Installation of MIUI 12 on Xiaomi: official and custom methods

MIUI 12 remains one of the most popular versions of Xiaomi’s proprietary shell, despite the release of newer releases, and features stable work, an optimized interface and support for a wide range of devices – from the flagship Mi 10 to the budget Redmi Note 8. However, the installation process has nuances: official updates through OTA may not be available for older models, and manual firmware requires unlocking the bootloader and accuracy.

In this guide, we will discuss all the current ways to install MIUI 12 – from automatic updates to manually reflashing via Fastboot or Recovery. Particular attention will be paid to preparing the device, choosing the right firmware version (global, Chinese, EEA) and solving typical errors. If your Xiaomi “hangs” on the old version or you want to return from MIUI 13/14 – this guide will help you do everything without the risk of “bricking” the gadget.

Preparing a smartphone for firmware

Before installing MIUI 12, there are several critical steps to follow. Neglecting them can lead to data loss, firmware failure, or even hard-brick (irreparable damage to the device). Start with backup: use the built-in Settings feature → About Phone → Backup or third-party tools like Mi Mover.

Check the current firmware version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. This will help determine whether you can upgrade through OTA or need a full flashing. For example, if you have a MIUI 11, then upgrading to MIUI 12 can go without unlocking the bootloader, but only if you have an official package for your model.

• 📱 Save it. IMEI: Write down or take a picture of the data from *#06# - you will need it when recovering from the reset.
• 🔋 Battery Charge: Make sure the charge level is not lower 60%. Fastboot firmware can drain the battery on 20-30%.
• 🔌 Cable and PC: Use the original USB-Xiaomi cable and port USB 2.0 on a computer (port) USB 3.0 can cause data transmission errors).
• 🛠️ Drivers: Install Mi Flash Tool and Qualcomm or Mediatek drivers depending on your smartphone’s processor.

⚠️ Note: If your device was purchased in China (the C-suffix version in the model, such as the Redmi Note 9 Pro C), the firmware is global. MIUI 12 can block the network. Check compatibility on the forum Xiaomi.eu.

Official Update via OTA

The safest way to install MIUI 12 is to wait for an over-the-air update (OTA), but it’s not available for all devices. Xiaomi has stopped supporting MIUI 12 for most models after 2022, but some smartphones (like the Poco X3 NFC or Redmi Note 9S) can still get security patches on this version.

To check for OTA:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Download the latest version.
3. If an update is available, keep an eye on the download process (the file weight is usually 1.5-2.5 GB).
4. After downloading, click Reboot and install.

If OTA-There is no update, but you are sure that there is a model for your model. MIUI 12, try a forced check:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone.


2.Tap 7 times on the line version of MIUI to activate the developer mode.




3. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable OEM Unlock.




4. Re-check the updates.

⚠️ Note: On some devices (e.g., Mi) 9T Pro) Forced verification can reset network settings. Pre-save Wi-Fi hotspots and mobile Internet settings.

💡

OTA-Update saves all data and settings, but only works for officially supported models.

Unlocking the bootloader (Bootloader)

If OTA is not available and you want to install MIUI 12 manually, the first thing you need to do is unlock the bootloader. Xiaomi blocks it by default to protect against unauthorized changes. The unlocking process takes up to 72 hours and requires you to link your Mi Account to the device.

Instructions for unlocking:

1. Link your Mi Account to your phone in Settings → Xiaomi account.
2. Enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking in the developer menu (see previous section).
3. Download Mi Unlock Tool and log in to the program.
4. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power when the device is off).
5. In Mi Unlock Tool, press Unlock and wait for confirmation (you may need to try again in 3-7 days).

Once the bootloader is unlocked, all data on the device will be erased, a process that is irreversible – re-blocking is only possible through the official Xiaomi service.

Selection of firmware: official vs custom

There are three types of MIUI 12 firmware:

• 📦 Official stable: Xiaomi releases for a specific model (e.g, V12.0.1.0.QJWMIXM The Redmi Note 9 Pro is suitable for most users.
• 🧪 Official Beta: Test builds with new features but possible bugs.Available via Mi Pilot.
• 🔧 Custom (Xiaomi.eu, LineageOS): Modified firmware with advanced settings, but without official support.

For beginners, we recommend the official stable firmware. It can be downloaded from the sites:

• Xiaomi official portal (select the Global, EEA or China region).
• Xiaomi Firmware Updater (archive of all versions)
• Xiaomi.eu (many custom language builds).

When choosing, pay attention to:

• Model code: For example, the Redmi Note 8 Pro has the code begonia, and the Mi 9 has the code cepheus.
• Firmware type: Fastboot (installed via PC) or Recovery (via stock or custom recovery).
• Android Version: MIUI 12 can run on Android 10 or Android 11 – check compatibility.

💡

Use Xiaomi Flashable Firmware Creator to create firmware for Recovery from the Fastboot archive. This makes it easy to install without a PC.

Install MIUI 12 via Fastboot

Fastboot is suitable for “clean” firmware installation and is recommended when switching from a heavily outdated version (e.g., MIUI 10).

Step-by-step:

1. Unpack the downloaded firmware in a folder (for example, C:\MIUI12).
2. Run the Mi Flash Tool on behalf of the administrator.
3. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power).
4. In the program, click Select and specify the path to the folder with the firmware.
5. Select firmware mode: Clean all (recommended); Clean all and lock (clean + lock) (official firmware only); Save user data (may cause errors).

Flash

If the process is 99% dead or there is an anti-rollback error, it means:

• You are trying to install an older firmware version than the current one (forbidden by Xiaomi policy).
• You need to find firmware with the above build number or reset the anti-rollback through EDL-Regime (Authorized Account Required).

💡

Clear all removes all data, including internal memory. SIM-map!

Installation through Recovery (TWRP)

Recovery is convenient for custom firmware installation (e.g. Xiaomi.eu) or data loss-free updates — TWRP.

Instructions:

1. Install TWRP for your model (download from the official website and run through Fastboot command: fastboot flash recovery twrp.img fastboot boot twrp.img)
2. Download the firmware (.zip format) to place on the microSD or internal memory.
3. Boot to TWRP (click Volume Up + Power).
4. Make a backup of the current firmware (Backup) → Select sections → Swipe to Backup).
5. Press Install, select the firmware file and confirm the installation (Swipe to Confirm).
6. Once completed, run Wipe → Format Data (if a clean installation is required) and restart.

For firmware Xiaomi.eu additionally:

• Install. disable_force_encrypt.zip (Disables data encryption, otherwise the phone will not boot).
• If there is no network after firmware, patch it. fix_network.zip for your model.

⚠️ Note: On some devices (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) TWRP It may not work properly with the file system. F2FS. Use OrangeFox Recovery to do this.

Solving typical mistakes

When installing MIUI 12, users are most likely to face the following problems:

If the IMEI is missing or the mobile network is not working:

1. Check if backups are saved in /data/nvram folder.
2. Restore the IMEI via Maui META (for Mediatek) or QCN (for Qualcomm).
3. If there is no backup, contact the service center – self-recovery without files can lead to the loss of the network forever.

FAQ: Frequent questions