Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face a situation where the long-awaited system update does not come automatically, especially when it comes to the transition to Android 12 and the MIUI 13 shell, when the device seems to support the new version, but the update menu is quiet, which causes a natural concern, because new versions of the OS bring security and functionality improvements.
The reasons can be both the software constraints of the company and the specifics of your particular device or region. Often the problem lies in the regional firmware binding or phased rollout phase, when the update spreads in waves. In some cases, the hardware of the smartphone simply does not pull the requirements of the new system, despite the assurances of marketers.
In this article, we will discuss in detail why Xiaomi is not upgrading to version 12 and what steps need to be taken to resolve the issue.We will look at hidden settings, manual installation methods, and the possible risks associated with tampering with system files.
Update Distribution Stages and Regional Limitations
Xiaomi uses a complex system of phased introduction of new versions of the software. This means that even if your model has already released a stable version of Android 12, it may not come to all users at the same time, first the update is tested on a small group of devices (1-5% of users), then the coverage is expanded to 30%, 60% and only then reaches 100% of the audience.
The second critical factor is the region, with firmware divided into Global, EEA (Europe), Russia, India and China, and it often happens that in India or China, the update is already available, and in the global version or for the region of Russia, it is still in the beta or internal debugging stage, and the update servers strictly control this process.
⚠️ Warning: Forced region change in phone settings to receive updates can lead to excessive advertising, changing the list of pre-installed apps and even blocking some features NFC (For example, Mi Pay).
In addition, there is the concept of carrier versions: if your smartphone was purchased from a particular carrier, it may have a locked bootloader and modified firmware that is updated only through the servers of this operator, and not directly from Xiaomi servers.
Technical limitations and compatibility of iron
Remember that Android 12 and MIUI 13/14 require significantly more resources than previous versions. If your device is several years old, the CPU manufacturer or RAM may not meet the minimum requirements for stable operation of the new system.
This is especially true for Redmi's budget lines and older flagships, and engineers run tests, and if a device starts to overheat or discharge quickly on a new OS, the release of the update is blocked, a measure to protect the brand's reputation and preserve the health of the gadget.
Also important is the amount of internal memory. To install a major update, the system requires free space, which can reach 5-8 GB. If the memory is filled "to the end", the system simply will not be able to download and unpack update files.
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Free up 10GB of free space before checking for updates. Go to Settings → Memory and use the built-in cleanup by removing cache and unnecessary files.
There is another nuance associated with the bootloader: If the bootloader of your device was unlocked earlier (to obtain root rights or install custom recavators), automatic receipt of official OTA-The security system has changed the partition structure and blocks the process.
Problems with servers and network connection
Sometimes the problem is trivial, with an unstable Internet connection or temporary outages on Xiaomi servers, and the update server may not be requested due to DNS errors or blockings by the provider, in which case the “Check Updates” button simply turns the load indicator or gives a network error.
It is recommended to try switching from Wi-Fi to mobile Internet (or vice versa), and also an effective method is resetting the network settings, which helps to update the network. IP-Address and connection routes. Keep in mind that servers can be congested in the first days after a major update.
The table below provides the main error codes that may occur when trying to update, and a brief description of them:
| Code/Message | Probable cause | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
| Can't verify update | File integrity is broken or bootloader is changed | Checking the status of the loader, flashing |
| No network connection | DNS or server problems | Change DNS to 8.8.8.8, change network |
| Not enough storage | Lack of free memory | Clearing cache and deleting files |
| Update paused | Interrupted by the user or low charge | Charge the device above 50% and resume |
How to change DNS to Android?
Verification of MIUI version and firmware type
Before you panic, you need to know exactly which version of the software you have installed now. Often users confuse the Android version and the MIUI version. For example, MIUI 12 can run on Android 10 or 11, and MIUI 13 is based on Android 11 or 12. The update can come first for the shell and then for the underlying OS.
It is important to check the firmware type: Stable (stable) or Beta (beta).If you are in beta, switching to a stable version of older Android may require a complete data reset (Wipe Data), which the system will not do automatically without your consent, in which case the update menu will be blocked.
For detailed information about the current build, you can use the engineer's hidden menu. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on the MIUI version several times (about 10). Once you see the "Additional Features Enabled" label, go back and click on the three dots in the corner of the screen, selecting "Update Options".
- 📱 You can activate manual update checks here.
- 🔄 Available function "Select firmware file" for manual installation.
- 🌐 You can switch the frequency of checks (once a day, once a week).
- ⚙️ The status of the current update channel is displayed (Stable/Beta).
It is in this menu that the answer to the question why the update does not come often hides, perhaps it is worth switching the frequency of checks to Daily and clicking the "Check Updates" button manually.
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Activating the hidden developer menu in the About Phone section gives access to advanced update settings, including manually downloading the firmware file.
Manual Installation of Updates through Recovery
If the automatic method doesn’t work, the most reliable method is manual installation, which allows you to bypass the queues of the servers of the iregion-loki, if you are sure of firmware compatibility, you will need to download the current firmware archive (.zip format) from the official website or proven resources like XiaomiFirmwareUpdater.
It is important to download the firmware specifically for Recovery (Recovery ROM), not for Fastboot. Recovery file is usually smaller (3-4 GB) and does not require unlocking the bootloader. Once the file is downloaded, place it in the root of the device's internal memory.
The algorithm of actions is as follows:
☑️ Manual installation algorithm
The system will check the integrity of the file. If everything matches, the installation process will begin, the phone will restart and update. This method often helps when OTA servers "cannot see" your device due to errors in the database.
⚠️ Warning: When manually installed, make sure that the battery is at least 60% battery power. Interrupting the firmware process can lead to a "bricking" of the device, after which you will need to restore via Fastboot and PC.
Resetting and extreme measures
In situations where all methods have been tried, but the update does not stand up or the system is unstable after trying, a full reset (Wipe Data) can help, which deletes all user data, applications and settings, returning the phone to a factory state. Often it is the accumulated “garbage” in the system partitions that blocks the update mechanism from working correctly.
Before you do this, make sure to back up your important data to the Mi Cloud or your computer. Reset can be done via the Recovery Mode menu. To log in, turn off your phone and press the Volume Up + Power button combination before the logo appears.
From the Recovery menu, select English, then Wipe Data → Wipe All Data. Once confirmed and rebooted, the phone will look like new. On a clean system, updates often come faster and install more correctly.
- 🧹 Remove all registry errors and system cache.
- 🚀 Accelerates the operation of the device as a whole.
- ⚠️ Requires mandatory data backup.
- 🔒 Resets all passwords and accounts (except Mi Accounts if you don’t log out).
If even after resetting and manually installing the firmware does not update to Android 12, chances are your device is officially excluded from the list of supported for this major version of the OS.