The process of flashing the Xiaomi Redmi Note smartphone 10S You may need to upgrade for a variety of reasons, from a simple desire to upgrade to a more recent version of Android. OTA-The notification didn't come, until it had to be restored to work after a failed experiment, and in 2026, this model remains popular because of its balanced screen. AMOLED It is important to understand that software failures or the obsolescence of official support may cause the user to look for alternative ways to update.
There are two main methods of restoring or updating the system: through the built-in Recovery menu (locally) and through a computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility in Fastboot mode. The choice of the specific method depends on the current state of your gadget. If the phone is switched on and running steadily, but you want to change the firmware region or version MIUI/HyperOS, If the device is hanging on the logo, goes into an endless reboot or does not respond to touch at all, a deeper method with the PC will be required.
Before you start any manipulation of system files, it is critical to understand the risks, and any interruption of the data recording process can lead to irreversible consequences.
⚠️ Attention: You do all the flashing at your own risk.The author of the article is not responsible for turning your smartphone into a brick».
Preparation of the device and collection of necessary tools
The success of the operation depends on the quality of preparation. You will need not only the firmware file itself, but also the correct software environment on the computer. First, make sure that the battery charge of your Redmi Note 10S is at least 60%. The firmware process is energy intensive, and a sudden power outage at a critical moment can damage memory parts.
The second key element is the original USB-Cheap charging cables often don't support data transmission or have high resistance, causing the connection to break during recording. USB on the computer motherboard (back of the system unit), avoiding use USB-hubs and front panels of the case, where the voltage can be unstable.
For the work you will need the following components:
- 📱 Xiaomi Redmi Note Smartphone 10S Unlocked bootloader (for the Fastboot method).
- 💻 Windows PC (preferably version 10 or 11) with drivers installed ADB and Fastboot.
- 🔗 Original. USB Type-C high-quality cable.
- 💾 Firmware archive corresponding to the codename of the model).
Pay special attention to the code name of your model. Redmi Note 10S is rosemary. Using the firmware from Redmi Note 10 (codename mojito or sunny) is strictly prohibited and guaranteed to bring the device down. The firmware for Redmi Note 10S is codenamed "rosemary" - you can not confuse it with other models of the series.
☑️ Checklist of preparations
Selecting the type of firmware: Recovery or Fastboot
Users are often confused about the types of archives available on official resources and third-party portals. Understanding the difference between them is the key to successful installation. Recovery files are.zip extension and are designed to be installed directly through the smartphone recovery menu or through the Explorer application.
Fastboot firmware is an archive with the extension.tgz. They contain many partitions of the system (boot, system, vendor, etc.) They require a computer, the Mi Flash Tool utility and an unlocked bootloader to install, which allows you not only to update the system, but also to completely clean the device, returning it to the factory state.
The comparison table will help to determine the choice:
| Parameter | Recovery ROM (.zip) | Fastboot ROM (.tgz) |
|---|---|---|
| The need for a PC | Not required | I'll be sure. |
| Unlocking the loader | Not always (depending on the region) | Strictly mandatory |
| Data retention | Possibly (on update) | Most often removed |
| Change of region | Limited. | Possible (Global) ↔ CN) |
If you are planning to switch from Chinese to global or vice versa, only the Fastboot method is suitable for you. If you simply change the MIUI version within one region, you can limit yourself to a Recovery file.
⚠️ Warning: Trying to install Global firmware over Chinese (or vice versa) by updating without completely cleaning up the data will lead to a cyclical reboot.
Instructions: Install firmware through Recovery
This is the safest way for beginners, because it doesn't require complex command line manipulations. Download the current.zip archive for the rosemary model and put it in the root of the smartphone's internal memory. Don't pack the file into additional archives, it should be free.
Then you go to Recovery mode. To do this, turn off the phone completely. Then press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the MI logo appears, then release the power button, keep the volume high. You will be taken to the main menu, where the navigation is done by the volume buttons and the selection is by the power button.
The algorithm of actions in the Recovery menu:
- 🔍 Select the interface language (usually available in English and Chinese).
- 📂 Click on Wipe Data if you want a full reset (recommended for problems).
- 📥 Select the Install item Update.zip or Apply Update -> Choose from internal storage.
- ✅ Confirm the action by selecting the previously downloaded firmware file.
Once confirmed, the verification and installation process will begin. The screen can go out and light up again, which is normal. Once you've completed the operation, select Reboot. The first run can take up to 5-7 minutes, as the system optimizes applications.
💡
If the phone hangs on the logo for a long time after firmware, try to do a full reset (Wipe All Data) through the same Recovery menu.
Fastboot and Mi Flash Tool
Fastboot is the most powerful tool in the service engineer's arsenal, and it allows you to rewrite all the sections of the file system clean. First, unpack the downloaded.tgz archive into the root of the C disk so that the path to the folder is short, like this, C:\rosemary_global_images. Long paths with Cyrillic often cause errors when writing.
Put your smartphone in Fastboot mode. Turn the device off, then press the volume button and plug in. USB-And you'll see a picture of a hare repairing an android on the screen, and it says, FASTBOOT. If you only see the charging logo, it means the phone hasn’t moved to the right mode – try another cable or port.
Run the Mi Flash Tool on behalf of the administrator. Press the Refresh button and your serial number device should appear in the list. In the lower right corner, select the firmware mode:
- 🧹 Clean all – complete data cleanup (recommended).
- 🔄 Save user data – attempts to save data (may cause errors when changing versions).
- 🚫 Clean all and lock – Clean and re-lock the bootloader (only for original firmware!).
Press the Flash button and wait for the process to end. The green bar in the Progress column and the Success status signify success.
What to do if Mi Flash is making an error?
Typical errors and methods of their elimination
Even if you follow the instructions, you can have unexpected situations, and one of the most common problems is the Miss matching image and device error, which means you're trying to flash the wrong model, and check the code name rosemary again in the properties of the firmware file.
Another common problem is hanging out during the check or write stage (e.g. 30% or 99%).
⚠️ Warning: If the process is 99% up and it doesn't move for more than 10 minutes, don't be in a hurry to turn off the cable.
If the phone does not turn on after firmware and only the indicator or logo burns:
- Try to perform Hard Reset through Recovery.
- Check if the boot loader is blocked again (Device is locked error).
- Make sure the Android version has not been downgraded (downgrade is often blocked by Anti-rollback protection).
💡
The main reason for most errors is incompatibility of the bootloader and firmware versions or the use of an unoriginal cable.