Why Xiaomi’s firmware weight is important and what it depends on
You've decided to upgrade or reflash your Xiaomi, but you don't know how much space it takes to download a file? The weight of a firmware isn't just a number: it's about how much memory you have on your device, how long it takes to download, and whether you have to pay for the extra traffic. In 2026, MIUI firmware grew in size compared to earlier versions, and now for some models, a full package can take up to 4 to 5 GB — almost like the weight of an average Full HD movie.
The size of the firmware depends on several factors: the MIUI version (global, Chinese, European), the file type (Fastboot or Recovery), the processor architecture (for example, arm64 vs arm), and even whether the package includes proprietary applications Xiaomi or Google. For example, the firmware for the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ will be heavier than for the Poco X3 NFC, due to differences in hardware and preinstalled software.
Another nuance: incremental updates (delta packages) weigh many times less than full firmware — from 50 MB to 1 GB, but they are only suitable for transitioning between neighboring versions of MIUI. If you need a clean installation or recovery after a failure, you will have to download the full image. Next, we will understand what files and how much weigh for different devices.
Xiaomi firmware types and their average weight
Firmware for Xiaomi is divided into two main types: Fastboot and Recovery. The first is a full system image, which is installed through the computer using MiFlash or fastboot commands. The second is an archive for updating through the standard recovery menu (Stock Recovery or TWRP).
- 📦 Fastboot firmware: contains all partitions of the device (boot, system, vendor, etc.), weighs 2-5 GB. Suitable for full flashing, unlocking the bootloader or restoring the "brick".
- 🔄 Recovery firmware: updates only system files, weighs 1.5-3 GB. Installs without a PC, but does not fix critical bootloader errors.
- 🔼 Incremental update (OTA): The patch between versions weighs 50MB – 1GB. The easiest option, but requires the current version MIUI modificationless.
Also firmware is divided by regions: Global (international), China (Chinese), EEA (China’s versions are often 200-500MB lighter due to the lack of Google services, but contain local applications (for example, Mi Pay or Mi Video). GMS (Google Mobile Services).
Weight of firmware for popular Xiaomi models (table 2026)
To avoid having to search for information on forums, we have collected up-to-date data on firmware weight for top-end Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices. Figures are given for the latest stable versions of MIUI 14/15 (based on Android 13/14).
| Model of the device | Type of firmware | Region | Size (GB) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 13 Ultra | Fastboot | Global | 4.8 | Includes drivers for the Leica camera |
| Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G | Fastboot | EEA | 3.9 | With Dimensity 1080 and 200 MP camera |
| POCO F5 Pro | Recovery | Global | 2.7 | No Bloatware (extra applications) |
| Xiaomi Pad 6 | Fastboot | China | 4.1 | Optimized for the big screen |
| Redmi 10C | Recovery | India | 1.8 | Budget model with lightweight firmware |
The table shows that flagship models (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, POCO F5 Pro) require almost 2 times more space than budget models (Redmi 10C), which is due to support for new features (for example, HyperOS in test builds), high resolution displays and complex camera firmware. If you download firmware through the Mi Flash Tool, the program automatically selects the desired region, but the weight of the file can be seen before downloading.
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Before downloading the firmware, check the free space on the disk: for Fastboot-firmware you need at least 6-8 GB (file + unpack), for Recovery - 4 GB.
Where to download the firmware and how to check its weight
Xiaomi’s official firmware can be downloaded from multiple sources, but not all are reliable. We recommend using only trusted sites to avoid fake files with viruses or stripped-down features.
- 🌍 Official Xiaomi website: section MIUI Downloads. Stable and beta versions for all supported models are published here.
To check the weight of the firmware before downloading, use one of the methods:
- On the official Xiaomi website, hover over the download link - most browsers will display the file size.
- In the Xiaomi Firmware Updater, the weight is listed in the table next to the MIUI version.
- If you download through the Mi Flash Tool, the size will appear in the progress bar after you select the device.
How to find out the code of your Xiaomi model?
Be careful with files that weigh significantly less or more than you would expect, such as if the firmware for the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ weighs 1 GB instead of 3-4 GB, it is likely to be an incomplete package or a stripped-down build, which can lead to installation errors or broken modules (camera, sensors).
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Download firmware only from official sources or trusted repositories (such as Xiaomi Firmware Updater) Files from torrents or dubious sites may contain malware.
How much space is needed on your phone and computer for firmware
It is not enough to know the weight of the firmware itself, you need to consider additional memory requirements. When installing a Fastboot firmware through MiFlash, the file is first unpacked, and temporary data can take up to double the volume. For example, if the firmware weighs 4 GB, on the C disk: it should be free at least 8 GB. For Recovery firmware, 5-6 GB of free space on the phone is enough.
Recommendations for training:
Check the free space on the phone (minimum 5 GB)
Download firmware to your computer (at least 10 GB on disk)
Connect your phone to your PC via the original cable
Disable the antivirus (can block MiFlash)
Charge your phone to 50% or higher-->
Pay special attention to the /data partition on your phone. When installed via TWRP or Stock Recovery, the firmware is temporarily copied to this partition, and if there is not enough space, the process will be interrupted with the error E: Error applying update.
- Delete unnecessary files (photos, videos, app cache).
- Transfer the data to a memory card or computer.
- Use ADB Sideload if there is critically little space on your phone (the firmware is downloaded directly from your PC).
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If you have Xiaomi with a 64GB or smaller /data partition, back up via TWRP or Mi PC Suite before you flash it, and you’ll have more space after you reset.
On a computer, it is also important that the firmware is downloaded to a disk with an NTFS file system (not FAT32!). The latter does not support files larger than 4 GB, and the download will be interrupted with an error. If you only have FAT32, use an external HDD or a flash drive with NTFS.
What to do if the firmware does not download or weighs too much
Sometimes users experience problems when downloading firmware: the file swings too long, breaks off by half, or its weight does not match the expected.
⚠️ Note: If the download speed of the firmware from the official Xiaomi site is below 100 KB / s, try using it. VPN Xiaomi servers often restrict traffic to certain regions.
- 🐢 Slow Download: Use downloaders like Internet Download Manager (IDM) They support multithreaded downloading and resuming after a break.
- 🔄 File corrupted (error) CRC): Download the firmware again, it's possible that the download has stopped (MD5 or SHA-1) using the HashMyFiles utility.
- 📉 The weight of the file is less than expected: probably the server gave an incomplete version. Try another source or wait for an update on the official website.
- 🚫 Antivirus Block: Add a firmware folder to Windows Defender exceptions or disable it while you install it.
If the firmware weighs more than stated in official sources, this may be due to:
- Additional language packages (e.g. in Global ROM for Asia)
- Built-in security updates (e.g., Google patches from the last month)
- Server error (sometimes files are duplicated inside the archive).
To verify the integrity of the file, compare the hash amount to the official.
- Download the utility 7-Zip or WinMD5Free.
- Right-click on the firmware file and select "Calculate hash".
- Compare the resulting MD5 with what is listed on the Xiaomi website.
How to reduce the weight of the firmware before installation (for experienced users)
If you're critically short of space on your phone or computer, you can optimize your firmware by removing unnecessary components. This method is only suitable for Fastboot firmware and requires knowledge of working with ADB and fastboot. Not recommended for beginners!
What can be removed from the firmware without risk to the system:
- 🗑️ Xiaomi's proprietary apps: Mi Browser, Mi Music, Mi Video, GetApps. These can be removed after installation via ADB AB: Adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.mi.browser.global
- 🌐 Language Packages: If you don’t need Asian languages, delete folders with localizations in the language /system/priv-app (rooting).
- 🎵 Default sounds and wallpapers: files in /system/media (for example, bootanimation.zip).
⚠️ Attention: Removal of system APK-files from firmware to installation can lead to bootloop ( looped boot).Always check for changes on backup or second device.
For advanced users, there are tools like MIUI Rom Editor or Android Image Kitchen that allow you to unpack payload.bin (from Fastboot firmware), edit content and collect back, but this process requires knowledge of the structure of Android and can break the digital signature, which will lead to errors in installation.
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The best way to save space is to use Recovery firmware instead of Fastboot, which weighs 30-40% less and is installed without a computer.