How to put hard firmware on Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner: a complete guide with risks and nuances

Installing custom (or “dumb”) firmware on a Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner is a way to unlock hidden features, remove regional restrictions, or improve device performance. However, this process comes with risks ranging from loss of warranty to full “bricking” of the device. In this article, we will discuss which models support alternative firmware, how to prepare for the procedure, and what to do if something goes wrong.

It’s important to understand that Xiaomi does not officially support the installation of third-party software, and any manipulation of the firmware can lead to the blocking of the Mi Home account or denial of service.However, enthusiasts have successfully run through models like the Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro, Viomi V3 or Dreame D9 – and we will tell you how to do it as safely as possible.

Before you start, answer two questions: why do you need custom firmware (increasing suction power, supporting Alice Yandex, removing Chinese servers?) and are you prepared for the possible consequences. If so, we're getting ready.

Which Xiaomi models support custom firmware?

Not all Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaners can be flashed with alternative software. Most instructions and ready-made firmware exist for the following series:

🤖 Mi Robot Vacuum (1st and 2nd generation, including Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro)
🧹 Viomi (series) V2, V3, SE — After the transition to the Xiaomi brand)
⚡ Dreame (D9, F9, D10 Plus – require unlocking the bootloader)
🔄 Roborock (models) S5, S6 — but with reservations, since firmware is often tied to specific board revisions)

Models from 2023 to 2026 (such as the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 3 or DreameBot X30 Ultra) are still poorly supported by custom firmware due to the updated iron and protection, and only modified stock firmware with minimal changes (such as remote regional restrictions) is available for them.

Before starting work, be sure to check the exact model and revision of your vacuum cleaner board, this can be done through the official Mi Home app (About the device section) or using the getprop ro.product.model command when connecting via ADB.

📊 What kind of vacuum cleaner Xiaomi you have?

Mi Robot Vacuum (1/2 gen)

Viomi V2/V3

Dreame D9/F9

Roborock S5/S6

Another model

Risks and Consequences of Installing Custom Firmware

Even if you follow the steps instructions, installing unofficial software can lead to:

🚨 Loss of warranty – Xiaomi easily determines the modified firmware by device logs.
🔌 Unstable operation – spontaneous reboots, navigation errors or sensor failure are possible.
🔒 Blocking your Mi Home account – if the vacuum cleaner is tied to a Chinese server, you may need to create a new account after the firmware is installed.
💥 «Bricking – if you interrupt the process or choose the wrong version of the firmware, the device may stop turning on.

It is especially dangerous to stitch models with Mediatek processors (for example, Viomi V3) - they have a closed bootloader, and recovering from a failed firmware requires a soldering iron and JTAG. Vacuum cleaners on Rockchip (for example, Dreame D9) forgive more mistakes, but also do not like experiments.

⚠️ Note: If your vacuum cleaner is purchased in China and is tied to cn servers, it may lose access to cloud functions (voice control, cleaning cards) after firmware is installed.

Model vacuum cleaner	Probability of successful firmware	Principal risks	Possibility of rollback to runoff
Mi Robot Vacuum 1S	Tall.	Loss of binding to Mi Home	Yes (via MiFlash)
Viomi V3	Medium	Lockdown of the bootloader	Partially (JTAG required)
Dreame D9	Tall.	Navigational errors	Yes (via Fastboot)
Roborock S6	Low.	Incompatibility with maps	Yes (but difficult)

Preparation for firmware: what to do in advance

Before you start installing custom firmware, follow the following steps:

Make a backup of the current firmware|Untie the vacuum cleaner from Mi Home|Charge the battery to 100%|Download the correct version of the firmware|Prepare. USB-OTG cable-->

1. Current firmware backup. Use the MiFlash utility or ADB, It's going to help you get it back if something goes wrong. ADB:

adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f backup.ab

2.Out of Mi Home.Go to the app, find your vacuum cleaner in the list of devices and remove it.If the device is tied to a Chinese server (cn), you may need to change the region of the account.

3. Check the firmware version. Find out the current version of the software in the vacuum cleaner menu or through the command:

adb shell getprop ro.build.version.incremental

This will help you choose a compatible custom firmware.

4. Battery charge. Make sure the vacuum cleaner is 100% charged. Interrupting the firmware process due to battery discharge is almost guaranteed to lead to a brick.

⚠️ Note: If your vacuum cleaner has previously been updated through OTA, It can be equipped with a secure bootloader, and Viomi and Dreame models will need to unlock it through an official tool (for example, Dreame Unlock Tool), which is distributed only in closed communities.

Step-by-step: how to sew a robot vacuum cleaner Xiaomi

The firmware process differs depending on the model, but the overall scheme looks like this:

Step 1: Unlock the bootloader (if required)

For most vacuum cleaners, the Xiaomi bootloader is locked to unlock it:

Download a utility for your model (for example, Mi Unlock Tool for Mi Robot or Dreame Unlock for Dreame).
Connect the vacuum cleaner to the PC via USB-OTG (usually the connector is hidden under the cover).
Run the utility and follow the instructions. Some models will require you to enter an unlock code that can be obtained through the official website (but not for all regions).

Step 2: Install custom recovery (TWRP)

Firmware through fastboot or ADB often requires custom recovery. For vacuum cleaners on Rockchip (for example, Dreame D9), a modified TWRP is suitable:

fastboot flash recovery twrp.img


fastboot reboot recovery

Step 3: Firmware via ADB or MiFlash

The method depends on the firmware:

📁 Through ADB (for firmware in.zip format):

adb sideload custom_rom.zip

🖥️ Through MiFlash (for firmware in.tgz format):

Unpack the archive, select the firmware folder in MiFlash, connect the vacuum cleaner in Fastboot mode (press the Home + Power button when you turn on) and press Flash.

Step 4: First setup after firmware

After successful installation:

Reset your settings to factory (Wipe Data in Recovery).
Connect to Wi-Fi and check the basic functions (navigation, suction, charging).
If the vacuum cleaner is not defined in Mi Home, try applications like Valetudo (for local area control).

💡

If the vacuum cleaner doesn't turn on after the firmware, try holding the power button for 10-15 seconds. If this doesn't help, you'll need firmware through TestPoint.

How to return the stock firmware if something went wrong

If custom firmware is unstable or you want to return the warranty, you can roll back to the original software.

Download the official firmware for your model from Xiaomi or forums like 4PDA. Pay attention to the version – it must match the original (check through ADB).
If the vacuum cleaner does not turn on, run it through the Fastboot:

fastboot flash all stock_firmware.tgz

For models with a locked bootloader (Viomi) V3) may be required EDL-mode (emergency firmware via Qualcomm) HS-USB QDLoader).

After returning to stock firmware, be sure to reset (Factory Reset), otherwise artifacts from custom software may remain.

⚠️ Note: If you have been using a Chinese firmware (CN) European (EU) Or vice versa, after a rollback, you may have problems with binding to the Mi Home, in which case only a complete re-registration of the device in the application will help.

Popular custom firmware for Xiaomi vacuum cleaners

Among enthusiasts, the following modified firmware are most in demand:

Name of firmware	Supported models	Main features	Reference to discussion
Valetudo	Mi Robot, Viomi, Roborock	Local management, removal of cloud binding, support for Home Assistant	GitHub
Dustcloud	Xiaomi 1S/2-series	Alternative server for management without Mi Home, Russification	Official website
OpenViomi	Viomi V2/V3	Unlocking the power of suction, custom cleaning cards	4PDA

Before installing any of these firmware, read forum reviews carefully - some builds may contain bugs (for example, incorrect laser operation in Viomi V3 after OpenViomi firmware).

What to do if the firmware is not suitable?

If the vacuum cleaner is not performing well after installing custom firmware (e.g., not building a map or constantly rebooting), you probably chose the wrong version. In this case: 1. Check the firmware compatibility with your board revision (e.g., Mi Robot Vacuum). 1S has several versions of the board: V1, V2). 2. Try flashing another build (for example, install Dustcloud instead of Valetudo). 3. If nothing helps, go back to stock firmware and look for alternative modifications (for example, through the use of a new model). ADB-team without a complete re-flashing).

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even with the exact following of the instructions, there can be problems.

🔴 Error "Invalid image format" when running through MiFlash:

Solution: Check that you downloaded the firmware for the right model. For example, the firmware for Mi Robot Vacuum 1S will not work for the Viomi V3, even if they look similar. Also make sure that the archive is unpacked correctly (without nested folders).

🔄 The vacuum cleaner is loaded in a cycle (bootloop):

Solution: Go to recovery (hold Home + Power when you turn on) and run Wipe Cache and Wipe Dalvik. If it doesn't work, re-sweeten.

📡 Wi-Fi or cloud management is not working:

Solution: Check if the network configuration files are deleted in custom firmware, sometimes manually adding a network through ADB helps:

adb shell svc wifi enable


adb shell svc wifi connect "Your SSID" "Your password"

🔋 The vacuum cleaner does not charge after firmware:

Solution: This could be due to incorrect power settings in the firmware. Try to return stock. charger_driver.ko (kernel module responsible for charging).

💡

If the vacuum cleaner has stopped responding to buttons or does not turn on at all, do not panic - in 90% of cases it can be restored through TestPoint (a point on the board for forced firmware), however, this will require soldering skills or help from a service center.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

❓ Can you flash the Xiaomi vacuum cleaner without unlocking the bootloader?

No, most models require unlocking, except for firmware that is installed on top of the stockware via ADB (like Valetudo for some versions of Roborock), but such firmware offers limited features.

❓ What functions does custom firmware give?

Depending on the build, but usually this: Removing regional restrictions (for example, increasing the suction power to 2500 Pa instead of 2000 Pa in the European version); Support for alternative voice assistants (Yandex Alice, Google Assistant); Local management without the Xiaomi cloud (important for privacy); Additional cleaning modes (for example, zigzag trajectory instead of chaotic).

❓ Can I use a vacuum cleaner through my phone?

Technically, yes, but it's extremely inconvenient. ADB need to ROOT on the phone and OTG-It's much easier to use a Windows or Linux PC.

❓ What to do if after the firmware vacuum cleaner does not see the base?

Problematic for firmware where the infrared port drivers have been changed. Solutions: Check if the IR port is closed (dust, mechanical damage). /system/etc/ir_remote.conf. Refresh the core module responsible for the IR (ir_driver.ko).

❓ Are custom firmware legal?

Legally, installing alternative software does not violate the law, but violates Xiaomi’s terms of service, which allows the company to block a device or account if it detects modifications, but in practice, such cases are rare – usually only when you contact a service center.