How to flash Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro: official and custom firmware

Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro is the flagship smartphone of 2020, which still remains relevant thanks to the powerful hardware and support of the development community. However, even such a device requires a firmware update over time: whether it is a transition to a new version of MIUI, installing custom builds like LineageOS or Pixel Experience, or recovery from a crash. In this article, you will find step-by-step instructions for all methods of firmware, including unlocking the bootloader, choosing the right version of software and solving typical errors.

The Mi 10 Pro firmware process (codenamed cmi) has its own nuances: for example, this device is equipped with a dual partition system (A/B), which makes it easier to roll back to the previous version, but requires a special approach when working with custom recoveries. We will analyze all methods from official updates through Settings to manual firmware through Fastboot and TWRP, and also tell you how to avoid losing IMEI or locking the device due to the wrong version of firmware.

If you're a beginner, start with the official updates section. Power users can immediately go to the instructions for unlocking the bootloader or installing custom firmware. Either way, read the warnings carefully: firmware errors can turn a smartphone into a brick.

1. Firmware Preparation: What You Need to Know Before You Start

Before you start the firmware Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro, make sure that all the prerequisites are met. this will save you from data loss, device lock or other trouble.

Basic requirements:

• 🔋 Battery charge at least 60% (preferably 80%) and firmware can take up to 30 minutes to run out in the process.
• 📱 Backup data. Fastboot firmware or factory reset will delete all files, including photos, contacts and messages. Use Mi Cloud, Google Drive or local copy on your PC.
• 🔐 Unlocked bootloader (for custom firmware). Official updates via OTA Recovery does not require unlocking, but installation TWRP or LineageOS, absolutely.
• 💻 Windows computer 10/11 (for the Mi Flash Tool or Linux/macOS (For fastboot via terminal, drivers must be installed on the PC. ADB/Fastboot mi USB Driver.
• 📡 Stable Internet connection (for downloading firmware and drivers) firmware files weigh between 2 and 4 GB.

Important: The Mi 10 Pro has anti-rollback protection.This means that after upgrading to a specific version of MIUI (e.g., 12.5 or 13), it will be impossible to return to an older firmware without risking locking the device. Check the current version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and check the compatibility table below.

2. Official ways to update MIUI

If your goal is to simply upgrade the Mi 10 Pro to the latest MIUI without risk, use the official methods. They do not require unlocking the bootloader and retain a warranty (if it is still valid).

Updating by Air (OTA)

The easiest way is to update through Settings:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Update Checker. If the update is available, download it.
3. After downloading, click Reboot and install.

If the update does not come automatically, check:

• 🌍 Firmware region (in Settings) → Additionally. → For Russia, it's for Europe — EEA.
• 🔄 Mi Account Status: Sometimes updates only come to attached devices.
• 📶 Internet connection stability. Use Wi-Fi, not mobile data.

Manual update via Recovery

If OTA doesn’t work or you want to install a specific version of MIUI, download the official service pack and install it via Recovery:

1. Download the firmware from the official Xiaomi website (select the Mi 10 Pro model and region).
2. Rename the file to update.zip and move it to the root of internal memory.
3. Turn off the phone, then press Volume Up + Power to enter Recovery.
4. Select Install update.zip and confirm the installation.

Note: This method only works for incremental updates (e.g., MIUI 12.5.3 to 12.5.4).

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Official updates via OTA or Recovery do not require unlocking the bootloader and retain a warranty, however, they are limited to versions available for your region.

3. Unlock the bootloader on the Mi 10 Pro

To install custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience, crDroid) or TWRP, you need to unlock the bootloader. Xiaomi allows you to do this officially, but the process requires waiting and binding an account.

3.1 Preparation of the Mi Account

Steps to unlock:

1. Create or sign in to your Mi Account on your phone.
2. Link your phone to your account in Settings → Mi Account.
3. Go to Mi Unlock and download the Mi Unlock Tool.
4. Launch the tool on your PC, log in to the same Mi Account and follow the instructions.

Note: Xiaomi requires a wait of 168 hours (7 days) after you have linked your account to your device, which is not legally circumvented.

• 📱 The phone's debugging on. USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (press 7 times) → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔗 Phone connected to PC in Fastboot mode (click Volume down) + Power with the device switched off).
• 🔐 PCs have disabled antiviruses that can block Mi Unlock Tool.

The unlocking process

After the 168 hours,

1. Launch the Mi Unlock Tool on behalf of the administrator.
2. Log in to your Mi Account and connect your phone in Fastboot mode.
3. Press Unlock and wait until it is completed (usually takes 1-2 minutes).
4. After the reboot, the phone will be reset to factory settings.

Warning: Unlocking the bootloader resets all data and may take away the warranty (if it is still valid), and some banking applications (such as Sberbank Online or Tinkoff) may stop working due to the SafetyNet trigger.

4. Firmware via Fastboot (Mi Flash Tool)

Mi Flash Tool is the official tool from Xiaomi for flashing devices through Fastboot.

• 🔄 Brick recovery (if the phone is not turned on).
• 📥 Installations of full official firmware (for example, when switching from custom to stock).
• 🔧 Solutions to Boot or Cyclical Reboot Problems.

4.1 Download firmware and tools

You'll need:

• The official firmware for the Mi 10 Pro (cmi) is in.tgz or.zip format (download here).
• The Mi Flash Tool (the latest version is here).
• ADB/Fastboot and Mi USB Driver (can be installed via Mi Flash Tool or manually)

Step-by-step instructions

Follow this algorithm:

Download the firmware and unpack it into a folder without Cyrillic

Install Mi Flash Tool and Drivers

Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (Loudness down + Power)

Run the Mi Flash Tool on behalf of the administrator

Select a folder with firmware and press Refresh

Press Clean All (or Clean All and Lock to Lock bootloader)

Wait for completion (green tick) and reboot

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The Mi Flash Tool has three cleaning options:

If you select Clean all and lock on a device with an unlocked bootloader, the phone will lock and it will take another 168 hours to re-unlock.

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If the Mi Flash Tool is an error "flash_all_lock.bat Cannot be found, rename the firmware file to flash_all.bat (for Windows) or use a script flash_all.sh into Linux/macOS.

5. custom firmware installation (TWRP + LineageOS/Pixel Experience)

Custom firmware opens up new possibilities: pure Android without MIUI, longer security updates, additional features, but installing them requires an unlocked bootloader and TWRP (custom recovery).

Installation of TWRP

For the Mi 10 Pro, use TWRP from the official website or proven developers (e.g. OrangeFox).

Instructions:

1. Download the image twrp-3.7.0_x-cmi.img (Check the current version).
2. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode and execute the command: fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.7.0_x-cmi.img fastboot reboot recovery
3. After downloading to TWRP, make a persist partition backup (important for saving IMEI and modem data).

5.2. LineageOS or Pixel Experience firmware

Example: LineageOS 20 (Android 13):

1. Download the firmware (lineage-20.0-YYYYMMDD-nightly-cmi-signed.zip) and GApps (e.g. MindTheGapps).
2. Move the files to your phone or flash drive.
3. In TWRP, run: Wipe → Advanced Wipe →Dalvik / ART Cache, System, Data, Cache Install → select firmware → add GApps → Swipe to install Reboot → System

Warning: Some custom firmware may not support data encryption or banking applications (due to SafetyNet). XDA.

6. Solving typical firmware errors

Even with strict adherence to instructions, errors can occur, and here are the most common ways to correct them:

If the phone does not turn on after the firmware:

• 🔌 Connect to charging for 30 minutes - sometimes the battery runs out in the process.
• 🔄 Try to enter the Fastboot (Loudness Down). + Power) and repeat the firmware.
• 📡 If the screen is black, but the phone vibrates, maybe the display firmware has gone off. dtbo.img and vbmeta.img.

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If your mobile network is not working after installing custom firmware, check the APN settings in Settings → Mobile Network → Access Points (APN). Network resets often help.

7.How to get back the official MIUI after custom firmware

If you’ve experimented with LineageOS or other custom firmware and want to return to stock MIUI, follow this instruction:

Steps:

1. Download the full Fastboot firmware for your region (e.g, miui_CMIGlobal_V13.0.1.0.SJAMIXM_...).
2. Unpack the archive and launch the Mi Flash Tool.
3. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode.
4. In the Mi Flash Tool, select Clean all and lock (this will lock the bootloader and return the warranty status).
5. Wait for completion and reboot.

Important: After returning to MIUI:

• 🔒 The bootloader will be locked and it will take 168 hours to re-unblock.
• 📱 All data will be deleted, including internal memory.
• 🔄 Possible problems with OTA-Updates if you've been flashing custom Recovery, in which case update only through Fastboot.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the Mi firmware 10 Pro