How to put the old version of firmware on Xiaomi: step-by-step rollback of the system

Many users of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones face a situation where, after an automatic update to the MIUI operating system or a new HyperOS, the device begins to work unstable, the battery runs out faster, random reboots appear, and the interface becomes less responsive, in which case the only effective solution is to return to the previous, more stable build of the operating system.

The rollback process is not a standard feature available through the usual settings menu and requires deeper intervention in the phone’s file structure. The device bootloader blocks older versions of the system from being installed by default for security reasons, so the standard “over the air” update method won’t work here. You will need to perform a number of preliminary actions, including obtaining special access rights and preparing firmware files.

Before taking action, you need to be aware of the risks. Any interference with the software of a smartphone carries the potential threat of data loss or, in rare cases, the device turning into a brick. However, with strict adherence to the algorithm of actions and using proven sources of firmware, the probability of success is almost 100%. Below we will discuss in detail all the stages of preparation and the installation of the archival version.

Risk analysis and preparation of the device for rollback

The first step is to critically assess the need for a rollback. Often, performance problems are solved by simply resetting the settings to factory settings without changing the software version. If you are sure that a particular system assembly contains errors, then only then does it make sense to start a downgrade procedure. Remember that the rollback process always involves completely erasing all user data.

⚠️ Note: Installing an older firmware version on top of a new one is impossible without completely cleaning up your memory. All your photos, contacts, correspondence and installed applications will be irretrievably deleted during partition formatting.

To perform the operation successfully, you will need a stable Internet connection and a computer with the Windows operating system. It is also critical to charge the smartphone battery to a minimum of 60-70%. Interrupting the process of writing data to flash memory due to battery discharge can damage the system partitions, which will require hardware repairs.

Make sure to back up your important data. You can use Google or Mi Cloud cloud services, and you can also use local copying to your computer. Once you've done all the work, the phone will look like you just pulled it out of the box.

Unlocking the loader: a mandatory stage

A key obstacle to installing old firmware is the blocked Bootloader, a security mechanism that checks the digital signature of the software being downloaded and prevents installing versions with a lower number than the current one. Without an unlocked bootloader, the system will simply refuse to start the installer of the old version.

The unlocking procedure requires you to submit an application through the official Xiaomi website and use the Mi Unlock Tool utility on your computer. Once you link your account to your device, you will have to wait 7 to 168 hours (depending on the region and status of the account) before the server allows you to unlock, which is the time necessary to confirm that the device is not stolen.

It is important to understand that once the bootloader is unlocked, some security features will be limited, such as banking applications may stop working over NFC or require additional manipulation to hide the fact of unlocking, and a warning will appear on the boot screen that the system is not protected, which can be removed, but it signals a changed state of the device.

• 📱 Download and install the official Mi Unlock program on PC.
• 🔗 In the phone settings, enable Advanced Settings and link your Mi Account.
• ⏳ Apply for unlock and wait for the waiting timer to expire.
• 🔓 Transfer the phone to Fastboot mode (pressing the power and volume button down) and connect to the PC to complete unlocking.

Finding and Choosing the Right Archival Firmware

Finding the right version of software is a very careful task, and you need to download the version that was released before your current version, and firmware is divided into two main types: closed bootloader (Recovery) and open boot (Fastboot). Since we have already unlocked the bootloader, we are both types, but the method of installing through Recovery is easier for beginners.

Firmware files have the.zip extension for Recovery and.tgz for Fastboot. For manual rollback through the recovery menu, we will need an.zip archive. It is important to download the full firmware version (weighing about 3-5 GB), rather than an “over the air” update (about 200-500 MB), as it does not contain all the system files necessary for a clean installation.

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Always check the firmware region. Global (Global) should be installed on global, Chinese (CN) should be installed on Chinese. Attempting to change a region (for example, from China to Global) through Recovery can lead to verification errors.

Sources for downloading should be proven resources, such as the official MIUI forum, XiaomiFirmware portal or authorized mirrors. Using files from random file sharing sites can lead to infection of the device with malicious code or installing a modified build with unstable operation.

Instructions: Install the old version through Recovery

This method is considered the safest for users who have already unlocked the bootloader, but do not want to mess with complex tools on the PC. The entire operation takes place directly on the smartphone screen. First copy the downloaded firmware file.zip to the root of the phone's internal memory.

Then you go to recovery mode. To do this, turn off your smartphone and press the power button and the volume button at the same time. When the Mi logo appears, release the power button, keep the volume up, and you will be taken to the main Recovery menu, where you control the volume buttons and choose the power button.

From the Recovery menu, select the language (usually Chinese and English available), then go to "Wipe Data" and confirm the reset. Then go back to the main menu and select "Install." Find your firmware file in the list and confirm the installation. The system will warn you about the loss of data - agree.

⚠️ Note: If after selecting a file you see a message "Can't verify update" or "Current version is newer than the selected one", this means that the system blocks the rollback.

The installation process can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. The progress bar will be displayed on the screen. Under no circumstances attempt to restart the phone or press any buttons during this process. Once completed, the phone will automatically restart and the initial system setup will begin.

Alternative method: firmware via Fastboot and MiFlash

If the Recovery method didn’t work or you want to ensure that all partitions of the disk, including hidden ones, are cleaned, use the MiFlash Tool on your computer. This method requires downloading the firmware in.tgz format, which you need to unpack into the root folder of the disk (for example, C:\rom).

Launch MiFlash on behalf of the administrator, press the "Select" button and specify the folder with the unpacked firmware. Put the phone in Fastboot mode and connect it to the PC with a cable. The program should display the device. Select Cleanup mode "Clean all" in the bottom corner of the window.

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Pressing the Flash button will trigger the flashing process, at which point the phone can reboot several times, the screen can go out and turn on — this is normal behavior. The program will gradually record the boot, system, vendor, etc. The green bar and the status of "Success" signal the successful completion.

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Fastboot is a clean installation that completely ignores the current state of the system and writes all partitions anew, eliminating file conflicts and residual debris from previous versions.

Frequent mistakes and ways to solve them

In the rollback process, users often face typical problems, one of the most common is a verification error when trying to install global firmware on a device with a Chinese bootloader or vice versa. In such cases, the security system blocks the installation, the solution is to find firmware in the same region that was originally installed, or use special scripts to change the region (which requires advanced skills).

Another problem is the bootloop, where the phone is constantly hanging on the logo. This can happen if the firmware file was corrupted during download or if you tried to install a version for another model. Check the integrity of the archive and the exact match of the model (for example, the Redmi Note 10 Pro and Redmi Note 10 Pro Max are different devices with different firmware).

• ❌ Mistake 4: Wrong path to files or no administrator rights in MiFlash.
• ❌ Mistake. 7: Conflict of loader versions (anti)-rollback), When it is forbidden to put a version below a certain.
• ❌ Logo getting stuck: Reflashing with full cleaning required (Clean All).

Also worth mentioning is Anti-rollback protection. Some modern Xiaomi models have hardware backlash protection for very old versions that contain security vulnerabilities. If you try to install firmware below the minimum acceptable level, the phone can lock permanently. Always check the developer forum for your particular model before you start acting.