Owners of the popular budget smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 9 often wonder about the support of the device from the manufacturer. It has been several years since the release of the gadget, and the interest in extending its life cycle is quite natural. Many users expect the arrival of new interface features, security patches and increased stability of the system.
The software situation for this model has its own peculiarities related to the company's policy towards the budget segment. Unlike flagship lines, here the update schedule can be less predictable and stretched over time.
In this article, we will discuss in detail what version of the operating system your device can count on, how to check for an update and what to do if it does not come automatically, and also touch on the topic of security and the feasibility of manual firmware installation.
Current Support Status and Android Version
At the time of its release, Xiaomi Redmi 9 was running the MIUI 11 shell, based on Android 10. This was standard practice for budget devices in 2020. Over time, the company provided updates, but their number was limited by support policies.
The major major update that most global versions of the device received was the move to MIUI 12.5, which brought significant design changes, improved application resolutions and optimized power consumption.
It's worth understanding the difference between the global version and the Chinese version. Chinese users often get updates earlier, but in the case of the Redmi 9 (model M2004J19C), the situation is similar, and the main focus of support now is exclusively on security patches, which can come in sporadic.
⚠️ Note: Official support for major updates (change of Android version) for Redmi 9 is complete.
However, the system continues to function steadily, with the latest patches aimed at closing vulnerabilities and fixing critical bugs in the communication modules.
Release schedule of MIUI updates for Redmi 9
Xiaomi's policy is to wave-release updates, first beta, then flagship devices, and then the turn comes to the public sector. For Redmi 9, this process took considerable time.
The main stages of the release of versions were as follows:
- 📅 June 2020: Start of sales with MIUI 11 based on Android 10.
- 📅 End 2020 - Beginning 2021: The First Beta Versions MIUI 12.
- 📅 Mid-2021: Stable release MIUI 12 for the global market.
- 📅 The End 2021 - 2022: Update to MIUI 12.5 Enhanced Edition.
The device is now in the maintenance phase, major functional updates are no longer planned, all changes are in the form of bugfix or security certificate updates.
If you own this smartphone, it's important to keep an eye on notifications in the settings section, and sometimes updates come regionally, first in one country, then in another.
How to Check and Install Update Manually
Checking for a new version of the software is a simple procedure that should be done periodically, and users often do not notice the notifications in the curtain, so it is better to check the status manually through the settings menu.
The following actions must be taken:
- Open the Settings menu on your device.
- Click on About Phone (usually at the top of the list).
- Tap the large MIUI version logo or the Check Updates button.
- The system will contact the server and report the availability of a new version or confirm the relevance of the software.
If the server says there are no updates but you know they are already out for your region, you can try changing the region. To do this, go to Settings → Additional Settings → Region and select, for example, India or Russia, and then repeat the check.
☑️ Check before updating
In some cases, cleaning the Update application helps. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Find System Update → Clear the data. After this procedure, a fresh package may come in when checking.
Table of update characteristics
To better navigate the versions that are available for your device, we have prepared a spreadsheet that will help you understand which version of the software is the latest official version.
| MIUI version | Android version | Status | Type of update |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI 11 | Android 10 | Archived | Basic firmware |
| MIUI 12 | Android 10 | Stable. | Major update |
| MIUI 12.5 | Android 11 | Current | Final version |
| MIUI 13/14 | - | Not available. | Not supported |
As you can see from the table, MIUI 12.5 on Android 11 is the final development point for the official model, and further development is possible only through community efforts.
Problems with obtaining OTA-updates
Users often experience a phone that says "No Updates" even though other owners of the same model have already received a new version on forums, a common problem with regional servers.
The reasons for the lack of updates may be as follows:
- 🌍 Regional restrictions: The firmware can be targeted to a specific market (India, Global, Europe) and the server does not see your device as a priority.
- 🔋 Low battery charge: The system can block the boot if the charge is less 30-40%, This often blocks the installation, not the inspection.
- 📶 Unstable Internet: Weak Wi-Fi signal or mobile traffic usage can interrupt connection to update server.
⚠️ Note: Do not try to install firmware from another model (e.g. Redmi). 9C or Note 9) through Recovery, which will lead to the brick of the device.
If automatic updates do not arrive, you can use the manual installation method through the Recovery ROM file downloaded from the official website, but this requires greater care and accurate matching of the firmware region.
How to install firmware manually?
Alternative methods: Castomic firmware
For enthusiasts who are not happy with the Android 11 shutdown, there are alternative ways: The XDA Developers community often creates unofficial ports for newer versions of Android.
Popular custom firmware for Redmi 9 include:
- 🔥 LineageOS: pure Android without excess software Xiaomi.
- 🚀 Pixel Experience: Interface and features of Google Pixel smartphones.
- ⚡ Xiaomi.eu: Optimized version of the official MIUI china-cut.
Installing such systems requires unlocking the bootloader, which is an official procedure, but involves resetting all data from the phone, and unlocking it can temporarily reduce the security of the device until a new system is installed.
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Before unlocking the bootloader, be sure to link the Mi Account and turn on the display of the account ID in the developer settings, otherwise it will be impossible to unlock the device.
It is worth considering that the use of custom software deprives you of an official warranty (if it is still valid) and can lead to the inoperability of some functions, for example, a camera or NFC, if the drivers are written incorrectly.
Security and relevance of the system
Even if major feature updates are no longer coming out, the security issue remains critical.Google and Xiaomi continue to release patches for Android core vulnerabilities that may come to older devices.
Why it is important to update:
1. Protection against viruses and malware.
2. Correcting holes in the data encryption system.
3. Improve the stability of the 4G/LTE network.
If your device has stopped receiving even security patches (the last one was more than a year ago), it is recommended to exercise caution when installing apps from unknown sources and not use your smartphone for banking with large amounts without additional protection.
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Redmi 9 officially stopped at MIUI 12.5 (Android 11), further updates are possible only through custom firmware or rare security patches.