How to roll back MIUI on Xiaomi smartphone: all the ways and nuances

Reverse MIUI firmware on Xiaomi devices is a procedure that may be necessary when critical bugs of the new version, performance decline or incompatibility with important applications. Unlike a standard update, rollback requires preparation: from backing up data to unlocking the bootloader. Wrong actions can lead to a device blink (complete failure), so it is important to understand all the steps and risks.

In this article, we will discuss formal and informal rollback methods, including Fastboot, Recovery and tools like the Mi Flash Tool. We will focus on choosing the right firmware version, unlocking the bootloader and solving typical errors. If you are a beginner, follow step-by-step instructions with visual cues. Experienced users will find nuances here for difficult cases, such as rolling back from HyperOS or recovering from a failed firmware.

Why you might need to pull back MIUI

The main reasons why users are returning to the old version of MIUI are:

• 🐌 Performance decline: The new version is slower, warms up or discharges the battery quickly, often due to optimizing for new models rather than your device.
• 🐛 Critical bugs: for example, camera, Bluetooth or mobile network are not working. Xiaomi sometimes releases updates with serious errors that are fixed only in the following patches.
• 🔒 Application incompatibility: Banking, games, or enterprise software may stop working due to changes in the software API or security policies.
• 🎨 Interface changes: a new design MIUI 14 or HyperOS may seem uncomfortable, and disabling some features is impossible without rolling back.
• 🔄 Failed update: if the firmware “flyed off” or the device is stuck on the Mi logo, rollback is the only way to return to work.

Before you start rolling back, check if you can solve the problem differently:

• 🔄 Restart the device (sometimes helps with temporary glitches).
• 🧹 Clear the cache in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Cash.
• 📱 Reset the settings to factory (Settings) → The phone. → Resetting settings), but it will delete all data.

Preparing for rollback: backup and unlock the bootloader

Firmware rollback deletes all data from the device. Even if you plan to use the official method, back up:

• 📱 Local Copy: Settings → The phone. → Backup → Local backup: Save the file to your computer or cloud.
• ☁️ Xiaomi Cloud: sync contacts, notes and photos in Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud.
• 🖥️ Manual copying: connect your smartphone to your PC and copy folders DCIM, Downloads and Documents.

Without unlocking the bootloader, a Fastboot rollback is not possible. Xiaomi blocks the bootloader on all devices except some models for the Chinese market.

1. Link your Mi Account to your device: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Sync.
2. Activate USB debugging: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times), then Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging over USB.
3. Install the Mi Unlock Tool on your PC and follow the instructions. It takes up to 72 hours to connect your account to your device (for new accounts).

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If the unlock fails, try using another one. USB-sometimes helps to disable the antivirus or run the Mi Unlock Tool on behalf of the administrator.

⚠️ Attention: Unlocking the bootloader resets the device to factory settings, and after the procedure, the data about the Mi Account's association with the device will also be reset, and they will have to be restored again.

Choosing the Right Firmware for a Recoil

The wrong firmware choice is the main reason for the device's blink. Use only official files from Xiaomi resources:

• 🌍 Official website MIUI — Global versions (Global) ROM).
• 🇨🇳 Chinese website MIUI — For Chinese versions (China) ROM).
• 🔧 Xiaomi Firmware Updater – Firmware archive for all models.

Key parameters when choosing a firmware:

Critical: Never install firmware from another model or region, for example, the firmware for the Redmi Note 10 Pro (sweet) will not work for the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max (sweetin), even if the devices look similar.

If you’re rolling back from HyperOS to MIUI, check compatibility on forums (like XDA-Developers).Some models (like Xiaomi 13) require special patches for downgrade.

MIUI rollback methods: step-by-step instructions

There are three main methods of rollback: through Recovery, Fastboot and Mi Flash Tool.The choice depends on the current state of the device and your experience.

Method 1: Recovery (for power users)

This method is suitable if:

• ✅ The device is switched on and loaded into the system.
• ✅ You have customized recovery installed (TWRP).
• ✅ You are going to return to a version that is compatible with the current version.

Instructions:

1. Download the firmware in.zip format (for example, miui_SWEETGlobal_V12.5.4.0.RKFMIXM_*.zip).
2. Move the file to the root folder of the device or to SD-map.
3. Boot into TWRP: Turn off the phone, then press Power + Volume up.
4. In TWRP, select Wipe → Advanced Wipe and select Dalvik, Cache, System, Data.
5. Return to the main menu, select Install and specify the path to the firmware file.
6. After installation, run Wipe Cache/Dalvik and restart.

Download the correct firmware (.zip)|Install TWRP (if not)|Copy firmware to the device|Backup in. TWRP (optionally)|Charge the phone to 50%+-->

⚠️ Note: If you roll back to a lower version of Android (for example, from 13 to 12), after the reboot, the device may get stuck on the logo.

Method 2: Recoil through Fastboot (Universal Way)

This method works even if the device is not turned on, but requires an unlocked bootloader and PC. Use the official Mi Flash Tool utility:

1. Download firmware in.tgz or.zip format (for example, sweet_global_images_V12.5.4.0.RKFMIXM_*.tgz) and unpack it.
2. Install Xiaomi and Mi Flash Tool drivers on PC.
3. Turn off the phone and press Power + Volume down to log into the Fastboot.
4. Connect the device to your PC and start the Mi Flash Tool.
5. In the utility, click Select, specify the path to the unpacked firmware, then Refresh (the device should appear).
6. Select Clean All or Clean All and Lock (if you want to lock the bootloader after you have been firmware).
7. Press Flash and wait until it is completed (5-10 minutes).

If the Mi Flash Tool is making an error, try:

• 🔌 Use the other USB-port.
• 🖥️ Launch the utility on behalf of the administrator.
• 🔄 Reinstall drivers manually through Device Manager.

Method 3: Hand-held firmware through Fastboot commands

If the Mi Flash Tool doesn't work, you can manually flash each partition.

1. Unpack the firmware and copy files with the.img extension to the folder with fastboot (from Android SDK).
2. Open the command line in this folder and enter alternately:

fastboot flash boot boot.img


fastboot flash system system.img




fastboot flash vendor vendor.img




fastboot flash dtbo dtbo.img




fastboot flash vbmeta vbmeta.img




fastboot erase userdata




fastboot reboot

For some models (e.g. Poco X3), an additional command may be required:

fastboot flash recovery recovery.img

Recoil from HyperOS to MIUI: features and risks

HyperOS – the new shell from Xiaomi, which replaced MIUI Starting in 2026, HyperOS rolls back to MIUI Possible, but has nuances:

• 🔄 Compatibility: Not all models support rollbacks, such as Xiaomi 14 and Redmi K70 You may need special patches.
• 🔒 bootloader: Some devices block the possibility of rollback via Fastboot after installing HyperOS.
• 📱 Data: A rollback from HyperOS always results in a complete reset, even if you use Recovery.

Instructions for rollback with HyperOS:

1. Find MIUI firmware for your model on Xiaomi Firmware Updater (look for versions marked Downgrade).
2. Unlock the bootloader (if it is locked after the update).
3. Fastboot with a full clean (Clean all) firmware.
4. If the device is not booting, run the vendor and boot separately.

⚠️ Warning: On some devices (such as Xiaomi 13 Pro), a rollback from HyperOS can lead to loss IMEI Check the feedback on the forums before the procedure.

Solving problems after rollback

After a rollback, you may have problems. Here's how to fix them:

If after rollback the device boots, but not all functions work:

• 🔄 Refuse the firmware once again with full cleaning (Clean all).
• 📱 Install patches for your model (see on the XDA).
• 🔧 Reset the settings to factory (Settings) → Reset).

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If the device doesn't turn on after rollback, don't panic. 90% of the time, the problem is solved by re-running through Fastboot with the correct version of the software.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistakes in MIUI rollbacks are usually due to negligence or ignorance of nuances.

• 🚫 Incorrect firmware: Install a version for another model or region. Always check the device code (Settings) → The phone. → Model).
• 🔌 Process interrupted: shutdown USB-cable or shut down your PC while you're firmware. Use a laptop with a charged battery.
• 🔒 Locked bootloader: Try to flash through Fastboot without unlocking. Check status via fastboot oem device-info.
• 📱 Lack of charge: If the battery runs out during firmware, the device can turn into a "brick." Charge the phone up to 60% before starting.
• 🔄 A rollback to the old version of Android: for example, from Android 13 to Android 12.This can lead to problems with the vendor and modem.

To minimize the risks:

1. Use only official firmware from verified sources.
2. Before firmware check the hash file (MD5) – it must match the specified on the site.
3. Do not miss the step of unlocking the bootloader, even if you have custom recovery.
4. If the device is critical to work, roll back only through the Mi Flash Tool with the Clean all and lock option.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions