How to Remove Update from Xiaomi Phone: A Complete Guide to Recoil

Users of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a situation where, after automatically installing a new version of the MIUI or HyperOS operating system, the device begins to work unstable, the battery runs out faster, system errors appear or familiar functions disappear, in which case the only reasonable solution is to remove the problematic update and return to the previous, more stable version of the software.

The rollback procedure is not trivial and requires careful attention to detail, as it involves profound changes in the structure of the files of the smartphone. It is important to understand that standard methods through the settings menu simply “remove” the security patch or major update – the system does not provide such a button for the average user.

Before you start taking action, you need to understand the risks and prepare the device. Any interference in the system partition carries a potential threat of loss of personal data, if you do not back up in advance. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available methods, from simple reset methods to professional rollback through Fastboot, so you can choose the best option for your model.

Why you should roll back the version of MIUI or HyperOS

The decision to remove the update should be considered. Often users tend to remove the new version immediately after the release, without waiting for the first patches that fix critical bugs. Unstable interface work, heating the processor in downtime and application conflicts are the main symptoms that require intervention. Sometimes the new shell is simply not optimized for the specific hardware of your smartphone, especially if the model is no longer flagship.

Another reason could be a change in interface logic that is hard to get used to: Xiaomi developers periodically change the layout of menu items or energy saving algorithms, which may not be acceptable for power users. In such cases, returning to a time-tested version of MIUI 12 or MIUI 13 (or a stable HyperOS branch) returns comfort to use.

⚠️ Note: Roll back the firmware version one step down (for example, with a MIUI 14 on MIUI 13 is often blocked by the Anti-Rollback mechanism.Attempting to install the old version on top of the new one without completely clearing the data can lead to a cyclic reboot (bootloop).

Also, newer versions of Android and shells require more resources. If your smartphone is a few years old, a “heavy” upgrade can significantly slow it down, and in such a situation, removing the update is a way to extend the life of the device and keep it running at the same level.

Preparation of the smartphone before the rollback procedure

The most important step is preparation. Since in most cases, removing an update involves completely resetting your device to factory settings, backing up is a must. You will lose all photos, contacts, instant messaging and installed apps if you don't save them separately. Use Google's cloud services or the built-in "Mi Mobile" app to create a backup to your computer or external drive.

Make sure the battery is at least 60-70%.The flashing or reset process can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, and a sudden power outage at a critical point in system file writing can turn the phone into a "brick." Also check for free space on the internal drive if you plan to download firmware archives.

It is important to remember the rule: rollback is possible only on the version that is older than the current version, but not lower than the minimum acceptable version of Anti-Rollback for your model. You can download firmware from official resources or trusted third-party archives, choosing the version for your region (Global, EU, Russia) and device type.

Resetting method through Recovery Mode

The most affordable way to do this, which does not require you to connect to your computer and install additional software, is to use the built-in Recovery mode, which is effective if you just want to “clean” the system of errors that have arisen after the update, or if automatic rollback is available in your area, but it is worth remembering that this method deletes all user data.

To enter recovery mode, turn off the smartphone completely. Then press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo or Recovery menu appears. If the menu is in Chinese, select English by pressing the appropriate button (usually the volume button down or up, as indicated on the screen).

In the menu, the navigation is done with volume buttons, and the choice is confirmed by the power button. You need to find the Wipe Data or "Erase Data" item. After choosing, confirm the action. The system will warn you about the loss of data again. After the cleaning process, select Reboot to restart.

⚠️ Note: Using this method, the phone can automatically update again the first time you connect to Wi-Fi, unless you turn off the internet immediately after setting up.Be prepared to block the re-update.

Fastboot and Mi Flash Tool

A more professional and reliable method to completely replace the current version of the system with the older one is to use the Mi Flash Tool utility on the computer. This method requires the presence of ADB and Fastboot drivers, as well as an unlocked bootloader in most cases.

First you need to download and install the Mi Flash Tool on your PC. Then download the Fastboot firmware archive (.tgz extension) rather than Recovery (.zip). Unpack the archive to the root of the disk so that the path does not contain Cyrillic. Connect the phone in Fastboot mode (click the volume down button and power when the phone is turned off until the bunny in the hat-eared appears).

In Mi Flash, click Refresh, select your device and path to the firmware folder. At the bottom of the window, select Clean all mode to avoid file conflicts. Click Flash and wait for the process to end, which takes about 300-500 seconds.

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Using Fastboot is the only guaranteed way to roll back on a much older version of the system, but it requires an unlocked bootloader.

Install the old version through a local update

There is a method that allows you to install an older version of the firmware without using a computer, directly through the update menu of the smartphone itself. However, Xiaomi often blocks the ability to install a version that is older than the current one. However, in some cases this trick works, especially if the variation in versions is minimal.

You need to download the Recovery firmware archive (.zip extension) strictly the version you want to upgrade to, or a newer version with a rollback feature (which is rare). Place the file at the root of internal memory. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. Click three dots in the corner and select "Select firmware file."

If the system allows you to select a file and start installing it, you're in luck, but most of the time you'll see a message saying, "You can't update. The software you choose cannot be installed." In this case, this method won't work, and you'll have to use Recovery reset or Fastboot, as described above.

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If the system prevents you from installing a zip archive, try renaming the firmware file to “update.zip” or “update.zip”, although this rarely works in newer versions of MIUI.

Frequent errors and ways to fix them

When uninstalling updates, users often encounter an “Error 7” error when trying to install through Recovery, which means that the installation script checks the version of the current system and sees that it is newer than the one you are trying to install, and this can only be solved through a full data wiping in Recovery before installation or via Fastboot.

Another common problem is cyclical reboot after you install the old firmware, which happens when the data from the new version of the system conflicts with the old one, and the solution is one: repeat the procedure, but in Wipe All Data mode. Don't be afraid to lose the data, if you have a backup, it's the only way to start the system.

It is also possible that the phone will stop seeing the computer in Fastboot mode. In this case, you need to check the drivers in the Windows Device Manager. If the device is marked with a yellow exclamation mark, the drivers must be reinstalled manually, indicating the path to the folder with Xiaomi or Qualcomm drivers.

⚠️ Warning: Never interrupt the firmware process by disconnecting the cable, guaranteed to result in a need for deep recovery through the service center (EDL mode).

How to Prevent Automatic Update in the Future

After a successful rollback, the main task is to prevent unwanted updates from being re-installed. MIUI and HyperOS are very insistent about updating. The first step is to disable automatic updates in the settings. Go to the update menu, click on three points and select Settings, then turn off Auto Update and Download Updates automatically.

A more radical method is to freeze the system application-update, which requires root rights or use of the system. ADB-commands from the computer. --user 0 com.android.updater (the path may vary depending on the OS version) completely disables the update service.

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.updater

You can also block access to update servers at the router or hosts file level, as long as you have superuser rights, ensuring that the phone doesn’t even “knock” on Xiaomi’s servers to check new versions.