How to update Xiaomi Redmi Go: all ways and life hacks

Xiaomi Redmi Go is a budget smartphone based on Android Go Edition, which is still used by many users due to its simplicity and reliability. However, over time, even on such a device, it becomes necessary to update the firmware to fix bugs, improve performance or get new features. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to update, including official and alternative methods, as well as how to avoid typical errors and what to do if the update went wrong.

It's important to understand that Redmi Go is a resource-constrained device, and not all firmware versions can run on it consistently. We analyzed user reviews, official Xiaomi documentation, and developer forums to get the most complete and accurate instructions. If you've never upgraded your firmware yourself before, don't worry: we'll explain each step so that even a beginner can get on without risking bricking the phone.

Before you start, make sure you have enough time (the process can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour), a stable internet connection (if you upgrade over the air) and a charged battery (at least 50%).

1. Verification of the current firmware version and compatibility

Before you update the Xiaomi Redmi Go, you need to know which version of the firmware is installed on the device now, which will help determine if there are any available updates and if you are trying to install an older version (downgrade), which can lead to crashes.

To check the software version:

1. Open the settings on your phone.
2. Go to the About Phone (or System) section → The phone).
3. Find the lines MIUI version and Android version.

Redmi Go originally came with Android 8.1 Oreo (Go Edition), and the latest official firmware is Android 10 Go. V12.0.3.0.QCDMIXM Or, more recently, further updates through official channels are unlikely, and in this case, it is worth considering custom firmware (which we will discuss later).

Also check the model of the device in the same settings (Model line). Redmi Go has two options:

• 📱 tiare_go — The most common version (most common)
• 📱 tiare_in_go — Indian

This is important because firmware is not compatible between regions, and installing firmware from the Indian version to the global (and vice versa) can lead to loss of communication or other errors.

Official Air Update (OTA)

The easiest and safest way to upgrade to Xiaomi Redmi Go is to use the built-in feature. OTA (Over-the-Air. This is a method that doesn't require a computer connection, and it's suitable for most users. Here's how to do it:

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to a stable Wi-Fi network (updating via mobile internet is not recommended due to the risk of communication breakdown).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
3. Click Check for updates.
4. If the update is available, click Download (file size is usually 1-1.5GB).
5. After downloading, select Install and wait for the reboot.

If the Check Updates button is inactive or writes “No Updates”, this may mean:

• 🔄 The latest version of the software is already installed on your device.
• 🌍 Your region is not supporting you. OTA-Updates (for example, if the phone is purchased in China).
• ⏳ Xiaomi has suspended support for the model (relevant for Redmi Go from 2022).

💡

If the update is not installed for a long time, try to clear the cache of the System Update application in the settings (Settings) → Annexes → Updating the system → Warehouse → Clear the cache).

Important: if during the update the phone is stuck on the logo MI It's 15 minutes longer, don't panic, sometimes it takes longer, but if it's 30 minutes or more, you have to force it to reboot (press the power button for 10 to 15 seconds). 90% of the time, the installation will continue.

Update via Recovery Mode (manual method)

If OTA-Updating is unavailable or always fails, and you can manually install the firmware through Recovery, which takes a little more effort, but is more reliable because you control the process yourself.

You'll need:

• 📱 Charging the phone at least 70%.
• 💾 Official firmware in.zip format (download can be found on the website en.miui.com).
• 🔌 Cable USB to connect to a PC (if you transfer the file through your computer).

Step-by-step:

1. Download the firmware for your model (tiare_go or tiare_in_go) and transfer the file. update.zip The root folder of the phone’s internal memory (not in the folder!).
2. Turn off the phone.
3. Press the power buttons simultaneously + Volume up 5-10 seconds until the Mi logo and Recovery menu appear.
4. In the Recovery menu, select the language (if you have an option), then:

Download the right firmware for your model|Check the battery charge (minimum) 70%)|Move over update.zip root-memory|Turn off your phone before entering Recovery|Do not interrupt the installation process

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⚠️ Note: If there is no Install option in the Recovery menu update.zip, Your Recovery is modified (e.g. installed) TWRP). In this case, use alternative methods (see section about custom firmware).

Once installed successfully, the phone will restart. It can take up to 10 minutes to launch the first time, which is normal. If there are bugs after the upgrade (for example, sensors or the camera are not working), try resetting to factory settings (Settings). → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge).

Update via Fastboot (for power users)

Fastboot is the most reliable way to flash Redmi Go, but it requires a computer connection and commands.

• 🔧 OTA And the recovery's not working.
• 📉 Phone 'bricked' after failed update.
• 🔄 You need to revert to the previous version of the firmware.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux and installed Xiaomi drivers.
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 📦 Fastboot Firmware Archive (downloaded from official website).
• 🛠️ The Mi Flash Tool (you can download it here).

Instructions:

1. Unpack the archive with firmware in a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\RedmiGo_Fastboot).
2. Install the Mi Flash Tool and run it on behalf of the administrator.
3. Turn off the phone and press Power + Volume down to enter Fastboot mode (a hare in a hat-hushanka will appear).
4. Connect your phone to your computer. In the Mi Flash Tool, press Refresh, the device needs to be determined.
5. Select a folder with unpacked firmware.
6. At the bottom, select Clean All (Full Cleaning) or Clean All and Lock (Cleaning + Lock bootloader).
7. Press Flash and wait until it is completed (10-15 minutes).

⚠️ Warning: Clean all and lock mode will block the bootloader, which may make it harder to install custom firmware in the future. Use it only if you are sure you will no longer experiment with software.

If the Mi Flash Tool is 0x80070002 or 0x80070005, try:

• 🔄 Reinstall Xiaomi drivers manually through Device Manager.
• 🔌 Use the other USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0).
• 📥 Download the firmware again (possibly the archive is damaged).

5. Alternative firmware: should I install?

Since the official support for Redmi Go is complete, many users are considering custom firmware (for example, LineageOS, Pixel Experience Go or Havoc). OS). They promise more recent versions of Android, better optimization and additional features:

If you still decide to try custom firmware, follow this algorithm:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool (can take up to 72 hours).
2. Install. TWRP Recovery (instructions are available on the forum) XDA Developers).
3. Make a full backup of the current firmware (Nandroid Backup in the TWRP).
4. Sweep through custom firmware and GApps (if you need Google services).

Before installing custom firmware, be sure to check the reviews on the forums (for example, 4PDA or XDA) — Some builds may not support VoLTE (calls through the phone) 4G) Or have problems with Wi-Fi.

Typical errors and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions, the update may not go according to plan, and we've collected some of the most common problems and ways to fix them:

• 🔄 The phone is stuck on the logo. MI After the update: Wait 20 to 30 minutes — sometimes the first run takes a long time. If it doesn't work, press the power. + Volume up for 10 seconds for forced reboot. If the phone doesn't turn on, run the firmware over again through Fastboot.
• 📵 After the update, there is no network (no catch) SIM-map: Check if you have firmware installed from another region (e.g. Indian to global model). → Mobile network → Network operators and manually select the operator. If it doesn't work, run the modem module separately (seek instructions for your model).
• 🔋 Battery goes down quickly after update: Reset cache in Recovery (Wipe) → Wipe Cache. Turn off background activity of unnecessary applications (Settings) → Battery → Battery optimization. If the problem persists, reset to factory settings.
• 🎵 The sound or speaker is not working: Check if the sound is disabled by a physical button (if any). Clear the Media and Bluetooth app cache. If the speaker is a problem, run the firmware again - it may have corrupted during installation.

💡

If the phone stopped turning on after the upgrade ("brick"), do not panic - in 95% of cases it can be restored via Fastboot.

If none of the methods helped, go to the forums. 4PDA or XDA Developers — there are separate themes on Redmi Go with solutions for rare bugs (tiare_go or tiare_in_go) And the firmware version that they tried to install — it will help experts to orient themselves faster.

7. How to roll back on a previous firmware version

Sometimes a new update brings more problems than benefits: apps start to glitches, the processor warms up, or communication goes missing. In such cases, it is wise to roll back on the previous version of the software.

Method 1: Fastboot (recommended)

1. Download the desired firmware version (for example, V11.0.5.0.PCDMIXM Android 9).
2. Unpack it and run through the Mi Flash Tool in Clean All mode.
3. After firmware, the phone will return to factory settings - restore data from the backup.

Method 2: Recovery (if there is a backup)

1. If you have made a backup before the update TWRP, load up to Recovery.
2. Select Restore and specify the folder with backup.
3. Confirm the recovery and wait for completion.

⚠️ Note: Reverse to an older version of Android (for example, with a 10 on 9) This may result in loss of data in the section /data, Always save important files to an external drive or to the cloud before a downgrade.

Also note that after the rollback:

• 🔒 You may need to re-enter your Mi Account (if you have been linked to it).
• 📱 Some apps may require an OS update (e.g., new versions of Google Play Services).
• 🔄 Automatic updates OTA They may offer the same firmware again – disable them in the settings.

8.Phone optimization after update

Even if the upgrade is successful, Redmi Go may be slower due to the background optimization of the new firmware.

1. Clearing the cache and unnecessary data:

• 🧹 Go to Settings. → Warehouse → Cleaning and removing unnecessary files.
• 🗑️ Clear the cache for all applications (Settings) → Annexes → Select an application → Warehouse → Clear the cache).

2. Disabling unnecessary functions:

• 📡 Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when not in use.
• 📍 Turn off geolocation for applications that don’t need it.
• 🔄 Limit background activity: Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications.

3. Use of lightweight applications:

Since Redmi Go has only 1 GB of RAM, install the Go-versions of Google apps:

• 📱 YouTube Go instead of YouTube.
• 📷 Gallery Go instead of Google Photos.
• 💬 Messages Go for SMS.
• 🌐 Chrome Go (or Firefox Lite) instead of the standard Chrome.

Set up animation (to speed up the interface):

If the phone began to "brake", you can turn off the animation:

1. Activate Developer Mode (7 times click on Build Number in Settings → About Phone).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Find the items: The scale of window animation → Turn off the scale of transition animation → Turn off the duration of the animator → Turn it off.

These simple steps will help extend the life of your Redmi Go even after an upgrade. If the phone is still slow, consider installing a lightweight custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience Go without GApps).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the update Xiaomi Redmi Go