Update Android on Xiaomi Redmi 3: Guide and nuances

Xiaomi Redmi 3 has become a legendary device in its segment, offering users excellent price-performance ratio. However, time is running out and standard menu upgrade methods may stop working due to the end of official support or server changes. Owners often wonder how to get the latest version of MIUI or update the basic Android system to the latest available version.

The upgrade process isn’t just about changing the numbers in the firmware version, it’s about improving security, fixing bugs, and sometimes adding new interface features. For Redmi 3 (codenamed ido), it has its own unique features that you need to consider to avoid turning your phone into a brick.

In this article, we will look at all the available ways to update software, we will look at automatic updates over the air, manual installation of archives through built-in Recovery, and also touch on the topic of custom firmware for those who want to go beyond the official restrictions.

Official Update Methods through the Menu

The easiest and safest way to update the system is to use the Xiaomi mechanism, if the servers still respond to your device's requests, the phone will find and offer a new version of the software. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and click the update check button.

Often, automatic updates don't come immediately, because it involves a phased deployment of firmware, so you can try switching regions or using the Select Firmware File feature if you've downloaded the current archive from the official site.

It is important to understand the difference between versions. Officially, Redmi 3 has settled on the version of MIUI 9 based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Newer versions of MIUI 10, 11 and higher for this model are either custom builds or ports that do not come automatically.

• 📱 Go to the About Phone section to check the current version.
• 📶 Make sure you have a stable Wi-Fi connection before downloading.
• 🔋 The battery must be at least 60% charged before the process begins.

⚠️ Warning: If the update freezes during the "File Check" or "Download" phase, don't rush to restart the phone. Often the problem lies in a crowded bootloader cache or lack of space in internal storage.

Preparation of the device for manual firmware

Before you start manually installing updates, you need to perform a series of preparatory steps, a critical step that can lead to data loss or system damage, and first make a full backup of all important contacts, photos and documents.

The second step is to free up space. The installer requires at least 2-3 GB of free memory to work properly, even if the firmware file itself weighs less, delete unnecessary applications, or transfer media files to a memory card or the cloud.

The third thing is choosing the right file. There are different CPU modifications for Redmi 3 (Snapdragon 430 and MediaTek), and you can't confuse the firmware between them. Always check the device model in Settings → Phone.

It is also recommended to turn off the lock screen and passwords before starting the procedure, since after rebooting in recovery mode, password entry may not be available, which will block access to data.

Manual installation of firmware through Recovery

If automatic updates don’t work, you can use manual installation. You’ll need to download a firmware file with the.zip extension (not.apk or.rar) for your region (Global, China, Russia).

Next, go to the update menu, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Select firmware file." The system will check the integrity of the archive. If the file fits, the phone will prompt you to start installing. Once confirmed, the device will restart and begin the update process.

In more complex cases, when the regular menu does not see the file or gives an error, you will need to log in to Recovery mode. To do this, press the volume button up and the power button at the same time. In the menu that appears, select the language (English), then Wipe Data (if you need a full cleanup) and Connect with MIAssistant to connect to your PC, or use Recovery mode to select a zip file if the menu allows.

Use custom firmware and Android 7/8/9

Since official support for Redmi 3 ended on Android 6.0, many enthusiasts are eager to install more recent versions of the system. For this, there are custom firmware such as LineageOS, Pixel Experience or Xiaomi.eu (beta).

To install such systems, you need to unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi website and install a third-party receivers, most often TWRP. This is a more complex path, requiring work with the command line and tools on PCs such as ADB and Fastboot.

Custom firmware gives a second life to the device, but it has its risks. The camera may perform worse than the drain, and features like VoLTE or a fingerprint scanner may not be supported by the community developers.

• 🚀 Castom firmware often works faster than stock.
• 🛡️ You get up-to-date security patches (depending on support).
• ⚙️ Ability to deep-tuning the system through Root-rights.

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Before installing custom firmware, be sure to save the original boot.img file and recovery.img. This will allow you to return the phone to its original state if necessary.

Possible mistakes and ways to solve them

There can be a number of crashes during the upgrade process, and one of the common problems is Bootloop, where the phone is endlessly rebooted, often when you install firmware for another model or interrupt the recording process, and is solved by logging into Recovery and completely resetting (Wipe All Data).

Another common error is "System UI has stopped" after the update, which indicates that old applications are in conflict with the new version of the system, in which case it helps to clear the application cache or, in extreme cases, reset to factory settings.

If the phone stopped responding to presses and does not turn on, try pressing the power button and volume button down to enter Fastboot mode. Connecting the phone to your computer, you can try to reflash it through the MiFlash utility by selecting the clean all option.

⚠️ Warning: Interrupting the firmware process (cable shutdown, battery drain, PC shutdown) is almost guaranteed to damage the boot sector. USB-cables and laptops with a charged battery.

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The main reason for most update errors is a mismatch in the region of the current firmware or insufficient battery power. Always check these two parameters before starting.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)