MIUI 13 on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro: official dates, new features and instructions for updating

When to expect MIUI 13 on Redmi Note 9 Pro?

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro remains one of the most popular mid-range smartphones even a few years after its release. Owners of this model often wonder: when will MIUI 13 for their device? Unfortunately, the official response from Xiaomi is not happy — Redmi Note 9 Pro will not receive MIUI 13 as part of the standard update program. But let’s understand why this happened, what alternatives exist and what to do if you still want to try the new shell.

The Redmi Note 9 Pro (codenamed joyeuse) was released in March 2020 with MIUI 11 based on Android 10. According to Xiaomi's policy, mid-range devices receive 2 major MIUI updates and 3 years of patch security. Thus, the Note 9 Pro has already received MIUI 12 and MIUI 12.5 - this is the limit of official support. However, there are nuances that many people are not aware of.

In 2023, Xiaomi announced an extended update program for some popular models, but the Redmi Note 9 Pro did not make this list, while the Redmi Note 10 Pro and newer models received MIUI 13 and even MIUI 14. Why is it? The matter is hardware limitations: the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor and 4 GB of RAM in the basic version do not meet the requirements of new versions of the shell, which are optimized for more modern iron.

Why Xiaomi doesn’t release MIUI 13 for Redmi Note 9 Pro: technical reasons

The main reason for the lack of updates is hardware limitations. MIUI 13 requires not only a more recent version of Android (at least Android 11), but also:

• 🔹 Processor with support for new instructions (Snapdragon) 720G They are not fully supported)
• 🔹 5GB of RAM for smooth operation (the base version of the Note 9 Pro has only 4GB)
• 🔹 UEFI-compatible bootloader for new security features (the outdated bootloader on the Note 9 Pro does not support them)
• 🔹 Vulkan 1.2 support for graphics acceleration (Adreno 618 video driver in Snapdragon) 720G It only works with Vulkan 1.1)

Xiaomi has also moved to a new MIUI architecture that uses Android 12+ as a base. the Redmi Note 9 Pro officially only received Android 11 (in MIUI 12.5), and backward compatibility with Android 10 in the new shell versions is not provided. This means that even if Xiaomi wanted to port MIUI 13 to this device, it would require a complete rework of the core and drivers – which is not economically feasible.

⚠️ Note: Some users are trying to install MIUI 13 via custom firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu or LineageOS).However, this is fraught with constant bugs, as ported versions are not optimized for Snapdragon. 720G. At best you will get a slow job, at worst you will get a brick".

What is the MIUI 13 alternative to Redmi Note 9 Pro

If there's no official update, what do you do? There are a few ways to do this.

1. Staying on MIUI 12.5 Enhanced is the latest stable version for the Note 9 Pro. It got most of the features from MIUI 13 (like live wallpaper and improved memory management), but without new visual changes.
2. Install custom firmware based on Android 12/13 (like Pixel Experience or ArrowOS) and give you a fresh Android, but without the branded MIUI chips.
3. Use launchers like HyperOS Launcher or Nova Launcher to mimic the MIUI 13 interface.
4. Buy a new smartphone – if MIUI 13 is critical, consider the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ or POCO X5 Pro, which get updates longer.

The safest option is to stay on MIUI 12.5 Enhanced.

• 🔄 Optimized RAM management (now applications are less likely to be unloaded from memory)
• 🎨 New animations and live wallpaper (partially borrowed from MIUI 13)
• 🔒 Improved Application Permits (more flexible access settings)
• 📱 "Light version" mode to save battery power

How to Upgrade Redmi Note 9 Pro to the Latest MIUI

Even if MIUI 13 is not available, it is important to keep your smartphone up to date. Here is a step-by-step guide to upgrading to the latest version of MIUI 12.5 Enhanced:

Make a backup copy of the data (photos, contacts, messages)

Connect to Wi-Fi (update file weighs ~2 GB)

Charge the battery to at least 60%

Close all background applications-->

Follow the algorithm further:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check Updates. If a new version is available, a Download button will appear.
3. After download, click Set and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).
4. If the update does not come automatically, download the firmware manually from the official Xiaomi website (choose Global or Russia for Redmi Note 9 Pro with joyeuse code).

If after the update, the smartphone began to work slower:

• 🔄 Restart the device (sometimes helps to reset the cache).
• 🧹 Clear the cache in Settings → Memory. → Clear the cache.
• 🔋 Turn off unnecessary background processes in Settings → Battery → Energy saving regime.

⚠️ Note: If after the update, mobile Internet disappeared, check the settings APN. To do this, go to the Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Access points (APN) You can choose the operator manually, and often the problem is solved by resetting the network settings.

MIUI 12.5 vs MIUI 13: What you're losing on the Redmi Note 9 Pro

To see what the Redmi Note 9 Pro will look like, let’s compare the key features of MIUI 12.5 and MIUI 13:

As you can see from the table, the main losses are visual improvements and background optimizations. However, for everyday tasks (social networks, messengers, photos), the difference will be minimal, while for games or resource-intensive applications (for example, Genshin Impact or Lightroom), the absence of MIUI 13 can affect performance.

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If you’re missing MIUI 13 features, try installing Google Discover instead of the standard launcher.It supports dynamic content widgets that look like live wallpaper.

Frequent issues after the MIUI update on the Redmi Note 9 Pro and their solutions

Even when upgrading to MIUI 12.5 Users are confronted with bugs.-5 problems and ways to correct them:

1. Fast battery discharge Reason: background activity of system applications (e.g. com.miui.analytics).Solution: disable statistics collection in Settings → Memory → Autostart and disable background work for unnecessary applications.
2. Overheating when charging Reason: Quick Charge 4+ is on. Solution: Use the original (18W) power supply and disconnect the phone from the network when you reach 80% charge.
3. NFC is not working Reason: failure after the update. Solution: go to Settings → Connections → NFC and reset to factory settings (NFC Reset button).
4. Slow camera performance Reason: Camera cache is crowded. Solution: clear the Camera app data in Settings → Apps → App management → Camera → Memory → Clear the data.
5. No notifications are coming Reason: battery limitations for instant messengers. Solution: add apps (like WhatsApp or Telegram) to the exception list in Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization.

If none of these methods worked, try resetting to factory settings (don’t forget to back up!). To do this, go to Settings → About Phone → Reset and select Reset all settings.

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Before resetting, be sure to log out of your Mi Account (Settings → Mi Account → Sign out), otherwise after resetting, the phone will require entering the previous password!

The future of the Redmi Note 9 Pro: should you wait for MIUI 14 or HyperOS?

In 2023, Xiaomi introduced HyperOS, the new shell that replaced MIUI. It is Android 14 and offers even deeper optimization. Unfortunately, the Redmi Note 9 Pro will not get HyperOS for the same reasons as MIUI 13: outdated hardware and lack of support for new versions of Android.

But there is good news for enthusiasts:

• 🛠️ Unofficial HyperOS ports are already appearing on forums (e.g., in the Internet, XDA Developers. They're based on AOSP and adapted for Snapdragon 720G.
• 🔄 Projects like LineageOS 20 (Android 13) offer a long-term alternative to the new system.
• 📱 Launchers with HyperOS support (such as HyperLauncher) simulate the interface of the new shell.

If you're ready to experiment, you can try custom firmware.

⚠️ Warning: Unofficial firmware for Redmi Note 9 Pro often breaks data encryption, NFC Before you install, check the forum reviews and make a full backup through the TWRP.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About MIUI 13 on Redmi Note 9 Pro