How to Refuse Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus via Fastboot: A Complete Guide from A to Z

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus (codenamed vince) is a popular smartphone of 2017, which is still actively used due to its reliability and the ability to install current firmware. However, over time, the standard software can slow down and official updates stop coming out, in such cases, flashing through Fastboot becomes the only way to return the device to performance or install custom firmware like LineageOS.

This is a good way to restore bricks, upgrade to the latest MIUI, and also for those who want to get rid of branded advertising, but there are nuances: wrong actions can turn a phone into a brick, and unlocking the bootloader erases all data, and in this guide we will analyze all the steps from preparation to final settings, taking into account the specifics of Redmi 5 Plus and typical user errors.

1. Firmware Preparation: What to Do Before Starting

Fastboot flashing is not just about copying files, it's about low-level interaction with the bootloader. Before you start, make sure that:

• 📱 The device is charged at least 60% (when discharged during the process, the phone may turn off and not turn on).
• 🔌 Used by the original USB-cable (cheap cables can interrupt data transmission).
• 💻 The PC has Mi Phone Manager drivers installed or ADB/Fastboot (Without them, the computer will not see the phone in Fastboot mode).
• 📁 Downloaded the correct firmware for the vince model (firmware for Redmi Note 5 or other devices will not work!).

Pay special attention to unlocking the bootloader. Xiaomi locks it by default, and without official permission to flash the phone will not work. Unlocking process takes up to 720 hours (30 days) on the first request through the Mi Unlock Tool. If you have already unlocked the bootloader before, this step can be skipped.

⚠️ Warning: Once the bootloader is unlocked, all data on the phone will be erased! backup photos, contacts and apps via Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

Also check the current firmware version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. If it is older than MIUI 10, you may need to upgrade pre-update through Recovery to avoid bugs when running through Fastboot.

2. Unlocking the bootloader: step-by-step instructions

Without an unlocked bootloader, you can't flash Redmi 5 Plus through Fastboot, and it's three steps: linking your Mi Account to your device, waiting for confirmation, and actually unlocking it. Here's how to do it right:

1. Link your Mi Account to your phone: 📱 Go to Settings. → Mi Account and log in. 🔗 Turn on synchronization and confirm binding through SMS email. 🔒 Activate the Settings option → Additionally. → For developers → Unblocking status OEM (If not, tap 7 times on the version. MIUI, to enable the developer mode).

Install the Mi Unlock Tool on your PC:

Download the latest version of the utility from the official Xiaomi website (avoid third-party sources!).

Connect your phone in Fastboot mode:

Turn off Redmi 5 Plus, then press Volume Down + Power until the Fastboot logo appears. Connect your phone to your PC.

Run the unlock:

In Mi Unlock Tool, log in under the same account as on your phone. The program will show a waiting timer (usually 168-720 hours).

⚠️ Note: If a Couldn’t unlock error occurs when unlocking, check: 🔌 Cable and port USB (Try another port or cable). 🔄 Reinstall Fastboot drivers via Device Manager. 📡 Turn it off. VPN/Xiaomi servers can block suspicious IP.

Once successfully unlocked, the phone will automatically reset to factory settings, and you can now start the firmware.

💡

If the waiting timer is reset after flashing, re-link your Mi Account and wait another 30 days.This is Xiaomi's normal practice for protection against theft.

3. firmware selection: official MIUI vs custom builds

There are two types of firmware available for Redmi 5 Plus:

For beginners, we recommend starting with the official firmware (for example, the latest stable version of MIUI 12.5 for vince). Castom firmware requires additional manipulation (installation of TWRP, manual editing of build.prop), which increases the risk of errors.

When choosing, pay attention to the firmware region:

• 🌍 Global – for international versions (supported by Google Services).
• 🇨🇳 China – without Google, but with additional chips for China.
• 🇪🇺 EEA — European version (no advertising, but restrictions are possible).

💡

For Redmi 5 Plus, only firmware marked "vince" is suitable. Installing firmware for Redmi Note 5 (whyred) or other models will cause the device to fail!

4. Installation of drivers and tools for firmware

To get a PC to recognize Redmi 5 Plus in Fastboot mode, you need special drivers and utilities.

• 🖥️ ADB Fastboot: Download Google’s Platform Tools (no lower version) 31.0.0). Unpack the archive into the root of the disk C:\platform-tools\.
• 🔧 Xiaomi Drivers: Install Mi PC Suite or manually update the driver in Device Manager (select Android Bootloader Interface).
• 📄 Firmware: Unpack a downloaded.tgz or.zip archive into a folder with Platform Tools. flash_all.bat (formal MIUI) or images (for customized).

Check your phone’s connection in Fastboot mode:

1. Open Command Prompt in the platform-tools folder (click Shift + PCM → Open the PowerShell window here).
2. If the device is displayed (for example, fa7b12345678 fastboot) – the drivers are installed correctly.

⚠️ Note: If the fastboot device team returns an empty list: 🔄 Reconnect the cable to another USB-port (better to use) USB 2.0 on the back of the PC). 🔌 Turn off all others. USB-devices (they may conflict). 🔧 Reinstall drivers via Zadig (select) libusb-win32 Android Bootloader Interface).

Custom firmware requires TWRP Recovery, which can be installed via Fastboot by the command:

fastboot flash recovery twrp_vince.img


fastboot boot twrp_vince.img

But remember: TWRP for Redmi 5 Plus must be 3.6.0 or later (old builds do not support FBE encryption).

5.Fastboot firmware process: Step-by-step

Now, to the most critical stage, depending on the type of firmware, the instructions will be different.

Make sure the loader is unlocked|Download the correct firmware for Vince|Charge the phone. >60%|Connect the original USB-cable|Disable the antivirus (can block fastboot)

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Method 1: Firmware of official MIUI

Official firmware for Redmi 5 Plus comes in the form of an archive with a file flash_all.bat. Processing as automated as possible:

1. Unpack the firmware in the platform-tools folder.
2. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power).
3. Launch the file. flash_all.bat (for Windows or flash_all.sh (for Linux/Mac).
4. Wait until it is completed (the process will take 5-10 minutes).

If the script gives you an error fastboot: error: Failed to boot into userspace, try manually executing commands from the file. flash_all.bat One at a time:

fastboot flash xbl xbl.elf


fastboot flash modem NON-HLOS.bin




fastboot flash dsp dspso.bin




fastboot flash boot boot.img




fastboot flash system system.img




fastboot flash vendor vendor.img




fastboot erase userdata




fastboot reboot

Method 2: Installation of custom firmware

Custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS 18.1) requires TWRP Recovery.

1. Download. twrp-3.6.0_vince.img and firmware in.zip format.
2. Install. TWRP Fastboot: Fastboot Flash Recovery twrp_vince.img
3. Boot in TWRP: Keep Volume Up + Power after reboot.
4. In TWRP, run Wipe → Format Data (enter yes for confirmation).
5. Transfer the firmware to your phone via MTP (in TWRP: Mount → Enable MTP).
6. Install the firmware via Install → Select file.zip → Swipe to Confirm.
7. Once installed, run Wipe → Dalvik/ART Cache and restart.

⚠️ Note: When installing custom firmware, do not format the vendor section - this will lead to the inoperability of the module and camera!

The first download after the firmware can take up to 15 minutes — don't interrupt the process. If the phone has been stuck on the logo for longer than 20 minutes, try flashing it again through Fastboot.

Typical errors and their solutions

Even with the instructions being followed accurately, there are some common errors in the Redmi 5 Plus firmware and how to fix them:

If the IMEI is missing after the firmware or the mobile network is not working, restore it through the engineering menu:

1. Click ##4636## and select Phone Information.
2. Check IMEI. If it's Null, swipe nvram and modem from stock firmware: fastboot flash modem NON-HLOS.bin fastboot flash fsg fsg.mbn

Another common problem is bootloop.

• 🔄 Incompatible firmware (e.g, MIUI 13 on an old loader).
• 🗑️ Incomplete data erasure before installing custom firmware.
• 🔧 Damaged firmware files (check checksum) MD5).

Solution: Flush the stock firmware through the Mi Flash Tool in Clean All mode.

7.Setting up the phone after firmware

After a successful firmware Redmi 5 Plus will require initial configuration.

• 🔄 Update Google Services: Go to Settings → Annexes → Google Play Services → Update.
• 🔒 Include the developer and debugging by USB: Tap 7 times on the version MIUI In Settings → About the phone, turn on the debugging. USB and Unlock. OEM (caste-wise).

Recover the data:

Mi Cloud

TWRP

Calibrate the battery:

For custom firmware, it is additionally recommended:

• 🎯 Install Magisk for root rights (download) Magisk-v25+.zip and pass through TWRP).
• 🔇 Disable Forced Encryption (if the firmware does not support encryption): fastboot format userdata
• 📡 Manually configure the network (some custom firmware does not support automatic setup) APN).