Why Android is not updated on Xiaomi phone: all the reasons and solutions

Have you been waiting for a new version of Android for your Xiaomi for a long time, but the phone stubbornly does not offer an update? Or does the process of downloading firmware freeze by 0%? This problem is familiar to many owners of smartphones of the brand — from budget Redmi to flagship Mi and POCO. 80% of the time the reason lies not in hardware malfunctions, but in software limitations or user errors.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible reasons why your Xiaomi isn’t upgrading to the current version of Android, from a trivial memory shortage to hidden regional firmware settings, how to check for updates manually, bypass manufacturer locks (if possible), and what to do if the system gives you a Couldn’t download or Update failed error. We’ve also compiled a list of Xiaomi models that officially no longer receive Android updates – this will help save time on useless attempts.

Warning: Some methods (such as manual firmware via Fastboot) require experience and can lead to data loss. If you are a beginner, start with the safe ways from the first sections of this article.

1. Checking the basic conditions for updating

Before looking for complex reasons, make sure the minimum requirements for installing an update are met. Often users miss the obvious:

• 📶 Stable Internet connection. Updates weigh between 1.5 and 3 GB - Wi-Fi should be fast, and mobile Internet (if you use it) - without traffic restrictions. Check speed at Speedtest.
• 🔋 Battery charge > At levels below 30%, the system can block the installation to avoid discharge during the process.
• 📱 Free space in memory. Internal storage must have at least 4-5 GB of free space. → Memory.
• ⏳ Time of day. Xiaomi servers are sometimes overloaded during peak hours (in the evening Moscow time.

If at least one of the conditions is not met, the system can silently ignore the request for an update or give an error failed to download, for example, if memory is not enough, the phone will download the firmware, but will not be able to unpack and install it.

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If you have Xiaomi with two SIM-maps, before updating, remove the second - this will help to avoid conflicts with the mobile network.

2.Official Reasons: Why Xiaomi is Blocking Updates

The manufacturer deliberately restricts the distribution of new versions of Android to certain models, here are the main reasons:

For example, Xiaomi Mi A1/A2 (Android One series) smartphones have officially received updates only 2 years from the date of release. After 2020, their support is completely discontinued - new versions of Android will never be released for them. While POCO F1, although it was released in 2018, still receives security updates (but not major versions of Android).

Important: If your phone is on the list of unsupported devices, but you still want a new version of Android – the only option is to install custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience), but this voids the warranty and can lead to problems with the camera or sensors.

3. Xiaomi server errors: how to get around

Sometimes the problem isn't the phone, it's the manufacturer's infrastructure. Xiaomi servers can:

• 🌍 Be overloaded (especially after a new firmware release).
• 🔒 Lock down IP-addresses of certain regions (for example, Russia/Belarus).
• 🔄 Give outdated data due to cache.

To check if the servers are to blame:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click on the icon with three dots (⋮) → Update the package.
3. If there is an error: You could not connect to the server or No updates despite the announcement of a new firmware – the problem is on the side of Xiaomi.

Decisions:

• 🔄 Use it. VPN (For example, ProtonVPN or Warp) with a connection to Singapore or Hong Kong – the servers there are usually more stable.
• ⏳ Wait 2-3 days and repeat the test.
• 📥 Download the firmware manually from the Xiaomi Firmware Updater site and install via Recovery.

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4. Manual update: step-by-step instruction

If the automatic update doesn't work, you can install the firmware manually, and it's safe to follow the instructions and not interrupt the process.

Method 1: Recovery (without data loss)

1. Download the correct firmware for your model from the official website (choose Recovery ROM).
2. Rename the file to update.zip and move it to the root of internal memory.
3. Press Volume Up + Power to enter Recovery.
4. Select Install update.zip → Yes.
5. Wait until the end (10-20 minutes).

Method 2: Fastboot (if Recovery is not working)

This method is more complicated and requires a PC with the Mi Flash Tool drivers installed:

1. Download Fastboot firmware (.tgz) for your model.


2. Unpack the archive in a folder on disk C:\.




3. Launch the Mi Flash Tool, connect the phone in Fastboot mode (clamp Volume down + Power).




4. Select the firmware folder and press Refresh → Flash.




5. wait until the end (the phone will reboot automatically).

Download the firmware for your model|Check the battery charge (>60%)|Make a backup copy of the data|Disable the antivirus on your PC (if you use Fastboot)-->

Attention! When you update via Fastboot, all the data on your phone will be erased. If you have an unlocked bootloader, then you must follow the command before you run the firmware.

fastboot flashing unlock_critical

5. Hidden settings that block updates

MIUI has several “secret” parameters that can interfere with the installation of firmware:

• 🔒 Locked bootloader. If you've unlocked it and then locked it again, the system may consider the phone "untrusted." Check status in Fastboot with the command: fastboot oem device-info Search for Device unlocked: false.
• 🌐 The wrong firmware region, for example, if you bought a phone in China (CN ROM), You are trying to install a global firmware (Global). ROM). View the current region in Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (must have V12.5.3.0.RKFMIXM, where M is the global version).
• 🛡️ Active Developer Mode If debugging is enabled USB unlock OEM, system can block OTA-Update them. Turn them off in Settings. → Additionally. → For developers.

Also check if you have any:

• 🔄 Castomic Recovery (e.g, TWRP).
• 🔧 Modified system files (e.g. modified build.prop).
• 🚫 Root rights (Magisk or SuperSU).

If at least one of these points is relevant - before updating, return the phone to a drain state.

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Even if you deleted root long ago, traces of modifications can remain in the system partition. OTA-Update, sometimes you need a full flashing through Fastboot.

6. errors when downloading or installing the update

If the update process starts but is interrupted with an error, note the error code:

The most common error is Error 7, which occurs when there is not enough room in the system partition for new firmware to fix it:

1. Load into Recovery (clamb Volume Up + Power).
2. Choose Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
3. Repeat the installation of the update.

If the error repeats, you'll have to reset your phone to the factory settings (Wipe All Data in Recovery).

7. Alternative ways to get a new version of Android

If the official update isn’t available but you really need a new version of Android, consider these options:

• 🔄 Popular projects: LineageOS — pure Android without MIUI. Pixel Experience — Android with chips from Google Pixel. ArrowOS — balance between performance and functionality. Cons: possible bugs with the camera, NFC sensory.
• 📱 MIUI It's older, but with a new Android. For example, the Redmi Note 9 Pro is the last official one. MIUI Android 11, but you can manually install it MIUI 12.5 based on Android 12 (if such firmware exists for your model).
• 🔧 Global firmware instead of regional, if you have a Chinese version of your phone (CN ROM), You can use Global. ROM — Sometimes it gets updates longer.

Warning: Installation of informal firmware:

• 🚫 It is not guaranteed (if it is still valid).
• 🔒 Can block banking applications (due to lack of Google certification).
• 📉 Reduces stability (accidental reboots are possible).

Before installing custom firmware:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi website (you will have to wait 7-15 days).
2. Install TWRP Recovery for your model.
3. Make a full backup through TWRP → Backup.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi updates