How to Sweeten Xiaomi Redmi 10S: Official and Unofficial Methods

Xiaomi Redmi 10S is a popular budget smartphone with a MediaTek Helio G88 processor that, despite its availability, supports flexible customization capabilities. The device may need to be firmware upgraded to the current version of MIUI, install custom software (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience), or restore performance after failures. However, the process has nuances, from unlocking the bootloader to choosing the right version of the firmware for a specific modification (rosemary is the codename Redmi 10S).

In this guide, we will analyze all the current methods of firmware: through the standard update menu, Recovery (including TWRP), and Fastboot using the Mi Flash Tool. Particular attention will be paid to bypassing the “Anti-Rollback” error, which blocks the downgrade of firmware on devices with MediaTek, and also understand how to avoid “brick” (breakdown) if you are a beginner, start with official methods; experienced users will find details here for installing custom recovers and cores.

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

Xiaomi Redmi 10S firmware is a process that requires preparation, and without it, you risk getting a brick or losing data.

• 🔋 Battery charge: at least 60%. When you run through Fastboot, the phone doesn't charge, and interruption of the process due to discharge leads to failure.
• 📥 Backup: Save contacts, photos and apps through Settings → Google → Backup or Mi Cloud. firmware erases user data!
• 🔑 Unlock bootloader: mandatory for custom firmware installation. Official updates via MIUI Updater does not require unlocking.
• 🖥️ Drivers and software: for Fastboot firmware you need Mi Flash Tool, for ADB — MediaTek drivers (download automatically when connected to a PC).

Note the version of your device. Redmi 10S has several regional variations:

• Global (rosemary_global) — for Europe and Asia;
• Chinese (rosemary) – without Google services;
• Indian (rosemary_in) — localized.

Installing firmware not for your region will lead to problems with the network, camera or sensors.

⚠️ Attention: If your Redmi is 10S Buying in China, Global version firmware may be blocked 5G (If it is supported by your modification, check compatibility on the forum. XDA Developers.

2. Official firmware via MIUI Updater (no PC)

The easiest and safest way is to upgrade through the built-in menu, which is suitable for installing stable and beta versions of MIUI, but does not allow you to downgrade the software version (due to Anti-Rollback).

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click on the icon "⚙️" in the upper right corner and select Select the Service Package.
3. Specify the path to the downloaded firmware file (.zip format, the name should contain rosemary).
4. Confirm installation. The phone will reboot to Recovery and update automatically.

Where to download the official firmware?

• 🌍 Global Stable: Xiaomi's official website (choose Redmi) 10S - rosemary).
• 🧪 Beta Versions: Community MIUI Telegram (requires registration in the testing program).

⚠️ Note: If after the update the phone is stuck on the logo MI, Reset via Recovery (Wipe) → Factory Reset. It's not a firmware bug, it's a data conflict.

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Before updating, turn off password protection in Settings → Screen Lock. This will speed up the process and avoid requesting a PIN after rebooting.

3. Firmware through Recovery (including TWRP)

The method is suitable for installing official and custom firmware if you already have a bootloader unlocked. For Redmi 10S, an informal TWRP (from OrangeFox or PitchBlack) is available, but its installation requires caution because of the risk of damaging the dtbo partition.

Steps for official firmware through Recovery:

1. Download the firmware in.zip format (for example, miui_ROSEMARYGlobal_V13.0.4.0.SKLMIXM.zip).
2. Rename the file to update.zip and place it in the root of internal memory.
3. Turn off the phone, then press Power + Volume up to enter Recovery.
4. Select Install update.zip to System (for official firmware) or Apply update from ADB (for custom).

For TWRP, the algorithm is different:

• 🔧 Install Recovery with fastboot Flash Recovery twrp.img.
• 📁 Copy the firmware to the memory card (format) FAT32).
• 🔄 V TWRP run the Wipe → Format Data (required for custom firmware!), then Install → select the file.

4. Firmware via Fastboot (Mi Flash Tool)

A method for power users to restore the phone even after a major crash ("brick") requires a Windows PC and an unlocked bootloader.

Step-by-step:

1. Download Mi Flash Tool from the official website and firmware in.tgz format (for example, rosemary_global_images_V13.0.4.0.SKLMIXM_20221012.0000.00_12.0_global.zip).
2. Unclick the firmware into a folder without Cyrillic characters (e.g., C:\ROM\redmi10s).
3. Turn off the phone, press Volume Down + Power to enter the Fastboot (screen with a rabbit in its cap).
4. Connect the device to a PC, launch the Mi Flash Tool and press Refresh. COM-port.
5. In the path field, specify the firmware folder, select Clean All mode (full clean) and click Flash.

It takes 5-10 minutes. When it's done, the phone automatically restarts. If the Mi Flash Tool is 0x80070026, try it.

• 🔌 Reconnect. USB-Cable (use the original from Xiaomi);
• 🖱️ Launch the program on behalf of the administrator;
• 🔄 Reinstall MediaTek drivers via Device Manager.

Download the latest Mi Flash Tool version|Unblock the firmware into a folder with a short path|Disable the antivirus (can block drivers)|Charge the phone to 100%|Prepare original USB-cable

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5. Unlock the bootloader on the Redmi 10S

Without unlocking the bootloader, you won’t be able to install custom software or flash the device through Fastboot with unofficial firmware. Xiaomi allows unlocking, but the process takes up to 7 days (due to account verification).

Instructions:

1. Link your Mi Account to your phone (Settings → Xiaomi Account).
2. Activate debugging over USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times; then Additional → For Developers → Debugging over USB).
3. Download Mi Unlock Tool from the official website and log in to the program.
4. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (as in the previous section) and follow the program instructions.

After successful unlocking, the Unlocked sign will appear on the boot screen.

• 🔒 Unlocking resets phone to factory settings;
• 📱 Some features (such as Mi Pay or Find Device) may stop working;
• 🔄 Re-blocking is possible only through the official service Xiaomi.

⚠️ Note: If the Mi Unlock Tool shows a Couldn't unlock error when unlocking, check: Mi Account is tied to the phone for more than 7 days; Time Sync is enabled on the device (Settings) → Additionally. → Date and time → Autodefinition; you are using the original USB-cable (not all cables support data transfer to Fastboot).

6. Install custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience)

Redmi 10S supports informal firmware based on Android 12/13, such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience. They offer "clean" Android without branded MIUI bells and whistles, but can have bugs (for example, a broken NFC or camera).

Requirements:

• 🔓 Unlocked loader;
• 🛠️ Established TWRP (rosemary);
• 📁 Firmware in.zip format (download only from trusted sources, for example, XDA).

Instructions:

1. Copy firmware and GApps (if you need Google services) to a memory card.
2. Download to TWRP (Nutrition + Volume Up).
3. Run Wipe → Format Data (enter yes to confirm).
4. Install the firmware, then GApps, and restart.

The following are the best custom firmware for Redmi 10S:

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Custom firmware requires manual updates. There are no automatic OTA-apatdays for them - watch for updates on the developer forum.

7. Solving common firmware errors

Even if you follow the instructions, you can have problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

• 🚫 "This package is for rosemary devices" error: you downloaded the firmware for a different model, rosemary_global or rosemary_in).
• 🔄 The phone is stuck on the logo. MI After the firmware: run Wipe Cache in Recovery. If it doesn't work, reflash with a full cleanup).
• 🔌 PC doesn’t see phone in Fastboot: install MediaTek Preloader drivers manually via Device Manager (download on MediaTek website).

If the IMEI is missing or the mobile network is not working:

1. Make sure the firmware is suitable for your region.
2. Restore the IMEI via Engineering Mode (type ##3646633##, then go to Connectivity → CDS Information → Radio Information).
3. If it does not help, then swipe the original firmware through Fastboot with the Clean All and Lock tick (it will return the bootloader lock).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Redmi firmware 10S