How to change firmware on Xiaomi Redmi 7: official and custom methods

Replacing the firmware with Xiaomi Redmi 7 is a challenge that may seem difficult to beginners, but with the right approach becomes quite feasible even for users with minimal experience. This smartphone, released in 2019, is still popular due to its balanced characteristics: a Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 processor, 2-4 GB of RAM and a battery of 4000 mAh. However, over time, official updates from Xiaomi cease to arrive, and users face slowdowns, errors or simply a desire to install a more recent version of Android.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways Redmi 7 is running, from official updates via MIUI Updater to custom firmware installations like LineageOS or Pixel Experience. We’ll focus on unlocking the bootloader, a must-have for most unofficial firmware, and look at common bugs and solutions. If you’ve never flashed a smartphone before, don’t worry: we’ll explain each step in detail, including tool preparation and data backup.

Before you start, consider that any manipulation of the firmware will void the Xiaomi warranty (if it is still valid) and can lead to the device failure if you do not act correctly. However, if you follow the instructions, the risks are minimal, and the result is stable operation of the smartphone on the current software.

1. Firmware Preparation: What to Do Before Starting

The first and most important step is preparation, and neglecting this step often results in a device being "bricked" or data lost, starting with checking the current firmware and smartphone model.

To find out the MIUI version and the code name of your Redmi 7, go to Settings → About Phone. In the MIUI version, you will see the current firmware (e.g. MIUI Global 12.5.4 Stable), and in the Device Model, the exact name. For Redmi 7, the code name is onc (important for finding custom firmware!).

• 🔋 Battery charge: Make sure the battery is at least 60% full. The firmware can take up to 30 minutes and a sudden power outage will interrupt the process.
• 📱 Backup: Save all important data (photos, contacts, messages) to your computer or cloud. Use Mi Cloud or third-party applications like Titanium Backup (requires root).
• 🖥️ Tools: Prepare a Windows computer 10/11 (For the Mi Flash Tool), USB-cable (preferably original), and at least 4 GB of free space on the disk.
• 🔑 Unlocking the bootloader: If you plan to custom firmware, check the bootloader status with the command fastboot oem device-info. If Device unlocked: false, it needs to be unlocked (more about this below).

Also download the necessary files in advance:

• 📁 Official firmware: From en.miui.com (select the version for onc).
• 🛠️ Mi Flash Tool: Official Firmware Tool via fastboot (download here).
• 🔧 ADB and Fastboot: Google Utility for working with Android (link).
• 📱 TWRP Recovery: Castomic recavers for installation of unofficial firmware (download only for onc!).

⚠️ Note: Do not use firmware for other models (e.g. Redmi Note 7 or Redmi). 7A) — This is guaranteed to lead to a blink! The code name onc must match all downloaded files.

2. Method 1: Update via MIUI Updater (official method)

The easiest and most secure way to upgrade is through the built-in MIUI Updater app, which is suitable for installing stable or beta versions of MIUI, if available for your region.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click on the icon. ⋮ (three dots) in the upper right corner and select Select Service Package.
3. Specify the path to the downloaded firmware file (.zip format).
4. Confirm the installation and wait for the restart (it will take 5-15 minutes).

If the update is not automatically available, check:

• 🌍 Firmware region: Your current version must match the region of the downloaded file (e.g. Global, China, EEA).
• 🔄 Version. MIUI: You can’t downgrade the version via Updater – only through fastboot.
• 📶 Internet: You need stable Wi-Fi to download updates.

⚠️ Note: If after the update, the smartphone stuck on the logo MI, Wait 10-15 minutes. If the problem persists, reset via Recovery (Volume Up). + Power).

Method 3: Fastboot (Mi Flash Tool)

If you want to install the official firmware from scratch (for example, after a crash) or upgrade to another regional version, use the Mi Flash Tool. This method requires an unlocked bootloader and is suitable for restoring the device to health.

Step-by-step:

1. Install drivers: Download and install Mi USB Driver from Xiaomi’s official website.
2. Unpack the firmware: The firmware file for fastboot should be in.tgz or.zip format. Unpack it into a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\MIUI\onc).
3. Start Mi Flash Tool: Open the program on behalf of the administrator.
4. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode: 1. Turn off your smartphone. 2. Press Volume Down + Power before the appearance of the hare in the hat-eared (fastboot mode). 3. Connect USB-computer-wire.
5. Select firmware: In the Mi Flash Tool, click Select and specify the folder with the unpacked firmware.
6. Start firmware: Press Refresh (the device should appear), then select the firmware method: Clean all – complete cleaning (recommended when changing the region). Clean all and lock – cleaning + lock bootloader (only for official firmware!). Save user data – data storage (not always stable).

Wait for completion

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If the Mi Flash Tool doesn’t see the device, try running it in Windows 7 compatibility mode or disable driver signatures via the command line (bcdedit/set nointegritychecks on).

Method 3: Install custom firmware (TWRP + LineageOS)

Custom firmware such as LineageOS, Pixel Experience or Havoc OS allows you to get a clean Android without a MIUI shell, more recent versions of the OS and additional features.

• 🔓 Unlocked loader (see Section 5).
• 📱 Established custom recaveri TWRP.
• 📁 Compatible firmware for onc.

Instructions for installing LineageOS:

1. Download files: LineageOS firmware for onc from lineageos.org. Open GApps (if you need Google services) - select arm64 → 10.0 → pico.Magisk (optional, for root rights).

Go to TWRP.

1. Turn off the phone.


2.Press Volume Up + Power before the TWRP logo appears.

Make a backup.

Backup

Boot

System

Data

Clear the sections.

Wipe → Advanced Wipe

Dalvik, System, Data, Cache

Install the firmware

• Press Install and select the LineageOS file.
• After installation, repeat the step for GApps (if necessary).
• Install Magisk (optional).
• Reboot: Press Reboot → System. The first run can take up to 10 minutes.

⚠️ Note: Some custom firmware does not support VoLTE (calls on the Internet) 4G) Check the reviews on Redmi 7 before installing. XDA Developers.

5. Unlock the bootloader on Redmi 7

To install custom firmware or TWRP recovers, you need to unlock the bootloader. Xiaomi officially allows this, but the process requires waiting and a Mi Account account.

Steps to unlock:

1. Link your Mi Account: Go to Settings → Xiaomi account and log in. → Additionally. → For developers, activate OEM-unlocking and debugging USB.

Download the Mi Unlock Tool

en.miui.com/unlock

Connect your phone in Fastboot mode

Launch the Mi Unlock Tool

• Log in to the same Mi Account as on your phone.
• Connect the device - the program will determine it.
• Press Unlock.
• Wait. SMS-Code: The associated number will receive a confirmation message. Enter the code into the program.
• Wait 72-360 hours: Xiaomi blocks unlocking for 3-15 days for new accounts.
• Re-unlock: After the deadline, reconnect the phone and press Unlock. the bootloader will be unlocked.

Once unlocked, every time you turn on your phone, you'll see a warning, This device is unlocked. This is normal and doesn't affect your work.

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Unlocking the bootloader erases all data from the device! be sure to make a backup before starting the process.

Typical errors and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions, you can get errors, and let's look at the most common problems and how to fix them.

If none of these methods worked, try:

• 🔄 Return to official firmware via Mi Flash Tool with full cleanup.
• 📞 Contact the forum XDA — They often make patches for specific errors.
• 🛠️ Check the hardware: If the phone doesn’t respond to the firmware, there may be a memory or processor problem (requires diagnosis at the service center).

7.How to return the official firmware after custom

If custom firmware was unstable or you decided to return to MIUI, you can do it in two ways: via fastboot or TWRP.

Method 1: Mi Flash Tool (recommended)

1. Download the official firmware for onc in.tgz format.
2. Unpack it in a folder without spaces and Cyrillic.
3. Start the Mi Flash Tool and connect your phone in fastboot mode.
4. Select the firmware folder and press Refresh.
5. Select the Clean All method and start the firmware.

Method 2: TWRP (if fastboot is not available)

1. Download the official firmware in.zip format (not for fastboot!).
2. Rename the file to update.zip and put it on SD-map.
3. Download to TWRP and select Install.
4. Please specify the path to update.zip and confirm the installation.
5. After completion, run Wipe → Format Data (enter yes for confirmation).

⚠️ Note: When returning to the MIUI After custom firmware, Anti-Rollback can work, which is protection against rollbacks on older versions. Always use the latest official firmware for Redmi 7.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Redmi firmware 7