How many years Xiaomi supports its smartphones: the real timing of updates in 2026

When you buy a Xiaomi smartphone, one of the key questions is how long will the company release security updates and new versions of MIUI for it. This affects not only access to fresh features, but also protection from vulnerabilities, device performance and compatibility with modern applications. Unlike Apple or Google, where the update policy is transparent, Xiaomi often asks: why the flagship Mi 11 received only 3 major updates, and the budget Redmi Note 10 – only 2?

In this article, we will discuss in detail: 1) Xiaomi’s official policy on the terms of support (and why it differs from the statements of marketers). 2 How does the timing depend on the series of devices (Mi, Redmi, POCO). 3 What to do if support is over, but the smartphone is still working. 4) Comparison with competitors – who updates longer: Samsung, Google or Xiaomi?

You will also learn how to check how many updates your model has left, and what life hacks will help extend the life of the device after the end of official support.

Xiaomi’s official policy: what the manufacturer promises

Xiaomi did not have a clear public policy on the timing of support until 2022, which drew criticism from users, which changed after pressure from regulators (particularly the European Union) and competition with Samsung, which began offering up to 4 years of updates.

• 📱 Flagship Series (Xiaomi) 13/14, Mix Fold): 4 year of security updates + 3 major update MIUI (based on new versions of Android).
• 💰 Mid-segment (Redmi) K60, POCO F5): 3 years of safety + 2 major updates.
• 📉 Budget models (Redmi Note 12, POCO M6): 2 years of safety + 1 major update.

But there’s a critical nuance: these deadlines only apply to devices released after 2022. For older models (such as the Mi 10 or Redmi Note 9), the rules were different – often updates ended 18-24 months after release. Moreover, even within a single series, the timing may differ depending on the region: for example, global versions (Global ROM) sometimes receive updates longer than the Chinese (China ROM).

To understand how many updates your smartphone has left, you can use the official tool: Settings → About phone → MIUI version → Check updates.

If it says “Last Security Update: [month, year]” and no new versions are offered, support is already complete.

How the device series affects the support life: comparison Mi, Redmi and POCO

Within the Xiaomi ecosystem, there is a clear hierarchy of update timing, so let's look at which models get priority and which ones stay on the sidelines after a year.

Fun fact: POCO, despite being positioned as a “budget gaming” brand, sometimes gets updates longer than Redmi of the same price range. For example, POCO F3 (2021) has gone through 3 major updates, while Redmi Note 10 Pro of the same year only 2. This is due to the fact that POCO often uses “clean” firmware without heavy MIUI, which makes it easier to adapt new versions of Android.

⚠️ Note: If your smartphone is a Redmi A series (e.g. Redmi) A2), These models are designed for low-budget markets and receive updates for 12 to 18 months at most.

Comparison with competitors: who updates longer – Samsung, Google or Xiaomi?

If you choose between Xiaomi, Samsung or Google Pixel, the duration of support can be a deciding factor.

• 🌍 Google Pixel: 5-7 years of updates (e.g. Pixel 6 will get updates until 2026) and the advantage is the fastest and most stable Android updates, as Google develops the OS itself.
• 📱 Samsung: 4 years of major updates + 5 years of safety (for flagships of the Galaxy S and Z series). S22 It will receive updates until 2027.
• 🔋 Xiaomi: up to 4 years for flagships, but with reservations (see table above). MIUI (Sometimes up to 3-6 months after Android release).

In practice, this means that if you plan to use a smartphone for more than 3 years, Samsung or Google will be a more reliable choice, but Xiaomi wins in terms of price/quality ratio: for example, the Redmi Note 13 Pro.+ $30,000 ₽ It offers features close to the Galaxy. A54, but with weaker support.

In Europe and India, Xiaomi sometimes extends support due to local laws (for example, in the EU from 2026 it is mandatory to provide a minimum of 5 years of security updates), in Russia and the CIS, such rules do not apply, so the deadlines can be shorter.

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If you want long-term support but budget constraints, look for the POCO F-series or Redmi K-series models, which often get updates longer than the standard Redmi Note at a comparable price.

How to Check How Many Updates Are Left to Your Xiaomi

To find out how many years of support your device has left, follow this instruction:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and the Android version.
3. Compare the current version with the latest available on MIUI Downloads.
4. Check the date of the last security update in the System Update section.

If the difference between your version and the latest official version is more than 2 major updates (for example, you have Android 12, and the latest version for the model is Android 14), most likely, support is already completed.

Find out the model and year of release of the device

Contrast with the official timetable (see above)

Check the availability of updates in Settings

Estimate the date of the latest security patch

Compare with information on forums (4PDA, XDA)

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For more accurate information, you can use third-party services:

• 🔍 XiaomiUI – a database with update history for all models.
• 📊 XDA Developers – here are published unofficial firmware and policy analysis Xiaomi.

⚠️ Note: If your smartphone is purchased in China (China version) ROM), The support timeline may differ from global models. 12S Ultra in China received Android 14, and the global version of Xiaomi 12 Pro – no.

What to do if Xiaomi support is over

If your Xiaomi has stopped receiving updates, it doesn’t mean it’s time to throw it away.

• 🔄 Install custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS, Pixel Experience) that will give you access to new versions of Android, but will require unlocking the bootloader (fastboot oem unlock) and may deprive you of warranties.
• 🛡️ Use alternative launchers (e.g. Nova Launcher) and security applications (Bitdefender, Malwarebytes).
• 📱 Limit the use of outdated functions: disable NFC, If you don’t need it, avoid installing apps from unknown sources.
• 🔋 Replace the battery. Over time, the battery capacity drops, and even on older firmware, the smartphone can run slowly. The cost of replacing it starts at 1,500. ₽.

Before installing custom firmware, make sure that your model has a stable build. For example, LineageOS 20 (based on Android 13) is available for the Redmi Note 9 Pro, and Pixel Experience 14 is available for the POCO X3 NFC. Installation instructions can be found on XDA Developers.

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Custom firmware can bring back support for new versions of Android, but requires technical skills. It is safer to use official security patches through third-party services (for example, MIUI bootloader).

If you are not ready to take risks, consider buying a used Xiaomi flagship with active support. For example, Xiaomi 13 (2022) will receive updates for another 2 years, and is now cheaper than the Redmi Note 13 Pro + (2023) with support for 1 year.

Myths and truth about Xiaomi support: debunking popular misconceptions

There are many myths surrounding Xiaomi's update policy. Let's take a look at the most common ones:

• ❌ Myth 1: «All Xiaomi smartphones are getting updates 4 year-end». ✅ Truth: Only flagships (Xiaomi) 13/14, Mix Fold and some models POCO The F-series, the budget Redmi A and POCO M is updated 1–2 year-end.
• ❌ Myth 2: If your smartphone doesn’t get Android 14, support is over». ✅ Truth: Sometimes Xiaomi skips the Android version but keeps releasing security patches.For example, the Redmi Note 10 didn't get Android 13 but upgraded to Android 12 with the latest fixes.
• ❌ Myth 3: “Castom firmware is without warranty». ✅ True: Yes, unlocking the bootloader will void the warranty, but if you return the official firmware (fastboot flash all), the service center may not notice the interference.

Another common misconception is that “Xiaomi updates Chinese models longer.” In practice, this is not always the case. For example, Xiaomi 12S Ultra (China only) got Android 14, but Xiaomi 12 Pro (global version) did not, while the Redmi K50 Gaming (Chinese model) was updated longer than the POCO F4 GT (its global counterpart).

If you are in doubt about the timing of support for a particular model, check it on the XiaomiUI website or in telegram channels like @miuiru.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi support