Why MIUI 12 is so much expected by Redmi 6A owners
Xiaomi Redmi 6A is one of the most popular budget smartphones of the brand, released in 2018. Despite modest technical characteristics (MediaTek Helio A22 processor, 2 GB of RAM and 16/32 GB of memory), the device is still actively used thanks to optimized firmware MIUI. However, with the release of new versions of the shell, owners of Redmi 6A have a natural question: will their smartphone update to MIUI 12 and when will it happen?
Xiaomi has been ambiguous about this, with the company traditionally supporting its devices for 2-3 years after release, but the Redmi 6A originally ran on MIUI 9 (based on Android 8.1 Oreo), and its hardware platform is not designed for modern requirements. In this article, we will look at whether to expect MIUI 12 on the Redmi 6A, what features can be cut down, and how to prepare the phone for a possible upgrade.
Spoiler: If you were hoping for a full MIUI 12 with all the chips on the flagships, you'll have to accept compromises, but the good news is that alternative firmware and ported versions can give your Redmi 6A a second life.
Will MIUI 12 be released for Redmi 6A?
According to MIUI’s official website, Xiaomi Redmi 6A (codename cactus) is not on the list of devices that will receive an upgrade to MIUI 12 or more new versions, the latest official firmware for this model was MIUI 11.0.8 (based on Android 9 Pie), released in 2020.
The reasons for this decision are:
- 🔋 Limited hardware resources: Helio processor A22 2 GB of RAM does not cope with the requirements MIUI 12, especially with features like Super Wallpapers or Control Center.
- 📱 Outdated architecture: Redmi 6A It uses a 32-bit chipset, while newer versions MIUI Optimized for 64-bit systems.
- 📅 Xiaomi usually updates budget models to a maximum of 2 major versions MIUI post-release.
But that doesn’t mean Redmi 6A owners will have to settle for MIUI 11, and there are some unofficial ports and custom firmware that adapt MIUI 12 (and even MIUI 13/14) to older devices, which we’ll talk about later.
⚠️ Warning: Installing unofficial firmware can lead to loss of warranty (if it is still valid), unstable operation of the smartphone or even its “bricking”.Be sure to back up data before experimenting.
What MIUI 12 features can work on Redmi 6A?
Even if Xiaomi doesn’t release an official update, some MIUI 12 features can be launched on the Redmi 6A via custom builds.
| MIUI 12 function | Compatible with Redmi 6A | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New Control Center | ✅ Partially. | It will lag due to a lack of RAM, but the main switches are working. |
| Super Wallpapers | ❌ No. | It requires a powerful processor and 3D-rendering. |
| Dark Theme 2.0 | ✅ Yes. | It works consistently, but there may be bugs in some applications. |
| Mi Share (Fast File Transfer) | ✅ Yes. | Functionality does not depend on the "iron". |
| Game Turbo 3.0 | ❌ No. | It requires at least 3 GB of RAM for normal operation. |
As you can see from the table, the Redmi 6A is physically unable to pull all the MIUI 12 chips, but even a stripped-down firmware version can give you:
- 🔄 Updated interface design (new icons, animations, fonts).
- 🔒 Improved security (Android patches to 2021-2022 levels).
- 📱 Battery optimization (although in practice, autonomy may decrease).
Important: Unofficial firmware is often collected by enthusiasts and may contain bugs or spyware. download them only from trusted forums (e.g., XDA Developers or 4PDA).
How to prepare Redmi 6A for MIUI 12 upgrade?
If you are still experimenting with MIUI 12, follow these steps first.
Make a backup copy of the data (photos, contacts, messages)
Charge your phone at least 70%
Download the official utility Mi Flash Tool
Unlock the loader (if required)
Check the phone model in Settings → About the phone (must be Redmi) 6A, not a clone)-->
Pay special attention to unlocking the bootloader.
- Register on the Mi Unlock website and link your Mi Account to your phone.
- Enable Developer Options (click 7 times on the MIUI version in the settings).
- Activate OEM Unlock and USB Debugging.
- Connect your phone to your PC and start the Mi Unlock Tool.
The unlocking process can take up to 72 hours (due to Xiaomi's check), and remember that all data will be deleted from the phone once unlocked!
⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 6A Google Pay, banking applications with protection (Sberbank, Tinkoff) and some Xiaomi services (for example, Mi Cloud) will not work with the unlocked bootloader).
MIUI 12 alternatives: What firmware can be installed on the Redmi 6A?
If the official MIUI 12 is not expected, consider the alternatives:
- MIUI 12 Ported Assembly Enthusiasts with 4PDA and XDA adapt MIUI 12 for Redmi 6A. Pros: original interface, cons: bugs with camera and sensors.
- LineageOS 16/17 Lightweight firmware based on Android 9/10 without unnecessary "features" Xiaomi.
- Havoc-OS Castom firmware with customizations for every little thing. Requires manual installation of GApps.
- Stock Android (GO Google’s Android Go is the most stable option, but without Xiaomi’s signature chips.
To install any custom firmware will require:
- 🔧 Unlocked bootloader (see previous section).
- 📥 Utility. TWRP Recovery (Redmi version) 6A — download).
- 📦 The firmware itself (.zip format) and GApps (if you need Google services).
What happens if you install an inappropriate firmware?
How to install MIUI 12 on Redmi 6A?
If you find a suitable MIUI 12 build for the Redmi 6A, follow this instruction:
- Download the necessary files: - Firmware MIUI 12 (For example, from the developer ingbrzy). - TWRP Recovery for Redmi 6A (twrp-3.5.2_cactus.img). - OrangeFox Recovery (alternative) TWRP better-supported MIUI).
- Install custom Recovery: Open the command line in the folder with fastboot and execute: fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.5.2_cactus.img fastboot boot twrp-3.5.2_cactus.img
- Sweep the firmware: In TWRP, select Wipe → Advanced Wipe (tag Dalvik, Cache, Data, System), then Install and specify the firmware file.
- First start: Wait until you have fully loaded (it can take 10-15 minutes). Don't be afraid if the phone restarts 2-3 times - that's okay.
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After installation MIUI 12 phone is getting hot, try turning off animations in Settings → Special facilities → Remove animations. Disabling Miui Optimization in the developer settings will also help (Settings) → Additionally. → For developers).
Frequent problems after updating and their solution
Even if the installation is successful, owners of the Redmi 6A with MIUI 12 face typical problems:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The phone's slowing down a lot. | Lack of RAM (2 GB) | Turn off the background activity of applications in Settings → Battery → Optimization. |
| The camera's not working. | There are no drivers for the Helio A22 | Install the Camera2API patch through Magisk. |
| The battery goes down fast. | MIUI 12 background processes | Turn on Battery mode. → Super-savings. |
| Google Play is not working. | Missing GApps | Install Open GApps (option pico) via TWRP. |
If the problem is not solved, go back to the official firmware.
- Download the latest MIUI 11 for Redmi 6A from the official website.
- Unpack the archive and place the folder in the root of the C: disk.
- Launch the Mi Flash Tool, connect your phone in Fastboot mode, and select Clean All.
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Before rolling back to the official firmware, make sure to back up your data via TWRP (Backup section). After you have firmware through Mi Flash, all files will be deleted!