Many users are faced with a situation where the Xiaomi smartphone starts to work unstable, freeze or quickly discharge. Often the solution is a complete reinstallation of the operating system, which allows you to return the device to factory speed and fix software errors. This process, called firmware, may seem difficult for a beginner, but with strict adherence to the algorithm of actions, it is quite possible to do at home without going to the service center.
Before you start taking action, you need to be clear about what type of recovery you need. There is a difference between simply resetting your settings and deep flashing that affects the system partition. In this article, we will discuss all the nuances of preparing, choosing the method and the immediate process of installing a new version of MIUI or HyperOS.
It is worth noting that self-replacement of software always carries certain risks. Wrong actions can lead to locking the device, so it is extremely important to carefully read each step of the instructions and check the compatibility of files. Your goal is not just to update the software, but to do it safely for hardware and personal data.
Preparation of the device and collection of necessary tools
You need to start working long before you connect the cable to your computer. The first step is to back up all your important data, because the internal memory will be completely cleaned up during the flashing process. Save your contacts, photos and documents to the Mi Cloud cloud storage or to an external medium so you don't lose them forever.
You will need a quality one. USB-Cheap cables often fail to provide stable current and data transmission, which can cause a connection to break at a critical point in the system file writing. Also make sure that the battery charge of the smartphone is at least 60% so that the device does not turn off in the middle of the process.
The drivers must be installed to run on the computer, and without them, Windows will not be able to correctly recognize the phone in a special mode. Usually, the drivers are installed automatically with the flasher, but in some cases they have to be downloaded separately from the manufacturer's official website.
β οΈ Note: Use of damaged or unstable cable USB-The port can lead to the fact that the phone goes into Hard Brick mode, from which recovery is possible only through the programmer.
An important step is unlocking the bootloader. Without this procedure, installing global firmware on the Chinese version or switching from MIUI to custom builds is impossible. The process of obtaining unlocking takes from 7 to 168 hours and requires binding the Mi Account account in the developer settings.
Selecting the type of firmware: Recovery or Fastboot
Users are often confused about the types of files to update, but the difference is fundamental: Recovery firmware has a.zip extension and is designed to be installed via the phone's own recovery menu. It's a gentler method that doesn't usually require an unlocked bootloader if you're upgrading within the same region.
The second type is Fastboot, which is distributed as a.tgz archive. This method allows you not only to update the system, but also to completely clean all memory partitions, fix bootloader errors and even roll back to an older version of Android.
There is also a division by region: Global (Global), CN (Chinese), EU (European) and RU (Russian). Installing the firmware in another region requires prior unlocking, for example, if you try to put the global version on top of the Chinese version without unlocking, you will get a compatibility error.
When choosing a version, consider build stability: Stable versions contain minimal errors and are recommended for everyday use; Developer versions receive updates more often, but may contain bugs that affect the autonomy and operation of applications.
Firmware method through Recovery (without PC)
This is a good way for those who want to upgrade or reinstall the system with only the firmware file and the smartphone itself. Download the.zip archive that matches your model and put it in the root of internal memory. Don't pack the file into additional archives, it should be kept separate.
Go to the phone's settings menu, select About Phone and click on the MIUI version. In the window that opens, click three dots in the corner and select Select Firmware File. The system will find the downloaded archive and prompt you to start the update process.
Once confirmed, the file will be checked and the installation will begin, the screen will go out, the Xiaomi logo and the download bar will appear, during which time it is strictly forbidden to interrupt the process, press buttons or try to restart the device.
- π± Download the.zip firmware file for your model.
- πΎ Move the archive to the root folder of internal memory.
- βοΈ Go to Settings. β The phone. β Version. MIUI.
- βΆοΈ Select a file and launch an update.
If after the reboot, the system requires a password from an account that you have forgotten, this means that the Find Device function was active, in which case you will not be able to log in without entering your account data, which is a security measure.
βοΈ Checking before Recovery-Firmware
Fastboot Firmware with Mi Flash Tool
The most reliable and professional method is to use the Mi Flash Tool on your computer, which allows you to reanimate the brick, change the region, or install the system completely, first by unloading the downloaded firmware archive.tgz into a separate folder, the path to which does not contain Cyrillic characters.
Put your smartphone in Fastboot mode. Turn off your phone and press the power and volume buttons at the same time. The screen will show an image of a rabbit repairing an android, or the words FASTBOOT. Connect the device to the PC with a cable.
Launch the Mi Flash Tool on behalf of the administrator. Click Refresh to detect the connected device. In the address bar, select the path to the folder with the unpacked firmware. In the lower right corner, select the firmware mode: clean all (clean all) or save user data.
adb reboot bootloaderOnce you select the mode, click the Flash button, and it will start the memory sector recording process, which can take 100 to 300 seconds, the progress bar will fill up, and the log will show you the operations being performed, and the success status is indicated by success status in green.
β οΈ Note: When choosing the "Clean All" mode + Lock, make sure the firmware matches the region of the device, and installing global firmware on a Chinese phone, then locking the bootloader, will turn the machine into a brickΒ».
Comparison of methods of installing updates
To make it easier for you to choose the right option, we have prepared a comparative table of the main characteristics of firmware methods, each of which has its advantages depending on the current situation with your gadget.
For users who are afraid of losing data, the best method will be the Recovery method with saving data, but it does not always help with serious system errors.
| Parameter | Recovery (.zip) | Fastboot (.tgz) | OTA (Online) |
|---|---|---|---|
| I need a PC. | No. | Yes. | No. |
| Unlocking Bootloader | Not always. | I'll be sure. | No. |
| Loss of data | By choice. | Mostly yes. | No. |
| Change of region | Hardly. | Yes. | No. |
| Risk of error | Low. | Medium. | Minimum |
The choice of method also depends on the state of the current software. If the phone turns on and works steadily, you can try it. OTA-If the device is cyclically restarted or hangs on the logo, Fastboot is the only working option.
Common mistakes and ways to solve them
In the process of flashing, users often encounter error codes that can scare the inexperienced person, but most of them have a logical explanation and solution. For example, the Miss matching image and device error indicates that you are trying to flash firmware from another phone model.
Another common problem is the Flash Error error at the end of the process, which is often caused by bad luck. USB-cable, port use USB 3.0 (sometimes helping to switch to 2.0) or an antivirus that blocks file writing.
If the phone has gone into an endless bootloop after the firmware, try resetting it completely through the Recovery menu (Wipe Data).If that doesn't help, the boot section may have been damaged and you'll need to re-rout in Clean All mode.
- π« Error 7: Not enough space or damaged firmware file.
- π Connection Error: Check drivers and cable.
- π Account Error: Requires you to enter your Mi Account password after resetting.
- π Reverse version: Impossible without unlocked bootloader.
It is important to understand that rollback to an older version of Android (for example, from Android 13 to 12) is possible only with a complete data cleanup and unlocked bootloader.
Primary setting after flashing
After the successful completion of the process and the first boot, you will see a welcome screen, the system will be clean, as if you just bought a phone, at this stage, it is important to take your time and carefully go through the initial setup, recovering data from the backup.
The first thing to do is check the MIUI version and the availability of new security updates. Often, after flashing, small patches come to fix bugs from a particular build, and it is recommended that you check the sensor, microphone and camera immediately.
Remember to reconfigure biometric protection and link payment services. If you have changed your firmware region, some local services may not be available or require additional customization. If you install global firmware on a Chinese phone, you may need to manually install Google services, although they are built in by default in modern versions of HyperOS.
β οΈ Note: After the first boot, the system may run slowly during the 10-15 It's a process of optimizing apps and cache, so let the phone lie on charge.
The final touch will be to install the necessary applications and check the operation of NFC and other communication modules, and if everything is functioning correctly, you can consider the flashing procedure successfully completed.