How to update Android to Xiaomi Redmi 9A: All ways + problem solving

Xiaomi Redmi 9A remains a popular budget device even a few years after its release, but its performance and security are directly dependent on the relevance of the firmware. Updating Android on this device can solve problems with bugs, improve camera performance, increase battery life and add new features MIUI. However, the process has nuances, from the limitations of the manufacturer to the risk of “bricking” if you do not act correctly.

In this article, we will discuss all the available upgrades, from standard OTA to manual firmware via Fastboot and Recovery, and how to prepare your device to avoid typical errors. We will focus on the problems that Redmi 9A users face when switching to new versions of MIUI, such as hanging on the logo or lack of memory to install the update. If your smartphone has not received updates for a long time or is unstable, this guide will help to return it to a “second life”.

1. Check the current firmware version and available updates

Before you start updating, you need to know exactly which version MIUI Android is installed on your Redmi. 9A. This will help you determine which updates are available for your region and model (e.g. dandelion, global version, dandelion_in — for India).

To find out the firmware version:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Scroll down to MIUI version – the current firmware (e.g. MIUI 12.5.3 Stable) is listed here.
3. Click on the MIUI version several times to activate the extended mode (you are a developer now).
4. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers and check out the Android version (for Redmi) 9A Android 10 or Android 11 depending on the region).

Check the available updates:

• 🔍 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 📥 Click Update Check. If the update is available, the system will prompt you to download it.
• 🌐 If there are no updates, try changing the firmware region (we will talk about this in the next section).

It's important! Xiaomi Redmi! 9A Officially supports updates to MIUI 12.5 Android-based 10/11. Newer versions (e.g., more recent versions, MIUI 13/14) This model is not and will not be released – this is a limitation of the hardware platform (Medek Helio chipset). G25). All promises of updating to Android 12+ from the sources of falsehood.

2.Preparing the smartphone for the update: 5 mandatory steps

Incorrect preparation is the main reason for the update failures. Follow this checklist to avoid data loss or turning your phone into a brick:

Let's take a closer look at each item:

1 Battery charge: Upgrades can take up to 30 minutes, and discharging during installation will damage system files. Optimal charge level is 70-100%. If the battery is worn out (capacity less than 80%), connect the phone to the charger with the original cable.

2. Backup. Update rarely erases user data, but crashes do happen.

• 📱 Built-in Settings function → Additionally. → Backup and reset → Local backup.
• ☁️ Mi Cloud (requires authorization in your Xiaomi account).
• 💻 Applications like Swift Backup (root needed) or manual file copying on PC.

3. Memory release: 2.5-4 GB of free space is required to install the update.

• 🗑️ Remove the app cache in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Clear the cache.
• 📸 Transfer photos and videos to a memory card or PC.
• 🎮 Remove heavy games (e.g. Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile take on the game) 5-10 GB).

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If memory is critically short, transfer files to a microSD card (if installed) or use it. OTG-flash-drive.

4. Stable Internet connection: Downloading firmware over the air (OTA) weighs 1.5-2.5 GB. When the connection is broken, the file can get corrupted. If the Wi-Fi is unstable, download the firmware on your PC and then transfer it to your phone (instructions in the manual update section).

5. Remove unnecessary applications. Some programs (especially those with administrator rights) may block the installation of the update. Check the list in Settings → Applications → Special Access → Device administrators and disable suspicious ones.

⚠️ Note: If you use custom Recovery (for example, TWRP), Before upgrading via Fastboot, return stock Recovery, otherwise the phone may hang on the Mi logo.

Method 1: Air Update (OTA) is the easiest method

OTA (Over-The-Air) is a standard way to get updates that doesn’t require a PC connection, and is suitable for most users if:

• 📶 Phone's connected to the Internet.
• 🔄 Official Update for Your Region is Available.
• 📱 The device is not rooted and has no custom modifications.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Update Check. If the update is available, the Download button will appear.
3. Wait until the download is complete (time depends on the speed of the Internet).
4. After downloading, click Install and confirm the reboot.
5. The phone will restart and start the installation (it will take 10-20 minutes).

If the update is not available, try:

• 🔄 Change the firmware region: go to Settings → Additionally. → Region and select another (e.g. India or Europe). After changing region, check again for updates.
• 📡 Use it. VPN: Sometimes updates are rolled out first for certain countries. VPN (Germany or Indonesia, and check again.
• ⏳ Wait: updates can come in waves. If your phone doesn't get an update on the first day of release, check once in a while. 2-3 day-day.

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If OTA-The update weighs less than 50MB, and it's not a full firmware, but a patch, and once installed, it may require another update to fully update the system.

Method 2: Manual update via Recovery – if OTA does not work

If automatic updates are not available or fail permanently, you can install firmware manually through stock Recovery, a method that is safer than Fastboot, but requires you to download the correct firmware file.

You'll need:

• 💻 Computer or laptop (for downloading firmware).
• 📎 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 🔋 Battery charge of at least 50%.

Step 1. Download the correct firmware

The firmware for Redmi 9A is divided into:

• Stable - Stable versions (recommended)
• Developer - beta versions (may contain bugs).

Download official firmware only from the sites:

• 🌍 Official portal MIUI (Choose the dandelion model for the global version).
• 📦 Xiaomi Firmware Updater (alternative source with archived versions).

The firmware file should have a name of the type:

miui_DANDELIONGlobal_V12.5.3.0.QCDMIXM_5a4a3d1234_10.0.zip

Where:

• DANDELION — codename 9A.

Step 2. Transfer the firmware to your phone

1. Connect Redmi 9A to your PC via USB.

Step 3. Install firmware through Recovery

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Volume Up + Power buttons before the Mi logo appears (this is Recovery mode).
3. Select the language and go to Install update.zip to System.
4. Select the downloaded firmware file and confirm the installation.
5. Wait until the phone is finished (the phone will reboot automatically).

⚠️ Warning: If after the update the phone is stuck on the logo for more than 15 minutes, perform a hard reset (clip Volume up). + 20 seconds power. It'll delete all the data, but it'll bring the phone back to life.

5. Method 3: Fastboot Firmware for Power Users

The Fastboot method is used if:

• 🔧 You need to restore the phone after a failure.
• 🔄 Refuse the device to another version MIUI (for example, from the Global EEA).
• 🛠️ Standard methods do not work (mistakes in the case of OTA or recovery).

This way, you reset all the data and you need to unlock the bootloader, and if you're not ready, use the previous methods.

Step 1. Unlock the bootloader

By default, the Xiaomi bootloader is locked.

1. Link your Mi Account to your phone in Settings → Xiaomi account.
2. Go to Mi Unlock and request permission to unlock (can take up to 7 days).
3. Download the Mi Unlock Tool and follow the instructions.

Step 2. Download the Fastboot firmware

The Fastboot firmware file has an extension.tgz or.zip and weighs 2-3 GB. Download only from official sources (see section about Recovery). Unpack the archive in a folder on your PC.

Step 3: Install drivers and ADB

To work with Fastboot you need:

• 🖥️ MediaTek Drivers (download from Xiaomi website).
• 🔧 Platform Tools (includes fastboot and adb).

Step 4. Run the phone.

1. Turn off Redmi 9A.
2. Press Volume Down + Nutrition to enter the Fastboot (a rabbit will appear in the cap).
3. Connect the phone to the PC.
4. Open the command line in the firmware folder and do:

fastboot flash all


fastboot reboot

It takes 5-10 minutes to reboot, and the phone will be as new as it is (all data will be deleted).

6. Solving Common Errors When Updating Redmi 9A

Even when following instructions, users face problems, and we'll look at the most common errors and their solutions.

Additional advice:

• 🔄 If after the update the phone began to brake, reset to factory settings (Settings) → Additionally. → Resetting settings).
• 📡 Mobile network problems? Fastboot modem via fastboot flash modem NON-HLOS.bin.
• 🔋 Quick battery discharge after upgrade? Calibrate it: discharge the phone to 0%, then charge to 100% without interruption.

7. Alternative methods: custom firmware and MIUI ROM

If the official updates are no longer coming out and the phone is slow, you can look at the informal firmware.

• ✅ Pros: new versions of Android, advanced settings, lack of bloat.
• ❌ Cons: loss of warranty, risk of brick, camera/network problems.

The following are the best features for Redmi 9A:

• 📱 LineageOS (Android 11/12) — stable, but without branded features Xiaomi.
• 🔧 Pixel Experience – Pure Android with Google Pixel Features.
• 🛠️ MIUI EU — Xiaomi Europe’s Firmware without Chinese Services.

How to install custom firmware:

1. Unlock the bootloader (see section 5).
2. Install TWRP Recovery (the version should support MediaTek Helio G25).
3. Download firmware and GApps (if you need Google services).
4. In TWRP, run Wipe → Advanced Wipe (mark Dalvik, Cache, System, Data).
5. Install firmware and GApps, then restart.

⚠️ Attention: Castom firmware can disrupt work NFC (If it is in your model, degrade the quality of the photo (due to the lack of Xiaomi Camera drivers) and lead to problems with Widevine L1 (no HD into Netflix/Disney+).

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)