Xiaomi Mi Play is a budget smartphone of 2018 with a processor Helio P35 and 4 GB of RAM, which is still in demand due to the low price and the ability to install modern firmware. However, over time, official support for MIUI ceases, and users face slowdowns, errors or the desire to install custom firmware like LineageOS or Pixel Experience. In this guide, we will analyze all the current ways of firmware Mi Play (codenamed pyxis), including unlocking the bootloader, selecting software and solving typical problems.
It's important to understand that firmware is not only a system upgrade, but it also risks turning the phone into a brick if you break the sequence, especially Mi Play, where errors when unlocking the bootloader or incompatible firmware can lead to a hard brick. We will describe each step in detail, specify verified file sources and give recommendations for recovery in the event of a failure.
1. Firmware Preparation: What You Need to Know Before You Start
Before you start firmware, make sure your Xiaomi Mi Play meets the key requirements:
- 🔋 Battery charge at least 60 percent, and firmware can take up to 30 minutes, and it will fail in the process.
- 📱 The codename of the device is pyxis. Make sure you download the firmware for this model (check Settings). → The phone. → Version. MIUI).
- 🔐 Unlocked bootloader (for custom firmware). Official updates via MIUI Updater is installed without unlocking.
- 💻 Windows computer 10/11 (for the Fastboot methods and EDL). Nana macOS/Linux There may be problems with drivers.
If you plan to install custom firmware (like LineageOS 20 or ArrowOS), be sure to check its compatibility with pyxis on the XDA Developers or 4PDA forums. Some builds require additional patches for the camera or NFC module to work.
- 🚫 Google Pay will stop working (due to lack of SafetyNet certification).
- 🔄 Updates will have to be installed manually (no) OTA).
- 📱 Mi Account and Xiaomi Cloud Features May Be Missing.
⚠️ Note: Firmware via Fastboot or EDL Resets all data on your phone, including photos and messages. Backup through Settings → Additionally. → Backup copying or use TWRP (if already established).
2. Ways of firmware Xiaomi Mi Play: which one to choose?
There are three main Mi Play firmware methods, each suitable for different purposes:
| Method | When to use | Do you need to unlock the bootloader? | The risk of brick |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI Updater (OTA) | Update the official MIUI without losing data | ❌ No. | ⚠️ Low. |
| Fastboot (Mi Flash Tool) | Installation of official firmware, recovery after failure | ✅ Yes (for custom) | ⚠️⚠️ Medium. |
| Recovery (TWRP + ZIP) | Install custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience) | ✅ Yes. | ⚠️⚠️⚠️ High-pitched |
| EDL (Qualcomm Mode) | Recovery after hard brick (phone not turned on) | ✅ Yes (authorization required) | ⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️ critical |
For most users, Fastboot is the best option, allowing you to install both official and custom firmware (after unlocking). EDL method is used only as a last resort, as it requires authorization through a Xiaomi account and can lead to blocking IMEI if errors occur.
If you're a beginner, start with MIUI Updater, which is the safest way to do it without unlocking, but it's only suitable for updating the current version of MIUI, not changing firmware to custom.
3. Unlock the bootloader on Xiaomi Mi Play
To install custom firmware or firmware via Fastboot (if the current version of MIUI is older than 2 years) you need to unlock the bootloader. Xiaomi officially allows this, but the process takes up to 7 days due to account verification.
Step-by-step:
- Link your Mi Account to your phone: Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account and log in. Make sure your account is confirmed by email and phone.
- Enable Developer Options: Go to Settings → About the phone and 7 times click on the version MIUI. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers and activate: 🔓 Unlocking OEM (may require input PIN-code). 🔌 Debugging by USB.
Download the Mi Unlock Tool (the official tool from Xiaomi) and install it on your PC. Run the program on behalf of the administrator.
Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode:
- Turn off Mi Play.
- Press Volume Down + Power before the Fastboot logo appears.
In Mi Unlock Tool, log in under the same Mi Account as on your phone. The program will check if you can unlock. If a Couldn't unlock message appears, wait 168 hours (7 days) and try again.
⚠️ Warning: Once the bootloader is unlocked, all data, including photos and apps, will be deleted from the phone, and Mi Account may be reassigned to the device, which will result in blocking features like Find Device.
If the Mi Unlock Tool gives you an error This device is locked even after waiting for you to try:
- 🔄 Reconnect the phone to another USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0).
- 📥 Install Qualcomm drivers manually through Device Manager.
- 🔧 Use alternative versions of the Mi Unlock Tool (e.g. 3.5.501.24 often runs more stable than new versions).
Link Mi Account to your phone|Insert "Unlock" OEM"|Install the Mi Unlock Tool|Connect your phone to Fastboot mode|Wait 7 days (if required)-->
4. Firmware via Fastboot (Mi Flash Tool)
Fastboot is suitable for installing official MIUI firmware (for example, when recovering from a failure) or custom (after unlocking the bootloader). For Mi Play, it is recommended to use Mi Flash Tool - the official tool from Xiaomi.
Files required:
- 📁 Official firmware for pyxis (choose the Fastboot version, not Recovery).
- 🖥️ Mi Flash Tool (version no lower than 2020.3.14.0).
- 🔌 Qualcomm drivers and ADB (It is automatically installed when connecting the phone).
Step-by-step:
- Unpack the downloaded firmware in a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\MIUI\pyxis).
- Launch the Mi Flash Tool on behalf of the administrator. Press Select and point the path to the firmware folder.
- Connect Mi Play in Fastboot mode (Put Volume Down + Power). The device should be determined in the program.
- At the bottom of the window, select firmware mode: Clean all - complete cleaning (recommended when changing the version of MIUI), Clean all and lock - cleaning + lock the bootloader (only for official firmware), Save user data - data storage (not always stable).
Press Flash and wait until it is completed (usually 5-10 minutes).
If the process is stuck by 40-50%, do not turn off the phone - this is normal for Mi Play due to the peculiarities of working with the userdata partition. If the firmware ends with a critical partition error, repeat the process with the choice of Clean all.
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If the Mi Flash Tool can’t see the phone, try connecting it to the phone. USB-port on the back of your PC (they are usually more stable than the front ones). Also disable the antivirus - it can block access to firmware files.
5. Install custom firmware through TWRP
LineageOS, Pixel Experience or other custom firmware will require TWRP Recovery, an alternative recovery menu. There is no official TWRP version for Mi Play, but there are stable unofficial builds from the 4PDA community.
What you need:
- 📱 Unlocked loader (see Section 3).
- 📁 TWRP for pyxis (version 3.7.0 or later).
- 📁 Custom firmware itself in.zip format (for example, LineageOS 20).
- 🔋 Open GApps (if the firmware is without Google services).
Installation instructions:
- Download TWRP.img and firmware to your phone (or PC if you use ADB Sideload).
- Put your phone into Fastboot mode and execute the command to temporarily boot TWRP: fastboot boot twrp-3.7.0-pyxis.img This will allow you to start TWRP without constant installation (useful for testing).
- From the TWRP menu, select Wipe → Advanced Wipe and select Dalvik / ART Cache System Data Cache
Run a swipe for cleaning.
Install firmware: Install → Choose. ZIP-file → Swipe to confirm.
If you need GApps, install them immediately after you have firmware (no reboot!).
Reboot your phone: Reboot → System.
⚠️ Note: Custom firmware for Mi Play often does not work module NFC If you want contactless payment, check the compatibility of a particular build on the forum.
The first run after installing custom firmware can take up to 15 minutes, and if the phone has been stuck on the logo for more than 20 minutes, then the firmware is incompatible with your device, and you need to repeat the process with another build.
What if TWRP doesn’t see internal memory?
6.Recovery after failed firmware
If the Mi Play doesn't turn on after the firmware is installed (black screen, logo getting stuck or red state in Fastboot), don't panic - 90% of the time the device can be restored. The main thing is not to try to flash it again without diagnosing the problem.
Typical symptoms and solutions:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The phone vibrates, but the screen is black. | The boot or dtbo section is damaged | Swipe the official firmware through Fastboot with a clean all checkmark |
| Hanging on the MIUI logo | Incompatible custom firmware or lack of vendor | Install the correct firmware version via TWRP or Fastboot |
| Fastboot Shows Off Red State | Damaged partition table or super | Use EDL with authorization through Mi Account |
| Phone is not defined by PC | Qualcomm driver failure or damaged USB-port | Reinstall drivers manually or try another cable/port |
For recovery via EDL (if the phone does not respond to Fastboot):
- Download Mi EDL Tool and firmware in.mbn format.
- Connect your phone to your PC, holding Volume Up + Volume Down + Power (should be defined as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008).
- In Mi EDL Tool, select firmware and press Flash. Sign in via the Mi Account attached to the device.