Related: Android Update on Xiaomi Redmi: 3 working methods with explanations

Updates to MIUI on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are not always useful: new versions can slow down the system, drain the battery faster or break the usual functions. If after upgrading the Android device becomes worse, you can return the previous firmware yourself — but with caution. In this article, we will analyze three official methods of rollback (through Recovery, Fastboot and Mi Flash Tool), explain what data will be lost, and warn against typical errors that can turn into a “brick”.

Important: the rollback procedure is not the same as factory resets. This is a complete system file replacement, which requires unlocking the bootloader (on most Redmi models after 2018) and installing an older version of MIUI. If you have never worked with firmware, you better contact the service center - the wrong actions can lead to the loss of IMEI or lock the device through Mi Account.

Before you start, check:

🔋 Battery charge of at least 60% (when power is turned off during firmware, the smartphone may fail).
💾 Backup of data (photos, contacts, messages) – rollback erases internal memory.
🔗 Cable USB Type-C original or certified (cheap cables can interrupt data transmission).
🖥️ Computer on Windows 10/11 with the antivirus disabled (it can block firmware utilities).

📊 Why you want to roll back the update on Xiaomi Redmi?

The smartphone began to slow down

The battery goes down fast.

The necessary functions have disappeared.

I don't like the new interface.

Another reason.

1.Preparation: What to do before the firmware rollback

The first step is to determine the current and target version of MIUI. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and write down the number (for example, MIUI 14.0.5 Global).

🌍 Firmware Region: If you have Global, do not install China or EEA — This will cause problems with Google language and services.
📱 Device model: firmware for Redmi Note 10 Pro is not suitable for Redmi Note 10, even if they look similar.
🔒 bootloader status: on new models, it is locked and you will need to unlock to roll back (see Section 3).

Download two files:

Firmware (ROM) It's.tgz or.zip for your model from the official website, for example, for Redmi. 9T It's gonna be a file of sorts. lmi_global_images_V12.5.1.0.RJQMIXM_20210913.0000.00_11.0_global_....
Mi Flash Tool (for Fastboot method) from Xiaomi website.

⚠️ Note: If you download the firmware from unofficial sources (4PDA, XDA), The risk of running into viruses or a "curve" assembly increases 5 times. ROM Check for compatibility with iron.

Also prepare:

🔑 Mi Account tied to phone (required to unlock the bootloader).
🛠️ Qualcomm or Mediatek drivers (depending on your Redmi processor).
📝 Serial number of the device (see Settings) → The phone. → General information or under the battery).

💡

If you are not sure about the processor model, install the CPU-Z app from Google Play. The SoC section will specify the chipset (for example, the Snapdragon 660 or Helio G88).

2. Method 1: Recovery (without PC)

This is the easiest method, but it only works if:

🔄 You're being updated through OTA (by air, not by hand.
📦 You still have the update file (update.zip) file Downloaded_rom.
🔓 The bootloader is not locked (on the new models of Redmi it is unlikely).

Instructions:

Copy the firmware file (for example, miui_BLOCKOTARedmiNote9Pro_21.3.17_11.0.zip) root of the internal memory of the phone.
Turn off your smartphone, then press Volume Up + Power to enter Recovery Mode.
Select a language (if you have a choice), then go to Install update.zip to System One.
Confirm the installation and wait for completion (5-10 minutes).

⚠️ Note: If there is no Install item in Recovery update.zip, Continuing this method will lead to the error E:footer is wrong.

After the reboot, the smartphone will return to the previous version of MIUI, but:

✅ Data will be stored in memory (photos, videos, documents).
❌ Apps and their settings will reset.
❌ Possible bugs with notifications (solved by resetting the cache in Settings) → Annexes).

The firmware file is called update.zip|Battery charge > 60%|Backup copy of data created|The bootloader is unlocked (if the model is newer) 2019 year-end)-->

3. Method 2: Recoil via Fastboot (from PC)

This method is suitable for most Xiaomi Redmi models, but requires an unlocked bootloader. If it is locked, first unlock through the Mi Unlock Tool:

Download the Mi Unlock Tool and install it on PC.
Log in to Mi Account on your phone and link the device to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
Enable OEM Unlock in Settings → For developers (if there is no item, tap 7 times on the MIUI version).
Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power) and follow the instructions in the Mi Unlock Tool.

Unblocking takes up to 72 hours (Xiaomi checks the account), and then you can start rolling back:

Steps to rollback through Fastboot:

Unpack the downloaded firmware (.tgz file) in a folder on your PC. flash_all.bat.
Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (black screen with a rabbit and the words Fastboot).
Launch it. flash_all.bat It's going to start the firmware process. 5–15 minute).
Once completed, the phone will restart automatically.

Advantages of the method:

🔧 It works even if the system is not loaded.
📦 You can choose any version. MIUI (model-support).

Disadvantages:

❌ Wipes all internal memory (including photos and files).
❌ Requires unlocking the bootloader (on new models).

What to do if Mi Unlock Tool gives you a "Couldn't unlock" error

The error occurs if: 1. Mi Account is not tied to the phone (you need to log into Mi Cloud on the device). 2. The device does not support unlock (check on the official website). 3. Less than 72 hours have passed since the account was linked. Solution: wait 3 days and try again.

Method 3: Recoil through the Mi Flash Tool (for experienced)

This method is similar to Fastboot, but gives more control over the process, suitable for Redmi models on Qualcomm processors (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro with Snapdragon 732G).

Step-by-step:

Download and install the Mi Flash Tool.
Unpack the firmware (.tgz) into a folder without Cyrillic characters in the path (e.g., C:\MIUI\).
Launch the Mi Flash Tool, press Select and specify the path to the firmware folder.
Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (see Section 3).
In the Mi Flash Tool, select Clean All (Full Clean) or Clean All and Lock (Clean + Lock bootloader).
Press Flash and wait until it is completed.

Important nuances:

Firmware mode	What's he doing?	When to use
Clean all	Deletes all data but leaves the bootloader unlocked	If you are planning to experiment with the newer
Clean all and lock	Deletes data and blocks the bootloader	If you want to return the phone to the factory state
Save user data	It saves user data (not always working)	Only for a rollback to a close version of MIUI

⚠️ Warning: If the phone doesn't turn on after firmware (black screen or stuck on the Redmi logo), try flashing it back in Clean all mode. If it doesn't work, you need to flash it through the back. EDL Mode (only in the service center).

💡

The Mi Flash Tool is the most reliable way to roll back, but requires an unlocked bootloader. If the bootloader is locked, first unlock it through the Mi Unlock Tool (it will take up to 3 days).

5. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even when following the instructions, users often encounter problems.

Error 1: "This device is locked" in Fastboot

Reason: bootloader locked. Solution: Unlock it through Mi Unlock Tool (see section 3).

Error 2: "E:unknown command [LOG]" in Recovery

Reason: Inappropriate firmware. Solution: download ROM for your model and region.

Error 3: The phone does not turn on after the firmware

Causes and solutions:

🔋 Battery's gone. → Charge your phone for 30 minutes, then try to turn it on.
🔄 Wrong firmware → Re-shoot in Clean All mode.
🔧 Loader damaged. → need to be squirted through EDL Mode (only in the service).

Mistake 4: Losing IMEI after rollback

This is a critical problem where the phone is not catching the network.

Re-install the firmware (the file may have been corrupted).
If it doesn’t work, restore the IMEI through the Engineering Mode (requires root rights).

💡

Before rolling back, check if your Redmi model supports a rollback to the older version of MIUI. For example, the Redmi Note 12 does not allow you to return from Android 13 to Android 12 due to changes in the kernel.

6.What to do after a successful rollback

After returning to the old version of MIUI:

Turn off automatic updates: go to Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → ⋮ → Settings and deactivate the option.
Restore data from a backup (if you did it through Mi Cloud or Google Drive).
Check the sensors: sometimes the gyroscope or NFC stops working after a rollback. Test in the Sensor Test application.
Install security updates (if any for your version of MIUI) through Settings → System Update.

If the phone is running slowly after rollback:

🧹 Clear the cache in Settings → Memory. → Clear the cache.
🔄 Make a factory reset (but it will delete all data).
📵 Turn off unnecessary background processes in Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery.

If you’re backed by bugs in the new MIUI, follow the updates on the Xiaomi Community forum.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the rollback of firmware on Xiaomi Redmi

Can I roll back the firmware without losing data?

Theoretically, yes, if you use Save user data in the Mi Flash Tool, but in practice, it only works when you roll back to a close version. MIUI (For example, from 14.0.5 to 14.0.3. MIUI 14 on MIUI 13) the data will be erased.

How do I know if my Redmi bootloader is unlocked?

Turn off the phone, then press Volume Down + Power to log in to Fastboot. If there's Unlocked at the bottom of the screen, the bootloader is unlocked. If Locked is locked.

Can I roll back the firmware on Redmi with Android 13 on Android 12?

Depends on the model. For example, the Redmi Note 11 lets you go back from Android 13 to Android 12 if you use MIUI 13 firmware. But the Redmi K50 doesn't support downgrade due to changes in the kernel. Check compatibility on the XDA Developers forum.

What if the phone does not catch the network after a rollback?

IMEI probably came off. Try: Flick the phone again. Restore the IMEI through the Engineering Mode (requires root rights); go to a service center (if you don't have firmware experience); don't try to manually edit the IMEI, which is illegal and can lock the network down forever.

How to roll back the firmware if the phone does not turn on?

If the smartphone does not respond to the power button but is charging (the indicator is on), try: Press Volume Down + Power for 10-15 seconds to log into Fastboot. Swipe through Mi Flash Tool in Clean all mode. If the phone does not respond at all, you will need firmware through EDL Mode (only in service).