Xiaomi Redmi 7: Which Android is installed and whether updates

Xiaomi Redmi 7, which launched in early 2019, has long been one of the most popular budget devices on the market, and owners of this model often wonder about the software that controls the gadget.

The device originally went on sale with a pre-installed MIUI 10 shell based on Android 8.1 Oreo, a stable version that ensures smooth operation of the Snapdragon 632 processor. However, during the life of the smartphone, Xiaomi has released several major updates to the interface and core system.

The software situation for this model has its nuances, with official support from the manufacturer already discontinued, meaning no new security patches or functional improvements.However, understanding which version of Android is the final for your device is critical to installing compatible apps and games.

Official history of operating system updates

The Redmi 7 upgrade path was pretty standard for the budget segment of the time, with the first major step being the MIUI 11 shell, which brought design changes and improved readability, and the Android 8.1 version was still based on that, which somewhat limited the functionality of the new features.

Then users got an update to MIUI 12, which was a significant event, as along with the new, heavier graphics interface, the smartphone finally got Android 9.0 Pie, which allowed for the introduction of system navigation gestures and improved control of application permissions.

⚠️ Warning: Trying to manually install firmware from newer models (such as the Redmi 8 or Note 8) on Redmi 7 will cause the device to fail. Use only files codenamed onc.

The final official version was the MIUI 12.5 shell, which ran on Android 9. Despite the interface number, the kernel didn't change, which means that many modern applications that require a minimum of Android 10 may not install from the official store.

Technical characteristics and limitations of iron

To understand why Xiaomi Redmi 7 stopped with a particular version of Android, you need to consider its hardware configuration. The device is based on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 processor made on 14-nm process technology, this chipset had its limits of support from the driver manufacturer.

RAM in various versions was 2, 3 or 4 GB of the type LPDDR4X. For modern versions of Android, such as 12 or 13, this volume is no longer enough for comfortable operation of background processes and interface. eMMC 5.1 also does not have high read and write speeds, which would slow down heavy systems.

Below is a table of compliance versions of firmware and Android version for this model:

It was the combination of the processor and memory capacity that became the bottleneck for further development, and Xiaomi engineers did not port heavier versions of the kernel to avoid worsening the experience of using the device.

How to check the current version of the software and the build number

Before you look for ways to update or flash, you should know exactly what is installed on your device right now, which will help you avoid version conflicts when installing applications, and you can do this through the standard settings menu.

Go to Settings, then select About Phone. The top of the screen will show the MIUI version. To see the Android version number, you need to quickly click on the MIUI logo or version string several times until the animation appears.

You can find more detailed information if you click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings.

• 📱 Android Version: Basic System Core (e.g. 9).
• 🔒 Security patch level: date of last update of vulnerability databases.
• 🏷️ Internal version: detailed firmware assembly number.

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Write down the build number (e.g., V12.5.3.0.PCGRUXM) before any manipulations, which will help you find the correct recovery instructions in case of an error.

There is also a hidden test menu, and if you type ##6484## in the Phone app, you will be taken to the engineering menu, where you can see the technical details of the components in the Version Information section.

Possibilities of installing custom firmware

As official support has ended, enthusiasts continue to develop the device through custom firmware.This is the only way to get a fresher Android 10, 11 or even 12 on Redmi 7. Popular builds include LineageOS, Pixel Experience and ArrowOS.

To install an alternative system, you need to unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool utility on your computer, which erases all data from the device, so you need a preliminary backup. Once unlocked, you install custom Recovery, such as TWRP.

⚠️ Warning: Installing custom firmware will void the warranty (if it was still in effect) and risk turning the smartphone into a brick. Bank customers and some applications may stop working due to security checks Root rights.

The advantage of such firmware is the cleanliness of the system, the absence of advertising and unnecessary software from Xiaomi. However, the stability of the camera and communication module on the custom version is often inferior to the stock version.

Application compatibility issues on Android 9

Remaining on Android 9 Pie, owners of Redmi 7 may face a gradual rejection of support from developers of popular software. Many banks and instant messengers are beginning to require a minimum of Android 10 to install new versions from Google Play.

If the application is not installed, it does not always mean the end of its use. Often you can find an older, but working version. APK-However, this carries security risks, as older versions may contain unpatched vulnerabilities.

• 📉 Banking applications: can stop being let into the system without an updated security core.
• 🎮 Games: New Unity or Unreal Engine projects may not be available.
• 📸 New features (such as some filters on Instagram or TikTok) may not be available.

There is a way to bypass restrictions through modified versions of applications, but using them violates the user agreements of the services, so Redmi 7 is gradually moving into the category of devices for basic tasks: calls, navigation and content consumption.

Optimizing the system without updating

Even without upgrading to new versions of Android, you can extend the life of the device and speed up its work. The first thing you should do is turn off MIUI advertising services, which will reduce the load on the processor and RAM.

Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Access to personal data and disable access for the msa service. Also in the Security app, you should remove the ticks from the “Receive recommendations” and “Automatically update”.

To speed up the interface, you can zoom in on the animation, and you can activate the developer menu by clicking on the MIUI version seven times in the About Phone menu, and then you can find the items in the developer menu:

The scale of window animation


Scale of transition animation




The duration of the animator

Set a 0.5x or Off value for all three settings, which will visually speed up the system's response to touch, and it's also recommended that you regularly clear the cache of applications you don't use daily.

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Competently configuring an existing system is often more effective than trying to install a heavy new firmware on the old hardware.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)