How to Reinstall Android on Xiaomi Redmi 5: The Complete Guide

Xiaomi Redmi 5, released in late 2017, is still a popular device due to its successful combination of price and features at the time of release. However, over time, the software stops receiving official updates, system errors accumulate, and the interface becomes less responsive.

The reinstallation process, or the flashing process, may seem difficult for a beginner, but with strict adherence to the instructions, it is quite doable at home. IT-And the key is to be mindful of detail and have a stable Internet connection.

In this article, we will look at all the stages of preparing and directly installing a new version of MIUI based on Android. We will look at both standard upgrade methods and more advanced ways through the computer that allow you to completely clean the device from the traces of previous failures. A properly executed procedure can do wonders with hardware that has not yet exhausted its resource.

Diagnostics and preparation of the device for flashing

Before you start taking action, you need to understand the current state of your Redmi 5. If the phone turns on and works but is unstable, this is the ideal scenario for self-intervention. In the case when the device goes into an endless restroop or does not respond to commands, the algorithm of actions will differ, but the basic preparation remains similar.

The most critical step is to save data: when you reinstall the system, all user files, including contacts, photos, music and installed applications, will be permanently deleted, so backing up is a must-do step, ignoring which can lead to the loss of important information forever.

⚠️ Warning: Make sure your smartphone battery is at least 60% battery powered.Stopting the process of writing data to memory due to battery discharge can cause permanent damage to the bootloader.

You can use cloud services like Google Drive or Mi Cloud to create a copy of your data, and it's also convenient to just connect your phone to your computer in file transfer mode and copy important folders to your hard drive. SIM-Maps if you plan to keep your contacts on it, although synchronization with your Google account is more reliable.

After saving the data, you need to check the model of the device. Xiaomi Redmi 5 is codenamed rosy. It is important not to confuse it with Redmi 5A (riva) or Redmi 5 Plus (vince), since the firmware from other models is categorically incompatible and can bring the phone down.

Necessary tools and software

To successfully reinstall Android, you will need not only the smartphone itself, but also a personal computer or laptop running the Windows operating system. MacOS and Linux can also be used, but require additional emulation settings or specific drivers, which complicates the process for the untrained user.

Quality. USB-Cheap cables bundled with Power Bank or cheap accessories are often designed only for charging and do not provide stable data transfer. Use an original cable or high-quality analogue with thick wires, capable of withstanding current up to 2 Amps.

You will need to download specialized software. The main tool for Qualcomm devices that is installed in Redmi 5 is the Mi Flash Tool. You may also need universal ADB and Fastboot drivers, which are usually installed along with the main utilities from Xiaomi.

There are Global (global) versions that support many Google languages and services, and China (Chinese) that may be devoid of Russian and have Chinese software preinstalled. For most users outside China, the Global Stable version is suitable.

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Always download the firmware with the.tgz extension for installation via your computer..zip files are designed to be updated through the phone's own menu (Recovery).

Unlocking the bootloader: necessity or myth?

One of the most frequently asked questions is whether you need to unlock the bootloader, if you just want to reinstall the system to a more recent official version within a single region (e.g., from Global 9.6 to Global 10), it is not usually required, but it is mandatory to change the region (from China to Global) or install custom builds.

The unlocking process requires an application via a special Mi Unlock app and waiting 7 to 360 hours, a security measure introduced by the manufacturer to protect user data. If your bootloader is already unlocked, you will get more options, but the risks of losing the warranty (if it is still relevant) increase.

For Redmi 5, which is no longer a new device, the issue of warranty is not so acute. Many users will unlock the bootloader to install custom TWRP recaps, allowing you to make full backups of the system and install modified versions of Android.

⚠️ Warning: Unlocking the bootloader automatically performs a full Wipe Data reset. Even if you just did a backup, the phone will be clean immediately after unlocking.

You can check the status of the bootloader by going to Fastboot mode. To do this, turn off the phone and press the power and volume buttons at the same time. The screen will show an image of a hare in headphones and the inscription FASTBOOT. If the Locked status is the bootloader is blocked, if Unlocked is unlocked.

Method 1: Reinstallation via Recovery (without a computer)

The easiest and safest method that doesn't require a PC is to use the built-in recovery mode, which is the right way if the phone is turned on and you want to upgrade or reinstall it within the same region, and we'll use the local update method.

First you need to download the firmware file in.zip format (Recovery). ROM) And then you can move it to the root of the phone's internal memory, and it's important that the file is not in the folders, which is the root, and it has a clear name, like, for example, the root, update.zip, although modern versions MIUI They find it in the file. downloaded_rom.

Then we go to the menu for selecting the upgrade method. In some versions of MIUI, you need to click several times on the firmware version in the settings to add an additional menu. Select "Select firmware file" and specify the downloaded archive. The system will check the integrity of the data and prompt you to start the process.

• 📱 Click “Reboot” and select the “Update” action».
• ⏳ Wait until the process that may take 10-15 minute.
• 🔄 The phone will automatically reboot with the new system.

The good thing about this method is that it minimizes the risk of user error, but it doesn't allow you to change your firmware region or roll back to an older version of Android if you don't like the new version, it's more of an upgrade method than a complete clean reinstallation.

Method 2: Complete reinstallation via Fastboot and Mi Flash

If you want a clean installation that completely deletes all data and can change region, Fastboot is the only solution. It requires a computer and a cable. First download and install the Mi Flash Tool on your PC, and unpack the archive with the firmware (Fastboot). ROM, tgz format) to a folder with a short path, for example, C:\rom\.

Transfer the smartphone to Fastboot mode (clamp power) + volume minus) and connect it to your computer. In Windows Device Manager under Android Devices or «QHSUSB_BULK» If there's an error icon, you can manually install the drivers.

adb devices


fastboot devices

In the Mi Flash Tool, click the "Refresh" button. If your device's serial number appears on the list, the connection is established. Choose the path to the folder with the unpacked firmware. At the bottom of the window, you need to choose the firmware mode: clean all (complete cleaning) or clean all and lock (clean and lock the bootloader).

Press Flash and be patient. It takes 200 to 600 seconds. It's strictly forbidden to turn off the cable or interrupt the program. Once it's done, the phone will reboot itself to the new system. The first boot can last up to 10 minutes.

Possible errors and ways to eliminate them

There may be various errors in the process of flashing Xiaomi Redmi 5.The code 0x00000064 or 0x00000004 in the Mi Flash Tool often indicates driver or file path problems. Make sure there are no Cyrillic characters or spaces on the way to the firmware.

If the phone is stuck on the Mi logo after firmware, try pressing the power button for 15-20 seconds to force a reboot. If that doesn't help, maybe the firmware was chosen for the wrong model or the bootloader was damaged, in which case only reflashing in EDL mode (requires disassembly of the phone to close contacts).

The lack of communication with the Google activation server after reinstalling may be due to the wrong date: Set the correct date and time in settings if possible, or connect to Wi-Fi. Sometimes you need to reset your network settings.

⚠️ Note: If you have a Mi Account that you don't remember after you have firmware, it's called Find My Device. Without access to that account, you can't legally unlock the device.

Problems with touchscreen or sound after flashing indicate that drivers in the selected build are incompatible. Try downloading firmware from another version or from another developer. For Redmi 5, there are many custom builds that can work more stable than stock ones.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The most reliable way to bring Redmi 5 back to life is to use Fastboot ROM and clean all mode via the Mi Flash Tool.