System updates on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often bring not only new features, but also unpleasant surprises: slowdowns, battery bugs, malfunctioning applications or even locking the bootloader. If the device becomes worse after the update, it makes sense to want to return the previous version of the firmware. But how to do this safely without turning the phone into a brick?
In this article, we will discuss 5 Proven ways to roll back updates on Xiaomi — from simple (through settings) to advanced (using fastboot and custom Recovery). MIUI 12/13. Important: Not all methods are universal – the choice depends on the firmware version, phone model and your experience.
Why can the update hurt the smartphone?
Manufacturers rarely admit to firmware errors, but Xiaomi users regularly face the consequences of failed updates.
- 🔋 Increased battery consumption - new versions MIUI/HyperOS Sometimes optimized worse than the previous ones, which causes the phone to discharge in a few hours.
- 🐢 Lags and brakes – especially on budget models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3), where new animations and background processes overload the processor.
- 🚫 Blocking features – for example, after upgrading to HyperOS, some users lost access to the system ADB or USB-debugging.
- 📱 Application incompatibility – banking programs, games or modified APK They may stop working due to security changes.
According to the XDA Developers community, up to 15% of MIUI updates contain critical bugs that the manufacturer fixes only after 1-3 months.
Method 1: Recoil through Settings (for MIUI 12–14)
The easiest way is to use the built-in rollback feature available in some versions of MIUI. It is suitable if:
- 📲 The update was installed less than 10 days ago (after that, the system deletes the backup of the old firmware).
- 🔄 The device was not subjected to unlocking the bootloader or installing custom firmware.
- 📦 There is enough free space on the phone (minimum 3-5 GB).
Instructions:
- Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
- Tap the icon of three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner and select the Update Package.
- Click Remove the latest update (if the option is active).
- Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-15 minutes).
Check the date of installation of the update (not older than 10 days)
Free up 5+ GB of memory
Connect the charger (battery >50%)
Backup of important data-->
⚠️ Note: HyperOS devices (2026) may not work, as the manufacturer has removed the rollback option in recent versions, and the feature is not available if the update was installed via fastboot or recovery.
Method 2: Reset to factory settings (with data saved)
If the built-in rollback is not available, you can try a soft reset — it will delete the system files of the current firmware, but save user data (photos, contacts, messages), this method works on MIUI 13/14 and some versions of HyperOS.
Algorithm:
- Go to Settings → Additional → Resetting settings.
- Select Reset All Settings (Do not Delete All Data!).
- Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.
- After turning on, check the firmware version in Settings → About the phone.
If the version has not changed, then the reset did not help - you will have to use more radical methods.
| Method | Data retention | PC required | Suitable for HyperOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recoil through settings | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | ⚠️ Partially. |
| Soft discharge | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. |
| Installation of old firmware through Recovery | ❌ No (no backup) | ⚠️ Desirable. | ✅ Yes. |
| Fastboot firmware | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. |
Method 3: Install the old firmware through Recovery
For advanced users, a custom recavator (e.g., TWRP) method is suitable, which allows you to manually flash the old version of MIUI or HyperOS, but requires preliminary preparation:
- 🔓 Unlocked loader (without this it is impossible to install) TWRP).
- 💾 Backup of data (firmware through the recovery erases user files).
- 📥 Firmware file in.zip format (download only from official sources, for example, Xiaomi Firmware Updater).
Step-by-step:
- Download and install TWRP for your model (instructions are available on 4PDA or XDA).
- Reset the phone to Recovery Mode: Turn off the device, then press Volume Up + Power.
- In TWRP, select Wipe → Advanced Wipe and select Dalvik, Cache, System (Do not touch Internal Storage!).
- Return to the main menu, click Install and select the downloaded firmware file.
- After installation, run Wipe Cache/Dalvik and restart.
What to do if the phone does not turn on after the firmware?
⚠️ Attention: Firmware through TWRP It may lead to a blockage. IMEI Loss of serial number on some models (Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Before the procedure, check if your device supports rollback without consequences (see information in thematic forums).
Method 4: Fastboot Firmware (for advanced)
If the previous methods didn't work, then you have to run the firmware on fastboot, which is the most reliable, but also the most risky method, and it's suitable for:
- 📱 Devices with a locked boot loader (but requires unlocking).
- 🔄 Reverse any version of the firmware (even if it is older by several years).
- 🛠️ Recovery of bricks after failed updates.
What you need:
- 🖥️ Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and Mi Flash Tool.
- 📂 Firmware in.tgz or.zip format (download from the official archive).
- 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (preferably original).
Instructions:
- Unpack the firmware archive into a folder without Cyrillic characters (e.g., C:\Xiaomi\ROM).
- Turn off the phone and press Volume Down + Power to log into fastboot.
- Connect the device to your PC and start the Mi Flash Tool.
- In the program, click Select and specify the path to the folder with the firmware.
- Select Clean All mode (if you want to save data – Clean all and lock, but this does not guarantee success).
- Press Flash and wait for the process to end (10-20 minutes).
💡
Before you run your firmware through fastboot, turn off the antivirus on your PC – it can block firmware files as “suspicious.”
On devices with HyperOS (2026), firmware via fastboot may require authorization of the Mi Account. If the phone is not sewn, try logging into your account on the Xiaomi website and linking the device again.
Method 5: Use ADB (for rollbacks without data loss)
If you don’t want to lose data, but the built-in rollback is not available, you can try to remove the update via ADB. This method only works for updates installed as OTA-Packages (through Settings) → Updating the system).
Instructions:
- Turn it on. USB-debugging → For developers (if the partition is hidden, tap 7 times in the version) MIUI phone).
- Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line (Win + R → cmd).
- Enter the commands in order: adb shell su mount -o rw,remount /system rm /system/update_package/* rm /cache/update_package/* reboot
- After the reboot, check the firmware version.
⚠️ Note: This method does not work on all devices, starting with MIUI 14 and HyperOS, Xiaomi has restricted access to system folders through ADB. If the commands don’t execute, try rooting (but this voids the warranty).
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When updates roll back, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:
| Mistake. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Couldn't verify update package | A damaged firmware file or model mismatch | Download the firmware again from the official source |
| The phone is stuck on the MI logo | Wrong wipe before the firmware | Go to fastboot with the Clean All option. |
| Anti-rollback check | Trying to run an old version | Look for firmware not older than 1-2 years from the current |
| Loss of IMEI after firmware | EFS section damaged | Restore the EFS backup or contact the service |
If you are not sure of your abilities, it is better to contact the Xiaomi service center - a self-collection can lead to loss of warranty or irreversible damage to the device.
💡
Before any rollback, be sure to back up your data via Mi Cloud or TWRP. Even "safe" methods can result in file loss!