The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5, known in China as the Redmi Note 5 Pro, is a legendary device that has gained widespread popularity due to its excellent balance of performance and price. However, over time, official support for the device by the manufacturer ceases to be received and users cease to receive automatic notifications about new versions of the operating system.
Updating Android on these models requires a deeper dive into the technical aspects of mobile devices than simply checking for updates in the menu. You will have to face the concepts of unlocking the bootloader, using Fastboot mode and possibly installing a custom recovery. Properly executed procedure allows you not only to get a fresh version of the MIUI interface, but also to install pure Android through custom firmware, significantly prolonging the life of the device.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the stages of upgrading your smartphone software. We will examine the risks, necessary tools and step-by-step algorithms for various scenarios. Official support for Redmi Note 5 (codename whyred) ended on Android 9 (MIUI 11/12), so further updates are possible only through custom solutions or regional firmware modifications. Carefully study the information before you start, as interference in the system partition always carries certain risks.
Preparation of the device and diagnosis of the current version
Before you start taking action, you need to make a thorough diagnosis of the current state of the system. The first step is to determine the exact model of your device and the version of the bootloader installed. Unlike newer models, the Redmi Note 5 has several modifications depending on the region, and using inappropriate firmware can lead to software errors. Check the information in the Settings → About the phone, paying attention to the build number and the MIUI version.
The critical step is to create a full backup of data. The flashing process, especially with the bootloader unlocked, often involves completely resetting the device to factory settings. Save contacts, photos and documents to the cloud or external media. Also make sure that the battery is charged at least 60%, as a sudden power outage during data writing to memory can lead to irreversible consequences.
To successfully interact with your computer, you will need to install the current ADB and Fastboot drivers. Without these components, the system will not be able to correctly recognize the smartphone in debugging mode. In addition, you need to activate the developer mode on the phone itself. To do this, quickly click on the build number in the About Phone menu seven times, after which the “Developers” option will appear in the advanced settings, where you need to turn on “Debug by USB”.
⚠️ Note: Using the original cable that comes with the kit, or a high-quality analog with thick wires, significantly reduces the risk of connection breakage when running the firmware. Cheap charging cables are often not designed to transmit large amounts of data.
After completing all the preparatory procedures, you can move on to the choice of upgrade method. There are several ways: upgrade “over the air” (if the servers are still available for your region), manual installation through Recovery, use the Mi Flash tool for PC or install custom builds. The choice of the specific method depends on your goals and the current version of the software.
Official Update Methods and Their Limitations
The safest and easiest way is to use the regular update mechanisms provided by Xiaomi.The system automatically checks for new firmware versions for your region. However, for Redmi Note 5 this method is often useless, since official servers have not offered new packages for this model for a long time.
If the automatic check failed, you can try the manual installation method through the built-in Recovery. This requires you to download the.zip (Recovery ROM) firmware archive corresponding to your region and current version on the official website or verified resources. The file is placed in the root of internal memory, after which the update menu selects the installation point from the file. This method allows you to update only to the version newer than the current one and only within one region.
Often users encounter the error "Can't verify update", which means that you can not roll back on the old version or switch between regions (for example, from China to Global) without a complete data cleanup and unlocked bootloader. In such cases, standard methods are powerless, and you need to use more advanced tools. It is important to understand that trying to install Chinese firmware on the global version without prior preparation will lead to locking the device.
- 📲 Standard. OTA-The update only works if Xiaomi servers still store the current packages for your version.
- 💾 Recovery manual installation ROM It allows you to update, but requires exact matching of the region and version.
- 🚫 Transition between regions (CN ↔ Global) is not possible through the standard menu without unlocking the bootloader.
For those who want to stay on the official firmware but don’t get updates, there is a method of changing the region in the phone settings. Sometimes changing the region from Russia to India or Indonesia in the Settings menu → Additional settings → Region can trigger an available service pack if a more recent version for this model is released for the selected region.
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Before manually installing the firmware through Recovery, be sure to rename the firmware file to “update.zip” if the system does not see it in the list available for installation.
Unlocking the bootloader: the need and risks
To install global firmware on the Chinese version of the device or to install custom TWRP recavator is a prerequisite to unlock the bootloader. On Xiaomi devices, this process is strictly regulated and requires special permission from the company. Without the unlocked bootloader, any manipulation of the system partition will be blocked at the hardware level.
The procedure begins with the Mi Account being linked to the device. In the Developer menu, you need to include the Mi Unlock bootloader status and link the account. After that, you need to wait for a certain period, which usually ranges from 7 to 168 hours (3 to 7 days), during which time the Xiaomi security system analyzes the device for suspicious activity.
To unlock itself, you will need a computer running Windows and the Mi Unlock Tool utility. The smartphone is transferred to Fastboot mode by pressing the volume down button when connected. USB-It's a PC program that logs in and, if you're successful, unlocks, and it's important to know that this process completely erases all the data from the internal drive, so having a backup is critical.
⚠️ Note: Once the bootloader is unlocked, security features such as PayPass or banking applications may stop working properly due to a security integrity breach (SafetyNet.
There is also a risk of “bricking” the device if the power failure or unstable version of the Mi Unlock utility is used during the unlock process. However, for the Redmi Note 5 (whyred), the development community has created many recovery tools, so critical failure is rare when following instructions. Unlocking opens the door not only for updates, but also to obtain full access rights (Root).
☑️ Checking before unlocking
Installation of custom TWRP Recovery
After successfully unlocking the bootloader, the next logical step for advanced users is to install a modified recovery menu known as TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project). Xiaomi's standard Recovery has extremely limited functionality and does not allow you to install modified firmware or make full partition backups. TWRP gives you full control over the device's file system.
The installation process is done via Fastboot mode via your computer. You will need to download the image of the recovery for your model (twrp-3.x.x.x-whyred.img).
fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.x.x.x-whyred.imgAfter the command is executed, you must immediately press the button combination to enter Recovery (usually volume up + power) to prevent the system from booting in standard mode and not overwrite TWRP back to stock.
The TWRP menu recommends that you first encrypt the data partition if necessary, or vice versa, remove the encryption to fully access the files. The interface is designed as touch buttons, which allows you to easily navigate through the partitions. Here you can make a full backup of all partitions, including EFS and Persist, the loss of which can lead to the failure of communication modules.
One of the key features TWRP It is possible to install third-party ZIP-It's through this menu that custom firmware, patches for unlocking ads, Magisk modules for obtaining Root rights, and other system modifications are installed. There are many stable builds for the Redmi Note 5. TWRP, Supporting encryption and full work with the file system.
- 🔧 TWRP Allows you to make full copies of the system (Nandroid Backup) for quick recovery in case of failure.
- 📦 Through the river can be installed any ZIP-packages, including custom cores and themes.
- 🛡️ Use of the TWRP Carefulness: Removing system partitions can cause your phone to fail.
It is important to note that after each reinstallation of the operating system TWRP It can fly if the new firmware contains its recovery boot partition. TWRP You have to repeat it on Fastboot. You can sew it in for consistency. ZIP-Disable Force Recovery file immediately after installing the main firmware, but before first downloading to the system.
What to do if TWRP asks for a password?
Handheld firmware via Fastboot and Mi Flash
The most radical and clean method of updating is Fastboot Mode, using the Mi Flash Tool, which allows you to completely rewrite all memory partitions, including system, boot and recovery partitions, and is ideal for moving between regions (for example, from China ROM to Global ROM) or for restoring a device after unsuccessful experiments.
To start, you need to download Fastboot ROM for Redmi Note 5. The file has the.tgz extension and weighs about 2-3 GB. Once the archive is unpacked, there will be a folder inside with a set of files and scripts. Launch the Mi Flash Tool, click the "Select" button and specify the path to the unpacked folder. Make sure that there are no Cyrillic characters or spaces on the way to the folder, otherwise the program may not see the files.
Put your smartphone in Fastboot mode (press the volume button when you connect to your PC). In Mi Flash, select the device in the list. Pay special attention to the choice of firmware mode at the bottom of the window:
| Regime. | Description of action | Impact on data |
|---|---|---|
| Update | Updating the system with data storage | Data is retained |
| Clean All | Complete cleaning and installation of the new system | All data is deleted |
| Clean All and Lock | Complete cleaning and locking of the loader | All data is deleted, the loader is blocked |
Clear All and Lock mode should be used with extreme caution, and you can only lock the bootloader if you are flashing the device with firmware in the same region as it was originally used, and trying to lock the global firmware bootloader on a Chinese device (or vice versa) will lead to a Hard Brick state, from which you can only output the phone through a service center using paid boxes.
Once you select the mode, press Flash. It takes 200 to 500 seconds. The smartphone reboots several times, the screen can go out and light up. Do not turn off the cable until the "Success" message appears in the program. If the process is interrupted in the middle, there is a high probability of getting a non-functioning device. Redmi Note 5 is characterized by high stability of the firmware process, if you use a serviceable device. USB-port-driver.
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Use the Clean All mode for clean installation without locking the bootloader if you plan to put custom recaps or get Root rights in the future.
Frequent questions and problem solving when updating
Users often face typical issues during the upgrade process, and one of the most common is a cyclic reboot, where the phone constantly displays the Mi or Android logo, which can be due to a conflict between the old firmware and the new one, in this case logging into Recovery and resetting to the factory settings (Wipe Data/Factory Reset).
Another common problem is that there's no connection or Wi-Fi that's broken after flashing, which indicates that the EFS or Persist partitions that store calibration data of the modules have been damaged, and if you backed up those parts in TWRP before you started manipulating them, you can restore them, otherwise you'll need to find a specific dump for your model and run it through Fastboot, which is a complicated procedure.
Users are also concerned about data security, and once the bootloader is unlocked and custom firmware is installed, some banking applications may not work, and to circumvent this restriction, you need to hide the fact that you have unlocked and have Root rights using tools like Magisk Hide or its analogues, but you can not guarantee 100% operation of all banking applications on a modified system.
⚠️ Note: If after firmware the phone stopped responding to buttons and the screen is black, but the computer makes a connection sound USB, Try to press the power button on 10-15 If that didn't work, maybe the device went into mode. EDL, firmware-based.
After a major system update (especially a change in Android) during the first hours of operation, the phone can warm up and discharge faster, which is a normal process of optimizing files and rebuilding the app cache, usually stabilizes within 1-2 days of active use.