Ownership of Xiaomi Redmi smartphone 9C NFC It offers a wide range of possibilities, but sometimes a standard shell MIUI The need for flashing can arise for various reasons, from the banal desire to upgrade to a newer version of Android, when the official OTA-notifications stopped coming, before the device needs to be restored after failed experiments or software failure.
The process of replacing software on this device requires care, since the model is based on the MediaTek processor, which has its own technical features. Unlike Qualcomm, it is critical to follow the sequence of actions when working with the bootloader and recovery modes. Wrong actions can lead to the fact that the phone will cease to respond to commands, although in most cases the Redmi 9C NFC is recoverable even from the “brick” state.
This guide covers all the steps from tool preparation and unlocking the bootloader to installing custom recovery and final firmware. We will look at both official methods through the Mi Flash Tool, and advanced methods using the use of the device. SP Flash Tool for deep diagnostics cases. Before starting any manipulations, make sure you understand the risks and have a serviceable one at hand. USB-cable.
Preparation of the device and the necessary software
The first step is to build an arsenal of software. Without the right drivers and utilities, connecting your smartphone to your computer will be impossible or unstable. You will need to install ADB and Fastboot drivers, which are the basis for interaction with the system at a low level, and you will also need MediaTek VCOM drivers, which are activated only with a certain connection.
Download the current firmware version for your regional version of the device. The global version (Global) is different from the Chinese (China) or Russian version (RU) You can check the exact model by settings in the Settings menu. → The phone, where in the line "Version" MIUI" The letter code will be indicated at the end, for example, MIUI Global 12.5.3.
⚠️ Note: Using firmware from another model or region without first unlocking the bootloader is guaranteed to lead to a software block (Hard Brick) redmi9c or redmi9cnfc.
To work, you will also need an archiver to unpack files and possibly a utility to check the checksums of downloaded images. connection stability depends on the quality of the connection. USB-Ports; use of ports is recommended USB 2.0 on the back of the system unit, as they provide a more stable voltage when transmitting data.
☑️ Checklist before firmware
Unlocking the Bootloader bootloader
Without the unlocked bootloader, you can’t install a modified backup or custom firmware. Xiaomi has implemented this security measure, so the procedure takes time and is tied to your Mi Account. First, you need to activate the developer mode in the phone settings by seven times clicking on the build number in the About Phone section.
Further in the menu "For developers" you need to include the items "Factory unlocking" and "Debugging by USB". After that, the smartphone must be linked to the Mi Account by entering it in the settings menu, only after that you can run the Mi Unlock Tool utility on your PC. the waiting process varies from 7 to 168 hours (weeks), which is standard security practice of the manufacturer.
When the wait period expires, turn the phone into Fastboot mode, holding the volume button when the device is turned off, and connect it to the computer. In the Mi Unlock utility, press the "Unlock" button. The process will take a few minutes, after which the device will be completely clear of user data.
- 🔓 Unlocking removes warranty on device software.
- 📉 After the procedure, all data on the internal drive will be irretrievably deleted.
- 🔄 Re-blocking the loader is possible, but only on the stock firmware.
- 🛡️ The “Mi Cloud” function should be disabled before starting.
Installation of TWRP Recovery and Drivers
The regular recovery menu is limited in functionality, so installing TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) is a key step. For the Redmi 9C NFC, there are specific versions of the recovery that take into account the features of the MediaTek memory markup. Download the.img image file corresponding to your version of Android (usually Android 10 or 11 for this model).
The installation process is done via the command line. Place the image file in the ADB tool folder. Open the terminal in this folder and execute the command to check the connection: fastboot devices. If the device is displayed, you can start writing the image to the recovery section. It is important to prevent rebooting to the system immediately after writing, otherwise the stock recap will overwrite TWRP.
fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.x.x-x-redmi9c.img
fastboot boot twrp-3.x.x-x-redmi9c.imgThe second command in the example above forcibly downloads TWRP without installation, which allows you to immediately go to the firmware. If you plan to use custom recavator constantly, after the first download in TWRP you will need to flash a patch to prevent overwriting or install a special zip archive "Disable Force Flash".
⚠️ Note: When you run through Fastboot, the recovery section can be automatically overwritten by stock if you just restart the phone.Use the fastboot boot command for the first run TWRP.
Fastboot (Mi Flash) Firmware Process
The official and most secure way to bring the device back to life or update it is to use the Xiaomi Mi Flash Tool utility. You will need a firmware in the format of Fastboot (.tgz extension), which you need to unpack into the root of the disk or folder without Cyrillic in the title. The path to the files should not contain spaces.
Launch the Mi Flash Tool on behalf of the administrator. Put your smartphone to Fastboot mode. Press the Refresh button in the program, the serial number of the device should appear in the list. Select the firmware mode: clean all, save user data, or clean all and lock.
| Firmware mode | Data retention | Bootloader status | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| clean all | No (full reset) | Unlocked. | For clean installation |
| save user data | Yes. | Unlocked. | To update the version |
| clean all and lock | No (full reset) | Blocked. | For a runoff return |
| Auto | Depends on the script. | It doesn't change. | Not recommended |
After selecting the mode, press Flash. The process will take 200 to 600 seconds. The progress bar will display the current stage: from writing boot partitions to finalizing the file system. Do not interrupt the process or touch the cable, even if the phone screen goes out or changes the color of the indicator.
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If Mi Flash is a Flash All Except Data Storage, try changing the file. USB-A port or cable, often the problem is a lack of power or poor contact.
Alternative method: SP Flash Tool for MediaTek
In cases where standard methods don't work or the device has gone into a deep bootloom, the SP Flash Tool comes to the rescue. This tool works directly with the memory of the smartphone, bypassing the bootloader. For the Redmi 9C NFC, you need a Scatter file (describes the memory card) and firmware image files. This method is more complex and requires accuracy.
Run the SP Flash Tool, download the Scatter file (located in the folder with the unpacked firmware). Make sure that all the necessary items are marked in the partition list, especially Preloader and System. Transferring the phone to BROM (Battery Off Mode) or Meta Mode mode may require closing contacts on the board or using specialized ADB commands, since the standard Fastboot is not used here.
Press the Download button in the program, then connect the phone turned off to the PC. If the MediaTek drivers are installed correctly, the firmware process will begin, displayed by the yellow or purple progress bar, and successful completion will be marked with a green ring with a tick.
- 🛠 The method allows you to restore the device even with a damaged loader.
- 📉 Risk of damage IMEI and serial numbers if incorrectly configured above.
- 🔌 Requires a stable MediaTek driver VCOM USB Port.
- ⚡ Don’t turn off PC power during the process, it’s fatal for the board.
What to do if SP Flash Tool is an error S_BROM_CMD_STARTCMD_FAIL?
Possible errors and their solution
The firmware process rarely goes perfectly smoothly for all users. One of the common problems is the MissMatchingImageAndPhone error in Mi Flash. It occurs when the firmware version does not match the bootloader version or regional binding. The solution is one: download another version of the software that strictly matches the current state of the device or reset everything to the factory settings before you try again.
Another common situation is endless booting (Bootloop) after installing a customized Recovery or firmware. Often this is solved by double wiping (cleaning the Data and Cache partitions) inside the TWRP. If the phone does not turn on at all (black screen, charging only reaction), try clamping the volume and power buttons for 15-20 seconds for a forced reboot.
A critical point when working with MediaTek is the integrity of the partition NVRAM, stored IMEI and MAC-address, when used SP Flash Tool: Never uncheck security alerts if you are not sure what you are doing.
If your computer doesn’t see your phone in Fastboot mode, check Windows Device Manager.The device can appear as “Unknown Device” or "QUSB_BULK". In this case, you need to manually update the driver, indicating the path to the folder with the drivers Xiaomi or Google USB Driver.
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90% of errors in Redmi firmware 9C NFC substandard USB-cable or lack of administrator rights of the software-shifter.