Xiaomi Redmi 9, released in 2020, is still one of the most popular budget smartphones due to balanced features and support for updates. However, many users face problems when trying to update the system: someone can not find a new version of MIUI in the settings, someone update “hangs” by 50%, and some just do not know how to check the relevance of their firmware. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to update Android on Redmi 9 – from standard OTA to manual firmware via Fastboot, and also tell you how to avoid errors and what to do if something goes wrong.
It is important to understand that Xiaomi does not release updates for all regions at the same time (MIUI Global may be lagging behind Chinese (MIUI China for a few months.In addition, since 2023, the company has reduced support for some models, so Redmi 9 no longer receives major Android updates (the latest version is Android 11 with a new version of the Android version). MIUI 14), but regular security and optimization patches are still coming out.If your phone hasn't been updated in a long time, chances are you missed the notification or faced a lock due to an unofficial firmware.
1. How to check the current version of MIUI and Android on Redmi 9
Before you upgrade, make sure you really need it. Newer versions of firmware don't always benefit: they can increase battery consumption, add unnecessary features, or even degrade performance on weaker devices.
- Open the Settings. → The phone.
- Scroll down to the MIUI version section, where the firmware number (e.g. MIUI Global 14.0.4) is listed.
- Click on the MIUI version several times to see more information, including the Android version (should be 10 or 11).
- Pay attention to the Assembly Number - it will come in handy if you need to download the firmware manually.
If your version is older than MIUI 14.0.4 (Android 11), then an update is possible. If you already have the latest firmware but the phone is unstable, try resetting to factory settings (Settings → Additional → Restore and Reset) instead of upgrading.
Official Air Update (OTA)
The easiest and safest way to upgrade is through the built-in OTA (Over-The-Air) system.
- 📶 Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (updating via mobile internet can lead to additional costs).
- 🔋 Charge your phone to at least 60% – with a low charge, the system will block the installation.
- 📱 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system.
- 🔍 Click Check Updates and wait for the server to respond.
If you find an update, click Download and then install it. The phone will restart and install the new firmware automatically. The entire process takes 10 to 20 minutes.
Battery charge ≥60% | Free space ≥3 GB| Stable connection to Wi-Fi | VPN and proxy disabled | Backup of important data-->
⚠️ Warning: If after clicking Check Updates, the system says “No updates” but you know they’ve been coming out (for example, through forums). 4PDA Or Xiaomi Community, try it out:
- 🔄 Restart the phone and repeat the check.
- 🌐 Change region in settings (Settings) → Additionally. → Region, for example, India (there are often updates earlier).
- 📡 Connect to another Wi-Fi network or use mobile internet (sometimes Xiaomi servers are blocked) IP-address).
3 Manual update via Recovery
If OTA doesn't work, you can manually install firmware through stock Recovery, which is suitable for official firmware and doesn't require unlocking the bootloader. Here's how to do it:
- Download the correct firmware version for your Redmi 9 from the official website MIUI Downloads. Pay attention: 📌 Model of the device (Redmi 9 can have different encodings, for example, lancelot for the global version). 🌍 Region (Global, EEA, India, China). 🔄 Recovery type (not Fastboot!).
Rename the downloaded file to update.zip and move it to the root folder of internal memory (not to folders!).
Turn off the phone, then press Volume Up + Power to enter Recovery Mode.
Select the language (if required), then Install update.zip → Yes.
Wait until the installation is complete (don’t interrupt the process!) and restart the phone.
| Type of firmware | Download link | File size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI Global Stable (Recovery) | Download | ~2.5 GB | For international versions (including Russia) |
| MIUI EEA Stable (Recovery) | Download | ~2.5 GB | For the countries of the European Union |
| MIUI China Stable (Recovery) | Download | ~2.3 GB | No Google Services, Only for Chinese Models |
What if Recovery doesn’t see the update.zip file?
Update via Fastboot (for power users)
This method requires an unlocked bootloader and is suitable if:
- 🔧 You want to install a full-reset firmware (clean install).
- 📦 OTA Recovery is not working due to a damaged system.
- 🔄 You need to switch from one regional version to another (for example, from China to Global).
To update via Fastboot:
- Download Fastboot firmware for your model from the official website (file with extension.tgz).
- Unpack the archive into a folder on your computer (e.g., C:\MIUI\fastboot).
- Install ADB and Fastboot drivers.
- Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power when your phone is off).
- Open the command line in the firmware folder and do: fastboot flash all or (if you need a clean installation): fastboot flash all -w
⚠️ Attention: Fastboot method erases all data on the phone, including photos, messages and apps. backup through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset or by using Mi PC Suite.
fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot flash system system.img
And so on. You can find the full list of commands in the file. `flash_all.bat` firmware-archive.-->
5. Alternative methods: custom firmware and MIUI bootloader
If the official methods do not work, you can try:
- 📥 MIUI bootloader is an automatic firmware search and download app. Install it from Google Play, select Redmi 9 and region, then download the desired version.
- 🔄 XiaomiTool V2 — A PC utility that makes it easier to run and unlock the bootloader. Supports Fastboot and Recovery modes.
- 🛠️ Custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience) will require you to unlock the bootloader and install them. TWRP Recovery.Please note that this takes away warranty and may lead to unstable operation.
Before installing custom firmware, check out feedback on forums (4PDA, XDA Developers) – some builds may not support NFC, camera, or mobile connectivity on Redmi 9.
💡
Custom firmware offers more features (like Android 12+ on Redmi 9), but requires technical skills.
6. Frequent errors and their solutions
When updating Redmi 9, users often face the following problems:
| Mistake. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| "Cannot verify update" | A damaged firmware file or an incorrect model | Download the file again, check the model (Lancelot for Redmi 9) |
| Hanging on the MI logo | Incompatible firmware or interrupted installation | Sign in to Fastboot and re-sweep with the fastboot flash all-w team |
| "No command" at Recovery | A damaged Recovery or incorrect button | Repeat the Recovery Loudness Up + Power for 10 seconds |
| Lack of room for updates | Less than 3 GB of free memory | Clear the cache (Settings → Storage → Clear the cache) or transfer files to your PC |
If the phone overheats, discharges quickly or brakes after the upgrade, reset to factory settings (Settings → Additional → Restore and Reset). This helps 80% of the time.
7 How to roll back an update if something goes wrong
If the new firmware is worse than the old one, you can roll it back.
- Download the previous version of MIUI (for example, with Xiaomi Firmware Updater).
- Install it via Recovery or Fastboot (as described above).
- If the phone doesn’t turn on, use the Mi Flash Tool for forced firmware.
⚠️ Note: A rollback to the older version may result in data loss and bootloader lock if you use firmware with a lower version of the anti-rollback (e.g., with a lower version of the anti-rollback). MIUI 13 on MIUI Before rolling back, check compatibility on the forums!