Update Xiaomi Mi5 to MIUI 11: official and unofficial ways

Why is MIUI 11 still relevant for Xiaomi Mi5?

The Xiaomi Mi5, released in 2016, has long since been removed from official support, but many users still want to upgrade it to MIUI 11, one of the most stable versions of the shell from Xiaomi. Despite the fact that the latest official firmware for this device is MIUI 12.5 (for Chinese versions), MIUI 11 remains in demand due to the optimized interface, improved performance and the absence of unnecessary “chips” that slow down older smartphones.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can upgrade, from official OTA (if it’s still available) to manual installation via Fastboot and Recovery, and focus on device preparation, which is a kriticheskij step that many people skip when they encounter bugs like Error 7 or Bootloop.

If your Mi5 is running MIUI 10 or earlier, switching to MIUI 11 will give you noticeable improvements.

• 🔄 Optimized gesture management (including full-screen swipes)
• 🎨 New animations and dark theme at the system level
• 🔋 Improved control of background processes (longer charge is kept)
• 📱 Support for new Xiaomi Cloud features (synchronization of notes, contacts)

There are pitfalls, however. For example, on global versions of the Mi5 (gemini), the MIUI 11 may not support some features due to the limitations of the Snapdragon 820 chipset. It is also worth considering that informal firmware (such as from Xiaomi.eu) requires unlocking the bootloader, which resets the device to factory settings.

Xiaomi Mi5 Preparation for Update: Steps Without Which You Cannot Do

Before you start updating, you need to perform 5 mandatory actions, skipping at least one of them can lead to a brick (turning the phone into a brick) or loss of data.

⚠️ Attention: If yours Mi5 It was purchased in China (suffix version _CN), To install global firmware, you'll need to unlock the bootloader, which erases all data, including photos in internal memory!

Here's the training checklist:

Backup data (via Mi Cloud or locally on PC)|Check the battery charge (at least) 60%)|Make sure the device has the latest version of the current MIUI|Download the correct firmware version (corresponding to the model and region)|Install drivers ADB/Fastboot on PC (if you plan to manual firmware)-->

Pay special attention to the choice of firmware. For the Xiaomi Mi5, there are several options for MIUI 11:

• 🌍 Global Stable – official firmware for international versions (codename) gemini_global)
• 🇨🇳 China Stable – Chinese version without Google services (codename gemini)
• 🛠️ Xiaomi.eu – Unofficial firmware with advanced features (requires an unlocked bootloader)
• 🔧 Fastboot firmware – a complete package for installation via PC (suitable for recovery of “bricks")

To find out the current version of MIUI and the code name of your device, go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap 7 times on the Kernel line (the notification will appear “You became a developer”). Then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and find the Device Codename.

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If you are not sure about the choice of firmware, download the Mi Flash Tool utility and check compatibility through the Select tab - the program will tell you which version is suitable for your model.

Method 1: Officially Update via OTA (if available)

The easiest, but also the most unreliable, way is to check for updates through Settings. Unfortunately, Xiaomi has stopped supporting the Mi5 through OTA since 2022, but in some regions, servers can still give out old service packs.

Instructions:

1. Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (update weighs ~1.5-2 GB).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
3. Slap the icon. ⋮ (three dots) in the upper right corner and select Update Package.
4. If the system finds MIUI 11, click Download and wait until it is finished (don’t interrupt the process!).
5. After downloading, the phone will restart and start installing.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone stayed on the Mi logo for more than 10 minutes after the reboot, the update crashed, in which case you will have to restore the device via Fastboot (see Method 3).

If OTA-Update is not available (which is most likely), go to manual methods. But first check if the update is blocking the update:

• 🔒 Antivirus or firewall on your phone (turn them off before downloading)
• 📶 VPN Proxies (can interfere with the connection to the servers of Xiaomi)
• 🔋 Low battery charge (less than 50% – the system will block the installation)

Method 2: Install MIUI 11 via Recovery (for power users)

This method is suitable if you already have a bootloader unlocked or want to install an informal firmware (e.g. from Xiaomi.eu). TWRP Recovery – custom recovery that allows you to sew ZIP-file.

Step-by-step:

1. Download firmware in.zip format from the official website (for example, Xiaomi.eu for multilang version).
2. Download TWRP for Mi5 (the version must match the device code - gemini).
3. Install TWRP via Fastboot: fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.6.2-gemini.img fastboot boot twrp-3.6.2-gemini.img
4. In TWRP, run Wipe (clean) of the Dalvik, Cache, Data partitions (if you switch from another version of MIUI).
5. Press Install, select downloaded ZIP-Firmware file and confirm installation.
6. After completion, press Reboot System.

If the phone freezes after the reboot or there is an Error 7 error, then the firmware is not suitable for your model.

• 🔄 Try a different build (e.g., go from Global to China Stable).
• 🔧 Make sure that TWRP latest version (older versions do not support new firmware formats).
• 📁 Check integrity ZIP-file (sometimes the archive is downloaded).

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Using TWRP is the only way to install unofficial firmware (such as Android 10), but requires an unlocked bootloader and a complete data reset.

Method 3: Fastboot Firmware (the most reliable method)

Fastboot is a boot mode that allows you to flash the device directly from the PC, which is suitable if:

• 🔄 OTA And the recovery's not working;
• 📱 The phone is not turned on (located in bootloop);
• 🔧 We need to return the official firmware after unsuccessful experiments.

To run through Fastboot, you will need:

• 🖥️ Windows computer (or Linux/Mac fixed ADB/Fastboot);
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (preferably original);
• 📦 Firmware in.tgz or.zip format (you can download from the official website);
• 🛠️ Mi Flash Tool (download from xiaomiflashtool.com).

Step-by-step:

1. Unpack the firmware in a folder without spaces (for example, C:\mi5_fastboot).
2. Install the Mi Flash Tool and run it on behalf of the administrator.
3. Turn off the phone, then press Volume Down + Power to enter the Fastboot (a hare in a hat-eared hat will appear).
4. Connect your phone to your PC. In the Mi Flash Tool, press Refresh, the device needs to be determined.
5. Click Select and point the way to the firmware folder.
6. At the bottom, select the firmware mode: Clean all – complete cleaning (recommended when changing the version of MIUI); Clean all and lock – cleaning + locking the bootloader (only for official firmware!); Save user data – data storage (not always working correctly).

Flash

⚠️ Note: If you are looking for a Chinese version MIUI Google services will disappear after installation, and to return them, you will need to separately flash the GApps package through the Internet. TWRP.

Method 4: Alternative firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience)

If you don’t like MIUI 11, you can consider custom firmware based on Android 10 or even 11. For Xiaomi Mi5 available:

• 📱 LineageOS 17.1 (Android 10) – pure Android without unnecessary applications;
• 🎨 Pixel Experience – firmware with an interface, like on Google Pixel;
• 🔧 Havoc-OS - customizable firmware with many settings;
• 🔄 ArrowOS – Lightweight firmware with a focus on performance.

Installation of custom firmware requires:

1. Unlocked loader;
2. Installed TWRP Recovery;
3. Experience with ADB and Fastboot.

Advantages of custom firmware for Mi5:

• ✅ More recent versions of Android (up to 11th inclusive);
• ✅ No Advertising and Unnecessary Xiaomi Services;
• ✅ Better Optimization for Weak Iron (Compared to the Iron) MIUI 12+).

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Possible bugs with camera or sensors (depending on firmware);
• ❌ No official support (updates coming from community);
• ❌ Mi Account and other branded features may not work.

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Before installing custom firmware, check reviews on the XDA Developers or 4PDA forums – some builds may not support dual-SIM or NFC.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When updating Xiaomi Mi5 users most often face the following problems:

If none of these methods worked, and the phone turned into a brick, the last chance is to run through EDL (Emergency Download Mode), which allows you to restore the device even without running firmware, but requires:

• 🔌 Deep Flash Cable or Test Point Cable;
• 🖥️ Mi Flash Pro or QFilm;
• 📦 Firmware in.mbn format for your model.

⚠️ Attention: Firmware through EDL It can block the bootloader if you use informal tools. Mi5 This method is recommended only in extreme cases!

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions