Weekly firmware on Xiaomi: how to install without errors

Weekly firmware from Xiaomi is a special test build MIUI, They come out every week for enthusiasts and developers, and they contain the latest features, bug fixes and optimizations, but they can be less stable than official releases. If you want to try out new products before everyone else or help test software, this guide will help you install such firmware correctly on your Xiaomi, Redmi or other devices. POCO.

It is important to understand that the process differs from the standard update through Settings. → The phone. → System update: You'll need to unlock the bootloader, use custom recovery, and manually flash files. We will discuss all the steps from the device preparation to the final setup, and also tell you how to avoid typical errors such as brick (turning your phone into a brick) or data loss.

This article is relevant for most Xiaomi models on Qualcomm and Mediatek chipsets released after 2018.If your device is older or runs on Spreadtrum, the process may be different - check out the details on the forums 4PDA or XDA Developers.

1.What is a weekly firmware and why you need it

Weekly Firmware (English Weekly) ROM) — These are intermediate assemblies MIUI, Xiaomi distributes to beta testers and developers, and they don't get fully tested, so they may contain bugs, but they do include them:

• 🔄 New features 1-3 months before the official release (for example, updated notification center or navigation gestures).
• 🐞 Fix critical errors that have not yet been included in the stable version.
• 📱 Optimizations for specific models (e.g., improved camera management on Xiaomi 13 Ultra).
• 🔧 Support for custom cores and mods (if you plan to further customize).

Who's gonna use a firmware like that?

• 👨‍💻 Developers testing compatibility of applications with new versions MIUI.
• 📱 Enthusiasts who want to know all the new products.
• 🔧 Modders who create custom firmware based on official assemblies.

Who doesn’t want to install a weekly firmware?

• 📵 Users for whom the smartphone is the main working tool (the risk of bugs and instability).
• 🎮 Gamers, if there are performance problems in games in the build.
• 📸 Those who actively use the camera - in the test versions may be artifacts in the photo.

⚠️ Note: Weekly Firmware is not supported OTA-Updates (automatic updates over the air) will have to be installed manually each new version.

Preparation of the device: unlocking the loader

The first and most important step is to unlock the bootloader, which is impossible to install weekly firmware without it. Xiaomi locks the bootloader on all devices to protect against unauthorized changes, so the procedure requires official permission.

What you need:

• 📱 Xiaomi smartphone with a battery charge of at least 60%.
• 💻 Windows computer (or Linux/macOS virtual-machine).
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (preferably original).
• 🔑 Mi Account Linked to the Device.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers and activate: Debugging by USB Unlocking OEM (It may be called a factory unlock)

Mi Unlock Tool

Xiaomi

Fastboot

Loudness down + Nutrition

Mi Unlock Tool

Mi Account

⚠️ Warning: Once the bootloader is unlocked, all data on the phone will be erased. Backup through Settings → Additionally. → Backup or Mi Cloud backup.

If the Mi Unlock Tool is a Cann't unlock error or Current account is different from the account info on the device, check:

• 🔹 Is Mi Account Linked to Phone (Settings) → Mi Account).
• 🔹 Is there any restriction on your account (for example, if it is new or suspicious).
• 🔹 Is the phone connected to the Internet via a mobile network or Wi-Fi during unlocking.

3. Choosing the Right Version of the Firmware

Weekly firmware comes in two types:

1. China Weekly is a Chinese build with Xiaomi branded services (e.g. Mi Pay, Mi Video) suitable for devices originally sold in China.
2. Global/EEA Weekly - international versions without Chinese apps but with Google Services support.

How do you know which firmware is right for your device?

1. Check the current version MIUI In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI. If there is at the end CN — You have Chinese firmware, if Global/EEA/RU — international.
2. Download the firmware from the official website: 🌐 Official portal MIUI (Choose the Weekly section). 🔗 Xiaomi Firmware Updater (alternative source with archived versions).

Do not install China Weekly on devices with international firmware (Global/EEA) — This will cause problems with Google Services and region-dependent features (e.g. Google Pay will stop working).

The firmware file usually has a name of the type:

fw_redmi_k50i_miui_REDMIK50I_23.4.12_1234567890_13.0.zip

Where:

• redmi_k50i — model-name.
• 23.4.12 – Assembly date (12 April 2023).
• 13.0 is the Android version.

💡

To find out the code name of your model, install the application. CPU-Z From Google Play and check the Device field in the Device tab.

4. Installation of firmware through TWRP or Fastboot

There are two main ways to install a weekly firmware:

1. Through TWRP (custom recovery) – suitable for experienced users, allows you to make backups and install modified firmware.
2. Through Fastboot, the official method from Xiaomi, requires a PC and command line.

We'll look at both options.

Method 1: Installation via TWRP

If you have already been established TWRP, follow the instructions:

Download the firmware (.zip) on your phone|Download TWRP for your model|Make a backup of the current firmware|Check the battery charge (minimum) 70%)|Disable screen lock (PIN/password)

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1. Download the firmware (.zip) and place it in the root folder of the phone.
2. Reboot to TWRP (turn off the phone, then press Volume up + Power).
3. V TWRP Choose the Wipe → Advanced Wipe and mark: Dalvik / ART Cache System Data (if you switch from another version) MIUI) Cache

Install

Reboot System

The first start can take 10-15 minutes – don’t interrupt the process!

Method 2: Installation via Fastboot

This method requires a Windows PC and the official Mi Flash Tool.

1. Download Fastboot firmware (.tgz or.zip file) from the official website.
2. Unpack the archive in a folder on the disk C:\ (for example, C:\miui_weekly).
3. Download and install the Mi Flash Tool.
4. Turn the phone into Fastboot mode (turn it off, then press Volume Down + Power).
5. Connect your phone to your PC and start the Mi Flash Tool.
6. In the program, click Select, specify the folder with the unpacked firmware, then select Clean all (full cleaning) or Clean all and lock (clean + lock the bootloader).
7. Press Flash and wait until it is completed (usually 5-10 minutes).
8. Fingerprint/Face setting: In weekly firmware, biometrics may not work well – if the fingerprint scanner doesn’t recognize the finger, restart the phone.

After setting up, check:

• 📶 Mobile network and Wi-Fi.
• 🔊 Sound (speakers and microphone).
• 📷 Camera (take a test shot).
• 🔋 Charging (connect the charger).

If something doesn’t work, try:

1. Reboot the phone.
2. Reset network settings in Settings → Connections → Resetting network settings.
3. Reinstall the firmware (possibly the file was corrupted during download).

6. Update of weekly firmware

Every week, a new firmware version comes out, to update:

Method 1: Through TWRP (recommended)

1. Download the new.zip file firmware.
2. Reboot to TWRP.
3. Select Install and specify the path to the file.
4. Wipe Dalvik / ART Cache and Cache (Do not touch Data unless you want to lose data!).
5. Reboot.

Method 2: Through built-in update (not always working)

Sometimes, weekly firmware supports local updates:

1. Place the firmware file in the folder downloaded_rom root-directory.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
3. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Select the firmware file.
4. Specify the downloaded file and confirm the installation.

⚠️ Note: If after the update the phone is stuck on the logo MIUI longer than 15 minutes, force it to restart (clip the power supply) + Volume down for 10 seconds) and repeat setting.

7.Typical errors and their solutions

When installing weekly firmware, users often face problems.

If your problem is not described above, check:

• 🔹 The error logs in TWRP (they remain in /sdcard/TWRP/Logs).
• 🔹 Forum discussions: 4PDA (Russian-speaking community). XDA Developers (English-language forum).

FAQ: Frequent questions