Android Update on Xiaomi Redmi 3S: all manner of official OTA custom-made

Xiaomi Redmi 3S, The 2016 smartphone is still a popular budget smartphone due to its reliability and maintainability, but with the release of new versions of Android and Android, the company has also been able to make a difference. MIUI Owners face a problem: official support for the device has long been discontinued, and the last stable firmware stuck on Android 6.0 Marshmallow with the help of the Internet. MIUI 9. That means no security, no new features, no optimizations!

In this guide, we will look at all the current ways to upgrade, from official (if available) to custom firmware alternatives, how to prepare the device, what risks exist, and what to do if something goes wrong. 3S It has a closed-loop bootloader, and unlocking it requires official permission from Xiaomi — without this, unofficial firmware installation is impossible.

1. Check the current version of Android and MIUI

Before you start updating, you need to know exactly which version of the firmware is installed on your Redmi. 3S. This will help to avoid errors when choosing a new software and understand what methods of updating are available.

To get a version:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to the About Phone section.
3. Find the MIUI version and the Android version.

Typical combinations for Redmi 3S (land-based):

• 📱 MIUI 9.6 (stable) + Android 6.0.1 – the latest official firmware.
• 🔄 MIUI 10/11 (port-of-town) + Android 7.1/8.1 — require unlocking the loader.
• ⚠️ Android 9+ — Possible performance problems due to weak iron (Snapdragon) 430, 2/3 GB RAM).

If your version matches the first line of the table below, there will be no official updates, but if you already have custom firmware, you can only update manually.

⚠️ Note: If you see the "This device unlocked" section of the About Phone section, the bootloader is already open, otherwise you will need permission from Xiaomi to install unofficial firmware (the process takes up to 30 days).

2. Official update via OTA (if available)

Thought Redmi 3S Long since removed from support, in rare cases, users still receive security updates or patches through the service. OTA (Over-the-Air, you can manually check for them:

Instructions:

1. Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (updates weigh 1-2 GB).
2. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
3. Click "Check Updates."
4. If you find an update, download it and install it.

What to do if there are no updates:

• 🔍 Check the firmware region: if you have Global and updates are only for China, they won’t be available.
• 📡 Try changing. DNS 8.8.8.8 (Google) – sometimes helps you bypass regional restrictions.
• ⏳ Wait 1-2 days and check again: Xiaomi servers sometimes delay distribution OTA.

If the system says "No updates found," and you already have the latest firmware, you can't officially upgrade, and then you only have alternative methods.

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Officially OTA-updates to Redmi 3S stopped 2019 All new versions. MIUI/Android They are only installed manually.

3. Preparation of the device for manual update

Before installing a new firmware (official or custom), several critical steps must be taken, and neglecting them can lead to a "brick" (complete failure) of the device.

Make a backup copy of the data|Check the battery charge (minimum) 60%)|Know the device model (land/ido)|Download the correct version of the firmware|Install drivers ADB (PC-based)

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Details on each item:

Data backup

Updating firmware, especially custom, often results in a complete reset (wipe).

• 📸 Photos and videos (on PC or cloud).
• 📞 Contacts (export to.vcf via Contacts) → Settings → Imports/Exports).
• 💬 Messages (use applications like this) SMS Backup & Restore).
• 🎮 Game data (attach to a Google account or save files from your Google account) /Android/obb/).

Verification of the device model

Redmi 3S It was produced in two modifications:

• land - standard version (2/16 GB 3/32 GB).
• ido - version for India (2/16 GB).

You can find out your model:

1. Enter the dialer ##4636##.
2. Go to the tab "Phone Information".
3. Find the line "Device model".

⚠️ Warning: Installing firmware from another model (e.g. ido on land) will cause sensors, cameras, or a full breech to fail. Always download software strictly for your modification.

Unlocking of the loader (for custom firmware)

If you plan to install an informal firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the device bootloader must be unlocked.

1. Apply for unlocking via Xiaomi’s official website (Mi Account is required).
2. Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power when the device is off).
3. Use the Mi Unlock Tool to unlock.

The process can take up to 30 days (Xiaomi checks applications manually). Without unlocking, custom firmware installation is impossible!

Update via Mi Flash Tool (official firmware)

If you want to go back to stock firmware or install the latest official version MIUI 9.6, use the Mi Flash Tool.This method will also help if the device is stuck on the logo or not turning on.

Step-by-step:

1. Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware website (choose Stable or Recovery version).
2. Unpack the archive in a folder on your PC (the way without Cyrillic!).
3. Install ADB and Fastboot drivers (for example, via Minimal ADB and Fastboot).
4. Turn off the phone and turn it into Fastboot mode (Loud down + Power).
5. Connect to your PC and start the Mi Flash Tool.
6. In the program, click Select, specify the folder with the firmware, then Refresh (should appear). COM-port).
7. Select Clean All (full reset) or Clean All and Lock (reset + lock bootloader).
8. Press Flash and wait until it is completed (5-10 minutes).

Once the firmware is successful, the phone will automatically restart. The first run can take up to 15 minutes - don't interrupt the process!

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If the Mi Flash Tool gives you a “Couldn’t find fastboot” error, try running the program on behalf of the administrator or update the drivers through Device Manager (the device should be defined as Android Bootloader Interface).

5. Install custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience, etc.)

If the official firmware doesn't suit you, you can install an alternative firmware based on the new Android. 3S:

• 📱 LineageOS 14.1 (Android 7.1.2) - stable, with long-term support.
• 🎨 Pixel Experience (Android 10) – the interface is like Google Pixel, but can slow down.
• ⚡ Havoc-OS (Android 10) – many customization features.
• ⚠️ Android 11+ — It is not recommended due to weak iron.

Installation process:

1. Unlock the bootloader (see section 3.3).
2. Download the firmware from the forum XDA Developers (e.g. LineageOS for land).
3. Download GApps (Google services) for your version of Android (OpenGApps site, choose the following: WEB arm64 → 7.1 → pico).
4. Install a custom Recovery TWRP: fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.5.2-land.img fastboot boot twrp-3.5.2-land.img
5. In TWRP, run Wipe → Advanced Wipe (mark Dalvik, Cache, System, Data).
6. Install firmware and GApps via Install.
7. Reboot (Reboot → System)

⚠️ Attention: Firmware based on Android 10+ It can be very unstable on Redmi. 3S Due to limited resources (Snapdragon) 430 + 2–3 GB of RAM. The best choice is Android. 7.1.2 (LineageOS 14.1) Android 8.1 (AOSP Extended).

After installation:

• 🔋 The first download can take 10-20 minutes.
• 📶 Set up the network manually (sometimes mobile data doesn’t work automatically).
• 🔒 If there is no playmarket, install GApps again.

6. Solving problems after the update

Even if installed correctly, new firmware may not work properly. Consider typical problems and solutions:

If after the update the device began to work worse than on stock firmware, return to the MIUI 9.6 via Mi Flash Tool:

• 🔄 Compatibility of the firmware with your model (land/ido).
• 📥 Integrity of downloaded files (check out) MD5-hash).
• 🔧 Core settings (in custom firmware you can reduce the frequency) CPU).

7: Should we upgrade the Redmi? 3S 2026?

The relevance of the update depends on your goals:

It is worth updating if:

• 🔒 You need current security patches (for example, for banking applications).
• 🆕 Want new features (Gestural navigation, Dark theme, Digital Wellbeing).
• 🎯 You have 3 GB of RAM – this will allow you to more or less comfortably use Android 7.1-8.1.

Not updated if:

• ⚡ The device is used as a "bell ringer" or for simple tasks.
• 🕹️ You play games – new versions of Android can impair performance.
• 💾 You have 2 GB of RAM - Android 8+ will slow down.
• 🔧 You are not ready for possible bugs (defunct camera, network, etc.).

An alternative is to optimize the current firmware:

• 🧹 Remove unnecessary applications through ADB: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.weather
• 🛠️ Turn off animations in Settings → For developers.
• 🔋 Replace the battery (if worn out, it greatly affects performance).

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For most Redmi users 3S The best solution remains MIUI 9.6 on Android 6.0 with manual optimization.Castom firmware is only justified if you critically need new features or security.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Redmi updates 3S