Modern Xiaomi smartphones are famous for their functionality, but sometimes users face software failures, boot cycles or simply the desire to change the firmware region. In such cases, a standard update through the settings menu may not help, and a deeper method of restoring the system is required. This is where the MiFlash Tool utility comes to the rescue, which allows you to install images of the operating system directly into the device’s memory, bypassing standard locks.
The process of flashing through MiFlash requires some preparation and care, as it affects low-level partitions of memory. Unlike the update "over the air", this method gives full control over the structure of the files and allows you to completely clear the device of errors. Below we will discuss in detail all the stages of preparation, installation of drivers and the process of restoring the health of your gadget.
Preparation for firmware: necessary tools and files
Before you start any manipulation of system files, it is critical to collect all the necessary components: You will need a computer running the Windows operating system, as the MiFlash Tool does not have official support for macOS or Linux. Also make sure that the USB cable you plan to use supports data transfer, not just charging, as an unstable connection can lead to fatal recording errors.
The next step is to find and download the correct firmware version. For Xiaomi devices, there are different types of packages: Recovery and Fastboot. To work with the MiFlash utility, you need a Fastboot version, which usually has the.tgz extension in the archive. After downloading, you need to unpack the archive to the root of the disk or a short-cut folder to avoid encoding errors when accessing files.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure that the battery is at least 60% battery power. interruption of the data writing process due to battery discharge can lead to irreversible damage to the software part of the device.
Finally, you’ll need the software itself. Xiaomi’s official website sometimes hides direct links, so you often have to search for the current version of MiFlash on trusted forums or in the developer communities. Older versions of the utility may not support new smartphone models, so it’s better to use the latest stable release.
☑️ Pre-launch check
Install ADB and Fastboot drivers on your computer
The computer must "understand" which device is connected to it, and be able to communicate with it in a low-level language, for this purpose the Qualcomm or ADB/Fastboot drivers must be installed correctly in the system. Without this step, the utility simply will not see the phone in bootloader mode, and all further actions will be meaningless.
Often, Windows automatically installs basic drivers that are not suitable for firmware mode, in which case you will see an unknown device or device with an exclamation mark in Device Manager, and you will need to manually specify the path to the folder with drivers that come bundled with the MiFlash Tool or downloaded separately.
- 🔌 Connect the phone to the PC in the off state by clamping the volume down button.
- 💻 Open Device Manager and find a device called Android or QHSUSB_BULK.
- 🛠 Right-click, select “Update Driver” and specify the path to the drivers folder inside the program archive.
Once installed successfully, the Android Bootloader Interface should appear on the list of devices, which is a signal that the communication is correct. USB-port or cable, as physical factors often affect equipment recognition.
What to do if the driver is not installed?
Translation of the smartphone to Fastboot mode
Fastboot mode is a special diagnostic protocol that allows you to send commands and data directly to the device memory, bypassing the main operating system. This is the mode in which the MiFlash utility works. You can transfer the phone to this mode by software or hardware.
The most reliable method is to use a combination of buttons on the device that is turned off. Press the power button and the Volume Down button at the same time and hold them until the image of a hare repairing an android appears or the FASTBOOT inscription on the screen. On some models, especially tablets or TVs, the combination may differ, but for Xiaomi smartphones this standard is the same.
If the phone is turned on but cyclically restarted, use the software method via ADB. To do this, connect the phone in normal mode (if it is booted) or in Recovery mode, connect to the PC and enter the command in the command line:
adb reboot bootloaderThis command will force the device to restart to the mode we want, and once the Fastboot logo appears, you can plug the cable into the computer if it's not already connected, and start the communication check procedure.
MiFlash setup and choice of firmware method
Launch MiFlash on behalf of the administrator. In the interface, the first thing you do is press select and specify the path to the unpacked firmware folder. Importantly, choose the folder that contains the files with the.img and.bat extensions, not the archive itself.
Special attention should be paid to the bottom of the program window, where the three radio buttons that determine the method of firmware are located. The fate of the data on the device depends on your choice. The wrong choice can lead to the loss of photos, contacts and applications.
| Regime. | Description of action | Data retention |
|---|---|---|
| clean all | Complete cleaning and installation of the new system | ❌ Data is deleted |
| save user data | Updating the system with saving files | ✅ Data is retained |
| clean all + lock | Cleaning, installation and locking of the loader | ❌ Data is deleted |
Clean all + lock mode should only be used if you are flashing the official global version to the global version, or returning the device to factory condition for sale. If you try to lock the bootloader when you change region (for example, from China to Global), the phone will go into a hard bootloom.
After you select the path and mode, press the refresh button to allow the program to detect the connected device. The list should show an alphanumeric device. If the list is empty, check the drivers and cable.
💡
If MiFlash sees the device but the Flash button is inactive, try running the program on behalf of the administrator or reconnecting the cable to another device. USB-port, preferably USB 2.0.
Firmware process and solution of typical errors
When you're done, press the flash button, and you start writing data, which is displayed as a progress bar and a text log at the bottom of the window, and it's strictly forbidden to turn off the cable or touch the buttons on your smartphone, which can take 200 to 500 seconds depending on the firmware volume and port speed.
During the procedure, the phone screen may go out and light up again, and the notification indicator may flash different colors. This is normal behavior. However, if the process has stopped at a certain percentage or an error popped out, you need to analyze the error code.
- 🚫 Error: Flash Error — most often indicates a bad cable or port. Try changing the connector on your computer.
- 🚫 Error: Missmatching image and device — you're trying to flash firmware that's not designed for this model.
- 🚫 Error: Can't flash - access rights or antivirus problem. Disable antivirus and restart from admin.
If the utility gave a Flash Done or Success message, the phone will automatically restart.The first boot after flashing can last up to 10 minutes, as the system optimizes applications and creates new partitions.
⚠️ Note: If your phone is bootloop indefinitely after firmware, you may have used clean all mode. + lock when changing region. In this case, you will need to unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock service before re-routing the firmware.
💡
Successful firmware through MiFlash completely clears partitions of memory, so data recovery is possible only from a pre-built backup in the cloud or on a PC.