (for example, Android 7.0 Nougat).

Compare the data with the compatibility table below. Xiaomi Mi 5 Plus officially supported updates to MIUI 10 based on Android 7.0, but unofficial firmware allows you to install versions up to Android 11:

Important: Xiaomi Mi 5 Plus has two modifications – the standard one (3/32 GB and Pro (4/128 Unofficial firmware may not support the Pro version due to Differences in the hardware. Clarify the model in the settings (Settings) → The phone. → Model).

2.Preparing the phone for the update: backup and unlock

Updating your firmware is a process that can cause data loss or even a hardening of your device, and to minimize the risks, follow these steps:

Data backup

Save important information to the cloud or computer:

• 📱 Contact and SMS: Export through Settings → Google → Backup or Mi Mover application.
• 📷 Photo and video: copy the folder DCIM on PC or upload to Google Photos.
• 🔑 Apps and settings: use Titanium Backup (root rights required) or adb backup.
• 📝 Notes and documents: sync with Mi Cloud or save manually.

Backup data | Check battery power (minimum 60%) | Install Xiaomi drivers on PC | Download firmware and tools (TWRP, Fastboot) | Disable antivirus and firewall-->

Unlocking of the bootloader (Bootloader)

Unofficial firmware requires unlocking the bootloader. Xiaomi allows this to be done legally through the official Mi Unlock Tool, but the process can take up to 720 hours (30 days) of waiting.

Instructions for unlocking:

1. Link your Mi Account to your phone: Settings → Mi Account → Sync.
2. Enable Developer Mode: Click 7 times on the MIUI version in your phone settings.
3. Activate OEM Unlock and USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For Developers.
4. Download Mi Unlock Tool, log in to your account and connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power).

⚠️ Warning: Once the bootloader is unlocked, all data on the phone, including internal memory, will be reset, as will some features (e.g. Mi Pay or Widevine). L1 for HD-The streaming may stop working.

Method 1: Officially Update via OTA or Mi Flash

If your Xiaomi Mi 5 Plus hasn’t yet received the latest official firmware, you can try upgrading through standard tools, which is the most secure method, but only works for MIUI 10 and lower versions.

Updating by Air (OTA)

Check for updates:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. If the update is available, download it and confirm the installation.

If the system is writing no Updates, but you are sure that your version will not be the last, try resetting the update cache:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three points (menu) → Show system → System Update → Storage → Clear cache

Manual update via Mi Flash (Fastboot)

If OTA doesn't work, you can manually flash the official firmware through the Mi Flash Tool.

1. Download the latest Fastboot firmware for the Mi 5 Plus (select Global or China region depending on your model).
2. Unpack the archive in a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\Mi5Plus_Fastboot).
3. Install the Mi Flash Tool and Xiaomi drivers.
4. Transfer the phone to Fastboot mode (clip Volume down + Power when the phone is off).
5. Connect your phone to your PC, open Mi Flash, specify the path to the firmware folder, and press Refresh → Flash.

⚠️ Note: When you run through Mi Flash, select Clean all only if you want to reset your phone to factory settings. To save data, choose Clean all and lock (but this will block the bootloader again).

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If Mi Flash gives you an error of 0x80070002, try running the program on behalf of the administrator or disable driver signature verification in Windows.

Method 2: Install custom firmware via TWRP

If official updates are not available, you can install an unofficial firmware based on Android 10/11. This will require custom TWRP receivers and an unlocked bootloader.

Installation of TWRP Recovery

Download the latest version of TWRP for Mi 5 Plus (for example, from the official website or from the XDA Developers forum).

fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.6.2_gemini.img


fastboot boot twrp-3.6.2_gemini.img

Once installed successfully, the phone will automatically reboot to TWRP. Don't reboot to the system - get to the firmware immediately, otherwise the standard recaveri will overwrite TWRP.

Firmware custom ROM

The following are the Mi 5 Plus Firmware:

• 📱 LineageOS 17.1 (Android 10) - stable, with minimal bugs.
• 🎨 Pixel Experience (Android 11) – Google Pixel interface.
• ⚡ Havoc-OS – customizable firmware with many functions.
• 🔧 crDroid – Optimized for Performance.

Installation instructions:

1. Download firmware (.zip format) and GApps (Google services, if they are not part of ROM).
2. Transfer files to your phone or flash drive (in TWRP you can connect the device to your PC as a drive).
3. In TWRP, run Wipe → Advanced Wipe and mark Dalvik, Cache, System, Data (don’t touch Internal Storage unless you want to lose files).
4. Press Install, select a firmware file and confirm the installation.
5. After ROM firmware, install GApps (if necessary) and run Reboot System.

5. Solving common firmware errors

The process of updating Xiaomi Mi 5 Plus can be accompanied by errors. Let’s consider the most common of them and how to fix them.

If the phone does not turn on after the firmware:

1. Try to pinch Volume up + Power for 10-15 seconds for a forced reboot.
2. If it doesn’t work, try to use the official firmware on Fastboot (see Section 3.2).
3. As a last resort, use it. EDL-Mode (requires an authorized Xiaomi account and boxing Mi Flash Pro).

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If the fingerprint sensor or camera stops working after firmware custom ROM, check for the corresponding fixes on the XDA or 4PDA forum.

6. System optimization after update

After a successful update, it is recommended to follow several steps to improve performance and stability:

Battery setup

Newer versions of Android can use up faster due to background processes.

• 🔋 Disable unnecessary background apps: Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery.
• ⚡ Enable charge saving or ultraeconomic mode (in custom firmware).
• 🔄 Calibrate the battery: completely discharge the phone, then charge to 100% without interruptions.

Checking drivers and modules

Custom firmware sometimes lacks drivers for some components.

• 📶 Modem and network: enter in the engineering menu ##4636## and select Phone Information.
• 🎵 Sound: Test speakers and microphone through voice recording.
• 📸 Camera: Install Google Camera or ANX Camera to improve the quality of images.

If something doesn't work, look for the corresponding fix on XDA or 4PDA. For example, you may need to flash a separate firmware to fix Wi-Fi.

Installation of Magisk for root rights

If you need root rights (for example, for Xposed or system file modifications), install Magisk:

1. Download the latest version of Magisk (.zip).
2. Reboot to TWRP and stitch the file like a regular firmware.
3. Install the Magisk Manager app to manage modules.

⚠️ Note: Root rights may disrupt some apps (e.g. banking or Netflix) and use the MagiskHide module to mask root.

7.Alternative methods: Project Treble and Generic System Image (GSI)

If standard methods don’t work, you can try installing Generic System Image (GSI) — a universal firmware compatible with devices that support Project Treble. Xiaomi Mi 5 Plus supports Treble, so this method can be useful for installing Android 12+.

7.1 Project Treble Support Verification

Find out if your device supports Treble:

adb shell getprop ro.treble.enabled

If the command returns true, you can install GSI. Download the appropriate image from the Phh-Treble or GitHub site.

Installation of GSI via Fastboot

GSI firmware is performed in several stages:

1. Unpack the system.img image from the GSI archive.
2. Translate your phone to Fastboot and execute commands: fastboot erase system fastboot flash system.img
3. Scan vendor.img (if required) and vbmeta to disable signature verification: fastboot --disable-verity --disable-verification flash vbmeta vbmeta.img
4. Run fastboot reboot.

Advantages of GSI:

• ✅ The ability to install the latest version of Android (up to Android 13).
• ✅ Clean Android without unnecessary Xiaomi apps.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Possible bugs with camera, sensors or network.
• ❌ No official support from the manufacturer.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the Xiaomi Mi 5 Plus update