The situation when a Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone hangs on the logo download screen or update bar is familiar to many owners.The process can take hours, causing panic in the user and the desire to immediately restart the device. However, hasty actions often lead to even greater problems, including loss of data or the need to flash through the computer.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the technical reasons why your phone is constantly being updated, and determine when itβs normal and when itβs a sign of a failure. Understanding the internal workings of MIUI and HyperOS will help you make the right decision and avoid harming your device.
The main problem is not the hardware breakdown, but the manufacturer's servers, the amount of data that is downloaded, and the memory status of the device, and we'll analyze each factor so you can diagnose the situation yourself.
The Impact of Xiaomi Servers and Network Restrictions
The first and most common reason for slow downloads or installations is the strain on the companyβs servers. When global updates to popular models like the Redmi Note or Xiaomi 13 are released, millions of devices are simultaneously trying to connect to the source, creating a huge queue of requests, which causes download speeds to slow down.
Xiaomi servers are often physically far from your region, which increases ping and reduces connection stability.If you are in a region with unstable Internet or using a mobile network with limited traffic, the process can be interrupted and started anew.
β οΈ Warning: If the boot indicator is still for more than 30 minutes, but the phone is not warming and the screen is not going out, most likely the problem is on the server side.
Sometimes, Internet service providers can artificially limit the speed of connection to foreign update servers, which helps to change the way they do. DNS-servers in the settings of the Wi-Fi router or smartphone itself on faster ones, for example, from Google or Cloudflare.
Features of the application optimization process
Many users confuse the download time of the firmware file and the installation time. Once the archive is loaded, the phone goes into recovery mode, where the critical step is application optimization, and the system must recompile the code of all installed programs for the new version of the operating system.
If you have a few hundred apps installed on your device, this process can take anywhere from 20 minutes to several hours, especially on models with slow memory or after major updates, such as the transition from Android 12 to Android 13.
- π± The number of installed applications directly affects the duration of the phase "Optimizing app".
- πΎ The speed of recording internal memory (UFS 2.1 against UFS 3.1/4.0) Determine how quickly the changes will be implemented.
- π Background processes can interfere with optimization if the device has not been restarted before the upgrade starts.
- π Low battery power can throttling-the-processor, slowing down calculations.
At this point, the phone can spontaneously heat up, which is the normal reaction of the processor to high computing load, interrupting power at this stage threatens to damage the file system.
What happens inside of optimization?
Lack of free space in memory
One of the hidden reasons why Xiaomi updates are slow or hanging is overcrowded memory. For OTA (Over-The-Air) to work properly, the system requires not only space for the firmware file itself, but also a significant buffer for temporary files.
If the space is less than 3-5 GB, the processor is forced to constantly move data, clear the cache and defragment on the fly, which dramatically reduces the write speed and can lead to an installation error.
It is recommended to free up space before installing major updates by removing unnecessary photos, videos or cache of messengers. You can use the built-in cleaning tool in the Security β Cleanup section.
β οΈ Warning: Never try to update a crowded phone in the background. better back up and free up at least 10GB of space.
Comparison of Upgrade Methods: OTA, Recovery and Fastboot
There are several ways to install a new version of the software, and each has its own speed and reliability, and understanding the differences will help you choose the best option for your situation if the standard method does not work.
Below is a table comparing the main features of different Xiaomi and Redmi device upgrade methods.
| Method | Speed. | Reliability | Data retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| OTA (Settings) | Low/Mediocre | Medium | Preserve. |
| Manual (Recovery) | Tall. | Tall. | Preserve. |
| Fastboot (MiFlash) | Maximum | Maximum | Removed (usually) |
| Recovery (Clean Install) | Tall. | Tall. | Removed |
Updating the settings menu (Settings β About Phone β MIUI version) in a gentle but often slowest way. If the process takes too long, switching to manual installation via Recovery can fix the problem.
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Use flight mode during an OTA update if you have unstable Wi-Fi. This will prevent connection breaks when packets are downloaded.
Technical problems and battery condition
The hardware of the smartphone also plays an important role: an old or degraded battery may not produce the necessary current under load, which causes the system to reduce the frequency of the processor to protect against sudden shutdown, a phenomenon called trottling.
In addition, overheating is a protective mechanism: If the temperature of the processor exceeds the permissible values, the Android system forcibly slows down all processes, including writing data to the disk.
- π‘οΈ Overheating higher 40-45 Celsius causes artificial slowdown.
- π Battery wear below 80% can lead to unstable stress.
- π Physical damage to the board after falls can disrupt memory contacts.
In some cases, the problem lies in the faulty sectors of flash memory, where if the phone is old and in active use, the memory cells could wear out, making it difficult to write new data.
Algorithm of actions when the update freezes
If you've realized that the phone is really getting stuck, not just slow, you have to be careful, and the rule of thumb is not to panic and give the device time, but to know the limits of reasonable expectation.
To begin with, try a soft reboot if the screen is responsive to touch, and if the interface is completely locked, you will need a forced restart. Below is a checklist of actions to safely get out of the situation.
βοΈ Plan of action when hanging
If the phone tries to update again after the reboot or goes into a loop (bootloop), you will need to log in to Recovery mode. To do this, press the Volume Up + Power buttons (or Volume Down + Power depending on the model) at the same time before the logo appears.
β οΈ Warning: Entering Recovery mode with Wipe Data will delete all your photos and contacts. Use this only if other methods have not worked.
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A forced reboot is safe if the update has already been downloaded, but the system cannot complete its installation due to a software failure.
Preventing problems with future updates
To avoid long expectations and potential failures in the future, you should adhere to a few simple rules of operation of Xiaomi smartphones.
First, donβt ignore the interim updates. If you missed multiple versions of MIUI and decided to upgrade to the latest one, the difference in file weight and database structure will be huge, which will increase installation time.
Second, clean the cache of system applications periodically, and the accumulated debris may conflict with new firmware scripts, and it is also recommended to do a full reboot of the device at least once a month, rather than just turn off the screen.
Should I turn off auto-update?
Compliance with these guidelines will extend the life of your device and make the process of upgrading software quick and painless. Remember that stability is more important than having the newest but raw features.