How to upgrade Xiaomi to MIUI 12.5: All ways + problem solving

Why upgrade Xiaomi to MIUI 12.5 and what it does

MIUI 12.5 is not just another Xiaomi shell upgrade, but a significant step forward in performance, security and convenience. Even if your smartphone no longer supports the latest versions of MIUI 13/14, switching to 12.5 can significantly improve its performance.

Key benefits include improved animation (now the interface runs smoother even on budget models), new privacy features (such as real-time app permission control) and enhanced Super Wallpapers capabilities. MIUI 12.5 also brought an updated Game Turbo for gamers and improved smart device experience to the Xiaomi ecosystem.

But not all devices officially support this version, and if your smartphone doesn't get an OTA update, it doesn't mean that the path is closed, but there are alternative methods that we'll talk about later, but first, it's important to assess the risks and prepare the device.

What Xiaomi models support MIUI 12.5

The official list of devices that received MIUI 12.5 includes most flagships and mid-budget models released from 2019 to 2021.

• 📱 Xiaomi Mi 10/10 Pro/10 Ultra/10 Lite (including versions) 5G)
• 📱 Xiaomi Mi 9/9 Pro/9 SE/9 Lite (for some regions)
• 📱 Redmi K30/K30 Pro/K30 Ultra/K40 (including POCO F2 Pro)
• 📱 Redmi Note 9/9 Pro/9S/10/10 Pro (except for basic versions for some markets)
• 📱 POCO X3/X3 Pro/F3 (regionally)

Important: Smartphones older than 2018 (such as the Mi 8 or Redmi Note 7) don’t officially receive MIUI 12.5 via OTA, but custom firmware based on this version is available for them.

If your model is not listed but you still want to upgrade, consider hand-held firmware via Fastboot or Recovery. However, this requires experience and may result in a loss of warranty.

Preparing the device for the update: 5 mandatory steps

Regardless of the upgrade method chosen, an unprepared device may experience errors, data loss, or even “bricking.” Follow this checklist to minimize the risks:

Make a backup copy of the data (photos, contacts, messages)

Charge the battery to 60% or more

Free up at least 3 GB of free memory space

Disable the bootloader lock (if you plan to manually firmware)

Ensure the stability of the Internet connection (for the OTA)-->

Pay special attention to backup, use the built-in Mi Cloud app or third-party services like Google Drive, and if the update fails, you can recover data.

• 🔋 Disable Battery Optimization for System Applications in Settings → Battery.
• 📶 Connect to Wi-Fi (downloading firmware via mobile Internet may be interrupted).
• 🔒 Delete your password/pattern lock (sometimes they block access to Recovery).

⚠️ Note: If your smartphone has been unlocked through the Mi Unlock Tool, update via OTA It can return the bootloader lock, in which case, use only manual firmware methods.

Method 1: Update via OTA (the safest method)

If your device officially supports MIUI 12.5, the easiest way is to upgrade to Over-The-Air, which saves all the data and settings, but requires patience: a firmware file can weigh 1.5-3 GB.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click on the icon. ⋮ (three dots) in the upper right corner and select Download the latest version.
3. If the update is available, confirm the download. wait until it is completed (may take 10 to 30 minutes).
4. After downloading, click Reboot and install.

If the update doesn’t appear, try:

• 🔄 Restart the device and repeat the check.
• 🌍 Change region to Settings → Additionally. → Region (e.g. India or Europe).
• 📡 Connect to another Wi-Fi network (sometimes the provider blocks Xiaomi servers).

⚠️ Note: If, after updating, through OTA Smartphone started to slow down, perform a cache reset in Recovery (press the Power) + Volume Up when downloading, select Wipe Cache.This won't delete personal data, but will clear temporary files.

💡

Automatic updates via OTA are the safest way, but require patience and a stable internet. If the update doesn't come, check the region and free up the memory.

Method 2: Manual update via Recovery (for power users)

If the OTA is unavailable or fails, you can install MIUI 12.5 via Recovery, which is suitable for official firmware (stable or beta), but requires precise follow-up.

Steps:

1. Download the correct firmware version for your model from Xiaomi. The file should have a.zip extension and a name like this. miui_XXX_global_12.5.X.X_XXXX.zip.
2. Move the file to the root folder of internal memory (not to folders!).
3. Turn off your smartphone and press Power + Volume Up to log in to Recovery.
4. Select the language (if required), then Install update.zip.
5. Confirm the installation and wait until the process is completed (don’t interrupt!).

Important nuances:

• 🔄 Firmware through Recovery will not reset data, but we recommend you to make a backup.
• 🔧 If the file is not located, rename it to update.zip.
• 🚫 Do not use firmware for other regions (e.g. China) ROM Globally, this can cause problems with Google Services.

Method 3: Fastboot Firmware (for advanced users)

Fastboot is the most reliable method for installing MIUI 12.5, but also the most complex.

• 📱 The device does not turn on or is stuck on the logo.
• 🔓 You need to flash the custom version (for example, xiaomi.eu).
• 🔄 Requires a rollback to an older version.

This will require:

• 🖥️ Computer with drivers installed ADB/Fastboot.
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (original or high-quality).
• 📄 Firmware in.tgz or.zip format for Fastboot.
• 🛠️ Mi Flash Tool (download from the official website).

Step-by-step:

1. Unpack the firmware in a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\MIUI\).
2. Turn off your smartphone and press Power + Volume Down to enter the Fastboot (a hare in a hat-eared hat will appear).
3. Connect the device to your PC and start the Mi Flash Tool.
4. In the program, click Select, specify the path to the folder with the firmware, then Refresh (should appear). COM-port).
5. Select Clean All (complete clean) or Save User Data (data save, but glitch is possible).
6. Press Flash and wait until it is completed (the process will take 5-15 minutes).

⚠️ Note: Fastboot’s Clean All option will delete all data, including photos and apps. If you’ve selected Save User Data, there may be crashes after the update – in which case you’ll need to reset to factory settings.

💡

Before you use Fastboot, disable the antivirus on your PC – it can block firmware files or the Mi Flash Tool.

Solving Common Errors in Updating

Even with the correct following of the instructions, errors can occur, and here are the most common problems and solutions:

If after the update there are problems with performance (lags, warms, quickly dies the battery), follow the following steps:

1. Reset the cache in Recovery (Wipe → Wipe Cache).
2. Turn off animation in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times on version, then in Developer Settings set animation scale to 0.5x).
3. Check Safe Mode (press Power, then hold off Power until option appears) If this mode is working normally, the problem is in a third-party application.

FAQ: Frequent questions on updating MIUI 12.5