How to Refuse Xiaomi Mi 9: A Step-by-Step Guide

Owners of the flagship Xiaomi Mi 9 often face the need to reinstall the operating system for various reasons: it can be a transition from the Chinese version of the global, removing traces of previous experiments or the banal desire to get a clean system without unnecessary garbage. The process of restoring or updating software on this device requires care, but if you follow the algorithm of actions, it becomes quite accessible even for inexperienced users.

Before you start taking action, you need to clearly understand that firmware is an interference with the software part of the smartphone. Xiaomi Mi 9 is based on the Snapdragon 855 processor, which gives certain advantages in speed, but also imposes its own features on the firmware procedure. It is important to prepare all tools in advance so that at a critical moment you do not look for missing files.

There are several basic ways to bring a device back to life or upgrade it. The choice of the specific method depends on the current state of your gadget: whether it turns on, whether it loads recovery or only Fastboot mode is available. In this article, we will discuss all the options available, from a simple update through the menu to deep recovery through the computer.

Preparation for firmware: tools and drivers

You should start with a thorough preparation of the workplace and software. USB-cable, preferably original, because cheap analogues may not provide stable data transfer, which is critical when you run firmware. You also need a computer running Windows, as most of the utilities from Xiaomi are optimized for this platform.

The mandatory step is to install drivers. Without them, your computer won't see your smartphone in the right mode. You'll need ADB and Fastboot drivers, and Qualcomm drivers for EDL mode, if you have to do deep recovery, and you can find them in Google's platform tools or in dedicated builds for enthusiasts.

Remember to back up all your important data. The firmware process, especially through the cleanup Fastboot mode, will completely delete all photos, contacts and applications. The Fastboot firmware procedure completely destroys the data on the internal drive, including photos and contacts. Sync the data with the cloud or copy it to an external medium in advance.

Determination of firmware type and loading mode

It is critical to understand the difference between the types of firmware available for the Xiaomi Mi 9. There is Recovery ROM (refresh via menu) and Fastboot ROM (complete PC flashing). The first is an archive with the.zip extension and does not erase data when installed unless a special mode is selected. The second has the.tgz extension and is designed to completely reset the system.

Fastboot mode is a low-level protocol that allows you to interact with the device loader directly. To get into it on the Mi 9, you need to turn off the phone and press the volume button by connecting the cable to the computer. The screen will show an image of a rabbit repairing an android, indicating the successful entry into Fastboot mode.

If the phone doesn't respond to buttons and doesn't turn on, you may need an EDL (Emergency Download Mode) mode. Entering it on the Mi 9 often requires disassembling the case and closing test points on the board, or using special ADB commands if the superuser rights are already obtained, which is an extreme measure when other methods do not work.

Method 1: Update via Recovery (without PC)

The easiest and safest way to upgrade or reinstall a system is to use the built-in recovery menu, which is suitable if the phone is turned on and you can get into the Recovery settings or menu. You will need a firmware file in.zip format that corresponds to your region and the Android version.

Copy the downloaded firmware file to the root of the device's internal memory. Then go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. Click three dots in the upper right corner and select "Select firmware file." The system will check the integrity of the archive and suggest that you start installing.

If the phone doesn't boot fully, you can use Recovery mode. Press the power button and turn up the volume. From the menu that appears, select the language (usually available in English and Chinese) and go to Install update.zip. After confirmation, the update process will begin, which can take a few minutes.

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If after installing the firmware, the phone goes into a cyclical reboot, try running Wipe Data in the Recovery menu before re-installation.

It is worth noting that this method is not suitable for downgrade (a rollback to an older version) or switching the region from China to Global. Such operations require a deeper level of access, which only the Fastboot mode provides. However, this option is ideal for maintaining the system’s relevance or recovering from a failure.

Method 2: Full Fastboot (Mi Flash Tool)

For radical changes, such as changing the region or a complete reset, Mi Flash Tool is used. This is the official software from Xiaomi, which only works with Fastboot ROM. Download and install the program on your computer, then unpack the archive with the firmware in the root folder of the C disk so that the path does not contain Cyrillic.

Put your smartphone into Fastbot mode as described above and connect it to your PC. Device Manager should have a device called Android Bootloader Interface. Launch Mi Flash Tool, press the Refresh button and select the path to the folder with the unpacked firmware. Make sure that clean all mode is selected at the bottom of the window to clean the data completely.

After selecting all the options, press the Flash button. The process will take from 3 to 10 minutes. At this time, you should absolutely not turn off the cable or interrupt the program. Upon completion, the status will appear “success”, and the phone will automatically restart to the new system.