How to install a clean Android on a Xiaomi smartphone: unlock, firmware and setup

Why Xiaomi users want to switch to pure Android

Xiaomi smartphones have long earned the love of users for the combination of powerful hardware and affordable price. However, the brand shell MIUI is not everyone likes: aggressive advertising in system applications, duplicate services and overloaded interface force to look for alternatives. Pure Android (or custom firmware based on it) solves these problems by offering a “naked” system without unnecessary imposed functions.

But switching to a clean Android isn’t just about installing a new shell; it’s about completely reflashing the device, which requires unlocking the bootloader, selecting a compatible firmware, and following the instructions exactly. Mistakes at any stage can lead to a phone “brick.” In this article, we’ll look at all the official and unofficial ways to install a clean Android on Xiaomi in 2026, including nuances for popular models like the Redmi Note 12, POCO F5, and Xiaomi 13.

It’s important to understand that the process is different for different devices, for example, Pixel Experience firmware is often available for POCO (with an interface like the Google Pixel), and for Xiaomi flagships – projects like LineageOS or ArrowOS. We’ll look at universal steps, but before you start, make sure to check the compatibility of your model!

Preparation for firmware: what to do before the start

Before you start unlocking and firmware, make sure that all the preliminary steps are followed, and ignoring them can lead to data loss or the inability to restore the phone.

• 📱 Back up all your data: contacts, photos, messages. Use Mi Cloud or third-party services like Google Drive. Local copies on your PC are more reliable!
• 🔋 Charge the battery to at least 70%. The firmware can take up to an hour, and discharging in the process will interrupt the operation.
• 🖥️ Install drivers for your Xiaomi model on your PC. Download them from the official Xiaomi website or through the Mi Flash Tool.
• 🔓 Check the status of the bootloader. If it is already unlocked (for example, after previous manipulations), some steps can be skipped.

Pay special attention to the choice of cable for connecting to the PC. Cheap cables can interrupt data transfer, which is critical when you run a firmware, optimally use the original cable from Xiaomi or certified USB Type-C with support for fast transfer.

⚠️ Note: If your smartphone is purchased in China (market version) CN), Firmware of global or European firmware can cause modem problems (no network). → The phone. → Version. MIUI.

Backup on PC and cloud | Charge up to 70%+| Download firmware for your model | Install ADB and Fastboot on PC | Check if the bootloader is unlocked-->

Unlocking the bootloader: official and informal ways

The bootloader on all Xiaomi smartphones is locked by default, a security measure, but it also blocks custom firmware installation, and it can be unlocked in two ways:

1. The official method is through the Mi Unlock Tool. suitable for most models, but requires a Mi Account binding and waiting (usually 7-14 days).
2. Informal ways (for example, through exploits or paid services) faster, but riskier – you can run into scammers or get a “brick”.

We recommend the official path, despite the expectation, and here's the step-by-step instruction:

1. Download Mi Unlock Tool from the official website.
2. Log in to your Mi Account on your phone and in the tool on your PC.
3. Put the phone in Fastboot mode: turn it off, then press Volume down + Power.
4. Connect your phone to your PC and start the Mi Unlock Tool. Follow the instructions.

You can check the status in the same tool after you send the unlock request, and some models (such as the POCO X3 Pro) unlock faster in 3-5 days.

⚠️ Note: If you bought the phone with your hands, make sure the previous owner untie your Mi Account. Otherwise, unlocking will not be possible without his data.

Selection of firmware: AOSP, Pixel Experience, LineageOS and others

Once you unlock the bootloader, you have to choose the firmware. There are many options, but they all fall into two categories:

• 📱 Official ports (e.g. Pixel Experience or LineageOS) are stable, regularly updated, but may not support all phone features (e.g., Pixel Experience or LineageOS, NFC broadband LTE).
• 🛠️ Unofficial builds from enthusiasts. may offer unique features, but often contain bugs.A risky choice for the main phone.

For most users, the following options are optimal:

Before choosing, check:

1. Compatible with your model on a firmware site (e.g. Pixel Experience).
2. User reviews on forums (XDA Developers, 4PDA) Pay attention to bugs with a camera, network or sensors.
3. Last updated: Firmware older than 6 months may contain vulnerabilities.

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If you're a beginner, choose firmware marked Official or Stable. Avoid Beta or Nightly versions, which may contain critical bugs.

Installation of firmware through TWRP: step-by-step instructions

The most reliable way to flash pure Android is to use custom TWRP recavators, which allows you to install firmware, make backups and restore the system in the event of a failure.

Here is a generic algorithm (for a particular model, additional steps may be required):

1. Install. TWRP: fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.7.0_9-0-xxx.img fastboot boot twrp-3.7.0_9-0-xxx.img (Replace xxx with your model code).
2. In TWRP, run Wipe → Advanced Wipe and mark Dalvik / ART Cache, System, Data, Cache. Don't touch Internal Storage!
3. Transfer the downloaded firmware (.zip file) to your phone via MTP (in TWRP: Mount → Enable MTP).
4. Install firmware via Install → Select file → Swipe to Confirm Flash.
5. After installation, run Wipe Cache/Dalvik and restart.

The first run can take 10-15 minutes, and if the system does not load for more than 20 minutes, then something went wrong (possibly incompatible firmware or a wipe error).

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro) require additional firmware and vendor flashing after firmware. MIUI, Otherwise, mobile data or Wi-Fi will not work. XDA Developers.

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Always check the hash amount (MD5) of the downloaded firmware, which will protect against corrupted files that can lead to a "brick".

Solving typical problems after firmware

Even if the firmware is successful, there may be problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

• 📶 No mobile network: Make sure the firmware supports your region. Try manually selecting the operator in Settings → Mobile network → Network operators. If it doesn't work, run modem from the MIUI.
• 🔋 Fast battery drain: After firmware, Android re-indexes files and optimizes applications. Wait for 2-3 charging cycles. If the problem persists, check the background processes in Settings → Battery.
• 🎧 Speakers or microphones not working: Usually associated with the wrong drivers. Try flashing another firmware version or kernel).
• 📷 Camera issues: Install Google Camera (GCam) with settings for your model.The original camera app from Xiaomi won't work.

If after firmware the phone does not turn on or hovers on the logo:

1. Try going to TWRP (Loudness Up + Power) and repeat the installation.
2. If TWRP is not available, go back to Fastboot and run the official MIUI through the Mi Flash Tool (Clean All option).

Optimizing pure Android on Xiaomi: tips for setting up

Pure Android requires customization after installation. Here's what to do first:

• ⚙️ Set up gestures: In Settings → System system → Select a handy scheme (for example, swipe up to return to the home screen).
• 🔒 Disable unnecessary permissions: Check apps in Settings → Annexes → Permits. Many people ask for geolocation or microphone access for no reason.
• 📲 Install an alternative launcher: For example, Nova Launcher or Lawnchair for additional customization.
• 🔋 Activate the energy saving mode: C Settings → Battery. → Select Energy Saving Mode Optimized or Adaptive.

To improve productivity:

1. Turn off animations: in Settings → About Phone → Build Number (click 7 times), then go back to Settings → System → For Developers and set the Windows Animation Scale, Transition Animation Scale and Animator Duration Scale at 0.5x or Off.
2. Limit background processes: in the same settings for developers, select Process Limitation → Process Maximum 2.

If you lack MIUI features (like built-in ad blocker or advanced camera settings), install similar apps from Google Play:

• Blokada is a DNS-level ad blocker.
• Open Camera is an alternative to the standard camera with manual settings.
• MacroDroid is task automation (similar to automation in MIUI).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions