Unclarifying Xiaomi firmware: a complete guide for beginners and experienced users

Xiaomi’s smartphone firmware is a process that requires preparation, and one of the key steps is to properly unpack the archive with firmware. Many users face problems: the archive does not open with standard means, the files inside have unfamiliar extensions, the folder structure seems chaotic. In this article, we will examine all the nuances of unbreaking firmware for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, from choosing the right tool to checking the integrity of files.

It's important to understand that Fastboot and Recovery firmware are packaged differently. The former are often a set of files with the.img extension, and the latter are a single.zip package that doesn't always need to be unpacked. We'll look at both cases, and we'll also talk about how to avoid common mistakes, like file damage when downloading or operating system incompatibility. If you plan to manually stitch your device, this guide will save you hours of forum searches.

Xiaomi firmware types and their archive formats

Before you start unpacking, you need to determine what type of firmware you are working with. Xiaomi has two main categories:

• 📦 Fastboot firmware is a complete system image that is installed via Fastboot mode on a PC, usually packaged in.tgz or.zip and contains files with.img extensions (e.g.,.img, boot.img, system.img).
• 🔄 Recovery firmware – updates that are installed through stock or custom Recovery (TWRP). This is usually a single.zip file that does not require unpacking before installation.
• 🔧 Incremental updates are small patches (usually.zip) that update the system to a new version without completely flashing it.

There are also double-compression archives, such as.tar.gz or.zip.001 (multivolume archives), which are often used for large firmware over 2 GB. If you downloaded firmware from Xiaomi's official website (for example, through MIUI Downloads), look for an extension that will tell you what tool you need to unpack.

⚠️ Note: Firmware for devices with MediaTek processors (for example, Redmi Note 11 or MediaTek processors) POCO M4 Pros may have additional files with the.mbn or.bin extension, and if they are deleted or damaged, they will cause the device to blink!

Necessary tools for unpacking

The choice of unblocking software depends on the firmware format and your operating system, and here is the minimum toolkit that covers 99% of the cases:

Fastboot firmware in.tgz format may also require the tar utility (part of the.tgz format). Linux/macOS and available through Git Bash or Windows WSL). If the archive is password protected (rarely, but found in custom firmware), use WinRAR or PeaZip with support AES-encryption.

Download the tools only from official websites:

• 🔗 7-Zip — Free and supports most formats.
• 🔗 PeaZip – an open source alternative.
• 🔗 The Unarchiver is the best choice for macOS.

Step-by-step instructions: how to uncrush the firmware

Consider the process on the example of Fastboot firmware for Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro (codename sweet) Suppose you downloaded a file sweet_global_images_V13.0.4.0.SKFMIXM_20221010.0000.00_12.0_global_100d1a00f4.tgz. Here's what we need to do:

1. Check the integrity of the archive. MD5 or SHA1 A hash of the downloaded file with what is listed on the Xiaomi website: 🖥️ On Windows: Use the certutil utility -hashfile filename MD5 command-line. 🐧 Nana Linux/macOS: execute md5sum filename.tgz If the hashes do not match - download the file again!
2. Unpack the archive. Right-click on the.tgz file and select 7-Zip → Unpack here. You'll get a folder of files: sweet_global_images_V13.0.4.0.SKFMIXM_20221010.0000.00_12.0_global/ ├── boot.img ├── dtbo.img ├── system.img ├── vbmeta.img ├── flash_all.sh ├── flash_all_lock.sh └──... (file)
3. Check the structure. The folder must be present: 📄 Firmware scripts (flash_all.bat Windows, flash_all.sh for Linux/macOS). 🖼️ Images of sections (boot.img, recovery.img, system.img etc.). 📋 File. flash_all_lock.sh — Its use will block the loader!

If you are working with Recovery firmware (.zip file), you don’t need to unpack it, just transfer it to the device and install it through Recovery. Exception: if you modify the firmware (for example, delete applications before installing), then unpack it, make changes and package it back to.zip.

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If you unpack.tgz with an "Impossible Archive" error, try renaming the file to.tar.gz and try again, due to the dual extensions handling in some archivers.

Common mistakes and their solutions

Even experienced users sometimes face problems when unpacking firmware, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

• 🔴 "The archive is damaged" or "CRC Failed. Causes: The file is not fully downloaded (check the size - it must match the site's), problems with hard drive or RAM (check the size). HDD The archive is password protected (try standard combinations like xiaomi or 1234). Solution: download the file again using a different browser or download manager (e.g. Internet Download Manager).
• 🟡 There are no.img files after unpacking. Chances are you've unpacked only the first layer of the archive. For example,.tgz might have another.tar embedded. Unpack it again.
• 🟢 Unknown extension of.ozip or.payload.bin. This is a firmware format for devices with Dynamic Partitions (for example, Xiaomi Mi). 11 or POCO F3). Use Payload Dumper: Python to unpack payload_dumper.py payload.bin You can download it from GitHub.

⚠️ Note: If there is no file in the firmware archive flash_all.sh or flash_all.bat, This may mean that the firmware is designed to be installed manually through the Mi Flash Tool, in which case the unpacked.img files need to be downloaded manually into the tool, specifying each partition separately.

Work with multivolume archives (zip.001, zip.002, etc.)

Firmware over 2 GB is often broken down into multiple parts for easy downloading, such as:

miui_SWEETGlobal_V13.0.4.0.SKFMIXM_100d1a00f4_12.0.zip.001




miui_SWEETGlobal_V13.0.4.0.SKFMIXM_100d1a00f4_12.0.zip.002




miui_SWEETGlobal_V13.0.4.0.SKFMIXM_100d1a00f4_12.0.zip.003

To combine them into one archive:

1. Place all the parts in one folder. Make sure the file names match (e.g. proshivka.zip.001, proshivka.zip.002).
2. Use it. 7-Zip or HJSplit: 🖥️ V 7-Zip: select the first file (.001), right-click and select 7-Zip → Combine files. 🔧 In HJSplit, select the Join option and point the way to the first part.

The resulting.zip file can be unpacked with standard means.

If the archive is not opened after the merger, check:

• 🔍 Whether all parts are downloaded (a missed.002 will render the archive inoperable).
• 🔄 File ordering (they must go sequentially:.001,.002,.003).

Checking unpacked files before firmware

Before you flash the device, it's critical to make sure that all files are in place and not damaged.

1. Key Files: Firmware Type Mandatory Files Optional Files Fastboot boot.img, system.img, vbmeta.img dtbo.img, vendor.img, modem.img Recovery (zip) META-INF/com/google/android/update-binary boot.img (if it is a full firmware) Payload.bin Any file (need unpacking via Payload Dumper) –
2. File checksums. Compare MD5 or SHA1 unpacked.img files to reference values (if provided by the developer). For example, boot.img: certutil -hashfile boot.img MD5
3. File sizes. Compare the sizes of key.img with the expected sizes: system.img — usually 2-4 GB. boot.img — 32-64 MB. vendor.img — 500 MB-1.5 GB.

If the size is very different (e.g. system.img weighs 100MB), the file is corrupted.

⚠️ Note: Never edit files vbmeta.img or dtbo.img manually without understanding the consequences! These sections are responsible for checking the integrity of the system (AVB). Their damage will lead to the inability to load the device even after successful firmware.

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If there is no file in the unpacked firmware flash_all.sh, but there is an image folder with.img, use the Mi Flash Tool in Select mode and manually specify the path to each file.

Unblocking Firmware for Dynamic Partitions Devices

Xiaomi smartphones based on Android 10+ (for example, Mi 10, POCO X3 Pro, Redmi K40) often use Dynamic Partitions technology.

• 📦 File. payload.bin (inside the.zip archive).
• 📄 A set of.img files with non-standard names (e.g, super.img).

To work with payload.bin:

1. Download Payload Dumper: git clone https://github.com/ssut/payload-dumper.git cd payload-dumper pip install -r requirements.txt
2. Unpack. payload.bin: python payload_dumper.py payload.bin This will result in an output folder with.img files.
3. For Fastboot firmware, use the command: fastboot flash super.img

If the firmware contains super.img, it means that the super section includes system, vendor, and product.

• 🔧 Don't unpack. super.img manually – sew it all together.
• 📌 Use the current version of the Mi Flash Tool (at least 2020.3.14.0).

FAQ: Frequent questions about unblocking Xiaomi firmware