Xiaomi’s current Redmi Note series has enormous potential, but sometimes the standard operating system fails to meet the needs of the owner. The Chinese version of the firmware may not have the Russian language or the right Google services, and the global version may suffer from advertising and bugs. It is in such situations that the need to manually install a more suitable version of the software arises. This process, often called firmware, allows not only to change the region of the device, but also to bring back to life the “brick”, remove viruses or obtain superuser rights.
The procedure for replacing software requires careful and strict follow-up, because there are certain risks involved in interfering with the system partition. However, if you follow the algorithm carefully and prepare the necessary tools in advance, the task will be quite feasible even for a beginner. In this article, we will discuss all the steps from preparing drivers to the final launch of the updated system. It is important to understand the difference between the modes of operation of the device, such as Fastboot and Recovery, since it depends on the choice of the firmware method.
Before you start taking action, you need to realize that any manipulation of the software can lead to data loss. Complete flashing through Fastboot always erases all user data without the possibility of recovery. So the first and most important step is to back up important information: contacts, photos, correspondence in messengers and documents. Without this step, it is strongly recommended to start the procedure.
Preparation for firmware: tools and drivers
Success of the operation 90% It depends on the quality of the workspace and software on the computer. You will need a personal computer or laptop running Windows, as the main utilities for working with Xiaomi are optimized for this platform. Use of virtual machines or operating systems macOS/Linux It is possible, but often involves additional difficulties and driver compatibility errors.
First of all, you need to ensure a stable connection between the smartphone and the PC. USB-The cable that came with the device, or the high-quality analogue with thick wires. Cheap charging cables often fail to transmit data at the desired speed, which can lead to a connection break at a critical point in the recording of system files.
It is also critical to install the right drivers, the system must correctly recognize the phone in different boot modes, usually the necessary components are included in the official Mi Flash Tool utility, but sometimes they have to be installed separately, without correctly installed ADB and Fastboot drivers, the computer simply will not see the connected device.
☑️ Checklist of preparations
Don't forget to check the battery power. It can take 5 to 20 minutes to run the firmware, and the device should have a power reserve. If the phone turns off when the system partition is recorded, it will be extremely difficult to restore it, and you will need to use a special programmer.
Unlocking the loader: a mandatory stage
Xiaomi has implemented unauthorized tampering protection by shutting down the Bootloader by default. To install custom recavators or global firmware on the Chinese version, you need to obtain official permission to unlock. This is not an instant process: after applying in the Mi Unlock Status application, you often have to wait from 7 to 168 hours.
First, link your Mi Account to your device in your smartphone settings. Then download the Mi Unlock Tool to your computer, log in to the same account2unt, and put your phone into Fastboot mode, slamming both the power and volume buttons together. If done correctly, the program will show the bootloader status and allow you to send a request to unlock.
⚠️ Note: The bootloader unlock procedure automatically performs a full Wipe Data reset. All photos, contacts and applications will be deleted immediately after unlocking, so backup is mandatory.
Once successfully unlocked, the boot screen will display the android-fixing hare icon or the Unlocked label, confirming that the path to install third-party software is open. Ignoring this step will make it impossible to run firmware through Fastboot, leaving only the update available through Recovery, which has region-specific limitations on the software version.
Selecting the type of firmware: Recovery or Fastboot
Users can use two basic methods of installing software, each with its own features and limitations, depending on the current version of the system on your Redmi Note and the desired result, and understanding the difference between the two will help avoid compatibility errors.
Recovery (via the recovery menu) is suitable for updating the version within one region or moving from global to global. The firmware file has the.zip extension and weighs about 3-4 GB. This method is easier, since it does not require a computer, but it does not allow you to downgrade the Android version or change the region (for example, from China to Europe).
Fastboot is a more powerful tool, requiring a PC and Mi Flash, and the firmware files are.tgz extensions and weigh more because they contain complete images of all the parts of the system.
- 🔄 Change the region of the device (c) CN Globally).
- 📉 Downgrade version of Android (Downgrade).
- 🧹 Completely clean all memory sections.
- 🛠 Restore the system after critical failures.
If your goal is to radically change the system, such as removing Chinese software and installing Russian on the Chinese version of the phone, then the Fastboot option is the only correct solution.
| Characteristics | Recovery (.zip) | Fastboot (.tgz) |
|---|---|---|
| Presence of PC | Not required | I'll be sure. |
| Unlocking Bootloader | Not always. | Required. |
| Change of region | Impossible. | Possible. |
| Data retention | Maybe. | Only with data loss. |
The process of firmware through the Mi Flash Tool
Consider the most complete and reliable way to install software, through the Mi Flash Tool, which ensures a clean installation of the system without remnants of old files, which is especially important when changing the region. First download the archive with firmware for your particular model (codename, for example, redmi note 10 pro corresponds to sweet) and unpack it in the root of the C disk so that the path does not contain Russian letters.
Run the program on behalf of the administrator and press the refresh button. If the drivers are installed correctly, your phone with the ID will appear in the list. Select the unpacked folder with the firmware select button. At the bottom of the window, it is important to choose the correct firmware mode. Usually, clean all is used, which erases data and installs the system clean.
The firmware modes in Mi Flash:
1. clean all – complete cleaning and installation (recommended).
2. save user data - a data-saving installation (may cause errors).
3. clean all and lock - cleaning, installation and locking of the loader.Once you select the mode, press flash. It takes 200 to 600 seconds. You can't turn off the cable or touch the phone. It will show you progress in percentages and the current partition recording stage. When you complete the status, you will see success, and the phone will automatically restart. The first boot can last up to 10 minutes.
It is important to note that the clean all and lock option is only possible when you run a global firmware version on a global phone or Chinese on a Chinese one. If you try to lock the bootloader when you change region (for example, to a global one), the device will go into a deep brick, and you can only unlock it for a fee through an authorized service.
Installation of custom TWRP Recovery
For advanced users who want full control of the device, standard recovery is not enough. TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) is a modified restore menu that allows you to install firmware in zip format, make full system backups, clear cache and get root rights. TWRP installation is only possible on devices with an unlocked bootloader.
The installation process requires the use of the Windows Command Line (ADB). Download the twrp.img file corresponding to your model and place it in the folder with the ADB tools. Transfer the phone to Fastboot mode and connect to the PC. In the command line, enter the command to check the connection: fastboot devices. If the device is determined, you can proceed to download the image.
The command to temporarily start TWRP looks like this: fastboot boot twrp.img. After that, the phone will boot to the TWRP menu. To fix it in memory, you need to select the installation (Install) inside the TWRP menu and flash a special installer file or the recovery image itself. After this procedure, an expanded recovery menu will open with each restart.
⚠️ Note: At the first loading in TWRP The system may ask you to enter the unlock password, and if you don't remember it or type it incorrectly, the data partition will not be available for recording, in which case you need to format Data (Format Data) through the Wipe menu, entering the word yes.
Possible mistakes and ways to solve them
Even with careful preparation, there can be unexpected situations. One of the most common problems is that the phone goes into an endless bootloop after the firmware is installed. Often this is solved by a re-procedure with a choice of clean all mode. If this does not help, it is possible that the firmware file was corrupted during the download and needs to be rebooted, checking the checksum.
Another common bug is Error 255 or Error 1 in Mi Flash. It is often associated with drivers or a USB port. Try reconnecting the cable to another port (preferably USB 2.0 at the back of the system unit) or reinstalling Qualcomm/MTK drivers. Also make sure the path to the firmware folder does not contain Cyrillic.
If the phone has stopped responding to the buttons and is not turning on (black screen), try to press the power and volume buttons for a long time (up to 20 seconds). If there is a vibration, but there is no screen - perhaps a problem in the display or plume. If the phone is determined in EDL (Emergency Download Mode) mode as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008, then recovery is possible only through an authorized Mi Account, since this mode is protected.
- 🔌 Check integrity USB-cable and port.
- 💻 Make sure that the antivirus does not block the work of Mi Flash.
- 📂 Use file paths without spaces and Russian letters.
- 🔋 Make sure your phone charge doesn’t fall below 50%.