Modification of the software shell of the Xiaomi smartphone opens up the horizons for the user, not available in the standard stock firmware MIUI or HyperOS. OrangeFox Recovery Project (OFRP) has established itself as one of the most stable and functional tools for working with the system partition of Android devices. Unlike the standard Recovery, this tool allows you to create full backups, clear cache without losing data and install custom firmware.
The process of implementing this software requires carefulness and understanding of the structure of file systems. Xiaomi uses specific mechanisms to protect the bootloader, which makes the procedure a little more complicated than on other brands. However, by following the algorithm of actions, you will get a powerful tool for managing the gadget.
Before we get to practical steps, we need to understand the risks: any interference in the system partition can lead to loss of warranty or, in the worst case, to the failure of the device, installation is possible only on devices with unlocked bootloader. Without this step, further manipulation is technically impossible.
Toolkit preparation and compatibility check
The success of the operation depends on the quality of preparation, and you will need not only the file recovery, but also a set of drivers and utilities to work with the data. ADB It's critical for Xiaomi devices to have original USB-cable, as cheap analogues often do not provide stable connection at a low level.
Collect the following set of tools on your computer:
- 📱 Xiaomi smartphone with a charged battery of at least 60%.
- 💻 PC with Windows, Linux or macOS operating system.
- 🔌 Original. USB-data-line.
- 📂 Downloaded image of OrangeFox, strictly corresponding to your model.
⚠️ Note: Using an image designed for another model is guaranteed to lead to a brick of the device. Never use files marked "test" or "beta" unless you are an experienced developer.
Check the Android version and current MIUI build. Often, a stock firmware update changes the partition structure, causing older versions of the Recovery to stop working. Go to Settings → About the phone and write down the exact device model. Also make sure that there is enough free space on the computer disk for temporary files.
Unlocking the loader: a mandatory stage
Xiaomi has implemented strict restrictions on access to system partitions, a standard unlock method that is done through the official Mi Unlock Tool, which binds the Mi Account to a particular device and imposes time limits.
The procedure is as follows:
- Turn on the developer mode by seven times clicking on the build number in the About Phone menu.
- In the "Developers" menu, activate the "OEM Unlock" and debugging by USB.
- Link your Mi Account to the Mi Unlock status menu (Internet required).
- Boot into Fastboot mode by clamping down and power buttons, and plug the phone into your PC.
- Launch the Mi Unlock Tool and follow the instructions on the screen.
The hardest part is waiting. Once an account is tied, Xiaomi's security system may require you to wait between 7 and 168 hours, and resetting or reassigning your account during this period will reset the timer and the wait will start again.
What to do if the timer is not going?
After successfully unlocking the phone, a warning will appear when the bootloader is unlocked, a routine Android security behavior that confirms that the path to install OrangeFox is open.
Download drivers and set up the ADB environment
The right drivers are needed to communicate with your smartphone in bootloader mode. In Windows, driver signature conflicts often arise, leading to an unknown device in the Manager. It is recommended to use the universal Minimal ADB and Fastboot or Platform Tools package from Google.
Install the drivers following the installer's instructions. After installation, check the connection by typing the command line:
adb devicesIf a device with a serial number appears on the list, the connection is established. If the list is empty or unauthorised, check the cable, USB port and debugging permission on the smartphone screen. Fastboot mode uses the command fastboot devices.
| Mode of work | Check-in team | Connection status | Action in case of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android OS | adb devices | device | Allow debugging on screen |
| Fastboot | fastboot devices | fastboot | Reinstall drivers |
| Recovery | adb devices | recovery | Check the cable. |
| EDL (Emergency) | adb devices | 9008 | Authorized account required |
It is important to understand the difference between modes: OrangeFox is installed via Fastboot mode. Recovery mode is used after installation to manage processes. EDL (Emergency Download) is a deep firmware mode that usually requires authorization on Xiaomi servers.
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Use it. USB-ports located on the motherboard (back of the system unit), rather than on the front panel or through USB-This minimizes the risk of connection loss during firmware.
Search and download the current OrangeFox build
The official OrangeFox Recovery Project website is the only secure source for downloading files, and it is searched by the codename of the device, not by the marketing name. For example, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro is codenamed sweet.
Find your model in the list of supported devices. Look at the Android version that has the Recovery assembled for. There are builds for Android 11, 12, 13 and higher. Version incompatibility can lead to the error "OrangeFox is not able to mount /vendor" or similar partition problems.
The downloaded file will have the.img extension. Save it to the ADB platform root folder for convenience so you don't need to prescribe long paths. Rename the file to recovery.img if the instruction requires simplicity, or leave the original name, but be careful when you type commands.
⚠️ Warning: Avoid downloading builds from third-party forums or cloud storage if you are unsure of the source. Modified images may contain malicious code or be collected with errors.
Check the integrity of the file if the developer has provided a checksum (MD5 or SHA256), which ensures that the file has downloaded completely and was not corrupted during transmission over the network.
The process of installing OrangeFox via Fastboot
Now, the most important step is to connect your smartphone in Fastboot mode to your computer. Open the command line in the ADB tool folder. Make sure the device is visible to the fastboot device command.
Use the temporary recover firmware command to install it. On modern Xiaomi devices with dynamic partitions or A/B, this is critical.
fastboot flash recovery_ab recovery.imgOr, for devices with a single recovery partition:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.imgOnce you've recorded successfully (Finished), you have to force the installed Recovery to start. Don't just let the phone reboot to the system, otherwise stock Recovery will overwrite OrangeFox. Use a keyboard or command:
fastboot boot recovery.img☑️ Checklist before firmware
If it's a success, you'll see the OrangeFox logo and the management menu. The first run may take longer than usual -- that's fine, you're setting up the file structures first. Don't interrupt until the main menu comes up.
Primary setup and backup creation
Once you're on the OrangeFox menu, the first thing you should do is create a full backup of your current system, and that's your insurance policy for any failed firmware experiments, and go to the backup section.
Select the partitions to save. Boot, System (or System Image), Vendor, and Data must be marked. The Data section contains your photos, contacts, and applications, so saving it is the most important.
- 🗂️ Swipe to Backup – Swipe to start the process.
- 💾 Select the storage location: internal memory or SD-map.
- ⏳ Wait until it is completed, the process can take from 5 to 20 minutes.
After creating a backup, the file will be saved in the folder. /OrangeFox/BACKUPS/. It is recommended to copy this archive to a computer or to the cloud. The internal memory of the phone is often formatted when flashing, and the backup can be lost along with the data.
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Creating a full backup before any manipulation is the only guarantee that you can return the phone to its original state without losing data.
Frequent problems and methods of their solution
Users may experience a variety of errors during operation, one of the most common being the inability to mount partitions after updating MIUI, which is due to a change in the encryption scheme of dm-1.2 or fbe2.
Data access issues often require formatting the Data section. From the OrangeFox menu, go to Manage Partitions → Data → Format Data. Enter yes to confirm. This action will delete all files from the phone's internal memory.
If the phone is stuck in a bootloop (cyclic reboot) after installing custom firmware:
- Download to OrangeFox.
- Run Wipe → Advanced Wipe.
- Select Dalvik/ART Cache, Cache, System, Vendor.
- Do not touch the Data section if you want to save files, or format it if you don’t need files.
- Swipe for cleaning and try to boot again.
⚠️ Note: If after formatting the data, the phone stopped seeing SIM-Wi-Fi or card may have been damaged EFS Recovery of these sections is possible only from a previously made backup or requires a complex procedure through the engineering mode.
It is also worth mentioning the problem with PIN-After installing custom recovery and firmware, the old password may not work, in which case resetting the settings through the Recovery menu or installing a patch to remove the lock screen (for advanced users only) helps).