Many smartphone owners face situations where the software of the device stops working correctly, or there is an urgent need to change the firmware region. Standard methods of updating through the settings menu are often useless if the system is damaged or locked, in these cases, firmware through the computer comes to the rescue, which allows you to restore the functionality of the gadget even from the state of the “brick”.
The PC flashing process gives users full control over Xiaomi’s operating system, allowing them to install custom versions of Android or return to factory settings. It’s not just an update, but a deep rewriting of system partitions that requires carefulness and accurate follow-up. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at all the steps in preparing and conducting the procedure to minimize risks and ensure successful results.
Before you start taking action, you need to be clear that there are always risks involved in interfering with the software code of a device. Incorrectly selected software version or interruption of communication during data recording can lead to the device inoperability. However, with reliable information and safety, you can independently perform this complex technical operation.
Workplace preparation and necessary tools
Quality training is the foundation of successful firmware reflashing, which should not be ignored under any circumstances. You will need a working computer or laptop running the Windows operating system, since the main tools of developers are sharpened for this platform. It is also critical to have quality USB-cable, preferably original, which is capable of transmitting large amounts of data at high speed without loss.
The smartphone should be charged at least 60% before the procedure, and ideally 100%. A sharp power outage during the recording of system files is fatal for the device, so it is better not to risk and connect the gadget to the power source, if the design of the cable and port allows it.
⚠️ Attention: Use of damaged or too long USB-cables are the most common cause of firmware failure. The cable should be short and whole, without inflections.
You will need a stable Internet connection to download the current versions of the drivers and the firmware files themselves. Free up space on your computer’s hard drive in advance, as archives with system files can take up from 3 to 6 gigabytes depending on the model.
☑️ Firmware preparation
Unlocking the Bootloader bootloader
Xiaomi’s official policy is to have a locked bootloader on all devices leaving the factory, which prevents users from making changes to system partitions or installing third-party software, so the first and mandatory step is to obtain permission from the manufacturer to unlock.
First, you need to link your Mi Account to your device in the settings menu, then apply for unlocking through the official Mi Unlock Tool app. The wait process can take anywhere from 7 to 30 days, during which the company checks your device for theft and other violations.
Once you receive the permission notification, you need to log back into the developer menu and activate the Factory Unlock function, and then, by connecting your Fastboot phone to your computer, you can start the unlock utility and remove the restrictions.
Why is Xiaomi blocking the bootloader?
It is important to understand that unlocking the bootloader automatically results in a complete reset of all data on the device, the system warns you about this several times, and going back without losing files will be impossible (NFC, Google Pay may require additional manipulation to work.
Selecting and downloading the right firmware
There are several types of firmware for Xiaomi devices, and choosing the right one is a critical step: Global versions (Global) are designed for the international market, have built-in Google services and support for many languages, including Russian. Chinese versions (China) often come out earlier, but may not have Russian and contain Chinese software.
Also firmware is divided by installation method: Recovery and Fastboot. For firmware through the computer, we need a Fastboot version, which has an extension of the.tgz archive, not.zip. Inside this archive contains a launch script and all the necessary images of system partitions.
| Type of firmware | File extension | Method of installation | Data retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recovery | .zip | Through the update menu | Maybe. |
| Fastboot | .tgz | Through PC (MiFlash) | No (full reset) |
| Recovery (EU) | .zip | Through TWRP | Maybe. |
| Fastboot (China) | .tgz | Through PC (MiFlash) | No (full reset) |
You should only download files from trusted sources, such as the official website miui.com or authoritative resources like XiaomiFirmwareUpdater. The use of modified firmware from unknown authors can lead to leakage of personal data or unstable operation of communication modules.
Installation of drivers and utilities MiFlash
The computer must not see the phone as a drive, but as a debugging device, and this requires the installation of the ADB and Fastboot driver packages, as well as specific drivers for Qualcomm or MediaTek, depending on the processor of your smartphone, without these components, the Windows operating system will not be able to properly interact with the phone in bootloader mode.
The main tool for the firmware is the official Xiaomi Mi Flash Tool. It is free and distributed by the manufacturer. After installing the program and drivers, it is recommended to restart the computer so that all changes in the registry take effect.
When you connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clamping the volume button when turned on), a new device called Android Bootloader Interface should appear in Windows Device Manager. If you display Unknown Device or QDLoader instead, the drivers are installed incorrectly and the procedure cannot continue.
⚠️ Note: Install drivers on behalf of the administrator. If Windows blocks driver installation due to lack of digital signature, you will have to temporarily disable driver signature verification when booting the system.
After successful installation of all components, create a folder on the root disk (for example, C:\mi_flash) And you can unpack the downloaded firmware archive, and the path to the files should not contain Cyrillic or space, or the firmware script might not start.
The process of firmware smartphone through PC
Once you've completed all the preparatory steps, you can go to the immediate flashing process. Run miflash.exe on behalf of the administrator. Press Refresh, and your device with its unique identifier should appear on the list. If the device doesn't show up, check the cable and drivers.
Then click the Select button and point the path to the folder with the unpacked firmware. The program will automatically check the integrity of the files. At the bottom of the window you will see three firmware modes: clean all (complete cleaning), save user data (save data, does not always work) and clean all and lock (clean and re-lock the bootloader).
Recommended mode: clean all
This ensures that there is no conflict between the old and the new system.Select clean all mode and press Flash, and the recording process will start in 200 to 600 seconds, and it is strictly forbidden to touch the cable, turn off the computer, or interrupt the program, and the status bar will show progress as a percentage.
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If the firmware process is 90 percent up and it's been hanging for more than 10 minutes, it's likely that there's been a failure. USB-port to another (preferably) USB 2.0) or reconnect the cable without removing it from the phone (if the program allows you to do so).
When the process is complete, the status will be “success” and the phone will automatically restart, and the first boot after the firmware can last up to 10-15 minutes, as the system optimizes applications and creates new configuration files.
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The main success of the operation is uninterrupted connection. Do not touch the cable and computer until the smartphone desktop is fully loaded.
Possible errors and methods of their elimination
Even with strict adherence to the instructions, there can be unforeseen situations. One of the most common errors is the message "Miss matching image and device." This means that you are trying to flash the firmware intended for another model of smartphone. Always check the code name of the device (for example, davinci for Mi 9T).
A Flash Error or Programming Fail error often indicates driver problems or poor quality. USB-In some cases, re-installing Qualcomm drivers in compatibility mode or using another one helps. USB-port, preferably located on the motherboard (back of the system unit).
If the phone went into a cyclic reboot after firmware, try to perform the procedure again by selecting “clean all” mode. In more difficult cases, you may need to log in to Recovery mode and completely reset (Wipe). Data/Factory Reset) before retrying firmware via PC.
⚠️ Warning: If the phone has stopped responding to buttons and the computer makes a sound of the device connecting in QDLoader 9008 mode, this is a disaster recovery mode.
It is important to keep error logs that Mi Flash produces. Analysis of the error text often allows you to accurately determine the cause of the failure: a lack of memory, a broken firmware file or a hardware malfunction of the flash memory of the phone.