The situation when Xiaomi smartphone stops booting, goes into an endless reboot cycle or hangs on the logo is familiar to many users. In most cases, a software failure does not mean a hardware failure, but only requires the forced reinstallation of system files. For this purpose, the company has developed a specialized utility Mi Flash Tool that allows you to interact with the device in Fastboot mode.
The recovery process may seem intimidating to a beginner, but following the algorithm carefully minimizes the risks. Using official software is the most reliable way to bring a gadget back to life when the standard Recovery recovery menu fails. It is important to understand that this procedure usually involves the complete deletion of all user data.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the process of preparing, installing drivers and direct firmware of the device, you will learn how to choose the right memory cleaning mode and what to do if the computer does not see the phone.
Preparation of equipment and software
Before you start taking action, you need to make sure that all the components are available. You will need the Xiaomi smartphone itself, a computer running the Windows operating system and a high-quality one. USB-It is advisable to use the original cable, as cheap analogues may not provide stable data transfer, which is critical when firmware.
The main tool is the Mi Flash Tool, which should be downloaded exclusively from trusted sources, for example, from the official MIUI forum or authoritative specialized resources. Using modified versions of the software can lead to unpredictable errors or malware installation.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure the battery is at least 50% powered by the smartphone. interruption of the firmware process due to battery discharge can lead to irreversible consequences for the motherboard.
You'll also need a firmware file. Mi Flash only works with Fastboot mode versions. They're easy to tell by the file extension -- it should end in.tgz, while files to update through the recovery menu have a.zip extension.
- 🔌 Cable USB (Original or certified MFi for stable connection.
- 💻 Windows PC (versions 7, 8, 10 or 11) and administrator rights.
- 📂 Fastboot firmware archive corresponding to your device model.
- 🔧 Installed utility Mi Flash Tool latest current version.
☑️ Firmware readiness check
Remember to back up important data in advance if the device still responds to commands. The process of firmware through Mi Flash often involves formatting memory partitions.
Installation of ADB and Fastboot drivers
The most common problem that users face is that the computer does not recognize the connected device, because there are no specific drivers. Standard Windows tools can not always automatically detect Xiaomi in bootloader mode.
To do this, you need to install Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader and Android ADB Interface drivers. Often these come bundled with a firmware archive or the most utilized Mi Flash in the drivers folder. If they are not there, download the universal driver installer from a reliable source.
Where to find drivers in the firmware archive?
The installation process may require manual intervention through Device Manager. If an unknown device with a yellow exclamation mark appears in the hardware list, right-click on it, select Update Driver, and specify the path to the driver folder.
Once installed successfully, hardware called Android Bootloader Interface or Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 should appear in Device Manager if the phone is in proper mode, signaling that the communication between the PC and the smartphone is established correctly.
Downloading the smartphone in Fastboot mode
To start the Mi Flash utility, the phone must be in a special command standby mode. Standard boot won't work here. There are several ways to get the device to Fastboot state.
The most common method is hardware. Turn off your smartphone completely. Then simultaneously press the power and volume buttons, hold them until the image of a hare repairing an android appears on the screen, or the words FASTBOOT.
⚠️ Note: Do not confuse Fastboot mode with Recovery mode. Recovery usually shows a cable phone or logo on the screen. MI It says Recovery. Mi Flash requires a Fastboot).
If the hardware buttons don't respond or are broken, you can try using the software method via the command line, the phone is on and the USB debugging is active. Connect the device and type in the command:
adb reboot bootloaderWhen you go to Fastboot, connect your smartphone to your computer, and the system should make a characteristic sound of connecting the new hardware. If that doesn't happen, try changing the device. USB-port.
- 🐰 The classic way: clamping the Loudness-minus + Power with the phone turned off.
- 💻 Software method: Adb reboot bootloader command via terminal.
- 🔌 Success indicator: the appearance of a logo with a hare or inscription FASTBOOT orange.
Make sure that the Windows Device Manager displays connectivity. Without this step, further action in the Mi Flash program will not be possible.
Work with the Mi Flash Tool interface
Launch the Mi Flash Tool on behalf of the administrator. The program interface is quite austere, but contains all the necessary controls. First of all, press the Refresh button to detect the connected device.
If your smartphone's serial number appears in the list, if it's an error or the list is empty, check the drivers and the cable, then specify the path to the firmware files, press select, and select the folder where you previously unpacked the.tgz archive.
Important: Choose the folder that contains the files flash_all.bat, Images and other system files, not the archive itself.
Once you select a path, it will automatically check the integrity of the files. At the bottom of the window, you will see a list of available firmware commands. The mode you choose will determine whether your data will be saved or your phone will be cleared completely.
| Firmware mode | Data retention | Description of action |
|---|---|---|
| clean all | No. | Complete cleaning of all partitions, installation of a clean system. |
| save user data | Yes. | Reinstall the system with the preservation of photos, contacts and applications. |
| clean all and lock | No. | Full reset and lock loader (only for global firmware). |
Select the desired mode by clicking on the corresponding radio button at the bottom of the window. For recovery work, the clean all option is most often used, since it eliminates conflicts between old files and the new system.
Selecting a firmware strategy and launching
Now you need to figure out a recovery strategy, and if your phone is just buggy but the bootloader is unlocked, you can try saving user data. However, if the device is bricked or you change the firmware region (for example, from China to Global), the only working option is a complete cleanup.
When changing the firmware region (for example, CN to Global), be sure to use the clean all mode, otherwise a cyclic reboot (bootloop) will occur.
Exercise special care with the clean all and lock option. You can only lock the bootloader if you flash the device with the official global firmware on the global version of the device. Trying to lock the bootloader on Chinese firmware or when changing the region will lock the device at the motherboard level.
💡
If you're changing from China to Global, never choose the "clean all and lock" option, otherwise the phone will turn into a brick. First go clean, check the work, and then, if necessary, lock the bootloader separately.
When all the parameters are set, press the big green flash button, the data recording process will begin, and the log at the bottom of the window will show messages about the operation: sending sparse, erasing, programming.
The entire process takes 3 to 10 minutes depending on firmware volume and speed. USB-At this time, you can shut down the cable or interrupt the program.
- 🚀 Flash button starts the process of writing firmware in the memory of the phone.
- ⏳ The average waiting time is about 300-500 seconds.
- ✅ Successful completion is marked with a green flash done or success.
Once the success message is received, the smartphone will automatically restart, and the first download can last longer than usual – up to 5-7 minutes, as the system optimizes applications.
Solving common mistakes
Even if you follow the instructions accurately, you can get into a crash, and one of the common mistakes is Miss matching image and device, which means you're trying to flash the firmware from one model to another, and always check the code name of the device (e.g., umi, vince, raphael) before you start.
A Not enough space error usually indicates that you have chosen the wrong firmware version (e.g. Recovery over Fastboot) or on disk C: space is out. The problem may also lie in the path length to the firmware folder - move the folder to the root of the disk, for example, in the disk. C:\mi_flash\.
⚠️ Note: "Can't find the flash script" error occurs if you choose an archive folder rather than an unpacked file folder. Make sure that the file is inside the selected directory. flash_all.bat.
If the process hangs on a certain percentage or gives a link error, try:
- Use the other USB-port, preferably USB 2.0 (black) not 3.0 (blue).
- Replace USB-cable-on.
- Reboot your phone to Fastboot mode again and press Refresh.
💡
90% of firmware errors are due to poor quality USB-cable or lack of administrator rights when running the program.
In some cases, antivirus or Windows firewall can block drivers. Try temporarily disabling protection or adding an exception to the folder with the Mi Flash Tool.