How to Remove the Latest Update on Xiaomi: Safe Recoiling Methods for MIUI

After installing the latest MIUI update, your Xiaomi started to slow down, discharge quickly or issue errors? Don't rush to carry the phone to the service center. In 80% of cases, the problem can be solved yourself - just roll back the update to the previous stable version. But there are nuances: wrong actions can lead to a lockdown of the bootloader or loss of data.

In this article, we’ll break down all the official and unofficial ways to uninstall the latest update on Xiaomi, including models with a locked bootloader (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T We will focus on methods that do not require unlocking the bootloader and save user files, and you will also learn how to avoid typical rollback errors, from the device's "brick" to the loss. IMEI.

Why might a MIUI upgrade require a rollback?

The manufacturer regularly releases updates to improve stability and security, but sometimes newer versions of MIUI bring more problems than good, and here are the most common reasons users want to uninstall the latest update:

• 🔋 Increased battery consumption – background processes of the new version MIUI can disproportionately load the processor (especially relevant for low-end models Redmi). 10A or POCO M4 Pro).
• 🐢 Lags and slowdowns – optimization for new software often “forgets” about old chipsets (for example, Snapdragon 660 in Xiaomi Mi). A2).
• 📱 Sensor or display problems – after the update, touching the edges of the screen or artifacts may disappear (a frequent complaint about the Xiaomi 12 Lite).
• 🔊 Disappeared sound or microphone – errors in audio drivers (for example, after updating to the MIUI 14.0.5 on Redmi Note 11 Pro+).
• 📶 Network problems disappear 5G, Do not catch Wi-Fi 6 or there are errors with the SIM-Maps (current for Xiaomi 13 Ultra after upgrading to Android 13).

According to service center statistics, 3 out of 10 calls after a MIUI update are due to software failures, not hardware failures, and 60 percent of the time it helps to roll back to the previous firmware version, not reset settings.

Preparing for the rollback of the update: what to do before the start

Before you start removing the update, follow the mandatory preparatory steps that will save you from losing data and help you recover your phone if something goes wrong.

Backup your data via Mi Cloud or locally

Check the battery charge (minimum 60%)

Find out the current version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone

Download the right firmware (only for your model!)

Prepare a USB cable (original or certified)

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Never download files from questionable sources - use only official resources:

• 🌍 Official website MIUI (Choose a Global Region, EEA Russia).
• 📥 Xiaomi Firmware Updater – Archive of All Versions MIUI check-sum.

If you plan to roll back via Fastboot or Recovery, install the following on your PC in advance:

• 🖥️ ADB Fastboot Tools (part of Android) SDK Platform Tools).
• 🔧 Drivers for your Xiaomi model (you can download through XiaomiADV).

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi has been updated through OTA (over the air), not manually, then simply delete the update file (/cache/recovery/last_install) It doesn't help, because the system will still think that the update is installed.

Method 1: Recovery (without data loss)

This is the safest method, but it only works if:

• 📌 You are updated through the settings → Updating the system (OTA).
• 📌 You do not have a bootloader blocked (checked by the command fastboot oem device-info).
• 📌 Previous version MIUI stored in the phone memory (usually in the /sdcard/MIUI/backup).

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Up + Power before the Mi logo appears (transition to Recovery).
3. Select the language (volume buttons) and go to Install update.zip to System.
4. Specify the path to the previous firmware file (for example, /sdcard/MIUI/backup/miui_..._ota.zip).
5. Confirm the installation and wait until the completion (usually 5-10 minutes).

If the Recovery menu doesn't have Install update.zip, your model doesn't support this method.

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If the phone doesn’t boot even in Recovery, try pinching Volume up + down + Power at the same time for 10 seconds – this will force the device to restart in emergency mode.

Method 2: Remove the update via ADB (for power users)

This method is suitable if you have already installed the update, but want to go back to the previous version without completely resetting. You will need a PC with ADB Tools installed and USB debugging on your phone enabled.

Steps:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: Adb devices Make sure the device is identified.
2. Download the full firmware (not OTA!) for your model from the official website and unpack it in a folder on your PC.
3. Go to the firmware folder and do: adb sideload name file.zip On the phone confirm the installation.
4. After the reboot, check the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone.

This method works even on phones with a locked bootloader, if the firmware is signed with the official key Xiaomi, but it will not save user data — you will have to reset after rollback.

⚠️ Warning: If E:footer is wrong occurs during adb sideload, the firmware file is corrupted. Download it again and check the checksum (MD5).

Method 3: Completely reset to factory settings (if other methods didn’t work)

If a recoil through Recovery or ADB doesn't work, the radical method is hard reset, which will delete all the data, but return the phone to its original state with the firmware that was used when you bought it.

How to reset:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose Delete all data and confirm the action.
3. After the reboot, the phone will prompt you to set it up as new.

If the phone is not turned on, reset via Recovery:

1. Press Volume Up + Power to enter the recovery menu.
2. Choose Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
3. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models with MediaTek chipset (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO C31) Resetting via Recovery may result in a "No command" error, in which case only use the official Mi Flash Tool.

Method 4: Recoil via Mi Flash Tool (for locked phones)

If the bootloader is locked and other methods fail, the firmware is left over via Fastboot, which requires a PC and the official Mi Flash Tool utility, but is guaranteed to work even on newer models (Xiaomi 14, Redmi Note 13 Pro+).

Step-by-step:

1. Download the full Fastboot firmware for your model (file with.tgz extension).
2. Unpack the archive into a folder without Cyrillic characters (e.g., C:\MIUI\fastboot).
3. Install the drivers and run the Mi Flash Tool.
4. Transfer the phone to Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power).
5. In the utility, click Select, specify the folder with the firmware, then Refresh (the device should appear).
6. Select Clean All (full reset) or Clean All and Lock (reset + lock bootloader).
7. Press Flash and wait until it is completed (usually 5-15 minutes).

Once the firmware is in place, the phone will reboot to its original state, which deletes all the data, but is guaranteed to return the old version of MIUI.

Frequent update rollback errors and how to avoid them

Even with the instructions, users often face problems. TOP-5 mistakes and their solutions:

• 🚫 The “Can’t load package” error in Recovery: ➡️ Cause: A corrupted firmware file or an incorrect path. ➡️ Solution: Download the firmware again and check the path (should be) /sdcard/..., not /storage/emulated/0/...).
• 🔄 The phone is fixated on the Mi logo: ➡️ Reason: Conflict of Versions boot.img and system.img. ➡️ Solution: Fastboot phone with full reset (Clean All).
• 🔌 PC doesn't see phone in Fastboot mode: ➡️ Reason: no drivers or unoriginal cable used. ➡️ Solution: Install drivers manually through Device Manager (select Android Bootloader Interface).
• 📱 After the rollback, there's no net (IMEI missing): ➡️ Reason: Modem or nvram partition is damaged. ➡️ Solution: Sweat nvram and modem files separately through SP Flash Tool (for MediaTek) or QFil (for Qualcomm).
• 🔒 Requested Mi Account Password after reset: ➡️ The reason: Xiaomi account was tied to the phone. ➡️ Solution: Enter your account details or wait 72 hours to unlock (if your phone is new).

If none of the methods worked and the phone turned into a hard brick, contact the service center. Self-recovery in this case requires soldering equipment (for example, for flashing). EDL-regime).

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Before any update rolls back, check if your model supports two-step Mi Account authentication. New devices (2022 and later) may need to enter code from SMS or email after a reset, even if you know the password.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions