How to upgrade to Android on Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus: Full Guide

Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus smartphone often wonder how to extend the life of their device by installing a newer version of the operating system. Although the official support of this model by the manufacturer is completed, enthusiasts continue to look for ways to update the software to improve security and compatibility with new applications.

There are several ways to do this, from a standard air upgrade to a complex manual flashing through your computer, and the choice of the specific method depends on the current state of your gadget and the desired end result. It is important to understand that switching to custom builds can deprive the device of warranty, although for the Redmi 5 Plus this issue is no longer relevant due to the age of the device.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all the preparation stages, necessary tools and step-by-step steps for the successful installation of a new firmware. You will learn about the risks, ways to minimize them and get answers to common questions. The official latest version of MIUI for Redmi 5 Plus is MIUI 11 based on Android 9 Pie, further development is possible only through third-party solutions.

Preparing the device for system update

Before any software manipulation begins, a number of preparatory steps must be taken, and ignoring this stage can lead to loss of personal data or even failure of the smartphone. The first step is to make a full backup of all important contacts, photos and documents, since the firmware process often involves a complete cleanup of internal memory.

Be sure to check the state of the battery. The charge should be at least 60%, and ideally be fully filled. In the process of writing data to flash memory, a voltage surge or battery discharge can interrupt a critical stage, which will damage the bootloader.

You will also need a stable internet connection, preferably Wi-Fi, to download firmware files that can weigh up to several gigabytes. Make sure the device is debugging on USB and is allowed to install from unknown sources if you plan to use local files.

⚠️ Warning: Before starting the procedure, be sure to back up your data in the Mi Cloud cloud storage or on your computer. Recovering deleted information after formatting the data partition is almost impossible without a pre-created backup.

Official method of updating through OTA

The safest and easiest way to get updates is to use the built-in OTA (Over-The-Air) mechanism, which is designed for regular use and does not require a computer or special programming skills, and the system will check the servers for new packages and suggest installing them.

To start the check, go to the settings menu of your Redmi 5 Plus.Look for About Phone and click on the large MIUI version icon. The device will contact the server and if there is an update for your region and firmware version (Global or China) it will be downloaded automatically.

However, it is worth considering that official servers may not offer an update if the device is already on the latest available version or if the release date of the device is too old for Xiaomi server policies, in which case the system will report that there are no updates.

• 📱 Go to Settings. → The phone.
• 🔄 Click on the update check button (three dots in the corner).
• ⬇️ Wait for the package to load and click “Update».
• 🔌 The phone will restart and install a new version.

Manual installation of firmware through Recovery

If the automatic search didn't work, you can use the manual installation of the Recovery firmware, which allows you to upgrade to a newer version, even if you're not looking for a newer version. OTA-The server is silent, or roll back to the previous stable version. The firmware files have the.zip extension and must be placed in the root of the internal memory.

You will need to download the full firmware archive (Full ROM) rather than the Recovery ROM, as the former contains all system files. Once downloaded, rename the file to update.zip to make it easier to search, although this is not always necessary. Then, through the firmware selection menu, specify the path to the file.

The process takes 5 to 15 minutes, depending on memory speed and data volume, at which time the screen may go out and light up, and the Xiaomi logo will appear several times.

⚠️ Note: When you switch between regions (e.g. China to Global) or through multiple versions of Android, be sure to select "Wipe Data" (Clean Data) and ignore this step will result in a cyclic reboot (bootloop).

Fastboot and Mi Flash Tool

The deepest level of interaction with the system is provided by the Fastboot mode. This method is used when the phone is “brick”, does not load or requires a complete partition re-marking. To work with Redmi 5 Plus, you will need a Windows computer and the Mi Flash Tool utility.

First, you need to unlock the bootloader through the official procedure on the Mi Unlock website. Without this step, the computer will refuse to write new data to the system partitions. Once unlocked, the phone is switched to Fastboot mode by pressing the volume button when you connect the cable to the PC.

In the Mi Flash Tool, you select a folder with unpacked firmware and a firmware mode. clean_all, which completely clears the memory, or clean_all_and_lock, If you return the device to factory state with the boot loader locked.

fastboot devices


fastboot flash recovery recovery.img




fastboot reboot

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Use the original. USB-cable and connect it directly to the motherboard port of the computer (behind the system unit), bypassing USB-hubs to avoid connection breakage during recording.

Table of compatibility of versions and characteristics

Understanding the differences between software versions helps avoid errors when choosing a file to install. Below is a comparison table of the main features of firmware available for this model.

Solving problems and errors in the update

During the upgrade, users of Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus may encounter various errors. One of the most common is the message “Can’t verify update”, which occurs when you try to install the firmware of another region on top of the current one without cleaning the data.

Another problem is getting stuck on the logo after installation, often by waiting (application optimization can take up to 10 minutes) or re-running in Fastboot mode to clear all partitions. If the phone can't see the computer, you need to install ADB and Fastboot drivers manually through Device Manager.

It's normal for the system to take a few days to re-index files and optimize background processes, and during this period, don't panic and look for battery defects.

• 🛑 Error 7 in Recovery: Firmware file is damaged or not suitable for the model.
• 🔄 Bootloop: version conflict, requires cleaning of the Data partition.
• 💻 PC can’t see phone: driver problem or USB-cable.
• 📉 Quick discharge: there is a background optimization of the system after the update.

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In the event of a critical error that is not solved by standard methods, the only way out is often to flash through Fastboot with a full memory cleanup or restore through a full memory cleanup. EDL-Regime (requires an authorized account).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)