How to flash Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A if it doesn’t turn on: Full Guide 2026

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A

80%

Xiaomi

In this article, we will discuss all the working ways of the Redmi Note 5A firmware (codename ugglite) when it does not respond to the power button, hovers on the Mi logo or went into the “brick”. Particular attention will be paid to unlocking the bootloader, choosing the correct version of the firmware and the nuances of working with the Fastboot and EDL modes. If you have never flashed your smartphone before, do not worry: the instructions are adapted for beginners, with step-by-step screenshots and warnings of typical errors.

⚠️ Critical Warning: Firmware through EDL (emergency mode requires an authorized Xiaomi account or special box. Without them, you will not be able to restore the device if it does not turn on completely (black screen, no reaction to buttons.

1. Diagnostics problem: why the Redmi Note 5A is not turned on

Before you start firmware, it's important to understand what you're dealing with. The symptoms of "not turning on" can range from a complete lack of response to a cyclical reboot. Here are the key signs and their possible causes:

• 🔋 Black screen, no charge/button response – motherboard damage, battery drain (even if showing charging), boot or recovery failure.
• 🔄 Hanging on the Mi logo or endless booting – damaged system partition, kernel conflict or incompatible firmware.
• 📱 Vibration when pressing buttons, but the screen does not turn on - a problem with the display or plume (firmware will not help!).

If your Redmi Note 5A vibrates when you connect to a charger, but it doesn't load beyond the logo, it's probably a software problem that can be solved with firmware. If the device doesn't show any signs of life (no vibration, no charging indication), check first:

💡 Tip: If the smartphone at least somehow responds to the buttons, but does not load, try to go to Recovery (press the Power) + Volume Up with your phone off. If you can, reset to the factory settings (Wipe Data), which often solves the problem without firmware.

It doesn’t respond to the buttons at all.|Hangs on the Mi logo.|Reboots cyclically|Another option-->

2. Preparation for firmware: what will be needed

To flash the Redmi Note 5A, if it doesn’t turn on, you’ll need to:

• 🖥️ Computer on Windows 7/10/11 (for Mac/Linux Additional drivers will be required).
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable (better than the one that came with the kit).
• 📱 Charged battery (minimum 30%, otherwise the process will be interrupted).
• 🔧 Tools: Official firmware Mi Flash Tool (ugglite version), Mi Unlock Tool (unlock bootloader) Qualcomm drivers HS-USB QDLoader 9008 (for mode) EDL).

Note: If you are running a Redmi Note 5A with a locked bootloader, you will first have to unlock it through the Mi Unlock Tool. Without it, the official firmware will not stand up! More on this in the next section.

📌 How to find out the firmware version?

If the phone is switched on at all (albeit on the Mi logo), press Volume Up + Power to enter Recovery. It will indicate the current version of MIUI. If not, download the latest stable firmware for ugglite from the official website.

Download firmware for the ugglite model|Install Qualcomm drivers and ADB|Charge your phone to at least 50%|Connect the original USB-cable|Disable the antivirus (it can block the Mi Flash Tool)-->

3. Unlock the bootloader on the Redmi Note 5A

All Xiaomi smartphones have a locked bootloader by default, which means you won’t be able to flash custom firmware or even official MIUI through Fastboot unless you first unlock it. For the Redmi Note 5A, the unlock process looks like this:

1. Link Mi Account to your phone (if it still turns on). Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account and log in. If the phone doesn't turn on, skip this step - but then firmware is only possible through EDL (with an authorized account).
2. Launch your phone in Fastboot mode: Turn off the device (if it responds to buttons). Press Volume Down + Power and hold for 10 seconds. Connect to your PC - the Mi Bunny logo should appear with the words Fastboot.

Mi Unlock Tool

• Run the utility on your PC and log in under the same Mi Account as on your phone.
• Press Unlock and wait until it is completed (usually takes 3-5 minutes).

⚠️ If you see a "Couldn't unlock" or "Device not connected" error when unlocking, check:

• Fastboot drivers are installed correctly (the Android Bootloader Interface should be displayed in Device Manager).
• You use the original cable (cheap cables often don’t transfer data to Fastboot).
• The phone has the same Mi Account as the Mi Unlock Tool.

🔹 What if the phone is not included in Fastboot?

If the Redmi Note 5A does not respond to buttons at all, unlocking the bootloader is possible only through EDL (Emergency Firmware) mode.

4. Firmware via Fastboot (if the phone enters this mode)

If your Redmi Note 5A is included in the Fastboot (reacts to Volume Down + Power), you can flash it with official firmware through the Mi Flash Tool. This method works even if the phone does not turn on normally, but responds to buttons.

Step-by-step:

1. Install the Mi Flash Tool and run on behalf of the administrator.

Mi Flash Tool

:

• Press Select and indicate the path to the unpacked firmware.
• Select Clean All (complete cleaning) or Clean All and Lock (if you want to lock the bootloader after you have firmware).
• Press Flash and wait until it is completed (5-10 minutes).

📌 Important nuances:

• If the firmware is 99 percent interrupted with an "anti rollback" error, you're trying to install an older version of MIUI than the one on your phone. Download a newer firmware.

Note: If the Mi Flash Tool gives an error "critical partition flashing is not allowed", it means that you are trying to flash the phone with the bootloader locked. Unlock it (see section 3) or use EDL mode.

💡

Fastboot firmware is the most reliable way to get your phone to respond to buttons, and the key is to use the correct firmware version for the ugglite model and unlock the bootloader in advance.

5. firmware via EDL (if the phone doesn't respond at all)

EDL (Emergency Download Mode) is a firmware emergency mode that works even if the phone doesn’t turn on at all. However, for the Redmi Note 5A (as with all Xiaomi smartphones on a Qualcomm processor), this method has a serious limitation: without an authorized Xiaomi account, firmware through EDL is impossible. If you do not have access to such an account, contact the service center.

How to log into EDL:

1. Turn off your phone (if it responds to buttons).
2. Press Volume Up + Volume Down and connect to the PC.
3. Device Manager should appear Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008.

If the phone doesn’t respond to buttons, try the short circuit method:

1. Open the back cover and disconnect the battery (if it is removable).
2. Find points on the motherboard EDL (usually signed or located near the USB-plug-in).
3. Close them with tweezers or a needle for 1-2 seconds, while connecting the cable to the PC.

⚠️ Warning: Short-circuit is risky -- you can damage the board! Use it only if the other methods don't work and you know what you're doing.

Firmware via EDL:

1. Download the firmware for ugglite in.mbn format or use the Mi Flash Tool with an authorized account.
2. Install Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 drivers (can be found on the 4PDA or XDA forums).
3. Start the Mi Flash Tool, select the firmware and press Flash.
4. If authorization is required, enter a login/password from an authorized Xiaomi account.

💡 Tip: If you do not have an authorized account, but the phone is determined in the EDL, You can try to flash it through QFil, which is a Qualcomm utility. prog_emmc_firehose.mbn For your model, it can be found on thematic forums.

💡

If the Mi Flash Tool doesn’t see the phone in EDL mode, try reinstalling the drivers manually through Device Manager. Right-click on Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 → Update the driver → Search for drivers on that computer and specify the path to the driver folder.

6. Alternative methods: if nothing helps

If the firmware through Fastboot and EDL did not give results, there are still several options:

Firmware via TWRP:

If you have a Redmi Note 5A It is included in Recovery (power clamping). + Volume Up), but does not load further, you can try to install custom recovery TWRP sniff ZIP-archive MIUI. However, for this, the loader must be unlocked!

Instructions:

1. Download TWRP for ugglite.
2. Fastboot Fastboot command: fastboot flash recovery twrp.img fastboot boot twrp.img
3. In TWRP, run Wipe → Format Data (enter yes).
4. Copy. ZIP-archive with firmware on the phone and install via Install.

⚠️ Attention: If after installation TWRP If the phone stops logging into Recovery, it means that the wrong version has been installed or the recovery partition has been damaged, in which case only the firmware through Fastboot or the Fastboot will help. EDL.

7.Typical mistakes and how to avoid them

When you run the Redmi Note 5A, you often run into the same problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions.

• 🚫 Mi Flash Tool: The reason: trying to flash an older version MIUI, The solution is to download a newer firmware.
• 🔄 After the firmware, the phone hangs on the logo: Solution: Repeat the firmware with the choice of the Clean All option in the Mi Flash Tool. If it doesn't help, run through the EDL.

💡 Useful tip: If after firmware the phone does not turn on, but reacts to charging (light indicator), try to clamp down Power + Volume Up on the 20-30 Sometimes it helps to wake up the device.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the Redmi Note firmware 5A