Owners of Xiaomi devices regularly face the need to update software. OTA update (Over-The-Air) is a standard mechanism for delivering new versions of the operating system MIUI or HyperOS directly to the smartphone. Usually the process occurs automatically in the background, but often users find that their device has not yet arrived a new build, although they already have it installed.
Installing the current firmware on your own not only provides fresh security and interface features, but also fixes software bugs accumulated in previous versions. In this article, we will discuss how to force you to start a search for updates, how to install the package manually through the file selection menu, and what to do if the standard path does not work.
Before you start any manipulation of system files, you need to make sure that the connection is stable and battery power. Interrupting the process of writing data can lead to serious malfunctions in the operating system, so preparation is a critical step. We will consider all the nuances to ensure that your procedure goes as smoothly and safely as possible for the device.
Preparation of the device for firmware
The first step before you start working with system software is to check the current state of the gadget: make sure that the battery level is at least 60%, and ideally connect the device to the power source. Unstable voltage or discharge at a critical time of writing system partitions can turn the smartphone into a “brick”.
It is also necessary to free up enough internal memory. Although the installation file itself may weigh a little, the system requires space for temporary files and decompress the archive, and it is recommended to have at least 3-5 GB free to avoid errors with the "Not enough memory" code during the installation process.
⚠️ Note: Before starting the procedure, be sure to back up important data. Use the Xiaomi Cloud service or sync with your Google account to avoid losing contacts and photos in the event of an unexpected reset.
Be sure to check the stability of the Internet connection. downloading large service packs, especially global versions of MIUI, can take a considerable time and require a lot of traffic. Using a Wi-Fi network is preferable to mobile Internet for stable data transfer speeds.
Checking for updates by standard method
The easiest and safest way to get a new version of the software is to use the built-in verification mechanism. The system will contact the company's servers and determine whether a new build is available for your specific model, tailored to the region. To do this, go to the Settings → About Phone menu and click on the MIUI version logo.
If the update is available, you will see the Download and Install button, but it is often the case that the server has not yet generated a wave of updates for your region or specific serial number, in which case the system will tell you that you have the latest version installed, even if the global market has already released a more recent release.
Sometimes cleaning the Update app data helps. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the "Component Update" or "Updater" list, click "Clear Data" and "Clear Cache." After that, try checking again through the MIUI logo.
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If you have changed region in settings (e.g. from China to Global), the update check may not work properly until the device is fully rebooted or settings are reset.
Manual installation of OTA updates via Recovery
If the automatic search does not work, you can use the manual installation method. You will need to download the current firmware file in.zip format from the official website or verified sources, EU, RU, China).
Once you download the file, put it in the root of the device's internal memory. Don't put it in deep folders, it's best to leave it right in the main file manager menu for easy search. Then go back to the software update menu through the system version logo.
In the upper right corner of the screen, click on the three-dot menu and select "Select firmware file." The system will open the file manager, where you will need to specify the path to the downloaded archive. Once confirmed, the digital signature and file integrity will be checked.
☑️ Checklist before manual installation
If the file is corrupted or not suitable for your model, you will receive an error notification "Failure to check the file." In this case, double-check the version and region match, and a successful check will end with a suggestion to restart and start installation.
⚠️ Note: When manually installed, make sure you don't confuse the Recovery version with Fastboot. Only the file with the ending is suitable for installation via the phone menu _recovery.zip. Files with an end _fastboot.zip Require computer and Mi Flash utility.
Use of Hidden Updater Menu (10 Points Method)
For advanced users, there is a way to activate the extended update bootloader menu, which often allows you to bypass regional restrictions and install firmware that has not formally arrived on your device, and to activate you need to quickly click 10 times in a row on the logo of the current version of MIUI in the About Phone menu.
After a successful series of clicks, three vertical dots will appear in the top right corner of the screen, and you'll see additional options like Select Firmware File, Auto Update Settings, and other hidden features, and this is where you can start installing the downloaded manually. ZIP-archive.
This method is especially useful when you want to upgrade to a particular version without passing the intermediate steps, or if the standard menu does not see the update file. However, it is worth remembering that installing firmware from another region through this method can lead to data loss or locking the bootloader.
What to do if 10 clicks don’t work?
Table of file types of firmware Xiaomi
Understanding the differences between the types of service packs is critical to choosing the right installation method. Below is a comparative description of the main file formats used by the Xiaomi ecosystem.
| File type | Expansion | Method of installation | Data retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| OTA (Recovery) | .zip | Phone menu | Preserve. |
| Fastboot | .tgz | Computer (Mi Flash) | Requires cleaning. |
| Recovery (Full) | .zip | Phone menu/recovery | Preserve. |
| Incremental | .zip | Automatically. | Preserve. |
OTA and Recovery files are designed to be installed directly from the device and usually do not require deleting user data. At the same time, Fastboot images are used for deep flashing through the computer and often involve a complete cleaning of partitions, making them a more radical recovery tool.
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For a regular update without losing data, always choose files with the.zip extension and install them via the smartphone menu or Recovery mode.
Solving Common Errors During Updating
During the update process, users often encounter different error codes, one of the most common is "Failure to verify the file." This means that the digital signature of the archive does not match the expected one, such as when you download a broken file, a file from another model, or when you try to roll back to an older version of the system (Downgrade).
Another common problem is hanging on the MI or Xiaomi logos after installation, if the device does not boot for more than 10-15 minutes, forced reboot or entering Recovery mode to reset settings, sometimes helping to re-installe the same firmware file on top of the existing system.
Network errors when booting are often solved by changing DNS-Update servers can be congested on major release days, so trying to download at night is often more successful.
⚠️ Note: Attempting to install firmware from the Chinese version (CN) It is impossible to reach the global device (Global) without unlocking the bootloader and will lead to a verification error.