How to safely remove the update MIUI 13 on Xiaomi smartphones: 3 proven ways

Why do users want to return the old version of MIUI?

Upgrading to MIUI 13 promised improved performance, new features and energy optimization. However, in practice, many owners of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro, Poco X3 Pro or Mi 11 faced unexpected problems, from accidental reboots to critically fast battery discharge. According to surveys on the 4PDA and XDA Developers forums, up to 30% of users are considering rolling back to a previous version of the firmware.

The main reasons for the downgrade are software bugs that were not fixed in patches. For example, MIUI 13.0.4 for the Redmi Note 9 Pro complained massively about the non-functioning Always-On Display, and Poco F3 owners noted lags when scrolling the interface. Another strong argument is incompatibility with custom cores or Magisk modules, which stopped working correctly after the upgrade.

It's important to understand that firmware rollback is not just "install the old version," it's a complex procedure that can lead to data loss, bootloader lockdown, or even a device "brick" if you break the sequence of actions, so before you start, you should weigh all the risks and prepare backups.

Preparing for a rollback: what to do before the start

The first and most critical step is to unlock the bootloader. Without that, none of the rollback methods will work. Note that Xiaomi officially only allows unlocking through the Mi Unlock Tool, but the process can take up to 72 hours due to company restrictions.

• 📱 Smartphone with at least 60% battery charge (risk of shutdown during the procedure)
• 💻 Computer on Windows 10/11 with the Defender and firewall disabled
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable (cheap analogues can interrupt the connection)
• 📁 Backup of data (photos, contacts, SMS) Mi Cloud or Titanium Backup
• 🔐 Mi Account tied to the device (unblocking is impossible without it)

Pay special attention to drivers. Install the latest version of the Mi Flash Tool and the Xiaomi package USB Drivers from the official website. If your device is not detected in Fastboot mode, try connecting it to another one. USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0) or use an externally powered hub.

⚠️ Note: If your smartphone was purchased in China (suffixed firmware version) CN), The rollback will require the same regional firmware, either a global (Global) or a European one (EEA) Chinese version will result in Google Services being blocked.

Make a data backup in Mi Cloud|Check the model and firmware version in Settings → The phone.|Download the correct firmware version (stable, not beta)|Install Mi Unlock Tool and unlock the bootloader|Prepare a cable and PC with an antivirus disabled-->

Method 1: Recovery (without data loss)

This is the most effective method, but it only works if:

1. You are updated by air (OTA) and not by Fastboot.
2. You've got no lockdown on the bootloader.
3. You are rolling back to a version that was installed earlier (e.g., MIUI 13.0.5 to 12.5.8).

Instructions:

1. Download the full firmware package (.zip) for your model from en.miui.com. The file name should contain the word recovery (e.g., recovery, miui_BLOCKOTAGlobal_V12.5.8.0.RKFMIXM_..._recovery.zip).
2. Rename the file to update.zip and move it to the root folder of the smartphone’s internal memory.
3. Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Select a firmware file.
4. Select update.zip and confirm installation. The device will reboot to Recovery and start the process.

If after the reboot, the system requests a password from Mi Account, this means that an Anti-Rollback has been associated with the account, in which case you will have to use Fastboot or Mi Flash Tool.

Method 2: Recoil from Fastboot (for power users)

This method is suitable if:

• 🔄 You want to roll back on any stable version (not necessarily the previous one).
• 🔓 You've got the loader unlocked.
• 💾 You are ready for a complete data reset (including internal memory).

Algorithm of action:

1. Download the Fastboot firmware for your model (a file with the extension.tgz or.zip containing the image folder). Unpack the archive to the root of the C:\ drive (the path should not contain Cyrillic!).
2. Turn off your smartphone and press Volume Down + Power to log into the Fastboot. Connect it to your PC.
3. Open the command line in the firmware folder and do:

fastboot flash boot boot.img


fastboot flash recovery recovery.img




fastboot flash system system.img




fastboot flash vendor vendor.img




fastboot flash product product.img




fastboot flash dtbo dtbo.img




fastboot flash vbmeta vbmeta.img




fastboot erase userdata




fastboot reboot

If the device is stuck on the MI logo after the reboot, it is not suitable for your model or region, in which case you will have to repeat the process with another version or use the Mi Flash Tool.

⚠️ Attention: The fastboot erase userdata and fastboot erase cache commands erase all user data without recovery. If you need to save photos or documents, retrieve them through the user's computer. TWRP (If installed, or connect internal memory as an external drive in Fastboot mode (fastboot mount system command).

Method 3: Use of the Mi Flash Tool (official method)

Mi Flash Tool is a proprietary utility from Xiaomi that allows you to flash devices in EDL (Emergency Download Mode) mode, the advantage of the method is high stability and minimal risk of "brick".

• 🔧 Authorized Developer Account (for new models).
• 📡 You need to download the full firmware package for your model (weight). 2-4 GB).
• 🔄 The process takes 10-15 minutes and resets all settings.

Step-by-step:

1. Install the Mi Flash Tool and Qualcomm 9008 drivers (if your device is on a Snapdragon processor).
2. Unpack the downloaded firmware in a folder without spaces (for example, C:\miui_rollbacks\).
3. Turn off your smartphone and press Volume Up + Volume Down + Power for 10 seconds at the same time to enter EDL mode (the screen will be black).
4. Connect the device to a PC. Device Manager should appear Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008.
5. In Mi Flash Tool, click Select, specify the firmware folder, select Clean All mode and click Flash.

If the Mi Flash Tool is a "Couldn't find phone" error, try:

• 🔌 Reconnect the cable to another USB-port.
• 🔄 Reinstall drivers manually through Device Manager.
• 🖥️ Launch the utility on behalf of the administrator.

💡

If the Mi Flash Tool is 99% freezer, don't turn off the device! Wait 10-15 minutes - often the process is completed successfully, despite the visual "hang".

Solving Common Mistakes in Recoiling

Even with the correct instructions, users face problems, and here are the most common errors and ways to fix them:

If the device does not turn on or cyclically restarts after rollback, try:

1. Log in to Recovery (Loudness up + Power) and make Wipe Data.
2. Switch vbmeta.img separately through Fastboot:

fastboot --disable-verity --disable-verification flash vbmeta vbmeta.img

If nothing helps, the last option is to run through EDL with the Mi Flash Tool in Clean All mode.

💡

Before rolling back on MIUI 12 or older, check your model’s Anti-Rollback number! Installing a firmware with a lower number (e.g., ARB 4 → ARB 3) will result in a permanent lock on the device.

What to do after a successful recoil?

After returning to the previous version of MIUI, you need to follow several steps to avoid problems in the future:

• 🔒 Turn off automatic updates: go to Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → Three points. → Settings and deactivate the Auto Update option.
• 📱 Check the operation of the main functions: camera, fingerprint sensor, NFC, Always-On Display. If something doesn't work, you might need to flash individual modules (persist.img, sensors.img).
• 🔧 Restore the root rights (if you have): after the rollback, Magisk will have to be reinstalled. Download the current version of Magisk and run it through Fastboot or TWRP.
• 🔄 Reset network settings: sometimes after a rollback, there are problems with Wi-Fi or mobile Internet. Go to Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.

If you're rolling back because of a battery problem, keep a look at the battery for 2-3 days. Use the AccuBattery app to monitor discharge. In some cases, calibration helps:

1. Charge the device to 100% and keep on charging for another 1 hour.
2. Turn off charging and use your smartphone until full discharge (0%).
3. Repeat the cycle 2-3 times.

⚠️ Note: If you have used Google Pay or other StrongBox-based services, they may stop working after a rollback, this involves changing security keys, the solution is to re-register the device with Google services (can take up to 24 hours).

FAQ: Frequent questions about MIUI 13 rollback