Reflashing of the robot vacuum cleaner Xiaomi on MAT: full-length guide

Transition to Mijia Alternative Technology (MAT) For robot vacuum cleaners, Xiaomi is a way to unlock hidden features, improve mapping, and gain more control over the device. However, the process requires care: one mistake can turn your assistant into a brick. MAT (2026), risk analysis and solutions to typical problems.

Firmware MAT It is suitable for most Xiaomi Mi Robot models (including the Xiaomi Mi Robot). 1S/1C/2/2S/Pro Others, but not compatible with new devices on the platform LDS 6.x (Xiaomi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Before you start, check your vacuum cleaner model in the Mi Home mobile app – this information is critical to choosing the right version. MAT.

Important: firmware MAT It disables official Xiaomi support, disqualifies warranties, and can cause problems with integration into the Mi Home ecosystem.If you are not ready for experiments, consider alternatives like Valetudo or Dustcloud, which retain some of the original features.

1. Why. MAT: advantages and pitfalls

Firmware MAT Xiaomi offers users something that is not in the stockware:

• 🗺️ Advanced mapping: support for multiple floors, manual editing of cleaning areas, saving maps in the cloud (as opposed to stock anchoring to a router).
• ⚡ Accelerated work: optimized motion algorithms reduce cleaning time by 20-30% (according to user tests, see WEB. FAQ).
• 🔧 Flexible settings: adjusting suction force, speed of movement, sensor sensitivity – all without the limitations of Xiaomi.
• 📱 Alternative applications: support for Home Assistant, Node-RED and other smart home systems MQTT.

However, there are also disadvantages that are often ignored:

• ⚠️ Loss of warranty: Xiaomi considers the firmware to be a breach of terms of service. Even if you return the stockware, the service center can detect traces of interference.
• 🔄 Problems with OTA-update: MAT It blocks the automatic update of the stock firmware. Forced installation of official software on top of it. MAT Often leads to bootloop (a looped boot load).
• 📡 Limited compatibility with Mi Home: Once firmware is in place, the vacuum cleaner may disappear from the application or work with errors (e.g., not displaying the map).

Critical nuance: MAT It requires root access to the vacuum cleaner, which opens up potential vulnerabilities for remote attacks, and if your router is not sufficiently protected, an attacker can gain control of the device via Telnet or SSH. We recommend isolating the vacuum cleaner in a separate network (VLAN) or firewall.

2. Preparation for firmware: what to do before

Unpleasant surprise: more than 40% of failed firmware MAT It's because of incorrect preparation, not because of errors in the process. To avoid building blocks, follow these steps:

Make a backup of cleaning cards in Mi Home|

Check battery power (minimum 50%) |

Connect the vacuum cleaner to a stable 2.4 GHz network|

Download the correct version MAT for your model|

Disable two-factor authentication in Mi Home (if enabled)|

Install drivers for USB-UART adapter (if necessary)-->

1. Verification of the model and firmware version

Open Mi Home, go to the vacuum cleaner settings (Device) → Settings → Write down the device:

• 📋 Model (e.g, roborock.vacuum.s5 or viomi.vacuum.v7).
• 🔢 Firmware version (format: XXX_XXXX, where the first digits are a hardware audit).

2.Selection of version MAT

Current assemblies MAT Use only stable releases, avoid beta and nightly, which may contain critical bugs:

3. Backup

MAT It doesn't save the stock firmware settings, so it doesn't set the vacuum cleaner up from scratch:

1. Take a picture of the current cleaning cards in Mi Home (they are tied to the account, but after firmware may disappear).
2. Export Schedule Settings: Profile → Devices → [vacuumer] → Schedule.
3. Save the access token (if you use Home Assistant): it can be obtained through the mihome_binary.

💡

If your vacuum cleaner is connected to Mi Home via a server in China (cn cloud), transfer it to a European server (eu or ru) before the firmware is installed, which will make it easier to restore access after the update.

3. Firmware methods: which one to choose?

There are three main installation methods MAT. They are distinguished by complexity, necessary equipment and level of risk:

Recommendation: For most users, the best method is through ADB — It doesn't require disassembling the vacuum cleaner, but it gives you more control than you do. OTA. UART Use only if other methods have not worked (for example, after a failed firmware).

Method 1: Firmware through Mi Home (the easiest)

Suitable for models with unlocked bootloader (most Xiaomi Mi Robot) 1S/2S). Procedures for action:

1. Download the firmware file MAT (.pkg for your model.
2. Rename him in miio_update.pkg.
3. Place the file in the root of the vacuum cleaner's internal memory: Connect the vacuum cleaner to Wi-Fi. In Mi Home, go to Settings → About the device → Manual firmware update. Select the downloaded file and confirm the installation.
4. Wait for the reboot (about 5-7 minutes) and the vacuum cleaner will sound when it is finished.

Method 2: Firmware through ADB (universal)

Requires the connection of the vacuum cleaner to the computer USB. Use the original Xiaomi cable – cheap analogues may not transmit data.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB and Fastboot on your computer.
2. Activate Developer Mode on the Vacuum: In Mi Home, go to Settings → About the device → Click 5 times on "Firmware Version"
3. Connect the vacuum cleaner to the PC and execute the commands: adb devices adb shell su mount -o remount,rw /system dd if=/sdcard/miio_update.pkg of=/system/update.pkg reboot

💡

If the vacuum cleaner does not appear after the adb device command, try disabling the driver signature in Windows or using the device. Linux/MacOS. Some models require pre-adb tcpip 5555.

Method 3: Firmware through UART (skilled)

This is a method that you need if the vacuum cleaner is not switched on or locked. It requires rations: you need to solder the wires to the contacts. TX/RX/GND vacuum-board.

Sequence:

1. Disassemble the vacuum cleaner (see instructions for your model on iFixit).
2. Connect. USB-UART adapter (e.g, CP2102) board-to-board: 🔌 TX → RX adapter 🔌 RX → TX adapter 🔌 GND → GND adapter

Putty

115200 baud, 8N1

setenv bootargs console=ttyS0,115200n8 root=/dev/mtdblock5 rw rootfstype=squashfs


saveenv




bootm 0x9f020000

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect soldering or supplying voltage above 3.3V contact TX/RX You can burn the vacuum controller. Use a logic analyzer to check the signal levels.

4. Typical errors and their solutions

Even with the correct following of the instructions, problems can arise, and here are the most common ways to eliminate them:

Critical error: Bootloop (locked download)

If the vacuum cleaner is constantly reloaded:

1. Turn off the battery for 10 minutes (remove the battery).
2. Connect through UART and do: setenv bootcmd"nand read 0x80000000 0x100000 0x400000; bootm 0x80000000" saveenv reset
3. If it does not help, run the stock firmware through the Mi Flash Tool (instructions for the 4PDA).

⚠️ Note: If the vacuum cleaner after the firmware MAT They stopped responding to the buttons, but the LEDs are on -- it's soft-brick. 90 percent of the time, it helps to reset through the light. UART. If the LEDs do not respond, it is hard-brick, and you will need to solder the flash memory.

5.Tune in. MAT post-installation

After successful firmware vacuum will work, but for full use MAT needle:

• 📱 Connecting to Alternative Applications: Install MAT App (unofficial) or use Home Assistant with Xiaomi Miio integration. IP-vacuum cleaner address and token (if required) token can be obtained through miio cli: miio --discover --sync-token
• 🗺️ Mapping setup: B MAT accessible 5 The saved cards (in stock firmware - only 1). For sensor calibration, execute the command: calibrate_lidar (via Telnet).
• ⚙️ Performance optimization: Reduce speed in settings MAT, If the vacuum cleaner gets lost on the carpets. auto_boost (Automatic suction increase if the battery goes down too quickly.

Hidden functions MAT, which few know:

• 🔊 Voice notifications: You can replace standard sounds with your own (.wav format, 16 kHz. Files are downloaded along the way. /mnt/default/sound/.
• 📊 Logs in real time: connect via Telnet (port) 23) and do the tail -f /var/log/mijia.log monitor.
• 🔄 Backup of settings: the team backup_settings configurate /tmp/backup.tar.

6. How do you get the stock firmware back?

If MAT If you don't live up to expectations or you have compatibility issues, you can roll back to the original firmware. MAT, requires:

• Original firmware file (.pkg) for your model (you can download it on GitHub).
• USB-UART adapter (if the vacuum cleaner is not switched on).
• Patience: The process can take up to 30 minutes.

Step-by-step:

1. Download the stock firmware and rename it in miio_update.pkg.
2. Connect the vacuum cleaner to the computer USB and do: adb push miio_update.pkg /sdcard/ adb shell su mount -o remount,rw /system dd if=/sdcard/miio_update.pkg of=/system/update.pkg reboot
3. If the vacuum cleaner is not loading, go through UART: loady 0x80000000 tftp 0x80000000 miio_update.pkg nand erase 0x100000 0x400000 nand write 0x80000000 0x100000 0x400000 reset

⚠️ Note: After returning to stock firmware, the vacuum cleaner may be blocked by Xiaomi (Error 1002). To unlock, you will need to contact the support with a proof of purchase (check or warranty card).

Alternatives MAT: What else can I find?

MAT — Not the only alternative firmware for Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaners. MAT wrong:

Comparison MAT Valetudo:

• 🔹 MAT easier to install, but closed code (backdoor risk).
• 🔹 Valetudo is fully open, but requires manual Docker or Home Assistant setup.

If your goal is smart home integration, consider Home Assistant. + It's the original firmware with the token, and it'll keep the guarantee and give you most of the features. MAT risk-free.

FAQ: Frequent questions about MAT firmware