How to update the firmware on Xiaomi Redmi 5: all ways and solutions to problems

Xiaomi Redmi 5, released in 2017, is still a popular budget smartphone due to its reliability and the ability to install fresh firmware. However, with the release of new versions of MIUI and Android, owners are faced with the question: how to update the device to avoid data loss, avoid errors and maximize the life of the gadget? In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of updating – from standard OTA to manual firmware through Fastboot and Recovery, and consider typical problems and their solutions.

It's important to understand that Redmi 5 (codename rosy) officially supports upgrades to MIUI 12.5 based on Android 10. Newer versions of MIUI (like 13 or 14) for this model are not released, but enthusiasts create custom firmware. If you want the latest version of Android, you will have to consider alternatives like LineageOS or Pixel Experience. However, for most users, the best solution is the official firmware from Xiaomi.

Before you start updating, answer two key questions: 1. What is your goal? (stability, new features, bug fixing) 2. Are you prepared for the possible risks? (data loss, bootloader lock, device "brick").

If you're in doubt, start by automatically updating through Settings. If you want to experiment, check out the manual firmware section.

1. Preparation of the smartphone for the update

Regardless of the upgrade method you choose, neglecting preparation is the main cause of 80 percent of firmware errors, and even if you upgrade over the air (OTA), you better be safe.

• 📱 Check the current version MIUI: Go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI. Write down the assembly number (for example, V12.5.1.0.QEIMIXM) — It will be useful for choosing the right firmware.
• 🔋 Charge the battery to a minimum of 60%. When manually flashing through Recovery or Fastboot, 80% or higher is recommended.
• 📡 Connect to stable Wi-Fi. Update "over the air" can weigh up to 2 GB - mobile traffic is not suitable.
• 📁 Make a backup: Use Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset or third-party utilities like Titanium Backup (requires root).
• 🔐 Find out the status of the bootloader: if it is locked (by default on all Redmi 5), the manual firmware is official MIUI It is only possible through Recovery.

Pay special attention to backup IMEI, MAC-In rare cases, after firmware is installed, these parameters can reset, which will lead to problems with the network. IMEI use the app MTK Engineering Mode (if you have a Snapdragon 450 processor, you can skip this step).

⚠️ Note: If you have previously unlocked the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool but have not installed custom recovery (e.g, TWRP), If you try to flash the unofficial firmware through Fastboot, the device may lock.

Also check the free space on the device – it will require at least 3-4 GB of updates on the system partition. If there is not enough memory, delete unnecessary applications or transfer files to the memory card. To do this, go to Settings → Applications → Delete unnecessary ones.

Method 1: Automatic Update (OTA)

The easiest and safest method is to upgrade over-the-air. Xiaomi regularly releases OTA-Redmi 5 packages, but they're coming out less frequently from 2023.Here's how to check and install the update:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Update Package (if the button is inactive, there are no updates).
3. If a new version is available, click Download and wait for the download to complete.
4. After downloading, press Reboot and Update. The device will restart and install the firmware automatically.

Advantages of OTA:

✅ Does not require technical skills.

✅ Stores all data and settings.

✅ Minimum risk of error.

But there are also disadvantages:

❌ Updates are delayed (sometimes months after the global release).

❌ There is no way to choose a specific version. MIUI.

⚠️ Note: If after the update OTA The smartphone started to slow down or discharge quickly, perform a cache reset via Recovery. + Meals, select Wipe → Wipe Cache and confirm the action.

If the update button is inactive but you are sure that the new version of MIUI is out, try the following:

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone and check again.
• 🌐 Connect to another Wi-Fi network (sometimes Xiaomi regional servers are blocked).
• 📅 Check the date and time in the settings - if they are lost, OTA won't work.

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Automatic updates via OTA are the best choice for most users, but do not guarantee the latest version of MIUI.

Method 2: Manual installation via Recovery

If automatic updates are not available or you want to install a specific version of MIUI, you can use manual firmware through stock recovery. This method is suitable for official firmware and does not require unlocking the bootloader.

Step 1. Download the correct firmware

• Go to the official MIUI Downloads website.
• Enter the Redmi 5 (or rosy) model and select a region (e.g. Global, Russia, EEA).
• Download Recovery ROM (zip file extension, not to be confused with Fastboot ROM!
• Check the checksum (MD5) of the downloaded file – it must match the one listed on the site.

Step 2. Move the firmware to your smartphone

Connect Redmi 5 to your PC and copy the downloaded.zip file to the root directory of internal memory (not to folders!).

Step 3. Install firmware through Recovery

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press Volume Up + Power and hold for 5-10 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Choose a language (usually English or Chinese).
4. Go to Install update.zip to System (or similar).
5. Select the downloaded firmware file and confirm the installation.
6. Wait for the process to complete (5-10 minutes) and restart the device.

If the smartphone has been stuck on the Mi logo for more than 15 minutes after the reboot, perform a hard reset (Wipe Data via Recovery) that will delete all data, but return the device to working condition.

Download the official Recovery ROM Xiaomi|Check it out. MD5-hash|Copy ZIP root-memory|Charge the battery. >60%|Disable password protection (if any)-->

4. Method 3: Fastboot Firmware (for power users)

This method is suitable if:

✔ You want to install Fastboot. ROM (For example, to move to another region).

✔ I had an error when I updated through Recovery.

✔ You need to restore the smartphone after a failure.

But there are nuances: the bootloader must be unlocked, and all data will be deleted.

Step 1. Unlock the bootloader

• Download Mi Unlock Tool from the official website.
• Sign in to Mi Account on your smartphone and in the unlock tool.
• Connect Redmi 5 to your PC in Fastboot mode (keep Volume down + Power on).
• Follow the instructions of the program. Usually, it takes 72 hours to unlock (unless the account is previously linked to the device).

Step 2. Install Fastboot ROM

1. Download Fastboot ROM for Redmi 5 from the official website (.tgz or.zip file).
2. Unpack the archive in a folder on your PC (e.g., C:\MIUI\fastboot).
3. Connect your smartphone in Fastboot mode (as in step 1).
4. Launch the file. flash_all.bat (for Windows or flash_all.sh (for Linux/Mac).
5. Wait for the process to be completed (about 5-10 minutes) and the smartphone will reboot automatically.

⚠️ Note: If after firmware through Fastboot, the smartphone does not turn on, and when connected to a PC is defined as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008, so there was an error in the entry in the modem partition. EDL-Mode with Mi Flash Tool and an authorized Xiaomi account.

For power users: If you want to install custom recovery (TWRP), unlock the bootloader first, then run the TWRP through the command:

fastboot flash recovery twrp.img


fastboot boot twrp.img

But remember: Redmi 5 with a blocked bootloader TWRP will not run!

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If after unlocking the bootloader, the smartphone stopped being determined in the Mi Flash Tool, try connecting it to another one. USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0) or use the original Xiaomi cable.

5. Solving Common Update Errors

Even if you follow the instructions, you can get errors, and here are the most common problems and solutions for Redmi 5:

• 🚫 "Couldn't verify update" error: Reason: corrupted firmware file or version mismatches Solution: Download firmware again, check it out MD5. If the error is repeated, try flashing through Fastboot.
• 🔄 Hanging on the Mi logo after the update: Reason: data conflict or incomplete installation. Solution: Go to Recovery and run Wipe Cache. If it doesn't work, Wipe Data).
• 📵 No network after firmware: Reason: reset IMEI Or the modem module. Solution: Restore. IMEI Using the Engineering Mode (codes: ##4636## or #36446337##).
• 🔌 Smartphone does not turn on after Fastboot: Reason: wrong firmware or interrupted process Solution: Try flashing through EDL-Mode (requires an authorized Xiaomi account).

If you encounter an Error 7 error in TWRP, it means that the firmware is incompatible with your model. Check that you downloaded the file for rosy (Redmi 5) and not for riva (Redmi 5A) or another model.

6. Alternative firmware: should I install?

Official support for Redmi 5 ended with MIUI 12.5, but enthusiasts continue to develop custom firmware.

• 📱 LineageOS (Android 10/11): stable firmware with minimalist interface, but without branded features Xiaomi.
• 🎨 Pixel Experience: Imitate Google’s pure Android, but can slow down on weak hardware.
• ⚡ Havoc-OS: custom firmware with extensive customization options, but requires experience.
• 🔄 MIUI EU: European MIUI No Chinese services, but with weekly updates.

Advantages of custom firmware:

✔ Newer versions of Android (up to) 11-12).

✔ Lack of advertising and unnecessary applications.

✔ Advanced settings for enthusiasts.

But there are downsides:

❌ Possible bugs (for example, non-functioning) NFC camera).

❌ No official support (you will have to solve the problem yourself).

❌ Risk of "brike" in case of improper installation.

If you decide on custom firmware, follow this algorithm:

1. Unlock the bootloader (as described above).
2. Install TWRP Recovery (the version should support rosy).
3. Make a full backup through TWRP (including Boot, System, Data).
4. Sweep through the firmware, then GApps (if you need Google services) and Magisk (for root).
5. Run Wipe Dalvik/Cache before the first download.

⚠️ Note: On Redmi 5 with Snapdragon 450 processor, some custom firmware may not support hardware video acceleration. XDA Developers or 4PDA.

7. How to roll back firmware to the previous version?

If after the update, the smartphone began to work worse (brakes, the battery quickly goes down, overheats), you can return the previous version of MIUI.

Method 1: Recovery (without data loss)

• Download the desired version of Recovery ROM from the official website.
• Put the file in the root of the memory.
• Go to Recovery and select Install update.zip.
• Confirm the rollback. Data will be saved, but the settings may reset.

Method 2: Through Fastboot (full reset)

If the recoiling through Recovery doesn’t work, run the old version through Fastboot (as described in Section 4), which is guaranteed to return the functionality, but delete all data.

Important: You can only roll back versions that were previously installed on your device, for example, if you upgraded from MIUI 11 to MIUI 12.5, you can't return MIUI 10, and this will lead to errors.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)