Owners of Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro for several years waiting for the official update to Android 12 – the latest stable version of the operating system, which brought a lot of innovations from improved privacy to adaptive design Material You. However, the situation with support for this flagship of 2019 remains ambiguous.
Xiaomi official statements about the release date of the firmware (and why they are not in the public domain).
Alternative ways to get Android 12 if the update never came
Risks and pitfalls when installing custom firmware on your own.
What to do if after the update the phone began to brake or discharge faster.
Spoiler: If you were hoping for an automatic over-the-air update (OTA) in 2026, you're going to be disappointed. But there are workarounds — read on.
Xiaomi: Why the Mi 9 Pro didn’t get Android 12
Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro was released in September 2019 with Android 9 Pie on board and updated to Android 11 (MIUI 12.5) in 2021. According to Xiaomi's official support policy, devices receive 2 major OS updates and 3-4 years of patch security. For the Mi 9 Pro, this meant:
- 📅 Android 10: The First Major Update (2020).
- 📅 Android 11 – The Second and Last (2021).
- 🚫 Android 12 – not originally planned.
But history knows exceptions: for example, the Redmi Note 7 (2019) unexpectedly received Android 11 against its original plans. Why did the Mi 9 Pro fail?
- Hardware limitations: Snapdragon 855+ chipset is not optimized for newer versions of MIUI based on Android 12+.
- Brand priorities: Xiaomi has focused on supporting newer lines (Mi 10/11, Redmi K40/50).
- Economic feasibility: the production of firmware for older models requires resources that are more profitable to invest in current devices.
⚠️ Note: There are rumors of hidden Android 12 builds for the Mi 9 Pro (for example, in the Chinese region) on the forums, but they are all unofficial ports and are not related to stable versions from Xiaomi.
How to check for updates manually (step-by-step instructions)
Before you look for workarounds, make sure the update doesn't really come.
- Open the Settings. → The phone.
- Tap 7 times on the MIUI version to activate the developer mode (optional, but useful for debugging).
- Go back to Settings → System → Update system.
- Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Update Checker.
If the system says "No updates found", try:
- 🔄 Reset the update cache: go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Updating the system → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
- 🌐 Change region: sometimes updates arrive earlier in Chinese or global versions MIUI. For this, download the official ROM For your region and run it through Fastboot.
Clear the cache of the application "System Update"|Connect to a stable Wi-Fi|Charge your phone at least 50 times%|Check the vacant space (at least 2 GB)-->
If after all the manipulations, the update never came, then it will never be in the official assembly, in which case it is worth considering alternative options.
Alternative ways to install Android 12 on the Mi 9 Pro
If Xiaomi has dropped support, there are three ways to go:
| Method | Pluses | Cons | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brush firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience) | ✅ The current version of Android✅ No Bloatware from Xiaomi | ❌ Loss of guarantee❌ Risk of “bricking"❌ Camera bugs are possible/NFC | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ported MIUI (based on Android 12) | ✅ The corporate interface is maintained✅ All functions are working. | ❌ Low stability❌ Rare updates | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Official MIUI 12.5 Enhanced (on Android 11) | ✅ Stable work✅ Xiaomi support | ❌ An outdated version of Android❌ No new features. | ⭐ |
The most popular option among enthusiasts is the Pixel Experience (based on pure Android 12).
- 🎨 Material You Design with Dynamic Colors.
- 🔒 Monthly security patches from Google.
- 🚀 More smooth animation compared to stock MIUI.
But there are nuances:
⚠️ Note: Mi 9 Pro with Pixel Experience may not work: Widevine L1 (no HD Netflix, Google Pay (due to lack of SafetyNet), and dual speakers (sound only goes through the top speaker).
How to restore Widevine L1 after firmware custom ROM?
How to install Pixel Experience (Android 12)
If you're going to experiment, follow this algorithm. Warning: you do everything at your own risk.
Step 1 Unlocking the bootloader
Xiaomi is blocking the bootloader on all devices to unlock it:
- Link your Mi Account to your phone in Settings → Xiaomi account.
- Go to the official unlock site and request permission (may take up to 72 hours).
- Download the Mi Unlock Tool and connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clip Power + Volume down when the phone is off).
Step 2: Install Custom Recovery (TWRP)
For Mi 9 Pro (codename crux), download the current version of TWRP from the official website. Install it via the command:
fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.7.0_9-0-crux.img
fastboot boot twrp-3.7.0_9-0-crux.imgStep 3: Pixel Experience firmware
Download the latest build from the project website and:
- In TWRP, select Wipe → Advanced Wipe and select Dalvik, Cache, System, Data.
- Click Install and select the downloaded.zip file.
- After installation, scrolle Gapps (if not included in the build).
- Reboot (Reboot System)
💡
Before you run your firmware, save persist and modem partitions via TWRP (Backup option), which will help restore IMEI and mobile network if something goes wrong.
Frequent problems after updating and their solution
Even if the installation is successful, users are faced with common bugs, and here are the most common ways to fix them:
- 🔋 Fast battery discharge: Turn off Adaptive brightness and Constant screen activity in the display settings. Also check application activity in Settings → Battery.
- 📶 Bad Network Signal: Install the latest version of modem via TWRP Or go back to the drain.
- 🎵 Headphones don’t work: Clear the Bluetooth cache in the app settings or swipe the Audio Fix patch (look at 4PDA).
- 📸 The camera emits an error: Install ANX Camera or GCam with Snapdragon 855 settings+.
If after the update the phone does not turn on or hung on the logo:
- Press Power + Volume up for 10-15 seconds for forced reboot.
- If it doesn’t work, run the stock ROM through the Mi Flash Tool in Fastboot mode.
⚠️ Note: If you are using the Mi 9 Pro 5G (model M1910F1CE), don't stitch ROM It's gonna cause a loss of modem and a network problem.
💡
Before installing any custom firmware, check that it is compatible with your phone model. 9 Pro is crux, and Mi. 9 Pro 5G — crux_eea or crux_in (depending on the region).
Should you update: the pros and cons of Android 12 on the Mi 9 Pro
Before you spend your time on firmware, weigh the pros and cons. We collected real user reviews from the 4PDA and XDA forums:
| Pluses | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔ New design with Material You and dynamic colors. | ✖ Loss of some functions MIUI (Like the Game Turbo). |
| ✔ Improved privacy (Mic/Camera access indicators). | ✖ Possible lags in games due to unoptimized drivers. |
| ✔ Longer security support (Google patches). | ✖ No official support from Xiaomi (you will have to monitor the updates yourself). |
| ✔ Fewer pre-installed applications ("junk"). | ✖ Risk of losing the guarantee (if it is still valid). |
If you use your phone for work or mobile payments, upgrading to Android 12 can be more trouble than good.
- 💳 Google Pay may stop working due to lack of SafetyNet certification.
- 🏦 Banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff) can block access on custom firmware.
- 🎮 Games (PUBG, Genshin Impact can slow down due to unoptimized drivers GPU.
For everyday use (social media, photos, videos), Android 12 on the Mi 9 Pro will give you pleasant improvements, but do not expect a revolution in performance.
What to do if you don’t want to take risks: Optimizing Android 11
If you decide to stay on stock firmware, but want to improve its work, use these tips:
- ⚡ Turn off animations: go to Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Tap 7 times, then in the Developer Settings → Scale of animation and choose No animation.
- 🧹 Clean the system of garbage: use the application SD Maid or built-in cleaning utility MIUI.
- 🔋 Optimize the battery: Turn off Autosynchronization and Background activity for unnecessary applications.
- 🔒 Install an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair) to get an interface similar to Android 12.
You can also activate the hidden features of MIUI 12.5, which will bring your experience closer to Android 12.
Settings → Special features → Improved features → Enable “Super wallpaper” and “Dynamic effects”If you don’t have enough apps with a new design, upgrade them through Google Play. Many programs (e.g. Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube) already support Material You regardless of the Android version.