How to download full firmware for Xiaomi through the menu “Three dots”: the official way without risks

Why is the “Three Dots” Firmware the Most Reliable Way?

Downloading full firmware for Xiaomi via the Three Dots menu (aka MIUI bootloader) is an official method that minimizes the risks of “bricking” the device. Unlike third-party sites or tools like MiFlash, here you get firmware directly from Xiaomi servers, which guarantees its integrity and compatibility with your model. This method is especially relevant if you plan to unlock the bootloader, restore the smartphone after a crash or just want to have a backup of the original software.

The Three Dots menu is hidden in MIUI's settings for a reason: it's designed for power users who understand the consequences of their actions. It's a place to download both stable and development versions of firmware, including Fastboot (for full flashing) and Recovery (for stock recovery upgrades), and the main advantage is that you don't have to search for firmware on third-party resources where you're likely to run into modified or outdated files.

However, there are nuances. For example, not all Xiaomi models support this method the same: for some devices (especially older or regional versions), the Three Dots menu may not be available or offer a limited choice of firmware, and the firmware downloaded through this menu is tied to your Mi Account, which makes it difficult to transfer it to third parties.

What are the three-pointed features available?

In the Three Dots menu, you will find two main types of firmware:

• 📱 Recovery ROM — zip archive, which is installed via stock recovery, is suitable for updating the system without a complete data reset, but will not help if the device does not turn on or the bootloader is blocked.
• 🔧 Fastboot ROM — A folder with.img files and scripts for firmware through MiFlash or fastboot. Used to completely reinstall the system, unlock the bootloader or restore a “brick” device.

The menu can also display:

• 🌍 Global (Global), Chinese (China) and EEA (Europe) firmware versions – choose the one that fits your model and region.
• 🔄 Stable and Developer builds, the latter updated weekly but may contain bugs.
• 📅 Firmware for specific versions MIUI (for example, MIUI 14 or HyperOS. Pay attention to the build number – it must match or be newer than the current version on your device.

Important: If your Xiaomi device was purchased in China but you are using global firmware, downloading the Chinese version via the Three Dots can result in Google services being blocked. Before downloading, check the current firmware in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.

Step-by-step: how to open the menu "Three points"

The Three Dots menu is hidden in MIUI settings, and the path to it depends on the shell version. Below is a universal instruction for most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices (relevant to MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS):

1. Open the Settings app on your smartphone.
2. Go to the About Phone (or About Device) section.
3. Tap it several times (5-7) on the MIUI version until you have become a developer! (if you don’t already have one).
4. Return to the main Settings menu and open the Additional (or Advanced Settings) section.
5. Find the Developers item and turn on the USB Debugging Toggle (optional, but recommended).
6. Scroll down and find System Update (or MIUI Update).
7. In the upper right corner of the screen, click on the icon three dots (⋮) — That's the hidden menu.

If the Three Dots menu is missing, it is possible to:

• 🔒 Your device runs on custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience).
• 🌐 You have regional firmware installed where this feature is disabled (for example, for some Indian or European models).
• 📱 The device is too old (like the Xiaomi Mi 5 or Redmi Note 3) and Xiaomi has removed support for this menu.

Check the device model in Settings → About the phone → Model

Make sure that the battery charge is > 50%

Connect to stable Wi-Fi (download can weigh 2-4 GB)

Disable VPN (can block access to Xiaomi servers)

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Download firmware: detailed analysis of the menu "Three points"

When you open the Three Dots menu, you'll see a few options. Let's look at each of them.

To download the full firmware, select Download the full package. The system will automatically determine your model and offer available versions.

• 📌 Firmware type: Recovery or Fastboot. Fastboot is suitable for most tasks.
• 🌎 Region: Choose the same version as you currently have (e.g. if you have Global, don’t download China).
• 🔢 File size: Fastboot firmware weighs 2-4 GB, Recovery – 1-2 GB.

The download may take from 10 You can get a little bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of downloaded_rom root-catalog.

Where is the downloaded firmware stored and how to transfer it to the PC?

After a successful download, the firmware is saved along the way:

/sdcard/downloaded_rom/

In this folder you will find:

• 📂 A folder with the model name (e.g, lmi_global_images_... for Redmi K30 Pro) is a Fastboot firmware.
• 📄.zip file (for example, fw_lmi_miui_LMIGlobal_...) — It's a recovery firmware.

To transfer firmware to the computer:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC through USB-cable (select File Transfer Mode).
2. Copy the folder. downloaded_rom hard-drive.
3. If the firmware is Fastboot, don’t unpack it – it should remain as an archive for MiFlash.

Important: If you plan to flash your device through MiFlash, make sure that:

• 🔌 You have installed Xiaomi drivers (you can download from the official website).

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If you downloaded firmware for another device (like a friend), rename the firmware folder by adding a smartphone model at the beginning of the name, which will help avoid confusion when you use it later.

Errors and problems when downloading firmware

Even on the official Three Dots menu, you can get errors, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If the Three Dots menu doesn’t open at all, try:

⚠️ Warning: If you stop turning on after you download the firmware, don't panic. Connect it to your PC, start MiFlash, and run the Fastboot firmware in clean all mode. In 90% of cases, this will restore the smartphone to work.

What to do after downloading the firmware?

Now that you have a full firmware, decide what you need it for:

• 📥 Backup: Save firmware on a cloud drive (like Google Drive) or external drive.

If you’re flashing a device for the first time, follow a rule: never use firmware designed for another model or region. For example, firmware for the Redmi Note 10 Pro (sweet) will not work for the Redmi Note 10 (mojito), even if the devices look similar.

To check the compatibility of the firmware with your device:

1. Find out the model’s coded name in the Device Info app (or through ADB: adb shell getprop ro.product.device).
2. Compare it to the firmware folder name (e.g., lmi for Redmi K30 Pro).

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Three-Dot firmware is the only official way to get the full Fastboot package without the risk of downloading a fake, but installing such firmware will still require an unlocked bootloader (except in cases of Recovery recovery).

FAQ: Frequent questions about firmware through the Three Dots