How to install old firmware on Xiaomi Redmi: all ways to roll back MIUI

The rollback of the firmware on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is a procedure that can be required for a variety of reasons, from bugs in the new version of MIUI to the desire to return the usual interface. However, the official Xiaomi tools do not always allow you to “wind back” the system without dancing with a diamond. In this article, we will discuss all the working methods for installing old firmware, from the safest (via Recovery) to radical (complete Fastboot flashing).

It's important to understand that firmware rollback is not just a push of the "Return" button. It's a process that requires preparation, unlocking the bootloader and sometimes even risking "bricking" the device. We'll explain in detail how to avoid typical errors, which versions of MIUI are compatible with your Redmi model, and what to do if the phone stops loading after rolling back. If you've never flashed your smartphone before, don't worry: the instructions are tailored to beginners, with step-by-step screenshots and an explanation of each action.

We warn you beforehand that some methods (like unlocking the bootloader) reset all data on the device, so first of all, back up your photos, contacts, and apps, and remember that if your Redmi is guaranteed, your own firmware can cancel it.

Why you might need to roll back firmware on Xiaomi Redmi

Newer versions of MIUI don't always bring improvements, but here are the most common reasons why users choose to return the old firmware:

🐛 Critical bugs: The new version is “raw” – the battery quickly goes down, the processor warms up, applications fly out or the mobile network does not work.
📉 Performance: After the upgrade, Redmi started to slow down, although it used to work quickly.
🔒 Limitations: Xiaomi has removed useful features (for example, the section of the engineering menu or support for custom themes).
🎨 Design: I don’t like the new interface MIUI 14/15 — I want to get back to my usual. MIUI 12/13.
🔌 Compatibility: Some apps or games stopped working after the update.
📱 Testing: Custom firmware developers (e.g. Pixel Experience) sometimes require a specific version MIUI base.

According to the statistics of the 4PDA and XDA Developers forums, most often the owners of the Redmi Note 10/11 Pro, Redmi 9/9A and POCO X3 are required to roll back after upgrading to MIUI 14+.

⚠️ Note: If your Redmi is updated through OTA (It's not going to be able to get the old version back, it's blocking the downgrade because of the anti-rollback mechanism, and it's going to require a full Fastboot flashing.

Preparation for rollback: what to do before the firmware

Before you start rolling back, follow the mandatory steps:

Check the model and encoding: Go to Settings → About → MIUI version and write down the full firmware name (e.g. V14.0.3.0.TKUMIXM). The last letters (MIXM) indicate the region (Global, China, EEA, etc.).
Download the correct firmware: Use only official files from websites: 🌍 Official archives MIUI (for global versions) 🇨🇳 Chinese website MIUI (required VPN) 📦 Xiaomi Firmware Updater (alternative source)

Backup

Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local Backup

Swift Backup

Battery charge

Fastboot

Drivers.

Mi USB Driver

If you plan to stream through Fastboot, you will additionally need:

🔓 Unlock the bootloader (instruction below).
💻 Install ADB and Fastboot or Mi Flash Tool.
🔧 Disable Mi Cloud and delete Xiaomi account (in some cases, block firmware).

📊 What kind of Redmi model do you have?

Redmi Note 10/11

Redmi 9/9A/9C

POCO X3/X4

Redmi 8/8A

Another model

Method 1: Recovery (without unlocking the bootloader)

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

📱 Your current firmware is not newer than the one you are rolling back on (no anti-rollback).
🔄 You're being updated through OTA, It's not hand-stitched.
📁 You have a firmware file in.zip format for Recovery.

If all conditions are met, follow the instructions:

Downloaded firmware file (for example, miui_BLOCKGlobal_V13.0.1.0.SJOMIXM_1234567890_11.0.zip) rename update.zip Move to the root of the phone’s internal memory.
Turn off Redmi and press the Volume Up + Power combination to enter Recovery.
From the Recovery menu, select the language (if you have an option), then: Install update.zip to System One or (in new versions): Apply update → Choose from internal storage → update.zip
Confirm the installation and wait for the completion (5-10 minutes).

If the notification "This MIUI version cannot be installed on this device" appears after the reboot, then the anti-rollback has worked.

The firmware file is renamed to update.zip

The file is at the root of internal memory.

Battery charge > 50%

Backup of important data is made

Password/pattern lock disabled (may interfere)

-->

⚠️ Note: In some versions MIUI Recovery does not have an installation option update.zip. This means that your bootloader is locked and you need a Fastboot method.

Method 2: Fastboot Firmware (with bootloader unlocking)

This method is universal and works even with anti-rollback, but requires unlocking the bootloader. If you've never done this, it takes up to 72 hours (due to Xiaomi's validation).

Step 1: Unlock the bootloader

Link your Mi Account to your phone: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Sync.
Turn on Developer Options: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
Return to Settings → More → For Developers and Activate: Unlock OEM Debugging over USB
Download Mi Unlock Tool and log in to the program under the same account as on your phone.
Connect Redmi to your PC in Fastboot mode (clamb Volume Down + Power When your phone is off). In Mi Unlock Tool, press Unlock.

Once successfully unlocked, the phone will restart with clean firmware (all data will be erased).

Step 2: Firmware with the Mi Flash Tool

Download the firmware for Fastboot (file with the extension.tgz or.zip) and unpack it in a folder without Cyrillic.
Install the Mi Flash Tool and run on behalf of the administrator.
Connect Redmi in Fastboot mode (as in step 1). In the program, press Refresh - it should appear. COM-port.
Press Select and point the path to the unpacked firmware. At the bottom, select the firmware method: 🔹 Clean all – complete cleaning (recommended). 🔹 Clean all and lock - cleaning + Loader lock (do not choose if you plan to customize!). 🔹 Save user data - saving data (may lead to errors).

Flash

If the process is stuck on Waiting for device, check drivers or try another one. USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0).

What to do if the Mi Flash Tool gives you a Flash is not done error

The error arises from the incompatibility of the firmware version with your model or a corrupted file. Solutions: 1. Check that the firmware has been downloaded specifically for your model (for example, for the Redmi Note 10 Pro you need to look for sweet, not sweetin). 2. Try another version of the Mi Flash Tool (for example, the 2018 version often works more stable). 3. Disable the antivirus - it can block firmware files. 4. Try flashing through fastboot manually (commands below).

Step 3: Alternatively, Firmware through fastboot commands

If the Mi Flash Tool doesn’t work, you can manually flash through the command line:

Unpack the firmware in a folder (for example, C:\MIUI\).
Open the Command Prompt in this folder (Shift + PCM → Open the PowerShell window here).
Alternately execute commands (replacing fastboot to the file path if it is not in the system variable): fastboot flash boot.img fastboot flash recovery.img fastboot flash recovery system.img fastboot vendor flash vendor vendor.img fastboot flash dtbo dtbo.img fastboot flash vbmeta vbmeta.img fastboot reboot

Instructions:

Download the firmware in.zip format for Recovery and place it on SD-card.
Boot to TWRP (clip Volume Up + Power when the phone is off).
Backup your current system: Backup → Select System/Data → Swipe for confirmation.
Click Wipe → Advanced Wipe and mark Dalvik / ART Cache System Data Cache (do not touch Internal Storage if the firmware is in internal memory!).
Return to the main menu, click Install, select a firmware file and confirm the installation.
After completion, press Reboot System.

⚠️ Note: If after the scaling of the TWRP phone hangs on the logo MI, Try to re-enter the TWRP and run the Wipe → Format Data (this will delete all data, but often solves the problem).

For models with dynamic partitions (Redmi Note) 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro and newer) may require a special version TWRP supportive dynamic_partitions. You can download it on the official website or Telegram channel.

Compatibility table for popular models of Redmi

Not all versions of MIUI are compatible with your model, but the following are the current data for popular devices (as of 2026):

Model	Code name	The last stable MIUI	Minimum supported version	Notes
Redmi Note 10 Pro	sweet	MIUI 14.0.4	MIUI 12.0.1	Supports anti-rollback to V12.0.2.0
Redmi 9A	dandelion	MIUI 12.5.8	MIUI 12.0.3	No official support for MIUI 13+
POCO X3 NFC	surya	MIUI 14.0.3	MIUI 12.0.4	Versions below V12.0.8.0 may not support 5G
Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G	peux	MIUI 14.0.5	MIUI 13.0.4	Demands. TWRP supportive dynamic_partitions
Redmi 8A	olivelite	MIUI 12.5.3	MIUI 11.0.5	No anti-rollback, you can roll back to any version.

The full list of code names can be found on XiaomiUI. If your model is not in the spreadsheet, check it out with XDA Developers.

💡

If you are not sure about the firmware version, download the CPU-Z utility and check the Software → MIUI Version section. There will be accurate information about the current firmware and code name of the device.

Solving typical errors when rolling back firmware

Even with the correct following of the instructions, problems can arise.

1. This package is for'sweet' devices; this is a'sweetin'

Reason: You downloaded the firmware for another device modification (e.g., for Redmi Note 10 Pro Global instead of Indian).

Solution: Check the code name of your device in Fastboot mode with the command:

fastboot getvar product

And download the firmware with exactly the same name.

2. Hanging on the MI logo after firmware

Reasons:

Incompatible version of MIUI.
Incomplete data cleaning before firmware.
A damaged firmware file.

Decision:

Download to Fastboot and re-wind with a full clean (Clean all in the Mi Flash Tool).
If it doesn’t help, run stock Recovery, then repeat the rollback via update.zip.

3. "Anti-rollback check fail" error in Mi Flash Tool

This error means that you are trying to install a version of MIUI that is older than the one you installed earlier (e.g., from MIUI 14 to MIUI 13).

Decision:

Find a firmware with the same or newer build date.
Use TWRP with the anti-rollback patch (available on XDA).
Sweep through the intermediate version (e.g. first MIUI 13.5, then MIUI 13.0).

4.The phone is not identified in Fastboot

Connection problems are often caused by drivers or USB-port.

Decision:

Try another cable (preferably original).
Connect to the USB 2.0 port (usually black).
Install drivers manually through Device Manager (select Android Bootloader Interface).
Disable driver signatures in Windows (to do this, type in the command line: bcdedit /set nointegritychecks on and restart the PC).

💡

If your IMEI is missing or your mobile network is not working, restore it with the QCN Rebuilder tool or contact the service center. Self-restore IMEI without knowing the nuances can lead to a modem lock!

FAQ: Frequent questions about the rollback of firmware on Xiaomi Redmi

Can I roll back the firmware without unlocking the bootloader?

Yes, but only if: You were updated via OTA (over the air). New firmware does not have anti-rollback protection. You use the method through Recovery (update.zip file). For models newer than 2021 (e.g. Redmi Note 11), unlocking the bootloader is almost always mandatory.

How do I know if my Redmi has anti-rollback protection?

Check the current version of MIUI in Settings → About Phone. If the version is newer than in this table, then the anti-rollback is active. You can also try flashing the old version through Recovery - if the error "This package is for older version" appears, then there is protection.

What if Google services stopped working after the rollback?

This is a typical problem when rolling back to China ROM. Solutions: Sweat Global ROM through Fastboot. Install Open GApps via TWRP (select nano or pico option). Manually swipe vendor.img and system.img from global firmware. If Google services work but don't update, check date and time settings, and reset the Google Play Services cache.

Can I roll back the firmware on Redmi with a blocked bootloader?

Technically, yes, but with serious limitations: Only through Recovery (unless there is an anti-rollback). You can't flash custom Recovery (TWRP). The probability of "bricking" is higher, since there is no way to fix errors through the Fastboot. For most modern models (Redmi Note 10+, POCO X4 and later), unlocking the bootloader is mandatory.

How to return the guarantee after self-firmware?

Officially, no. Xiaomi records the fact that the bootloader is unlocked, and this cancels the warranty. However, there are workarounds: Sweep the stock firmware through the Mi Flash Tool with the Clean all and lock option (lock the bootloader back). Contact the service center with another problem (for example, a faulty speaker) - if the firmware is stock, they may not check the unlock history. In some countries (for example, in the EU), the law requires the manufacturer to repair the device even after unlocking, if the problem is not related to the software.