Owners of the popular budget smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 9 often wonder about improving the performance and relevance of the software. Switching to a new version of the operating system is not just a change in numbers in settings, but getting important security patches and new features of the MIUI interface. However, this process requires care, since interrupting the recording of system files can lead to the inoperability of the device.
Before you start taking action, you need to understand what kind of upgrade method is available for your specific region. Global firmware versions often arrive late, while Chinese or Indian builds may receive updates sooner. In this article, we will take a detailed look at all the available ways to upgrade to Android 11, including automatic packet receipt and manual archive installation.
It is worth noting that the upgrade to MIUI 12 based on Android 11 significantly changes the visual style and logic of the menu. The system becomes more heavy, so owners of modifications with 3 GB of RAM should weigh all the pros and cons. If you are willing to risk stability for new features, then follow our recommendations.
Preparation of the smartphone to install a new version of the software
Any manipulation of the system partition begins with careful preparation. The first step is to back up all the important data, because in the event of a failure you can lose contacts, photos and documents. Xiaomi's built-in tools allow you to save settings and applications to the cloud, but a full backup on the computer will be more reliable.
The critical parameter is battery power. The flashing process is energy-intensive, and if the phone turns off at the time of recording the bootloader, it will be extremely difficult to restore it without special equipment. Make sure that the battery is charged at least 60%, and preferably up to 100%.
⚠️ Warning: Before starting the procedure, be sure to check the free space in the internal memory. 5 to 8 GB of free space may be required to unpack and install the service pack.
Also, remember to turn off all active power saving modes and close the background applications, which will allow the system to throw all the resources to check the integrity of files and prepare for a reboot, and the stability of the Internet connection at this point also plays a role if you plan to download files on the fly.
☑️ Redmi 9 Preparation for Update
Official method of updating via OTA (over the air)
The easiest and safest way to get a new version of the OS is to use the built-in update mechanism. Xiaomi sends out packages in stages, so the availability of an update depends on the region and the specific modification of the device.
To start the manual check, go to the settings menu. Find About Phone and click on the major MIUI icon. The system will contact the server and check for a new build. If the package is found, it will start downloading.
- 📲 Click the Download button and wait until the process is over (file size can reach the same size). 2-3 GB).
- 🔄 After booting, the system will offer a reboot - agree only with sufficient battery power.
- ⏳ The installation process will take from 5 to 15 minutes, the screen will go out and turn on several times.
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the server does not see the updates, in which case you can try to change the region in the settings (Advanced Settings → Region) to a country where the update has already been released, such as India or Indonesia.
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If the update doesn’t come, try clearing the Component Update app cache through the App Management menu, then restart the phone and check for the update again.
Manual installation of firmware through Recovery
If the automatic method doesn't work or you want to speed up the process, you can use manual installation. This method requires downloading the full firmware archive (Recovery ROM) from the official website or proven resources. The file should have the.zip extension and weigh about 2.5 GB.
You need to put the downloaded archive in the root of the phone's internal memory. Don't put it in folders, use the main storage. Then go back to the system update menu, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Select firmware file.
The system will check the integrity of the archive, and if the file fits your model, the Update button will appear, press it, and the phone will go into recovery mode, the screen will go out, and the process of replacing system files will begin.
| Parameter | Description | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| File type | Recovery ROM (.zip) | Tall. |
| Region | Must be the same as the current one. | Critical |
| Version. | Newer than the current | Tall. |
| Battery | At least 60% | Critical |
⚠️ Note: You cannot install firmware from another model or region (e.g. Global on China) through the standard Recovery menu without unlocking the bootloader.
Using the Mi Flash Tool for advanced users
For those who have experienced errors when updating “over the air” or through Recovery, there is a deeper method – firmware through Fastboot using the Mi Flash Tool utility on your computer. This method requires an unlocked bootloader, which is a separate procedure that takes up to 7 days of waiting.
You will need to download the Fastboot version of the firmware (the archive will contain many files, not one zip), unpack it on your computer and run the utility on behalf of the administrator. The phone is converted to Fastboot mode by pressing the volume reduction key when you connect the USB cable.
In the Mi Flash Tool, you have to choose the path to the firmware folder and press the Flash all button. This method completely cleans the device by deleting all user data, so backup is mandatory. The process takes about 10-12 minutes.
What is the difference between Clean All and Save User Data?
Common mistakes and ways to solve them
The update process is rarely perfectly smooth for all users, and there are often download errors, logo getting stuck, or reports of inability to check the file, and understanding the causes of these failures will help avoid panic and data loss.
One of the common problems is that the version of the bootloader and the firmware is not matched. If you're trying to roll back to an older version of Android or put the firmware with an older bootloader, the system will give you a Can't verify update error.
- 🚫 Error 1003: usually indicates problems with the Internet connection or servers Xiaomi.Try using mobile Internet instead of Wi-Fi.
- 🔒 Mi Account error: If after upgrading the phone requires a password from an account you don't remember, it will not be possible to unlock it without data.
- 📉 Performance drop: After the first launch of Android 11, the system performs app optimization.In the first 30 minutes, the phone can warm and run slowly - this is normal.
If the phone is off the bootloop, try pressing the power and volume button to log into Recovery and resetting to the factory settings (Wipe Data), which will delete the data, but can save the system.
What has changed in Android 11 on Redmi 9?
Once installed successfully, users will notice a number of changes. MIUI 12, based on Android 11, has new animations, improved notification management and privacy features, and has the ability to access a microphone and camera for applications.
The control panel has also been redesigned, and it's now called from top to bottom right, and the brightness slider is more convenient, and there are large previews of apps on the multitasking menu, making navigation easier, but visuals can consume more CPU resources.
Redmi 9 owners note that after the upgrade, battery consumption in the first days can be higher than usual, due to background indexing of files and optimization of databases, usually after 3-5 days, the mode of operation stabilizes.
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Switching to Android 11 to Redmi 9 gives up-to-date security features, but may reduce performance on versions with 3GB of RAM due to the increased requirements of the MIUI 12 interface.