How to completely update Xiaomi: from version check to manual firmware

Updating the firmware on Xiaomi devices isn’t just about installing the latest security patches; a full update may include upgrading to a new version. MIUI Or even changing the operating system to HyperOS (for supported models), but how to do it right to avoid errors, data loss or turning your smartphone into a brick and mortar"?

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways of updating - from the standard to the standard. OTA You'll learn how to prepare your device, where to download official firmware files, and what to do if the update is stuck, and you'll learn unique features for devices with a locked bootloader and updates on HyperOS.

Important: Update procedure may vary depending on the model (Redmi Note 12, Poco) X5, Mi 13 et al., versions MIUI If your device is released before 2020, check the support for the new firmware on the official Xiaomi website.

1. Preparation of the device for updating

Before you start updating, you need to follow a few critical steps, neglecting them can lead to data loss, malfunctions or even a device “brick”.

First, check the current version. MIUI. To do this, go to the Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI. Take a note of this information or take a picture of it, and you'll need it to choose the right firmware, for example, if you have it installed. MIUI 14.0.5 Global, and version 14.0.8 is available, can be updated via OTA. But if you want to move on with MIUI 13 on HyperOS, will require full firmware.

Second, back up. Update via Recovery or Fastboot can erase all data. Use the built-in Backup app or third-party solutions like Titanium Backup.

• 📱 Contacts (export to Google Account or VCF-file)
• 📸 Photos and videos (copy to PC or cloud)
• 🔑 Wi-Fi passwords (save the list of networks)
• 🎮 Game Save (use cloud services or Helium)

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi device has an unlocked bootloader, after updating through Fastboot, Anti-Rollback protection may work.This means that rolling back to the old version of the firmware will not be possible without the risk of turning the phone into a brick".

Also make sure that:

• 🔋 Battery charge of at least 60% (better than 100%)
• 🌐 Wi-Fi connection is stable (for the OTA-update)
• 🖥️ On the PC installed drivers Mi Flash Tool (for manual firmware)
• 🔗 Cable USB Original or high quality (cheap cables may interrupt data transmission)

Method 1: Air Update (OTA)

The easiest and safest method is to upgrade by air (Over-The-Air, OTA). It's suitable for most users and doesn't require any special skills, but it has limitations:

• 📶 Requires a stable Internet connection
• 🔄 Updates only to the next available version (you can’t miss the version)
• ⏳ It may be delayed for several weeks in some regions.

To check for updates:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Slip on the item System Update (or MIUI version on older models).
3. Click Check for updates.
4. If the update is available, click Download (required) ~1-3 GB of free space).
5. After downloading, select Install Now or Install Later.

If the update doesn’t come automatically, you can try the forced search:

• 🔄 Restart the device and repeat the check.
• 🌍 Check that the region of the device matches your firmware (e.g. Global, EEA, You can change the region through Settings → Additionally. → Region.
• 📡 Connect to another Wi-Fi network or use mobile internet.

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi device was purchased in China and runs on China Stable firmware, updates OTA For the global version (Global) you may not be coming.

💡

OTA-Updates save all data and settings, but do not allow you to skip the version MIUI. For example, 13.0.5 cannot be upgraded to 14.0.8 at once, only in stages.

Method 2: Manual update via Recovery

If OTA-Update is not available or you want to install a specific version of the firmware, you can use Recovery mode. This method is suitable for devices with a locked bootloader and does not require unlocking.

This will require:

1. Download the official service package (file with.zip extension) from the site MIUI Choose a version that matches your model and region (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Global).
2. Transfer the file to the root directory of the device’s internal memory (not to folders!).
3. Reboot to Recovery Mode: 1. Turn off the device. 2. Press the power button. + Loudness up before the appearance of the Mi logo. 3. In the Recovery menu, select the language (usually English). 4. Go to Install. update.zip to System.
4. Select the downloaded file and confirm the installation.

The update process will take 5-15 When you're done, the device automatically restarts. If the update is interrupted, repeat the procedure or try another method.

Download the correct version of the firmware (.zip)|Check file integrity (MD5)|Transfer the file to the root of the memory|Charge the phone. ≥70%|Prepare a spare cable USB-->

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Does not require unlocking the loader
• ✅ Stores user data (but backups are recommended!)
• ✅ Suitable for anti-rollback devices

Disadvantages:

• ❌ You can't downgrade the story. MIUI
• ❌ It does not work if the system is damaged (Fastboot is needed)

Method 3: Full Fastboot Firmware (for power users)

If your device is not updated through OTA or Recovery, or you want to reflash it completely (for example, change the firmware region or install HyperOS), you will need to use Fastboot mode:

• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (if not unlocked – see Section 5)
• 💻 Computer with Mi Flash Tool drivers installed
• 📦 Official Fastboot Firmware Package (.tgz or.zip file)

Step-by-step:

1. Download the Fastboot firmware for your model. Poco, for example. F5 It could be a file. toco_global_images_....tgz.
2. Unpack the archive in a folder on your computer (the way without Cyrillic!).
3. Install the Mi Flash Tool and drivers for your device.
4. Put your phone in Fastboot mode: 1. Turn off the device. 2. Press the power. + Loudness down to the appearance of the screensaver with a rabbit in a hat (Fastboot mode).
5. Connect your phone to your PC via USB.
6. In the Mi Flash Tool, select the folder with the unpacked firmware and press Refresh. The device must be determined.
7. Select firmware mode: Clean all - clean all and lock - clean all + bootloader lock (not recommended) Save user data - data retention (not always stable)

Flash

⚠️ Note: Fastboot firmware with Clean all and lock option may cause the bootloader to be permanently blocked on some models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro and later).This means that in the future you will not be able to unlock the bootloader to install custom firmware.

5 Unlocking the bootloader for firmware through Fastboot

If your Xiaomi device has a locked bootloader, you need to unlock it before you run through Fastboot.This process is officially supported by Xiaomi, but has a number of limitations:

• 🔗 Requires linking your Mi Account to your device.
• ⏳ Waiting to unlock can take up to 720 hours (30 days) for new accounts.
• 📱 Some models (e.g. Mi 11 Ultra, Redmi) K50) have additional protections.

Instructions for unlocking:

1. Link your Mi Account to your device in Settings → Xiaomi Account.
2. Turn on the debugging. USB and Unlocking OEM: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Tap 7 times to turn on the developer mode → Additionally. → For developers → Unlocking OEM (insert)
3. Download and install the Mi Unlock Tool.
4. Move your phone to Fastboot mode (as in Section 4).
5. Connect the device to your PC and start the Mi Unlock Tool.
6. Sign in to your Mi Account and follow the instructions. If you receive a waiting message, wait for the specified time.

Once you unlock successfully, you can flash the device through the Fastboot, but remember:

• 🔒 Unlocking resets the device to factory settings.
• 🛡️ Some banking applications (for example, Sberbank Online) may stop working due to the SafetyNet trigger.
• 📉 Xiaomi’s warranty on unlocked devices does not apply.

1. Use another PC with Windows 10/11 (Windows 7 frequently).

2. disable the antivirus and firewall.

3. Connect to the Internet via another IP (For example, through the mobile Internet).

4. Repeat the attempt after 24 hours (sometimes re-assigning the account helps).-->

6. Update to HyperOS: features and pitfalls

At the end of 2023, Xiaomi began the transition from MIUI It's based on Android 14 and offers improved performance, new design and optimization for IoT devices:

First, not all devices will get HyperOS. At the time of writing (2026), support is confirmed for the following series:

• 📱 Xiaomi 13/13 Pro/13 Ultra/14
• 📱 Redmi K60/K60 Pro/K60 Ultra
• 📱 Poco F5/F5 Pro
• 📱 Redmi Note 12 Turbo/12 Pro+

The full list of supported models can be checked on the official HyperOS website.

Second, an update to HyperOS may not be available through OTA for devices on older versions MIUI. In this case, you will need to manually firmware through Fastboot or Recovery:

• 🔄 HyperOS does not support rollbacks to MIUI blitz-free.
• 🔋 The first update can take up to 30 minutes (don’t interrupt the process!).
• 📦 Some applications (for example, topics for MIUI) may not work.

If you decide to upgrade to HyperOS, follow the instructions:

1. Make sure your model is on the supported list.
2. Download HyperOS firmware for your model from the official website (choose the Stable version, not Beta).
3. For devices with a locked bootloader, use Recovery, for unlocked ones - Fastboot.
4. After the update, reset the settings (Settings) → Resetting settings to avoid conflicts.

💡

HyperOS is not just a new version. MIUI, Update to it is irreversible for most devices. Before you switch, make sure that all critical applications (banking, instant messengers) are compatible with Android 14.

7 What to do if the update has stalled or occurred with an error

Even if all the instructions are followed, the update may not go according to plan.

1.The device got stuck on the Mi or HyperOS logo after the update

• 🔄 Wait. 15-20 Minutes – the first switch on after the update can be long.
• 🔋 Make sure the battery is charged (plug in the charge and wait 10 minutes).
• 🛠️ If the freeze lasts more than 30 minutes, try to go to Recovery (Food). + Volume up) and perform Wipe data (reset settings).

2.Couldn't verify update error when installed via Recovery

• 📁 Check the integrity of the downloaded file (compare hash) MD5 formal).
• 🔄 Rename the file to update.zip and try again.
• 📥 Download the firmware again - the file could have downloaded with errors.

3. Mi Flash Tool is an error "flash_all.bat failed"

• 🖥️ Start the Mi Flash Tool on behalf of the administrator.
• 📂 Make sure that the path to the firmware folder does not contain Cyrillic or spaces.
• 🔌 Try another one. USB-port.
• 🛠️ If the error is related to anti_rollback, You will need to flash a newer version of the firmware (rollback is impossible).

4. After the upgrade, the mobile network or Wi-Fi does not work

• 📶 Check that the firmware is relevant to your region (e.g. Global vs China).
• 🔄 Reset network settings to Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.
• 📡 If you have a Wi-Fi problem, try connecting to a 2.4 GHz network (5 GHz may not work on some firmware).

⚠️ Note: If the device does not turn on at all after a failed update (black screen, no button response), do not try to flash it again without diagnosis. In some cases (for example, damage to the boot partition) you will need to use the device. EDL-Emergency Download Mode, which requires an authorized Xiaomi account or a service center.

8. How to verify the success of the upgrade and optimize the operation of the device

After the update, it is recommended to follow several steps to ensure that the installation is correct and improve performance:

1. Verification of firmware version

Go to Settings. → About the phone and make sure the version matches the set. For example, if you've been flashing HyperOS 1.0.5.0, that's what you should display in the settings.

Diagnostics of basic functionality

• 📞 Check the work of calls and mobile Internet.
• 🌐 Make sure that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are connected without errors.
• 🔊 Test the speakers, microphone and vibration.
• 📷 Take a test photo on the main and front cameras.

3. Optimization after the update

• 🧹 Clear the app cache in Settings → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔄 Reboot your device (sometimes helps stabilize your work).
• 📉 Turn off unnecessary background processes in Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery.
• 🔒 If you are using HyperOS, configure new privacy features in Settings → Confidentiality.

4. Data recovery after resetting

If you were running Clean all in the Mi Flash Tool, restore the data from the backup.

1. Transfer backup files to the device.
2. Open the Backup app and select Restore.
3. Specify files for recovery (contacts, messages, notes, etc.).
4. Restart the device after completion.

AdGuard or Blokada instead of ad blocker.

Hex Installer or Substratum for themes (root required).

- QuickShortcutMaker to access hidden settings.-->

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi update