How to Update Android on Xiaomi Phone: All Ways to 2026

Why You Should Update Your Firmware on Xiaomi and When You Need It

Updating software on Xiaomi smartphones is not just a way to get new features, but a critical procedure for the security, stability and performance of the device. Modern versions of MIUI and Android close vulnerabilities, optimize battery consumption and add support for new communication standards. For example, switching from Android 12 to Android 14 can provide an increase in autonomy by up to 15% due to improved background management.

But not all updates are equally useful. If your Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is stable and the new MIUI 15 version brings only cosmetic changes, it is not necessary to rush.

When exactly you need to update:

• 🔒 Vulnerability notifications (e.g. critical errors in MediaTek or Qualcomm)
• 📱 The device started to “brake” after installing applications (new OS versions are better optimized)
• 🔋 Battery goes down too fast (power consumption bugs are often fixed in updates)
• 📶 Network problems 5G Wi-Fi 6 (new firmware adds support for modern standards)

Preparing your phone for an update: 5 mandatory steps

Before you start updating, you need to perform a few critical actions, neglecting them can lead to a blink (complete failure) of the device or data loss, especially for owners of models with a locked bootloader (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra or POCO F5), where a firmware error requires contacting the service center.

First and foremost, backup. Use the built-in Settings → About phone → Backup & reset or third-party solutions like Swift Backup (requires root rights). Note: Backup via Mi Cloud does not save some system settings and application data.

Battery charge ≥ 50% | Backup | VPN and proxy disabled |Free ≥ 5 GB of memory |Mi--> account details remembered

The second is to check the bootloader version. The newer devices (Xiaomi 14, Redmi K70) use Anti-Rollback Protection, which blocks rollbacks to older versions of the firmware. You can find out the current version through the command:

fastboot getvar anti

⚠️ Note: If you are updating POCO X3 Pro or Redmi Note 10 Pro with MIUI 12.5 on MIUI 14, and then you decide to go back, and the phone turns into a brick.

Step three: Free up your memory. Update over OTA (over the air) requires at least 3 to 5 GB of free space. Delete the app cache (Settings → Storage → Cleaner) and transfer the photos to a memory card or to the cloud. On UFS 3.1 models (such as Xiaomi 12T Pro), the data write speed is faster, so the process will go faster.

Method 1: Air-to-air update (OTA) is the easiest method

The OTA (Over-The-Air) method is a standard upgrade method that does not require a PC connection and is available directly from the phone interface. It is suitable for 90% of users, because it automatically checks the firmware compatibility with your model and region. However, it has limitations: for example, on the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite with global firmware, you will not be able to install the Chinese version of MIUI without unlocking the bootloader.

Step instructions:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Download the latest version.
3. If an update is found, click Download (file weight is usually 1.5-3 GB).
4. After downloading, select Install and confirm the reboot.

It takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on the model. On the Xiaomi 13 Pro with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, the installation will be faster than on the Redmi 9A with the Helio G25. During the upgrade, the phone will reboot 1-2 times - this is normal.

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If the update is “hanging” during the verification phase, go to Settings → Memory → Clean up and delete the cache of the System Update application.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi) 10C) after updating OTA The root access may be lost if it was obtained through Magisk, in which case you will need to re-flash the boot image.

Only when critical patches appear|Every time a new version is released MIUI|Rarely, only if something breaks.|Never update.|I don't know what a firmware is.-->

Method 2: Update via Recovery – if OTA doesn’t work

If the phone does not see an update via OTA (for example, due to a change in the firmware region or removal of system applications), you can install the firmware manually through Recovery mode. This method is suitable for advanced users, since it requires downloading the correct firmware file and following the sequence of actions.

First, download the official firmware for your model from MIUI Downloads.

• 📌 Device model (e.g. Davinci for Redmi) K20 Pro)
• 🌍 Region (Global, China, EEA, Russia)
• 🔢 Android Version (you can’t install Android 14 on Android 12 without intermediate updates)

The firmware file should have a.zip extension and weigh from 2 to 4 GB. Do not download firmware from third-party sites - they may contain viruses or be modified (for example, with a pre-installed bloatware).

Installation instructions:

1. Move the downloaded.zip file to the root directory of internal memory (not to folders!).
2. Turn off the phone and press Volume Up + Power to enter Recovery Mode.
3. Select the language (if required), then Install update.zip to System.
4. Confirm the installation and wait until the process is completed (don’t interrupt!).
5. After rebooting, perform a cache reset (Wipe Cache) to avoid lags.

⚠️ Note: On devices with dynamic partitions (e.g. Xiaomi) 12S Ultra) installation via Recovery can lead to E: Footer is wrong.

Method 3: Fastboot Firmware for Power Users

Fastboot is the most reliable way to flash a phone, but it's also the most complex, and it requires a computer, an ADB/Fastboot driver installed, and a command line knowledge, which is a must if:

• 🔄 You need to switch from Chinese firmware to global (or vice versa)
• 🛠️ The phone will not turn on (for example, after a failed update)
• 🔓 Requires to unlock the bootloader (on new models, it takes up to 72 hours of waiting time)

To start, unlock the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock Tool app. On 2023-2026 models (such as the Xiaomi 13T or POCO X5 Pro), this can only be done by linking the Mi Account to the device and waiting 168 hours (7 days).

After unlocking:

1. Download Fastboot firmware (.tgz file) for your model from the Xiaomi website.
2. Unpack the archive in a folder on your computer (for example, C:\miui_fastboot).
3. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power).
4. Open the command line in the firmware folder and do:

fastboot flash all

It takes 5-10 minutes, and when it's done, it automatically reboots.

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Fastboot firmware completely erases data from the device, including photos and apps. Backup is mandatory!

Solving Common Errors in Updating

Even when following instructions, users encounter errors, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

If root access is lost after the update, it must be restored:

1. Download the current version of Magisk (for example, Magisk v26.4).
2. Swipe boot.img through Fastboot:

fastboot flash boot magisk_patched.img

On models with AVB 2.0 (such as Xiaomi 13), you will need to disable signature verification:

fastboot flash vbmeta vbmeta.img


fastboot --disable-verity --disable-verification flash vbmeta vbmeta.img

What to do after the update: optimization and verification

After a successful upgrade, take your phone in no hurry. Follow a few steps to ensure stable operation:

1. Check the firmware version: go to Settings → About phone and make sure that the MIUI and Android version are updated.
2. Clear the cache: go to Settings → Storage → Cleaner → Deep Clean.
3. Set up the battery: newer versions of MIUI may reset adaptive optimization. Go to Settings → Battery → Battery saver and turn on Adaptive battery.
4. Check the applications: some programs (such as banking) may require re-authorization.

If after the update the phone began to warm or quickly discharge, perform battery calibration:

1. Charge your phone to 100% and hold on charging for another 1 hour.
2. Disconnect from the network and discharge until automatically shut down.
3. Charge again to 100% without interruption.

In the models with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi 12 Pro) may be affected by the color calibration after the update. → Display → Color scheme.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi Update