How to remove the update on the Xiaomi phone: 5 ways to roll back firmware

Why users want to remove the MIUI update and when it is justified

Firmware updates on Xiaomi smartphones usually bring new features, security fixes and performance optimizations. However, often after an upgrade, users face slowdowns, device overheating or critical bugs — for example, battery drain in a few hours or idle sensors, in which case a rollback to the previous version of MIUI becomes the only solution.

According to service center statistics, up to 12 percent of Redmi, Poco and Mi device owners have tried to return an old firmware after a failed update, a particularly pressing problem for resource-limited models (such as the Redmi 9A or Poco C31), where a new version of MIUI can strangle the hardware. But it is important to understand that the rollback of firmware on Xiaomi is not officially supported - all manipulations you perform at your own risk, including loss of warranty.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to uninstall an update on Xiaomi, from the safest (reset to factory settings) to radical (firmware via Fastboot).

Method 1: Recovery rollback (for support firmware) A/B-section)

The easiest method is to use the built-in Recovery menu, which only works on devices with a recovery menu. A/B-partitions (e.g. Xiaomi) 12, Redmi Note 11 Pro+, Poco F4). Check the support through the team:

adb shell getprop ro.boot.slot_suffix

If the command returns a or b, your device supports rollback.

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Up + Power to enter Recovery.
3. Select Reboot to other slot (reboot to another section).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

⚠️ Note: If after the rollback the phone is stuck on the logo MI, Do a Wipe Data reset in the same Recovery menu!

Download ADB and Fastboot Tools on PC

Check the battery (minimum 50%)

Make a backup copy of the data

Find out the model and version of MIUI (Settings → About the phone)

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Method 2: Reset to factory settings (if the update "flyed off" itself)

Sometimes, after an upgrade, MIUI starts to work unstable, but the previous firmware version remains in the device's memory, in which case hard reset will help. Importantly, this method does not guarantee a rollback, but often returns the phone to "working" state.

How to perform the reset:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Delete all data.
3. Enter your password (if required) and confirm.

If your phone is not turning on, use Recovery:

• 🔄 Hold the Loud up. + Nutrition.
• 📱 Choose Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
• 🔃 Confirm and restart.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi models with Mi Account lock (such as Redmi Note 10 Pro) will need to enter the account data associated with the phone after reset!

Method 3: Remove the update via ADB (for power users)

If the update was recently installed, its files can remain in the device's memory. Through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can try to remove the service pack manually, this method is suitable for devices with an unlocked bootloader.

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and enable USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap on version → go back to Additional settings → For developers).
2. Open the command line on the PC and type:

adb shell


su




rm -rf /data/ota_package/*




rm -rf /cache/ota/*

If the instructions are error-free, restart the phone. Important: This method only works if the update has not been finally installed (for example, if the phone has got stuck during the process).

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Before using ADB, check if the bootloader is locked through the command fastboot oem device-info. If there is a line Device unlocked: false in the answer, unlock it officially through the Xiaomi website (can take up to 72 hours).

Method 4: Complete Fastboot Flashboot (Radical Method)

If previous methods didn’t work, you have to manually flash the old version of MIUI, which requires an unlocked bootloader and is suitable for all Xiaomi models, but can turn the phone into a brick if it’s not working.

Step-by-step:

1. Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware website (choose the Fastboot version).
2. Unpack the archive in a folder with Fastboot tools.
3. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power).
4. Launch the file. flash_all.bat (for Windows, or run a command:

fastboot flash all

It takes 5-10 minutes, and when it's done, it'll reboot with a clean firmware.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi) K40) Fastboot Firmware Resets IMEI. To avoid network loss, save before firmware IMEI team:

adb shell dumpsys iphonesubinfo

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Fastboot firmware is the only way to roll back for devices without A/B-partitions (e.g. Redmi) 8A POCO M2). However, it requires unlocking the bootloader, which voids the warranty.

Method 5: Using Custom Recovery (TWRP)

For advanced users, there is an alternative, the TWRP (TeamWin Recovery Project) firmware, which allows you to install informal firmware and backup the system.

What you need:

• 📱 Unlocked loader.
• 🔧 Established TWRP For your model (you can download it on the official website).
• 💾 Backup of the current firmware (in case of errors).
• 📦 Firmware in.zip format (for example, MIUI or).

Instructions:

1. Download your phone to TWRP (clip Volume Up + Power).
2. Backup of the current system (Backup) → Select Partitions).
3. Click on Wipe → Advanced Wipe and tick Dalvik, Cache, System, Data.
4. Install the firmware through Install → Select ZIP.

⚠️ Note: Install custom firmware on Xiaomi can block Widevine L1, Why will the services in Full stop working? HD (Netflix, Disney+ To get back L1, You will need to install the original vendor.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When an update rolls back, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

If the phone doesn’t turn on after rollback or gives a DM-Verity error, try:

1. Sweep disable_dm-verity_forceencrypt.zip through TWRP.
2. Disable signature verification in TWRP (Settings → Disable signature verification).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions