The situation when the long-awaited update of the operating system does not come to the device is familiar to many smartphone owners. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco often face the fact that the Settings menu → The phone is on fire about the latest version, although friends with similar models have already received new functionality. This causes confusion and a desire to understand what the problem is.
In fact, not notifying the new version of MIUI 13 is a regular situation 90% of the time. The company uses a complex packet-phase distribution system that depends on a variety of factors, from the region of use of the gadget to the specific modification of the chipset, and you should not panic ahead of time, as forced installation can lead to errors if the device is not ready for an upgrade.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all possible causes of delay, check the relevance of your device in official lists, and consider safe methods for obtaining the desired version of the firmware. You will learn how to distinguish a software bug from company policy, and whether it is worthwhile to rush to install at all.
Policy for phased updates
The first thing to understand is that Xiaomi, like most major manufacturers, does not send OTA (Over-The-Air) files to all users at the same time, but is done to minimize server load and prevent mass failures if critical errors are detected in the code, the process is run in several waves, covering first a small percentage of devices, and then gradually expanding.
Regional restrictions play a key role: Global firmware is more certified than the China version (CN). So Chinese smartphone owners are often the first to receive updates. If you bought a device designed for the domestic market of China but use it in Europe or the CIS, automatic global firmware delivery by air can be blocked or severely delayed.
⚠️ Warning: Attempt to change region in settings (Settings) → Additional settings → The region can artificially accelerate the appearance of an update, but sometimes leads to the appearance of excess pre-installed software (bloatware) and a change in the list of available themes.
Mi Account type is also important. Mi Pilot users get builds earlier than others, but these versions can be unstable. Regular users are at the back of the queue, receiving only final, verified releases. The wait can last from a couple of weeks to several months.
Device compatibility and support lists
The most common but often overlooked reason is that your device simply didn't make it to the MIUI 13 list, and the company reviews its lineup of gadgets that will get a new shell every year, and typically loses support for models that were released more than 2-2.5 years ago, although there are exceptions.
Owners of Redmi A-series budget lines or older Note models sometimes mistakenly expect a new OS to arrive, relying on rumors on the Internet. It is important to check only with official sources or proven technical resources. If your smartphone is not on the official list, the update will never come, no matter how much you reset your settings.
Below is a table of popular series that are guaranteed to receive or receive MIUI 13 so you can navigate:
| Series of devices | Examples of models | Status of renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Mi | Mi 11, Mi 10, Mi 9 | Received/In progress |
| Xiaomi Series | Xiaomi 12, 11T, 11 Lite | Got it. |
| Redmi Note | Note 10, Note 11, Note 9 Pro | Received/In progress |
| Poco | Poco F3, Poco X3 Pro, Poco M3 | Got it. |
If your model is listed but no update, it’s worth checking the memory modification. Sometimes versions with less RAM (like 4GB) get delayed updates due to low-iron optimization. Hardware limitations can be a barrier to installing heavy graphical interfaces of the new shell.
How to know exactly the model of the device?
Technical problems and network constraints
Often the problem is not with Xiaomi servers, but with your smartphone’s local settings. An unstable Internet connection is the first enemy of an upgrade. If the Wi-Fi signal is weak or the mobile network is out of order, the request to the update server may simply not reach the end or be interrupted during the version check phase.
Another important aspect is the presence of a modified system partition. If your device has unlocked bootloaders (Bootloader), installed Root rights or custom Recovery, the security system can block the receipt of official official OTA-This is a protective mechanism that prevents damage to the modified system.
- 📡 Problems with DNS: Try changing. DNS-server in public Wi-Fi settings from Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare, this often helps to establish communication with update servers.
- 💾 Lack of memory: To install a large package MIUI 13 may be required before 5-7 GB of free internal memory. If there is less space, the update button will be inactive.
- 🔋 Battery Charge: The system won't start the process if the battery charge is lower 30-40% or if the smartphone is not connected to the charger.
It is also worth checking if you have a setting. → The phone is a hand-selected firmware version. Sometimes users accidentally switch between branches (like Stable to Beta), which knocks the auto-refresh mechanism. Go back to the stable branch and restart the device.
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Try to switch the network mode. If you're on Wi-Fi, temporarily turn it off and try to check for updates via mobile 4G/5G, or vice versa. Sometimes ISPs block certain ports.
Manual installation of firmware: Recovery method
If the wait is delayed and the device is officially supported, you can resort to manual installation, which is the most secure method among manual ones, without requiring a connection to a computer, you will need to download the current firmware file in Recovery ROM (extension.zip) from the official website or a trusted resource.
The file should be designed for your model and region. The firmware for the global version will not be Chinese without complex manipulation, and vice versa. Once the file is uploaded, place it in the root of the smartphone's internal memory. Next, go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and click on three dots in the corner of the screen.
From the menu that opens, select Select a firmware file. The system will find an archive and suggest that you start installing. This method only works if you upgrade to a newer version or re-set the same version. Downgrade through Recovery is usually blocked.
☑️ Checklist before manual installation
⚠️ Note: When manually installed via Recovery, user data is usually stored, but the risk of resetting is always there.
Use of Mi Flash Tool and Fastboot
For advanced users who want to be guaranteed a clean system or switch firmware region (like CN to Global), there is a Fastboot firmware method. This method requires a PC, USB cable and Mi Flash Tool utility. It completely cleans the device, returning it to factory condition.
The process looks more complicated: you need to transfer the smartphone to Fastboot mode (clamping Volume down + Power), connect to your computer, select the downloaded image of Fastboot ROM in the program and press the Flash button. An important nuance: an unlocked bootloader is often required to flash from one region to another.
Unlocking the bootloader is an official procedure, but requires a wait of 7 to 168 hours after submitting an application through a special utility on a PC. Without unlocking, you will not be able to install Global firmware on a Chinese device due to verification of signatures.
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
fastboot rebootThis method solves the problem of not updating, because you control the process, but it requires a lot of care: choosing the wrong file can turn a smartphone into a brick.
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Fastboot is the only way to change the region of the device officially, but it requires unlocking the bootloader and completely removing all data from the phone.
Common Errors and How to Resolve Them
During updates, users often encounter specific error codes or system behavior. For example, the message “Can not receive update information” most often indicates network problems or temporary server failures, in which case cleaning the cache of the Update application helps.
To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the “Component Update” or “System Updater” list, go to storage and click Clean. After that, restart your smartphone and try to check for updates again. This resets local temporary files that may have been corrupted.
- ❌ Error 10: Usually related to incompatibility of the selected firmware file when manually installed.
- ❌ Error 4: Network connection or inability to contact Xiaomi server.
- ❌ Endless logo: If the phone is hanging from the logo after the update, it is possible that the file was damaged during download or the recording process was interrupted.
If nothing works, there is a waiting option: Xiaomi servers often experience peak loads on the days of the start of sales of new flagships or immediately after the release of major updates, during which periods the delay in the arrival of push notification can be several days.