How to Check Updates on Xiaomi: The Complete 2026 Guide

Xiaomi smartphones, TVs and smart devices regularly receive firmware updates that improve performance, fix bugs and add new features. However, not all users know how to properly check for new versions of software or why the device does not update automatically. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to check for updates on different types of Xiaomi equipment, from MIUI smartphones to Mi TVs and Mi Band smartwatches.

The Xiaomi ecosystem is that updates can come in waves, first for testers, then for a limited number of users, and then for everyone. If your device doesn't see fresh firmware, that doesn't always mean a problem. We'll tell you how to speed up the process, what to do when you download errors, and how to manually install the update if the automatic method doesn't work.

1. Standard method: checking updates through settings

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in update feature in the settings menu, which is suitable for all Xiaomi smartphones, including the Redmi, POCO and Black Shark models, as well as for Mi TV and Redmi TVs.

Instructions for smartphones:

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to About Phone (or About Device on new MIUI versions).
3. Tap on the item Update MIUI (on some models - System Update).
4. Press the Check Update button.

If the update is available, the system will prompt you to download it. The screen will display the firmware version, file size and changelog list. For TVs, the path is similar: Settings → About TV → Software Update.

Check the battery (minimum 50%)

Connect to a stable Wi-Fi

Free up 2-3 GB of memory

Close the background annexes-->

⚠️ Note: On some models POCO (for example, POCO X3 Pro) the path to updates may be different: Settings → System system → Update MIUI for POCO. If you do not find the section, use the search in the settings on request "update".

Manual check through the Update app

Xiaomi smartphones have a separate system firmware management app, Update (or Updater on global versions), which duplicates the functionality from the settings, but sometimes shows updates faster.

How to use it:

• 🔍 Find an icon on the home screen or in the app menu called Update (the arrow icon in the circle).
• 📥 Open the app and wait for automatic check (or click Check for updates manually).
• ⚙️ There are three dots in the upper right corner – you can turn on Auto Download over Wi-Fi or Notifications for new versions here.

The advantage of this method is that the Update app sometimes shows beta versions of the firmware for testers, and if you're a part of MIUI Beta, you can switch between stable and test channels.

3. Verify updates via Recovery Mode

If the smartphone doesn’t turn on or is stuck on the Mi logo but you need to update your firmware, you can use Recovery Mode, which is also useful if the standard update gets stuck during the boot phase.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the device (clip Power + Volume up for 10 seconds).
2. Press the Power + Volume combination up and hold until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select Update (or Apply update) with volume buttons and confirm the choice with the power button.
4. Connect your smartphone to your PC and transfer the firmware file (.zip format) to the root folder of the device. or select Update via OTA if the file is already downloaded.

List of supported file formats for updating via Recovery:

⚠️ Note: Installing firmware through Recovery resets Dalvik-cache settings, which can slow down the system after the first turn on.

Update via Mi Flash Tool (for power users)

If standard methods do not work or you need to "roll back" the firmware to an older version, use the official Mi Flash Tool utility. This method is suitable for unlocked bootloaders and requires connecting the smartphone to a PC.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Windows computer (7/10/11) and installed Xiaomi drivers.
• 📱 Smartphone with unlocked bootloader (bootloader).
• 🔗 Cable USB Type-C (original, undamaged).
• 📁 Firmware in.tgz format for your model (download from the official website).

Algorithm of action:

1. Download and install the Mi Flash Tool from the official website.
2. Unpack the firmware archive in a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\MIUI\).
3. Turn off the smartphone and put it in Fastboot mode (clamp Power + Volume down).
4. Connect the device to the PC, launch the Mi Flash Tool and press Refresh – the program must determine the smartphone.
5. Specify the path to the firmware folder and select Clean all (full clean) or Save user data (save data).
6. Press Flash and wait until it is completed (usually 5-10 minutes).

1. Reinstall drivers via Mi PC Suite.

2. Use another USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0).

3. run the program on behalf of the administrator.

4. disable the antivirus (it can block drivers).

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5. Check updates on Xiaomi smart devices

Not only are Xiaomi smartphones and TVs getting updates, but Mi Band smartwatches, Mi Smart Speaker speakers, Mi Router routers, and even Mi Robot Vacuum robot vacuum cleaners are periodically updating their firmware. Let's look at how to test the relevance of software on popular gadgets.

For smart watches Mi Band 7/8 and Xiaomi Watch S3:

• 📱 Open the Mi Fitness app (or Zepp Life for global versions).
• 🔄 Go to the device profile → Settings of the device → Firmware update.
• 📥 If a new version is available, follow the instructions on the screen (the watch must be charged at least 30 times%).

For the Xiaomi Mi Router routers:

• 🌐 Connect to the router network and open the address 192.168.31.1 in the browser.
• 🔑 Enter the login/password (by default — admin/admin).
• 🔄 Go to the firmware update (System or Advanced section).

For the Mi Robot Vacuum robot vacuum cleaner:

• 🤖 In the Mi Home app, select your vacuum cleaner.
• ⚙️ Click on three dots in the upper right corner → Settings of the device → Firmware update.

Smartphone

Television

Smart watches

router

Vacuum cleaner

Other-->

6. Solving Update Problems

Sometimes checking for updates ends up with errors: the system writes Updates Unavailable, the download is interrupted, or the device freezes after installation.

Error: "Can't check the updates"

• 📶 Check your internet connection (better use Wi-Fi than mobile data).
• 🕒 Make sure the date and time on the device are set automatically (Settings) → Additionally. → Date and time).
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone and repeat the check.
• 🗑️ Clear the app's cache Update (Settings) → Annexes → Update → Warehouse → Clear the cache).

Error: “Not enough memory to boot”

• 📱 Free up space in your internal memory (at least) 1.5-2 GB).
• 🔄 Try downloading the update via PC and installing it manually (see the section on Recovery Mode).
• 🗃️ Move the files to SD-Map or cloud (Mi Cloud).

Error: "The device does not support this update"

• 🔍 Make sure you download the firmware for your model (check in Settings). → The phone. → Model).
• 🌍 If you have a global version (Global), do not install firmware for China and vice versa.
• 🔄 Try to roll back to the previous version via the Mi Flash Tool, then repeat the update.

⚠️ If after the update, the smartphone stopped turning on or got stuck on the screensaver, do not panic: wait 10-15 If the problem persists, then go through the Fastboot with a complete data reset).

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If the upgrade is interrupted during the installation phase, never remove the battery or force the device to shut down, wait until the process is complete or (at last) restart the smartphone in Recovery Mode and re-install.

7.How to speed up receiving updates

If your device hasn't received updates in a while, but you're sure that the new firmware has already come out, you can try to speed up the process.

Method 1: Change the firmware region

• 🌐 Install. VPN servers in India or Europe (e.g. ProtonVPN).
• 🔄 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Update MIUI and check for updates.
• 📥 If a new version appears, download it, then turn it off. VPN and install the firmware.

Method 2: Connect to a Beta Testing Program

• 📝 Sign up for the Mi Community forum and apply for membership. MIUI Beta.
• 🔑 After approval in the app Update will be an option to switch to the beta channel.
• ⚠️ Please note that beta versions may contain errors!

Method 3: Manual installation via ADB Sideload

• 🖥️ Download the full service package (.zip) from the Xiaomi Firmware Updater website.
• 🔌 Connect the smartphone to the PC and put it in mode ADB Sideload (Recovery → Apply update → Apply from ADB).
• 📂 In the command line, type: adb sideload [file name].zip

These methods help to get an update before the official release, but use them with caution - unstable firmware can lead to failures.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi updates