Why Xiaomi phone is a long time to update: technical reasons and what to do

You launched the update on your Xiaomi, but the process took hours – or worse, the smartphone stuck on the logo. MIUI This problem is familiar to many owners of the brand's devices, and it arises on both budget Redmi and Xiaomi flagships. 13/14. V 80% Slow updates are not caused by a breakdown, but by software or network factors that can be eliminated on their own.

In this article, we will discuss 7 key reasons why Xiaomi can slow down when installing updates, from banal server overload to hidden firmware errors. You will learn how to distinguish a normal refresh process from a freeze, what to do if the progress bar doesn’t move by the clock, and why some models (e.g., the scaling up of the clock) are not moving, POCO F5 Or the Redmi Note 12 Pro.+) They're updated longer than others, and at the end, they're checking to speed things up and answering a lot of questions.

Spoiler: If your phone is refreshing for more than 2 hours without any visible progress, it's not the norm, it's time to intervene. But first, let's get a sense of what's going on under the hood. MIUI during the installation of updates.

1. How the upgrade process works on Xiaomi: what happens "under the hood"

Updating a firmware on Xiaomi is not just about downloading a file and installing it. The system performs a multi-step procedure that includes:

• 🔍 Relevance Check: The phone communicates with Xiaomi servers to confirm the availability of a new version MIUI For your model (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro) 5G It can get updates later than Xiaomi 13 Ultra).
• 📥 Download package: the firmware file weighs between 1.5 and 4 GB (depending on the type of update – incremental or full).
• ⚙️ Pre-preparation: the system backs up critical data, checks file integrity, and allocates space in the section /system.
• 🔄 Installation in the background: this is the unpacking of the archive, replacement of system files and optimization for hardware (for example, for Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 or Dimensity 9000 processors).+).
• 🔋 Reboot and final configuration: after the reboot, the system applies new parameters, clears the cache and indexes the data.

There may be delays at each stage, such as memory models. UFS 2.1 (Redmi 9, POCO X3) They are updated 1.5-2 times slower than with UFS 3.1 (Xiaomi 12T, 13 Pro) because of the difference in read/write speed. And if you use an incremental update, the process may be stretched by having to stitch the changes with the current version.

But why does an update sometimes hang for hours at a time?

2. TOP-7 Why Xiaomi is Updating Long (and How to Fix It)

If your smartphone is stuck in the “Preparation for Update” or “Installation” stage... XX%", It can be external factors (internet, servers) and internal factors (memory, firmware.

🌐 Reason 1: Slow or unstable Internet

The most common problem is – especially if you are updating by air (OTA). Xiaomi servers are often overloaded in the first days after the release of the new version MIUI. Download speed can fall to 50-100 KB / s, and the process is stretched for hours.

How to check: open the settings on the phone → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Traffic and see the download speed. If it's below 1 MB/s, it's a problem on the network.

• 📶 Wi-Fi Solution: Reconnect, reboot your router, or try another range (2.4 GHz instead of 5 GHz).
• 📡 Mobile Internet Solution: Turn off background traffic restriction in Settings → Connections → Use of data.
• 🔄 Alternative: Download firmware on your PC through the official Xiaomi website and install via Recovery.

📱 Reason 2: Not enough memory space

For updates MIUI minimum 3–5 GB of free space in main memory (not on the main memory) SD-If it's not there, the system can freeze when the archive is unpacked. 32/64 GB of memory (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3).

How to check: Go to Settings → If you're less than 4GB free, clear the place.

⚡ Reason 3: A discharged battery or power problems

Xiaomi blocks the upgrade if the battery is below 20-30%, but even at 50% of the charge, the process can slow down due to background energy saving restrictions, for example, if Ultra battery saver mode or optimization for a particular application (for example, Google Play Services) is turned on.

Decision:

1. Charge your phone to at least 60%.
2. Turn off energy saving: Settings → Battery → Energy saving regime → Off.
3. Add the update process to exceptions: Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery → Find "System Updates" → No restrictions.

🔧 Reason 4: A damaged update file

If a firmware file is downloaded with errors (for example, due to a communication breakdown), the system can endlessly try to unpack or check it, which often happens when updating over the mobile Internet with an unstable signal.

Signs: progress bar freezes by 0%, 25% or 50%, an error appears Update package verification failed.

Decision:

• 🔄 Restart your phone and try the update again.
• 🗑️ Remove the downloaded update file manually: Files → Internal memory. → downloaded_rom.
• 💻 Download firmware on PC and install via Recovery (instructions in Section 5).

🛠️ Reason 5: Conflict with custom recaveri or root rights

If you have previously installed TWRP, Receive root or modify system files, updates OTA Xiaomi blocks the installation of official firmware on modified devices.

Solution: Return stock Recovery via Fastboot:

fastboot flash recovery recovery.img


fastboot reboot

or use MI Flash Tool for full flashing.

📦 Reason 6: Xiaomi servers overload

In the first 3-5 days after the release of the new version MIUI Xiaomi servers are experiencing peak loads. Download speed drops, and sometimes the update does not start at all - the system gives an error Couldn't download. Please try again later.

How to get around:

• 🕒 Wait 1-2 days and try again.
• 🌍 Use it. VPN servers in China or Singapore (sometimes with a).
• 🔗 Download firmware manually from Xiaomifirmwareupdater.com.

🔄 Reason 7: An error in the current firmware

If you have a version MIUI contains bugs (for example, MIUI 14.0.4.0 for Redmi Note 10 Pro was known for problems with updates, the new package may not be installed.

How to check: search in the Telegram channel MIUI Russia information about bugs for your model.

💡

If the update is longer than 2 hours at one stage (e.g., "Optimizing app 1 of 100"), this is not the norm: Reboot your phone manually immediately (press the power button for 10-15 seconds) and try alternative installation methods.

How long should the update Xiaomi: the norms for different models

Update times depend on the phone model, firmware type and installation method, and the table below shows the averages for popular devices (assuming stable internet and sufficient storage space).

Important: If your update lasts 2-3 times longer than the specified time, this is cause for concern. For example, for Redmi Note 11, the norm is up to 40 minutes, but if the process lasts 3 hours, it is likely that something went wrong.

Also note the stage at which the process hung:

• 🔹 Downloading... – a problem with the Internet or servers.
• 🔹 Preparing update: Lack of memory or damaged file.
• 🔹 Verifying update package: Signature error (often in rooted devices).
• 🔹 Optimizing apps is a normal step, but if it is hanging >30 minutes, possible failure.

4.What to do if Xiaomi is stuck on the update: step-by-step instructions

If your phone doesn’t respond to taps and the update indicator doesn’t move for more than an hour, follow this algorithm:

🔄 Step 1: Forced reset

Press the power button for 10 to 15 seconds until the phone turns off. Then turn it on again. If the update continues after the reboot, wait another 30 minutes. If not, move to step 2.

💡

On some models (such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra), the power button may not work due to hardware locking. + Volume up for 20 seconds.

⚙️ Step 2: Clearing the cache through Recovery

If the phone is turned on but the update is not installed:

1. Turn off the device.
2. Press Power + Volume Up to Enter Recovery.
3. Choose Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
4. Reboot and repeat the update.

💻 Step 3: Manual Update with Recovery

If the automatic update does not work:

1. Download the firmware for your model from the official website (choose Recovery). ROM).
2. Rename the file to update.zip and place it in the root of internal memory.
3. Log in to Recovery, select Install update.zip.
4. Confirm the installation and wait for completion.

🔧 Step 4: Complete Fastboot Firmware Fastboot (for experienced users)

If nothing works, then the radical method is to run the Fastboot firmware, which will delete all the data, so do the backup first!

Instructions:

1. Download Mi Flash Tool and Fastboot firmware ROM for your model.
2. Turn off the phone and press Power + Volume down to log into Fastboot.
3. Connect to your PC, run the Mi Flash Tool and select the downloaded firmware file.
4. Press Flash and wait until it is completed (10-15 minutes).

💡

For models with a locked bootloader (for example, Xiaomi) 13T) Before you run through Fastboot, you need to unlock Bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool, which will take 7-14 days to wait for confirmation.

5. Why some Xiaomi models are updated longer than others

Update times are not only dependent on the speed of the Internet, but also on the hardware of the device.

📌 Type of memory: eMMC vs. UFS

Phones with eMMC memory (e.g. Redmi) 9A, POCO C31) They are updated 2-3 times slower than with UFS (This is due to the difference in read/write speed:

• 🔹 eMMC 5.1: Up to 250MB/s (read/write sequentially).
• 🔹 UFS 2.1: up to 850 MB/s (parallel data processing).
• 🔹 UFS 3.1/4.0: before 2100 MB/s (used in flagships).

🧠 Processor and architecture

For example, the update for Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (Xiaomi 13) is installed faster than for Helio. G88 (Redmi 10, because:

• 🔹 Flagship processors have dedicated cores for processing system tasks.
• 🔹 Budget chipsets waste resources on background processes, slowing installation.

📦 Size and type of update

There are two types of updates. MIUI:

• 🔹 Incremental (delta): weighs 500MB-1.5GB, installs faster, but requires “stitching” with the current version (can brake on weak phones).
• 🔹 Full (full firmware): weighs 2.5-4 GB, but is installed "from scratch", without dependencies.

Models with Dynamic support RAM Expansion (e.g. Xiaomi) 12S Ultra) may slow down when upgrading due to the need to redistribute virtual memory.

🔄 Regional differences

Phones for different regions (Global, China, India, EEA) They get updates at different times, MIUI Global is often 1-2 weeks behind the Chinese version, and Indian firmware may contain additional local patches that increase installation time.

How to find out your version: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI. If there is at the end RU — It's Global, CN — china-fix.

6 How to Speed Update Xiaomi: 5 Ways to Work

If you don’t want to wait for hours, use these methods to speed up the process.

⚡ Method 1: Use a cable and PC

Downloading firmware to your computer and installing it via Recovery or Fastboot is 3-5 times faster than OTA. Especially for models with slow memory (Redmi). 8A, POCO M2).

🌐 Method 2: Connect to the 5G fiber-optic

If you have access to the network at 100 speeds+ Mbps, the update will download in 5-10 minutes. 4G (20 Mbps) the same file will be loaded for 20-30 minutes.

🗃️ Method 3: Clear the cache before updating

Go to Settings. → Warehouse → Cache data and clear it, which will free up space and speed up the decompression of the archive.

⏳ Method 4: Update at night

Xiaomi servers are less loaded from 2:00 to 6:00 Moscow time, during which time the download speed is higher and the risk of errors is lower.

🔄 Method 5: Turn it off VPN firewalls

Some of them VPN-Services (e.g. NordVPN, ProtonVPN) can block the connection to Xiaomi servers.

💡

The fastest way to update is through Fastboot using the official Mi Flash Tool, which bypasses the signature verification step and installs firmware directly into the partition. /system, but requires an unlocked bootloader.

7. Frequent errors in Xiaomi updates and their solutions

If the update process is interrupted with an error, use this table for diagnosis:

If your error is not listed in the table, try:

1. Find its code in the forum Xiaomi.EU.
2. Reset network settings: Settings → SIM-maps and networks → Resetting network settings.
3. Install firmware via Fastboot (instructions in section 4).

💡

If after a failed update, the phone boots, but works unstable (lacks, overheats), make a reset to factory settings: Settings → The phone. → Resetting. It'll delete all the data, but it'll put the system back on track.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions