Firmware Xiaomi smartphone through MiFlash Pro is the official way to restore or update software when standard methods through Settings → About Phone → System Update do not work. The tool from the manufacturer allows you to “reanimate” devices after crashes, remove custom firmware or return the stock version of MIUI before selling. However, the process requires care: wrong actions can turn the phone into a “brick”.
Unlike the MiFlash utility (an outdated version), MiFlash Pro supports the new Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models from 2023-2026, offers more stable work with the EDL and Fastboot protocols, as well as integrated firmware integrity verification. But even with the official tool, users encounter errors like Invalid image format or Flash not done - their causes and solutions we will discuss below.
This guide will be suitable for both experienced users and beginners, if you follow the steps carefully.
- 🔍 How to prepare your phone and computer for firmware (drivers, unlock the bootloader).
- 📥 Where to download official firmware and how to choose the right version for your model.
- ⚙️ Step-by-step firmware process via MiFlash Pro in Fastboot modes and EDL.
- ⚠️ Typical errors and ways to fix them (from missing a device in the list to signature verification failures).
1. Device preparation: unlocking the bootloader and backup
Before the firmware, you need to unlock the Bootloader bootloader - without this, MiFlash Pro will not be able to write data to the device's memory. Xiaomi locks the bootloader on all new devices to protect against unauthorized changes. The unlocking process takes up to 72 hours (from the moment the Mi Account is linked to the device) and requires:
- 📱 Smartphone with a battery charge of at least 60% (when discharged during the process, the device may fail).
- 🔑 Mi Account linked to your phone (if not, register at account.xiaomi.com).
- 💻 Windows computer 10/11 (MacOS or Linux MiFlash Pro does not work).
- 🔌 Original. USB-cable (cheap cables can cause connection errors).
To unlock the loader:
- Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
- Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers and include OEM-unlocking and debugging USB.
- Connect the phone to the PC, confirm the debugging permission on the smartphone screen.
- Download Mi Unlock Tool, log in to Mi Account and follow the program instructions.
⚠️ Warning: Once the bootloader is unlocked, the smartphone will reset to factory settings. All data (photos, contacts, messages) will be deleted. Create a backup on Google Drive or on your PC via Mi PC Suite.
If you are flashing a device with an already unlocked bootloader (for example, after installing a customized Recovery), this step can be skipped. However, note that some firmware (for example, for Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi Note 12 Pro+) require re-assignment of the account even after unlocking.
2. Installation of drivers and configuration of MiFlash Pro
For proper operation of MiFlash Pro on the computer must be installed Qualcomm drivers (for mode) EDL) and ADB/Fastboot. Without them, the program will not see the connected device:
- 🔧 ADB and Fastboot (from Google, part of Android) SDK).
- 📡 Qualcomm Drivers (for mode) EDL, if the firmware goes through it).
- 🖥️ MiFlash Pro (Last version, check the bit size: 32-bit or 64-bit).
After installing the drivers:
- Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power when the device is off).
- Open Device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager) and check that the Ports (COM and LPT) or Other Devices section includes Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 (for EDL) or Android Bootloader Interface (for Fastboot).
- If the device is displayed with an exclamation mark - update the driver manually, indicating the path to the downloaded files.
Run MiFlash Pro and perform the initial setup:
- Sign in to your Mi Account (use the same data as you used to unlock the bootloader).
- Select the interface language (Russian is available from version 6.5.2023).
- In the Settings menu, turn off the Clean all and lock option if you do not want to block the bootloader after firmware.
⚠️ If MiFlash Pro is a Couldn't Find Device Error, try it: 🔌 Connect the phone to another USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0 on the back of the PC). 🔄 Reinstall drivers with digital signature disabled (via gpedit.msc) → User configuration → Administrative templates → System system → Installation of the driver → Digital signature). 🖥️ Launch the program on behalf of the administrator.
☑️ Pre-firmware check
3. Selection and downloading of firmware: official and custom options
The right firmware depends on the success of the operation. Xiaomi offers several types of firmware:
| Type of firmware | Description | Suitable for | Download link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stable (Stable) | The official version of MIUI with a minimum number of bugs is updated every 1-2 months. | Daily use, recovery after failures. | Official website |
| Developer (Developer) | Weekly builds with new features, but bugs are possible. | Testing new features, enthusiasts. | Xiaomi EU |
| Fastboot (For MiFlash) | Firmware in.tgz or.zip format for installation via MiFlash Pro. | Recovery via Fastboot or EDL. | MiuiROM |
| Recovery (For TWRP) | Firmware in.zip format for installation through custom recavery. | Install custom firmware (for example, LineageOS). | XDA Developers |
For firmware through MiFlash Pro, only Fastboot firmware in.tgz format will work. Download them exclusively from official sources - files from torrents or third-party sites may contain viruses or be corrupted.
- 📌 Device model (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+ It has the code name ruby, and POCO F5 — Specify it in Settings. → The phone. → Model.
- 🌍 Region: Firmware for Global (EEA), China (CN) India (IN) Installing the wrong region can lead to network or language problems.
- 🔢 Version MIUI: If you are running an older version (downgrade), you need to unlock the bootloader and reset via Fastboot with the fastboot erase userdata command.
Critical error: Firmware version of MIUI 14 on a device with MIUI 13 without first reset will lead to a freeze on the logo, in which case you will need to re-firm through the EDL with complete erasure of data.
How to find out the code name of your Xiaomi model?
4. The firmware process through MiFlash Pro: step-by-step instructions
When you're done, we start firmware, and we'll look at both options: Fastboot (recommended for most cases) and EDL (for brick-and-brick devices).
Method 1: Fastboot Firmware
- Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode (close Volume Down + Power when the device is off). The screen should display a hare in a hat-eared.
- Run MiFlash Pro and wait for the program to identify the device. If the phone doesn't show up, check the drivers or cable.
- Select firmware: Press Select and specify the path to the unpacked folder with.img files.
- Set up the firmware settings: 🔄 Clean all – complete cleaning (recommended when changing version) MIUI). 🔒 Clean all and lock - cleaning + Locking the bootloader (only if you plan to sell the phone). 📥 Save user data – saving user data (not always working correctly).
Start the firmware
Flash
Method 2: Firmware in EDL mode (for "bricks")
EDL (Emergency Download Mode) is used if the phone is not turned on or detected in Fastboot. To transfer the device to EDL:
- Turn off the phone.
- Press Volume Up + Volume Down and connect the USB cable to the PC. The screen will remain black, but the Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 should appear in Device Manager.
- In MiFlash Pro, select the firmware and press Flash. It takes up to 20 minutes.
⚠️ Attention: Firmware through EDL It erases all memory, including internal storage (userdata), if the phone had important data, it can be restored after the phone has been stored. EDL impossible.
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If MiFlash Pro freezes in the Waiting for device stage, try disabling the antivirus (it can block access to ports) or using another one. USB-hub.
5. Typical errors and their solutions
Even if you follow the instructions accurately, users encounter errors, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them:
| Mistake. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Flash not done. Invalid image format | Damaged firmware files or the wrong version. | Download the firmware again, check the checksum MD5. |
| Couldn't find device | Drivers are not installed or the phone is not in Fastboot/EDL mode. | Reinstall the drivers, check the connection, try another cable. |
| Device is locked | The bootloader is not unlocked or locked after firmware is installed. | Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool or repeat the firmware with the Clean all and lock option disabled. |
| Firehose mismatch | The discrepancy between the firehose version (Qualcomm protocol) in the firmware and phone. | Download the firmware with the right firehose for your model (look for XDA). |
| Anti-rollback check fail | Attempt to install an older version of MIUI (downgrade) without resetting. | Go through the EDL with a full clean or use firmware no older than the current one. |
If after firmware the phone is getting stuck on the MI logo or rebooting in a cycle:
- Connect to the PC in Fastboot mode.
- Run the command: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot
- If it doesn’t work, repeat the firmware through EDL.
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The Anti-rollback check fail error means you are trying to install firmware older than the one already on your phone, which requires a complete EDL flashing and clearing all partitions.
6. Check the result and the first actions after firmware
Once the firmware is successful, the phone should automatically restart. The first turn on can take up to 10 minutes - do not interrupt the process.
- 🔄 Perform the initial setting (choose language, connect to Wi-Fi, log in to your Mi Account).
- 📱 Check the operation of the main functions: 📶 Mobile network and calls (especially if you flashed the firmware of another region). 🔊 Sound, microphone, speakers. 📷 Camera and fingerprint scanner. 🔋 Charging (connect the charger).
- 🔒 If you unlock the bootloader, turn on the lock again (via fastboot oem lock), if you do not plan further modifications.
If Google services are missing after firmware (for example, on firmware for the Chinese region), install them manually:
- Download Open GApps (select arm64 platform, Android version and pico option).
- Fastboot commands: fastboot flash system gapps.zip
- Or install it via TWRP, if installed.
⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T or Redmi K60) After the firmware may require a re-activation OEM-unlocking in the developer settings, even if the bootloader is already unlocked.
7.Alternative Firmware Ways: When MiFlash Pro Fails
If the MiFlash Pro refuses to flash the device (for example, due to signature errors or incompatibility with the new model), consider alternative methods:
- 🔧 MiFlash (old version): Suitable for devices up to 2022 (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3). You can download it here.
- 📦 Fastboot commands manually: if the firmware is unpacked into a folder with.img files, you can flash each section separately: fastboot flash boot boot.img fastboot flash system system.img fastboot flash vendor vendor.img fastboot reboot
- 🛠️ TWRP + ZIP-Firmware: custom firmware installations (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience) require custom recavers.
- 🔄 XiaomiTool V2: Semi-automatic firmware and unlocking tool (supports most models.
For devices running a Mediatek processor (such as Redmi 10C or POCO M5), the SP Flash Tool is used instead of the MiFlash Pro. The firmware process through it is different - you will need a scatter.txt file from the firmware archive.
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If the phone does not turn on after firmware via Fastboot, but is defined in Device Manager as Qualcomm HS-USB Diagnostics 900E, try flashing only the persist section with fastboot flash persist.img.