Owners of the popular Poco X3 NFC smartphone often face the need to reinstall the operating system. This can be caused by the desire to move from the Chinese version to the global version, remove advertising debris or simply restore the device to work after a failure. The process of flashing Android on Xiaomi devices requires care, but if you follow the algorithm of actions, it is available even to an inexperienced user.
Before you start any software manipulation, you need to be aware of the risks. The wrong firmware can turn your phone into a brick that won't turn on. However, if you prepare all the necessary files and tools in advance, the probability of success is 99%. In this article, we will look at all the steps from unlocking the bootloader to installing MIUI through the computer.
It is worth noting that the procedure may differ depending on which type of firmware you want to install: Recovery (update without loss of data or with a complete reset) or Fastboot (complete cleaning and remarking of partitions). For the Poco X3 NFC model (codename surya), there are strict restrictions on downgrade, which we will definitely mention below.
Preparation for flashing and necessary tools
The success of the operation depends on 80% of the quality of preparation, you will need not only the smartphone itself, but also a working personal computer running Windows, as well as a quality computer. USB-It is advisable to use the original cable that comes with the kit, since cheap analogues often cannot provide stable data transfer at high speeds, which is critical for Fastboot mode.
The first step is to back up all the important data, and the firmware process, especially through Fastboot, involves completely removing the information from the internal drive, and photos, contacts, messaging, all of this will disappear forever if you don't back up in advance, use cloud services, or copy files to an external hard drive.
- 🔌 Charge your smartphone to at least 60% so it doesn’t turn off at a critical moment.
- 💻 Install current drivers ADB and Fastboot on the computer.
- 📥 Download the current firmware image for the Poco model X3 NFC (Surya).
- 🔐 Link your Mi Account to your phone and enable debugging USB.
⚠️ Note: Make sure you download the firmware just for NFC-Version (Surya) Install firmware from the version without NFC (Vayu) will cause inoperability of communication modules and touch screen.
You will also need an archiver that can work with.zip or.rar format to unpack downloaded files, and it is not superfluous to disable the antivirus during the procedure, since the system firmware files can be falsely recognized as a threat.
Unlocking the bootloader (Unlock Bootloader)
Without an unlocked bootloader, you can’t install custom recavers or global firmware over Chinese. Xiaomi’s official method requires you to submit an application through the Mi Unlock Tool. This process is not instantaneous: once you apply, the system can make you wait 7 to 168 hours.
To start, activate the "Developers" option in your phone settings by making 7 quick clicks on the build number. Then turn on "Debug by Debugging" in the developer menu. USB" And "Factory unlock." Then insert it. SIM-card with mobile Internet (Wi-Fi must be turned off) and link the device to the Mi Account in a special menu.
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Use the same one. SIM-card and the same Mi Account on your computer and phone, otherwise the unlock tool will give an anchor error.
After the waiting time has expired (you can check the status in the Mi Unlock app on your PC), repeat the procedure for entering Fastboot mode. To do this, turn off the phone and press the Volume Down and Power buttons at the same time. Connect the phone to your PC and press the Unlock button in the utility.
- 🕒 Wait for the end of the lockdown countdown time.
- 📱 Make sure it's inserted in the phone. SIM-Map with active mobile Internet.
- 🔗 Use the same Mi Account on your PC and smartphone.
- 💾 Keep backup as unlocking will completely clear the memory.
It is important to understand that once the bootloader is unlocked, some security features will be lost, such as banking applications like Google Pay (now GPay) or Mir Pay, if you do not take additional steps to hide root rights, and shooting quality in some scenarios may deteriorate due to changes in signal processing.
Firmware through Recovery (Method without PC)
The easiest way to upgrade or reinstall the system is to use the built-in recovery menu, which is suitable if you already have global firmware installed and you just want to upgrade to a newer version or roll back (if the version allows), the firmware file should have the.zip extension and lie at the root of the internal memory.
To get into the Recovery menu, turn off your smartphone and press the Up Volume and Power buttons. In the menu that appears, select the language (usually available in English and Chinese), then go to Wipe Data for full cleaning if necessary. After that, select Install from ZIP (or "Install with ZIP") and specify the previously downloaded file.
| Type of firmware | File extension | Do I need a PC? | Data retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recovery | .zip | No. | Maybe (depending on version) |
| Fastboot | .tgz | Yes. | No (full reset) |
| OTA | .zip (automatically) | No. | Yes. |
The installation process will take 5 to 15 minutes, and the MIUI logo and progress bar will be displayed on the screen, and do not attempt to interrupt the process or remove the battery (which, however, is impossible to do indiscriminately on the Poco X3 NFC), after completion, the phone will automatically restart.
What if Recovery says "Can't verify update"?
Installation of firmware through Fastboot (Full cleaning)
Fastboot is the most reliable and clean way to install a system, it requires a computer and a cable, it needs to be in.tgz. Once you unpack the archive, you'll see a lot of files, and we're interested in the startup script. For Windows, it's a file. flash_all.bat or flash_all_except_storage.bat.
Transfer your phone to Fastboot (Loud buttons Down) + Power, plug it into your PC, open the folder with the unpacked firmware, if you're using a standard script. flash_all.bat, All the information on the phone will be deleted. Launch the file with a double click. In the command line window that opens, the partition firmware process will begin.
fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
fastboot flash system system.imgYou'll see running lines of code telling you the recording status of each partition. Don't close the console window until Finished. Total time: X.XXs. If the process is stuck at some point for more than 5 minutes, there may be a problem with the cable or USB port.
⚠️ Note: When running through Fastboot with a team flash_all The data is erased irrevocably. Make sure the backup is made and verified.
Once successfully completed, the phone will go into boot mode itself. The first run can last up to 10 minutes, which is normal, the system adjusts the components, and if the device is in a bootloop cycle, the firmware may have been damaged or partition integrity compromised.
☑️ Checklist before Fastboot
Solving common mistakes and problems
Even with strict follow-up, errors can occur. One of the most common is the "Anti-rollback check failed" error. This means you're trying to install a version with a lower security index than the one recorded in the device's chip. Xiaomi implements rollback protection to prevent attackers from returning old vulnerabilities.
Another common problem is that the phone is not detected by the computer in Fastboot mode. In Windows Device Manager, it can appear as "Unknown Device" or "Unknown Device "QHSUSB_BULK". In this case, you need to manually update the driver, specifying the path to the folder with Qualcomm or Xiaomi drivers, pre-allowing the installation of unsigned drivers.
- ❌ Mistake 7: Mistake or insufficient waiting time.
- 🔌 Connection error: Replace USB-cable or port (use the cable or port) USB 2.0).
- 💾 Lack of space: Free up space on disk C: for temporary firmware files.
- 🔋 Battery discharge: Connect your phone to the charger during the process.
If the phone went into a “brick” (black screen, reaction only to charging), you may need a mode. EDL (Emergency Download Mode - Enter this mode on Poco X3 NFC often requires disassembly of the body and closure of contacts on the board, or the use of special commands ADB, if the debugging was included in advance.
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Most of the Xiaomi firmware errors are not related to the firmware file itself, but to USB drivers or poor-quality cable. Change the cable first!