The release of a new version of the operating system for your smartphone is always a landmark event, promising a fresh interface, increased security and new features. For owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro, the transition to the MIUI 12.5 shell, based on Android 11, was an important step in the life cycle of the device, significantly improved the stability of the work. Many users are still looking for current ways to get this update, especially if the automatic installation for some reason did not happen.
The process of updating a firmware may seem complicated only at first glance, but with the right approach, it takes a minimum of time. In this article, we will discuss all the methods available in detail, from a standard “over the air” update to manual installation via Recovery mode. You will learn how to prepare the file system of a smartphone, avoid common errors and ensure you get the latest stable version of the software.
Should you rush to install a new system if your phone is stable? The answer depends on how important new privacy features, improved control over app permissions and power optimization brought by Android 11 are to you. We'll take a look at the nuances so you can make an informed decision.
Redmi Note 9 Pro Preparation for New Firmware Installation
Before you start any manipulation of the system software, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps. Ignoring these steps can lead to loss of personal data or malfunction of the device. First of all, take care to back up important information, since some installation methods can delete data.
Make sure your Redmi Note 9 Pro has a battery charge of at least 60%, and better fully charge the device to 100%.The flashing process requires stable power, and suddenly turning off the smartphone at a critical moment can damage system partitions.
- 📱 Backup your contacts, photos and documents to your Mi Cloud or Google Drive cloud service.
- 🔋 Check integrity USB-cable if you plan to use a computer to transfer files.
- 💾 Free up on the internal drive at least 5-7 GB free space for unpacking the installation package.
- 📶 Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network to avoid interrupting the download of large files.
⚠️ Note: If your device unlocks a bootloader or installs third-party modifications (Root rights, custom Recovery), standard upgrade methods may not work or lead to a cyclical reboot.
It is also recommended to remove all third-party antivirus and optimization programs that may conflict with system processes during installation.
☑️ Checklist before firmware
Official method: Air Update (OTA)
The easiest and safest way to get Android 11 on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro is to use the built-in update mechanism. Xiaomi distributes firmware in stages, so your device may notify later than other users.
To check for updates, go to the smartphone settings menu. Find the About Phone section and click on the large MIUI icon in the center of the screen. The system will automatically contact the server and check the current version.
If the update is available, you'll see a Download and Update button. Once you download a file about 2.5-3GB, the phone will suggest you reboot for installation, the entire process takes 10 to 20 minutes depending on the speed of the drive.
In some cases, the server may report that there are no updates even if they are already released for your region, which is normal due to regional distribution features, in which case you can try changing the region in the settings or using a manual method.
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Try several times in a row to click on the icon version of MIUI in the menu “About phone” – this sometimes forcibly triggers a re-check of the server.
Manual installation via Recovery Mode
If the automatic update doesn’t come or is interrupted with an error, the most effective solution is to manually install the firmware archive.This method doesn’t require unlocking the bootloader and saving the data if you choose the right type of archive.
You will need to download the full ROM for your model. For the Redmi Note 9 Pro (codename curtana), it is important not to confuse the version with the regular Redmi Note 9 (merlin), as they are not compatible.
The firmware file should have the extension.zip and weigh about 2.5 GB.Once you download the file, move it to the root of the phone's internal memory. Don't put the archive in folders with the Cyrillic name to avoid read errors. Next, go to the update menu, click on the three dots in the upper right corner, and select "Select firmware file."
| Parameter | Recovery ROM | Fastboot ROM |
|---|---|---|
| File extension | .zip | .tgz |
| The need for a PC | Not required | I'll be sure. |
| Data retention | Yeah (usually) | Only when choosing an option |
| Difficulty | Low. | Tall. |
The system will check the integrity of the file and suggest a reboot. If you see a message saying "Failure to check the file", make sure you download the archive for the global version (Global), not for China, if you have global firmware.
⚠️ Note: When manually installed via Recovery, always select the “Reboot Now” option after the process is complete, without trying to boot into the system immediately unless the phone itself offers to do so.
What if the installation is interrupted by 50%?
Use of Mi Flash Tool and Fastboot Mode
For advanced users who have experienced serious system errors or want to switch from the Chinese version to the global one, the Fastboot method is designed to be firmware, which requires a Windows computer and a USB Type-C cable.
Unlike the Recovery method, it uses the Mi Flash Tool utility. You need to download the Fastboot ROM archive (extension.tgz), unpack it to the root of the C disk so that the path is short, and put the smartphone in Fastboot mode.
To enter Fastboot mode on the Redmi Note 9 Pro turned off, press the volume and power buttons simultaneously. Hold them until an image of a hare repairing an android appears. Connect the phone to a PC.
- 🖥️ Run the Mi Flash Tool on behalf of the administrator and wait for the device to appear in the list.
- 📂 Click the “Select” button and point the path to the folder with the unpacked firmware.
- 🗑️ In the lower right corner, select the “Clean all” option to avoid file system conflicts.
- 🚀 Click Flash and wait until the process is completed, which will take about 300-500 seconds.
It's important not to turn off the cable or touch the phone until it's fully rebooted, and the screen can go out and light up several times, which is a regular installer's job.
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Fastboot is the only way to change the firmware region (for example, from CN to Global) and completely clean the device of system debris.
Possible mistakes and ways to solve them
Even if you follow all the instructions, there can be unexpected situations, and one of the common problems is the error “Can’t verify update” when you manually install it, which occurs if you try to roll back to an older version of Android or install firmware in another region without unlocking the bootloader.
Another common problem is a “bootloop” (cyclical reboot). If the phone is constantly rebooting after upgrading, try logging into Recovery Mode (clamping power and volume +) and resetting to factory settings (Wipe Data).
Don't panic if the update process took longer than usual: App optimization after updating on Android 11 can take up to 10-15 minutes, and at that time the phone may seem to be hanging.
⚠️ Warning: If the phone stopped responding to buttons and doesn't turn on, try holding the power button for more than 15 seconds to force a reboot or use a button combination to log in to Recovery.
What’s new with Android 11 and MIUI 12.5
The move to Android 11 for Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro is not just a change of digits in settings; the new version is a significant improvement in privacy management, and the One-Time Permissions feature has been introduced, allowing apps to access the camera or microphone only for a single use.
The MIUI 12.5 shell, which came with the new version of Android, optimized energy consumption, improved background processes, which positively affected battery life of the device, visual changes affected the control center, which became more convenient and informative.
Also worth noting is the improvements in multimedia capabilities, with photo processing algorithms updated, support for new codecs, and improved work with the clipboard, which now has its own history window.