How to download Xiaomi source files from the cloud: all working methods

Downloading source code files for Xiaomi devices from cloud storage is a challenge faced by both custom firmware developers and experienced users who want to modify the system. Although the company officially provides the kernel source in accordance with the license GPL, It's not always easy to find them and download them correctly, and problems arise from changing the structure of the storage facilities, regional restrictions, or the lack of direct links to the latest versions.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to download source files, from Xiaomi’s official repositories to alternative cloud services like Google Drive, Mega or GitHub. This guide will help you avoid common mistakes, how to verify the integrity of downloaded data, what tools to use to unpack, and what to do if file links are not available.

Why Xiaomi publishes source files and where to look for them

Xiaomi is required to provide source code for the Linux kernel and other open-license components (e.g., the source code for the Linux kernel, GPLv2) This requirement applies to all smartphones, tablets and even smart Android devices:

• 🔹 Xiaomi Support Site – Open Source Release (Available for Most Models).
• 🔹 GitHub – repositories marked miui or xiaomi (e.g, MiCode/Xiaomi_Kernel_OpenSource).
• 🔹 Cloud storage – Google Drive, Mi Cloud, Mega (links are often published on forums).

But there are pitfalls here: First, the source code for new models (e.g., Xiaomi 14 or Redmi Note 13 Pro).+) Second, some files (e.g. proprietary drivers) are not publicly available; third, directory structures on official resources often change, causing old instructions to stop working.

If you haven't found the source code for your model on the official website, don't despair. Often, custom firmware enthusiasts and developers (like LineageOS or PixelExperience) put file mirrors on third-party sites, and we'll talk about this in detail in the next section.

Official sources: how to download source from the Xiaomi website

The most reliable way is to download files directly from Xiaomi resources.

1. Go to the Open Source Release page, and this is the source for most devices, starting with Redmi. 1S (2014) and ending with current models.
2. Find your model in the list. Use a search by device code (e.g., tissot for Redmi Note 5 or alioth for the device). POCO F3). You can find the codes on the Xiaomi Device website.
3. Download the archive marked Kernel Source or Complete Source Code, usually a.tar.gz or.zip file with a volume of 500 MB to 2 GB.

If your model is not on the list, try an alternative path:

1. Go to Xiaomi’s GitHub and check the repositories by model name.
2. Search the hashtag #XiaomiOpenSource on Twitter or Telegram channels (e.g., developers, @XiaomiUI).

Make sure the model matches the device’s code name|

Check the date of the last source update (relevant for new firmware)|

Download the file via a stable connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)|

Use a download manager (for example, IDM) large-file-->

Some archives may be broken up into parts (e.g, part1.rar, part2.rar). In this case:

⚠️ Note: If there is an error when unpacking CRC Failed, re-download all parts of the archive, most often the problem is due to a download break or damage to files during transfer.

Alternative cloud storage: Google Drive, Mega, Mi Cloud

When official sources fail, third-party cloud services come to the rescue, and custom firmware developers and enthusiasts often share source mirrors in:

• 🔗 Google Drive is the most popular option. Files are usually available via direct links, but can be blocked due to overload limit.
• 🔗 Mega.nz – large archives (up to 20 GB) are often posted here, but download speed is limited for free accounts.
• 🔗 Mi Cloud is a Xiaomi cloud, but access to it may be limited by region (for example, for users from China).
• 🔗 Telegram channels – some groups (for example, @XiaomiFirmware) store collections of source and firmware.

To find relevant links:

1. Google search for: site:drive.google.com "Xiaomi [model code] kernel source" or site:mega.nz "Redmi Note 12 Pro"+ source code".
2. Check out thematic forums: 🔧 XDA Developers (Segment Xiaomi). 🔧 4PDA (subforums).

Example of working reference (at 2026):

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1AbCdEfGhIjKlMnOpQrStUvWxYz_12345


(Source archive for Xiaomi 13 Pro, codenamed "nuwa")

💡

If a link to Google Drive gives you an error called “Excess download limit”, add it to your Google account by creating a copy of the file. → Make a copy".

How to check the integrity of the downloaded source

Once you download the source archive, make sure you check the integrity of the file, and the damaged files can lead to firmware build errors or even a device blink.

1. Compare the hash sums: 🔢 Xiaomi’s official archives are often accompanied by files SHA256SUM or MD5SUM. 🔢 Use the utilities to check: Windows: CertUtil -hashfile filename SHA256 Linux/macOS: sha256sum filename

Check the size of the archive.

POCO X3 Pro

vayu

Unpack the test.

Example of checking a hash amount in Linux:

user@pc:~$ sha256sum nuwa_kernel_source.tar.gz


a1b2c3d4e5f6... nuwa_kernel_source.tar.gz # must match the official hash

⚠️ Attention: If the hash amounts don't match, don't use the files to build firmware! this may indicate data spoofing or download damage. Re-download or find another source.

Unpacking and preparation of source materials for work

Once the archive is successfully downloaded and checked, it must be properly unpacked and ready for assembly.

1. Use the right archiver: 📦 It's good for.tar.gz. 7-Zip, WinRAR or tar -xzvf Linux. 📦 For multiple archives (.rar.001,.rar.002) First, put the parts together by a team: copy /b part1.rar + part2.rar fullarchive.rar (Windows) or cat part* > fullarchive.tar.gz (Linux).
2. Check the folder structure. After unpacking, a directory should appear with the model name (such as tissot or alioth) and subfolders: kernel source codes; device configurations for a particular device; vendor proprietary components (if any).

Set up dependencies.

sudo apt install git gcc make clang lzma

(for Ubuntu/Debian).

If you plan to build a custom core or firmware, pay attention to the configuration files:

• 📄 BoardConfig.mk – build settings for a specific model;
• 📄 defconfig - kernel configuration;
• 📄 Android.mk - rules for assembling modules.

💡

Before starting the assembly, be sure to synchronize the source materials with the repositories. AOSP (Android Open Source Project. Use the repo sync command in the source directory to do this.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users have problems with Xiaomi's source code, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

A typical problem is that when kernels are assembled, there is an error in missing firmware files, which means that the archive does not have proprietary binary options (for example, for a Wi-Fi module or a camera).

1. Find the file. non-free-firmware.zip for your model on XDA or 4PDA.
2. Unpack it in the directory. vendor/firmware.
3. Repeat the assembly.

⚠️ Note: If you are assembling firmware for a device with a bootloader locked, unlock it first via fastboot oem unlock. otherwise the device will not boot after firmware is installed!

Automation of download: scripts and utilities

If you have to download the source code for different models often, it makes sense to automate the process. Here are some useful tools:

• 🤖 XiaomiFlasher is a utility for Windows that can download firmware and source code from the model. Supports Mi Cloud and Google Drive.
• 🤖 GDrive bootloader – Python script to bypass Google Drive: pip install gdown gdown https://drive.google.com/uc?id=FILE_ID
• 🤖 Aria2 — console download manager with multithreading support: aria2c -x 16 "https://link.to/large/file.zip"

For advanced users, a script on Bash is useful, which checks the relevance of the source code on GitHub:

#!/bin/bash


MODEL="nuwa" # code of your model




REPO="MiCode/Xiaomi_Kernel_OpenSource"




LATEST=$(curl -s "https://api.github.com/repos/$REPO/tags" | grep -oP '(?<="name": ")(.*?)(?=")' | head -1)




Echo "The latest source version for $MODEL: $LATEST"

If you’re working as a team or want to track source updates, set up GitHub Actions to automatically alert you to new commits in the Xiaomi repository.

name: Check for Xiaomi Source Updates


on:




schedule:




- cron: '0 0 *' # check every day at 00:00




jobs:




check-updates:




runs-on: ubuntu-latest




steps:




- uses: actions/checkout@v2




- run: curl -s "https://api.github.com/repos/MiCode/Xiaomi_Kernel_OpenSource/commits" | head

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions