Xiaomi Redmi Note 5, also known as Whyred, remains a popular device, but over time users face the need to reinstall the software. This can be caused by software failures, the desire to upgrade to a newer version of Android or the need to switch from Chinese firmware to global.
There are several methods of installing the operating system, each with its own features and applications. The safest way is to update through the settings menu, but it is not always available for critical errors. Deeper methods, such as using Fastboot mode or recovery, allow you to solve complex problems, but require preliminary preparation of tools and files.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the preparation steps, the necessary utilities and step-by-step instructions for various scenarios. You will learn how to properly prepare the device, what drivers to install on the computer and how to avoid common mistakes that beginners often make when working with the system partition memory.
Preparation for the firmware procedure
Before any manipulation of the system software, a number of preparatory steps must be taken, and ignoring these steps can lead to data loss or interruption of the recording process, first of all, make sure that the battery is charged at least 60%, since the discharge at the critical moment of data recording is fatal.
The second important step is to back up all the important information, and when you flash it, it's going to be deleted from the internal drive, so save the contacts, photos and documents to the cloud or to your computer, and you're going to need to download the original firmware image that matches your model.
To work, you will need a computer running Windows, serviceable USB-It is recommended to use the original cable or quality analogue, capable of transmitting data, and not only charge the device.
- 📱 Charge the Redmi Note smartphone 5 level 60-70%
- 💾 Make a full backup of contacts and media files to an external medium
- 💻 Install current drivers ADB and Fastboot on the computer
- 🔌 Use quality. USB-plug-in
⚠️ Note: Using firmware from other models or damaged archives may make it impossible to turn on the device.
Make sure your computer has turned off antivirus programs and firewalls that can block the firmware utility. Sometimes security software mistakenly perceives system utilities as a threat and interrupts the connection to the device.
Selection of method and firmware version
There are two main types of firmware for Xiaomi devices: Recovery (ZIP) and Fastboot (IMG). The first type is designed to be installed via the recovery menu and is usually used for upgrades or transitions between versions of a single branch. The second type requires the smartphone to be put into a special mode and allows you to completely rewrite all memory partitions.
When choosing a version of the software, it is important to consider the region of the device. Global versions contain Google services and support for many languages, including Russian. Chinese versions (China) often lack some features and may not have Russian as a basic language, requiring additional manipulation.
Also worth paying attention to the status of firmware: Stable (stable) or Beta (test). For everyday use, it is recommended to choose only stable builds, since beta versions can contain errors and work unstable.
If you're planning to switch from Chinese to global, you'll need an unlocked bootloader, and without this procedure, the system won't allow you to install software from another region, and the process will end up in error.
Unlocking the bootloader (Bootloader)
Bootloader is a program that runs in front of the operating system and checks the integrity of the software. By default, it is locked, which prevents the installation of unofficial modifications or firmware from other regions.
The first step is to link your Mi Account to your device. Go to settings, find the About Phone section, and click on the MIUI version several times to activate the developer menu. Then, in the advanced settings, turn on Factory Unlock and link the account.
Once attached, download the Mi Unlock Tool to your computer, launch the program, log in to your account and follow the instructions on the screen, and the waiting process can take anywhere from 7 to 168 hours, depending on the company's security policy.
⚠️ Note: Once the bootloader is unlocked, all data on the smartphone will be automatically deleted for security reasons.
It is important to understand that an unlocked bootloader reduces the security of the device and can lead to a denial of warranty service.Some banking applications may stop working or require additional settings to run.
What does an unlocked bootloader do?
Fastboot (Mi Flash Tool)
Fastboot firmware is the most reliable method and is often used to restore bricks or clean the system completely, requiring the Mi Flash Tool and a firmware image in.tgz format.
First, turn your smartphone into Fastboot mode. To do this, turn off the device, and then press the power and volume buttons at the same time. The screen should appear a bunny in a repair helmet or the words Fastboot. Connect the phone to the computer through the computer USB-cable.
Launch the Mi Flash Tool on behalf of the administrator. Press the Refresh button to detect the connected device. In the address field, specify the path to the folder with the unpacked firmware. It is important that there are no Cyrillic characters on the way.
At the bottom of the window, select firmware mode. the clean all option will clear the data completely and install a clean system. the save user data option will try to save user files, but can lead to errors when switching between Android versions.
☑️ Checklist before firmware
After selecting all options, press the "Flash" button, which will take 200 to 600 seconds, and do not interrupt the connection or touch the cable until the message of successful completion appears.
| Parameter | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Clean All mode | Complete data cleanup | Recommended for changing the region |
| Save Data mode | File retention | Only for updates within the version |
| Clean All + Lock mode | Cleaning and blocking BL | Only for the original regional firmware |
| Drivers. | Qualcomm/ADB | Mandatory for the PC to work |
Installation through Recovery Mode
Recovery updates are simpler and don’t require a computer if the firmware file is already on the device, which is suitable for routine updates or system recovery if you have access to the recovery menu.
To enter Recovery mode, turn off your smartphone and press the power and volume buttons. From the menu that appears, select a language (if available) and go to "Install update package" or "Select file."
Find the previously downloaded firmware archive and confirm the installation, the system will check the integrity of the file and begin the update process, during which time the device can reboot several times, which is normal behavior.
If the standard Recovery menu doesn’t see the file or gives an error, you may need to use a third-party recovery, such as TWRP. Installing TWRP requires an unlocked bootloader and is executed via Fastboot by the fastboot boot twrp.img command.
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If standard Recovery does not accept the file, rename it to simple_name.zip Or try putting a memory card in the root instead of an internal memory.
Once you have completed the installation, select "Reboot to System" and it can take up to 10 minutes to boot as the system optimizes applications and customizes components.
Solving common mistakes
There are a number of bugs that can cause the process to stop, and one of the most common problems is the Anti-Rollback bug, which is a security mechanism that prevents you from installing an older version of the software than you currently have, and bypassing this limitation can cause the device to fail completely.
Another common problem is the lack of a device in Task Manager or Mi Flash utility.This is often due to the lack of Qualcomm drivers or the wrong cable connection. USB-port, preferably USB 2.0, and reinstall the drivers.
If the process is stuck at a certain percentage (for example, 3% or 99%), do not rush to turn off the cable. Sometimes the recording process is slow. However, if the progress is more than 10 minutes, try changing the port or restarting the utility.
⚠️ Note: The error "Missmatching image and device" means that you are trying to flash the firmware from another model.
If you have a 0x0000000a error in the Mi Flash Tool, try running the program on behalf of the administrator and select the "Ignore Error" mode in the settings. This often helps to complete the procedure if the failure occurred on a minor partition.
Primary setup and optimization
After successfully installing the new operating system, the device will greet you with a welcome screen. The initial setup takes a few minutes and includes language selection, Wi-Fi connection and login to a Google account. At this point, the system may suggest that you restore data from a backup.
Immediately after the first download, it is recommended to check for security updates. Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update and press the check button. This will eliminate possible bugs detected after your firmware version is released.
To optimize battery performance and performance, remove preinstalled unwanted software (bloatware). However, be careful: removing system components may disrupt the interface. Use only proven safe removal lists.
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After the first boot, let the phone lie on charging for 1-2 hours with the screen off - this will help the system to correctly calibrate the battery indicator.
Configure the Developer Options settings to speed up animations. Turn on the developer menu (7 clicks according to MIUI) and rescale the animation of windows, transitions and duration by 0.5x. This will visually speed up the interface.