Modern Xiaomi smartphones, and in particular the Redmi 12, often come with regional software restrictions that can annoy users from other countries. The presence of advertising in system applications, the lack of necessary language packages or unnecessary pre-installed Google services is just the tip of the iceberg of problems faced by owners of Chinese versions of gadgets.
The operating system replacement procedure not only globalizes the interface, but also returns performance to the device if the current firmware is unstable or contains software errors. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the steps from unlocking the bootloader to installing an official Global ROM or custom build. It is important to understand that any manipulation of system software carries risks, so follow the instructions carefully and do not miss the preparatory steps.
Before you start doing something, you have to realize that firmware is a deep system operation. USB-We will look at the methods of updating through the Fastboot mode using a computer, as this method gives maximum control over the process and allows you to fix even serious software failures that turn the phone into a brick".
Any serious work with smartphone software requires careful preparation of the workplace and the device itself. You will need a Windows computer, as the main firmware tools such as the Mi Flash Tool are optimized for this OS. It is also critical to use an original or quality certified USB-A cable that can transmit data, not just charge the battery.
On the Redmi 12, you have to do a series of presets to activate the debugging mode, without which the computer will not be able to recognize the device in the desired mode. Go to the settings, find the "About phone" item, and start quickly clicking on the MIUI or HyperOS build number seven times in a row until you notice that you have become a developer.
⚠️ Note: Before you start any action, make a full backup of all important data to a cloud service or computer. The firmware process often involves completely deleting user files.
Once you activate the developer menu, go to "Additional" or "Extended Settings" and select "Developers" and activate two key settings: "USB Debugging" and "OEM Unlocking," which allow external tools to interact with the system partition of your Redmi 12.
Unlocking the bootloader
The most difficult and important step is unlocking the bootloader. Bootloader is a program that runs in front of the operating system and checks the digital signature of the software being downloaded. As long as it is blocked, you will not be able to install anything other than official Xiaomi signed updates.
Unlocking requires a special utility Mi Unlock Tool and Mi Account, which must be linked to the device. SIM-You will likely have to wait 7 to 168 hours for your card and account in your phone settings, a security measure by Xiaomi that prevents data theft in the event of a device being stolen.
After the waiting time, repeat the procedure for entering Fastboot mode (pressing the volume down and power keys) and connect the phone to the PC. In Mi Unlock, the status will change to Unlocked. Only after that, Redmi 12 becomes ready to install custom recavereas or global firmware.
What to do if the account is not tied?
If you make a mistake when trying to link your account to a developer mode, try using mobile internet instead of Wi-Fi. IP-Mobile carrier addresses have less restrictions on Xiaomi servers than home providers. SIM-A map of the same region that the firmware is sharpened to. Finding and choosing the right firmware is the key to keeping the smartphone running smoothly. 12 We have a few different types: Recovery (update over data) and Fastboot (complete cleanup). For our purposes, we need a Fastboot variant that has a.tgz extension and weighs about a half a dozen. 4-6 GB: It is important to pay attention to the region for which the firmware is intended. The Global version is suitable for most countries in the world and contains all the necessary languages and services of Google. European (EEA) It has more stringent privacy settings, and China may not have Google Play built-in by default, although it can be manually installed. Firmware type Extension Features For whom Recovery.zip Update without data loss For a regular update Fastboot.tgz Complete cleaning, flashing partitions For region change, HyperOS repair.tgz/.zip New OS from Xiaomi For those who want to be new MIUI.tgz/.zip For conservatives, download files only from trusted resources, such as the official website miui.com or authoritative forums like XDA Using files from questionable sources can lead to the infection of the device with malicious code or installing a modified system with "backdoors". When all files are downloaded and the bootloader is unlocked, you can start the main process. Unpack the archive with the firmware in the root of the C disk so that the path to the files is short and does not contain Cyrillic characters. Run Mi Flash Tool on behalf of the administrator. Transfer Redmi 12 to Fastboot mode by clamping the volume down and connecting the cable to the PC. In Windows Device Manager, Android Booter Interface should appear. If instead, "Unknown Flash Device driver" is displayed, you need to manually check the file button from the bottom line. ⚠️ Note: During the firmware process (green progress lane) it is strictly forbidden to turn off the cable. USB or interrupt the computer's power supply, guaranteed to break the boot sector. 💡If the firmware process is stuck on 1% or 99%, Sometimes Windows drivers take longer to initialize partitions. 5-10 You can start recording data after you press the Flash button. 200 before 600 When you're done, you'll see "Success" in the status, and the phone will automatically reboot. 10 If unlocking the bootloader is not possible or you want to just upgrade the system version without using a PC, you can use Recovery Mode. This method is less powerful, but safer for inexperienced users. You'll need a.zip firmware file to be placed at the root of the phone's internal memory. To enter Recovery mode, turn off your phone and press the key combination: volume up + power. When the Mi logo appears, release the power button, but keep the volume down. In the menu that appears, select the language (English or Russian) and go to "Install Update Manually" or "Select File." The system may request a password from your Mi Account to confirm access rights. This is the standard security procedure. Once you select the file, you can not change the file from China, you can start checking the Chinese version. 📱 Convenient for updates within a region 🔒 It does not require unlocking the bootloader (in most cases) 💾 Does not delete user data when updating ⚠️ Possible errors and ways to solve them In the process of firmware Xiaomi Redmi 12 can occur various errors, the code of which is displayed in the Mi Flash Tool. For example, the Miss matching image and device error indicates that you are trying to flash firmware from another model, making sure the codename of the device (e.g., fuxi or mondrian) matches. The Can not find script or Anti-rollback check failed error indicates an attempt to roll back on an older version of Android, which is prohibited by security policies. ADB For forced recording if the loader is unlocked. 💡90% of Xiaomi firmware errors are due to bad drivers or bad drivers USB-Cable, port and cable replacement. USB If your phone is gone into an endless bootloop, try running Wipe Data through the Recovery menu. If that doesn't work, you'll need to re-flash through Fastboot, and you'll have to clean all partitions. In rare cases, an authorized service center may be required to reprogram through the test mode (EDL). Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Will the warranty fly off after the firmware? Officially, unlocking the bootloader and installing unofficial software will void the warranty. However, if you return the stock firmware and lock the bootloader again, it will be extremely difficult to visually detect the intervention in the service center, unless they check the status of the bootloader with special utilities. Can I flash Redmi 12 Global to the Chinese version? Yes, it's standard practice. Chinese versions are often cheaper, but don't have the right languages and frequency ranges (Band 20). Global ROM firmware solves these problems by making the phone a full-fledged international device. What is EDL mode and do you need it? EDL (Emergency Download Mode) is a deep firmware mode at the level of the Qualcomm processor. It is needed if the phone doesn't turn on at all ("dead brick"). It often requires disassembling the phone and closing contacts on the phone on the handker, so you need to return it for the original Flash card. Warning: Never block a bootloader with custom firmware installed or Global ROM on a Chinese device – this will result in a hard lock of the device.