How to install firmware on Xiaomi Mi 9: the complete guide

Smartphone Xiaomi Mi 9, released in 2019, still remains a popular device thanks to its powerful processor Snapdragon 855 and high-quality AMOLED-But time is taking its toll, and the official operating system support is MIUI It can be stopped or unstable by the manufacturer, and in such situations, the only way to extend the life of the gadget and return it to performance is to manually install the actual firmware.

The process of flashing Xiaomi Mi 9 requires careful and clear adherence to algorithms, as interference in system partitions always carries certain risks. Wrong actions can lead to data loss or, in the worst case, turn the device into a “brick.” However, understanding the principles of Fastboot and Recovery modes will allow you to safely update the software, change the region or even switch to custom Android builds.

In this guide, we will go through all the steps in detail, from the preparatory steps and unlocking the bootloader to the direct installation of the system image through the computer or internal recovery menu. For the Xiaomi Mi 9, it is critical to use the version of the firmware that corresponds to the current region or requires a preliminary change in the regional binding. Carefully study each step to ensure that the procedure is successful.

Preparation of the device and collection of necessary tools

Before you start active, you need to ensure a stable environment for work. Any interruption of communication between the computer and the smartphone while recording data can fatally affect the operation of the operating system. Make sure that your Xiaomi Mi 9 is charged at least 60-70%, as the process can take a considerable time, especially if you need to clean the partitions.

You will need quality. USB-A cable, preferably original or certified, capable of transmitting data at high speeds, not just charging the device, and a Windows computer is also required, as most utilities are used to run the computer. MIUI It's optimized for this platform. You need drivers installed on your PC. ADB and Fastboot, without which the computer will not be able to correctly recognize the phone in bootloader mode.

⚠️ Warning: Before any manipulations, be sure to create a full backup of all important data.In the process of firmware, internal memory will be completely cleared, and it will be impossible to restore deleted files without a backup.

Download the current firmware image from the official website or a trusted source. The file must have the.zip extension to install via Recovery or.tgz to install via Fastboot. Check the integrity of the downloaded archive by comparing the checksum if this is provided by the developer to exclude recording errors due to a corrupted file.

Unlocking the Bootloader bootloader

One of the main features of the Xiaomi ecosystem is the Bootloader, which is a security mechanism that does not allow you to make changes to system partitions and install unofficial software. To flash the Xiaomi Mi 9 manually, you will definitely need to get the status of an unlocked device through the official service of the company.

The process starts by linking your Mi Account to your device. Go to your phone settings, select About Phone, and click on the MIUI version several times to activate the developer menu. Next, in the advanced settings, find Mi Unlock Status and link your account. After that, you need to apply for unlocking through the official Mi Unlock Tool utility on your computer.

The standard waiting period is 168 hours (7 days), during which you must use your smartphone as normal with a SIM card from the same operator that your account is registered to. Upon expiration of the Mi Unlock utility, you will unlock the device by putting it into Fastboot mode by pressing the volume button when you connect the cable.

Selection of firmware type: Global, China or Custom

The firmware market for Xiaomi Mi 9 is huge, and it's easy for a beginner to get confused in acronyms.The global version (Global) is designed for the international market, has built-in Google Play service and support for a variety of languages, including Russian.The Chinese version (China) often comes out earlier, contains more features, but lacks Google services out of the box and may not have Russian on the menu without additional manipulation.

Custom ROMs such as LineageOS, Pixel Experience or xiaomi.eu are created by enthusiasts and often lack the advertising debris present in official MIUI builds. xiaomi.eu firmware is based on the Chinese version, but have built-in multilingual, optimization and remote advertising modules, making them a great choice for power users.

When choosing, pay attention to the type of update: Recovery or Fastboot. Recovery firmware has a.zip extension and is installed through the recovery menu, which is easier, but requires the coincidence of the region of the current and new firmware (or complete data cleaning). Fastboot firmware (.tgz) is installed through the PC and allows you to change the region, as well as restore the system after serious failures.

Installation of firmware through Recovery mode

This is the safest and easiest way to upgrade the Xiaomi Mi 9 if the phone is turned on and working correctly.The method does not require a computer, all actions are performed directly on the smartphone screen. First copy the downloaded firmware file (extension.zip) to the root directory of internal memory or to the memory card.

Then you go to the recovery menu. Turn off the phone completely. Press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, keep the volume up. You'll see a multi-point menu that is controlled by the volume button and selected by the power button.

From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data, then Wipe All Data, and confirm the action. This is a must if you change the software version or region. After cleaning, go back to the main menu and select Install (or Install from your phone), find your firmware file in the list and confirm the installation. The process will take a few minutes, after which the phone will suggest restarting.

⚠️ Warning: When installing firmware through Recovery, always select "Wipe All Data." Trying to upgrade without cleaning (Dirty Flash) when changing the Android version or region can lead to a cyclic reboot (bootloop).

Fastboot and MiFlash software

If the phone is not booting, locked, or you want to completely clear the system of traces of previous modifications, use Fastboot mode. Download the archive with Fastboot (.tgz) firmware, unpack it to the root of the C disk so that the path is short, for example: C:\mi9_global_fastboot.

Transfer Xiaomi Mi 9 to Fastboot mode by pressing the volume down button when connecting USB-A successful transition indicator will be a picture of a hare repairing an android on your smartphone screen. Run MiFlash on behalf of the administrator, press the Refresh button, and your device with the serial number should appear on the list.

In the program interface, click "Select" and specify the folder with the unpacked firmware. At the bottom of the window, select the firmware mode: clean all (complete data cleaning, recommended), save user data (attempting to save data, only possible with compatible versions) or clean all and lock (clean and re-lock the bootloader, use with caution, only for original global firmware).

fastboot devices


fastboot flash boot boot.img




fastboot flash recovery recovery.img




fastboot reboot

Press Flash and wait until the process is over. The status should show a message "flash success." After that, the phone will automatically restart. The first launch can take up to 5-10 minutes, as the system performs application optimization.

Possible mistakes and ways to solve them

Even if you follow the instructions strictly, there can be unexpected situations. One of the common problems is the MiFlash "Missmatching image and device" error, which means you're trying to flash the firmware for another model (e.g., Mi 9 Pro instead of Mi 9) or another type of bootloader. Always check the codename of the model, for Mi 9 it's cepheus.

Another common problem is hanging on the logo after installation, if the phone doesn't respond anymore. 15 For a minute, try to perform a forced reboot by pressing the power button on 10-15 If that doesn't work, you'll need to re-rout Fastboot with full data cleanup.

Users may also experience a problem with no connection or Wi-Fi after firmware, which often happens when installing custom firmware without saving or correctly flashing the modem and persist partition. In such cases, it is recommended to use full firmware versions (Full ROM) rather than updates (Incremental) so that all system partitions are written back correctly.

⚠️ Warning: Never interrupt the firmware process if the progress bar is not 100%, even if it seems that the process is stalled.Forced disconnection of the cable at this point is almost guaranteed to lead to the need for repair of the board in the service center.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions