How to reflash Xiaomi Redmi Note 5: 3 working methods + error solving

Why users are reflashing the Redmi Note 5 and when you really need it

Smartphone Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 (codenamed whyred) was released in 2018, but still remains popular among users due to the balanced characteristics: Snapdragon 636 processor, 3/4 GB of RAM and a capacious battery of 4000 mAh. However, over time, even reliable equipment begins to slow down, and official updates from Xiaomi cease to come out.

First, it speeds up the system: MIUI stock firmware gets clogged with background processes, advertising and unnecessary services over time. Castom builds (like Pixel Experience or LineageOS) lack this ballast. Second, security updates: after official support ends in 2021, OS vulnerabilities do not fix, which risks user data. Finally, firmware can restore the “brick” – a state where the smartphone does not turn on due to a failed update or failure.

But flashing isn't always warranted. If your Redmi Note 5 is stable and the only problem is slow app loading, try resetting to factory settings first (in Settings → Additional → Restore and Reset). This will delete user data but keep the official firmware.

• 🔄 The smartphone is constantly restarted or turned off ("bootloop»)
• 🚫 No access to Recovery Mode or Fastboot
• 🔒 The device is locked with a pattern lock/password, and Find My Device does not help
• 📱 Want to install the current version of Android (for example, Android 12 instead of stock Android 8.1)

Preparation for Flashing: What to Do Before Starting

Unprepared firmware can turn the Redmi Note 5 into a brick. To avoid this, follow the mandatory steps:

⚠️ Note: If you install custom firmware (unofficial), pre-unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool. without this, the smartphone will not boot after firmware is installed!

One is to save all the data. Fastboot or Recovery flashing wipes away the internal memory.

• ☁️ Cloud services: Google Drive, Mi Cloud (unless your account is blocked)
• 💻 PC: Connect your smartphone to USB mode MTP and copy the files manually.
• 📱 Other devices: Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct (slow but not PC-free)

Second, check the firmware model and version. Open Settings → About the phone and write down:

• The device model (must be Redmi Note 5 or whyred)
• MIUI version (e.g. MIUI Global 12.5.3 Stable)
• Assembly number (e.g. OPM1.171019.019)

Third, charge the battery at least 60 percent, and if the power goes out during the firmware, you're at high risk of damaging the system partitions.

Method 1: Fastboot (Mi Flash Tool) for official builds

This method is suitable for restoring stock firmware or upgrading to the latest official version of MIUI. It completely erases data but guarantees stability. The instruction is relevant for Redmi Note 5 codenamed Whyred.

Step 1: Download the firmware in.tgz from the official MIUI Download website.

• 🌍 Global – for international version (without Chinese services)
• 🇨🇳 China – only if your smartphone was originally purchased in China
• 📱 Stable - Stable version (recommended)
• 🧪 Developer - Test version (may contain bugs)

Step 2: Unpack the archive in the C:\MiFlash folder (a Cyrillic-free path!) Install the Mi Flash Tool and Qualcomm drivers.

Step 3: Transfer your smartphone to Fastboot mode:

1. Turn off the device.
2. Press the Power button + Volume down for 10 seconds.
3. Connect to the PC – on the screen will appear a hare in a hat-eared (Fastboot mode).

Step 4: In the Mi Flash Tool:

1. Press Select and specify the folder with the unpacked firmware.
2. Select Clean All or Clean All and Lock (if you want to lock the bootloader after you have been firmware).
3. Press Flash and wait until it is completed (5-10 minutes).

⚠️ If the process is 99% frozen or an anti-rollback error appears, you are trying to install an older version. MIUI, This is a case where you need a firmware bypassing the protection (see for the one on the phone). 4PDA with the tagged Anti-Rollback Removed).

Method 2: Install custom firmware through TWRP Recovery

If you want to install LineageOS, Pixel Experience or other custom firmware, you'll need an unlocked bootloader and TWRP Recovery, which gives you more freedom, but you need to be careful.

Step 1: Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool.

1. Link your Mi Account to your device in Settings → Xiaomi Account.
2. Enable OEM Unlock in Settings → For developers (if there is no item, tap 7 times on the MIUI version).
3. Connect your phone to your PC, start the Mi Unlock Tool, and follow the instructions (it may take 7-30 days to wait!).

Step 2: Install TWRP Recovery for Redmi Note 5:

• Download the latest version twrp-3.7.0_9-0-whyred.img official website TWRP.
• Transfer your phone to Fastboot (as in Method 1).
• Open the command line in the folder with fastboot and do:

fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.7.0_9-0-whyred.img


fastboot boot twrp-3.7.0_9-0-whyred.img

Step 3: In TWRP:

1. Make a backup of the current firmware (Backup) → Select sections → Swipe to Backup).
2. Select.zip → Swipe to Confirm (Install → Swipe to Confirm)
3. Clean the cache (Wipe → Dalvik/ART Cache + Cache).
4. Reboot (Reboot → System)

Critical feature of the Redmi Note 5: when installing custom firmware based on Android 10+ The solution is to flash a separate patch. ANX_Camera_fix.zip post-stitch.

Method 3: Update via Recovery (no PC) – for official OTAs

If your Redmi Note 5 is turned on and you have access to Recovery Mode, you can upgrade your firmware without a computer. OTA-Updates or manual installation of stock MIUI.

Step. 1: Download the firmware in.zip format (not.tgz!) from the site MIUI Download. The file should be called something like that: miui_HMNote5HMNote5ProGlobal_V12.5.3.0.REGMIXM_....

Step 2: Rename the file to update.zip and move it to the root of internal memory (not to folders!).

Step 3: Go to Recovery Mode:

• Turn off the phone.
• Press the Power button + Volume up for 10 seconds.
• Choose a language (if required).

Step 4: In the Recovery menu:

1. Select Install update.zip to System.
2. Confirm the installation.
3. Once completed, press Reboot to System.

⚠️ Warning: If after the reboot the phone hangs on the logo MI, So the firmware is not suitable for your model. In this case, go through the Fastboot (Method 1).

💡

If Recovery Mode does not have Install update.zip, you have custom Recovery installed (e.g. TWRP). In this case, select Install and manually specify the path to update.zip.

Common mistakes and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions accurately, you can have problems.-5 Errors in the Redmi Note firmware 5 and ways of correcting them:

If none of these methods helped, check:

• 🔌 Cable USB: Try the original cable from the kit (cheap cables may not transmit data).
• 🖥️ Port port USB: Ports on the front of the PC are often unstable – use the back.
• 🔋 Battery charge: if the battery is discharged below 30%, some firmware refuses to install.
• 🛠️ Drivers: Remove old Xiaomi drivers through Device Manager and install again.

💡

If your IMEI is missing or your network is not working, restore it via the engineering menu (#4636##) or the SN Write Tool (requires NVRAM backup!).

How to return the official firmware after custom

If you’ve experimented with LineageOS or other custom firmware, but want to go back to stock MIUI, follow this instruction. The main difference from regular firmware is to restore the original Recovery and lock the bootloader (optional).

Step 1: Download the full Fastboot firmware (not Recovery!) for your model from MIUI Download. The file should be in.tgz format.

Step 2: Unpack the archive and remove the recovery.img file (if any) from the folder, which will prevent the replacement of TWRP with stock Recovery in the first step.

Step 3: Flush the firmware through the Mi Flash Tool in Clean All mode (as in Method 1). Once completed, the phone will reboot to MIUI, but with TWRP instead of the standard Recovery.

Step 4: To return stock recovery:

1. Download the original recovery.img for your version of MIUI (see 4PDA).
2. Transfer the phone to Fastboot.
3. Follow the command:

fastboot flash recovery recovery.img


fastboot reboot

Step 5 (optional): If you want to block the bootloader, use the command:

fastboot oem lock

Warning: After the bootloader is blocked, custom firmware installation will become impossible without re-unblocking (and this takes up to 30 days!).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the Redmi Note firmware 5