How to install Xiaomi drivers on your computer: instructions with pictures and error solutions

Installing Xiaomi drivers on a PC is a must for smartphone owners who want to flash the device, unlock the bootloader or use tools like ADB and Fastboot. Without the right drivers, Windows will not recognize the connected phone as a debugging device, which blocks access to key functions. For example, an attempt to unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool without drivers will end in the error Couldn't load device, please connect your device.

Complicating the problem, Xiaomi does not always provide universal drivers for all models – some devices (for example, the Redmi Note 12 line or POCO F5) require separate packages. After upgrading Windows to 11, many users face automatic removal of “unsigned” drivers by the security system. In this article, we will discuss three official installation methods (via MiFlash, Mi PC Suite and manual method), as well as solutions for typical errors such as Device not found or Driver signature enforcement.

Why do you need Xiaomi drivers on PC?

Drivers are software that allows the operating system to interact with the hardware of the device, and in the context of Xiaomi, they are used to:

• 🔧 Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (required for custom firmware installation).
• 📱 Debugging by USB (regime ADB) Working with apps like Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools.
• 🔄 Fastboot firmware (used in MiFlash or Fastboot Enhance).
• 🛠️ Restoration of bricks (if the phone does not turn on after a failed firmware).

Without drivers, Windows will define the smartphone as an "Unidentified Device" in Device Manager, and tools like MiFlash will simply not see the connected device. For example, when you try to flash Redmi Note 10 Pro through Fastboot without drivers, you will get an error:

error: no devices/emulators found

⚠️ Note: If you connect Xiaomi to your PC for the first time, activate developer mode first and enable debugging. USB Without this driver, it won't work even after you've installed it.

Method 1: Installation via MiFlash (official method)

MiFlash is a tool from Xiaomi for firmware devices via Fastboot. It includes a driver package that is suitable for most models (except the newest ones).

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install MiFlash (version no lower than 20230401 for Windows 11).
2. Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power when the device is off).
3. Run MiFlash and wait for the program to identify the device. If that doesn't happen, press Driver → Install.
4. Follow the installation wizard by selecting the option "Install drivers for all Xiaomi devices".

After installation, check for device availability in Device Manager (Ports section (COM and LPT) Or Android Device. If Qualcomm came up with it. HS-USB QDLoader 9008 – Drivers installed correctly.

Open Device Manager (Win+X → Device Manager)

Find the section "Ports (COM and LPT)" Or "Android Device"

Make sure there are no exclamation points near the device

Restart your PC and phone

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⚠️ Warning: Windows 11 may require you to disable driver digital signature verification. To do this, reboot your Shift PC, select Troubleshooting and Troubleshooting → Additional parameters → Loading parameters → Reboot, then press. F7 (disable mandatory signature verification).

Method 2: Installation with Mi PC Suite

Mi PC Suite is the official software for managing Xiaomi smartphones from a PC, which automatically installs the basic drivers when you first connect a device, a method that is simpler than MiFlash, but not suitable for all tasks (for example, it will not help with unlocking the bootloader).

How to determine:

1. Download Mi PC Suite from the official website (version for Windows).
2. Install the program by following the wizard (check the box "Install USB drivers").
3. Connect your phone in file transfer mode (MTP).
4. Wait until the Mi PC Suite identifies the device and installs the drivers.

Automation is an advantage, but working with ADB or Fastboot may require additional manual installation of drivers for these modes (see Method 3).

Method 3: Manually install drivers through Device Manager

If the automatic methods don’t work, you can install the drivers manually, which is universal and suitable for any Xiaomi model, including the new Redmi Note 13 or POCO X6.

Instructions:

1. Download the archive with drivers: Official drivers from Xiaomi (from the MiFlash package). ADB-driver (for debugging).

• For ADB: Enable USB debugging and select File Transfer mode.
• For Fastboot: Transfer your phone to Fastboot-mode (clip Volume Down + Power).
• Open Device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager).
• Find a device with an exclamation point (usually in the Other Devices or Ports section).
• Right-click → Update the driver → Search for drivers on this computer.
• Specify the path to the unpacked folder with drivers and click Next.

If Windows gives you an error called “Best Drivers Already Installed,” try:

• 🔄 Remove the current driver (right button) → Remove the device, then re-install.
• 🔧 Turn off signature verification (as in Method 1).
• 📁 Try another driver package (e.g. Google) USB Driver for ADB).

Addressing common mistakes

Even after installing drivers, users often encounter problems, and here are the most common errors and solutions:

1. Device not found error in ADB/Fastboot

Reasons:

• 🔌 The drivers are not set for the same mode (for example, for the MTP, not ADB).
• 📱 There's no debugging on the phone. USB.
• 🖥️ PCs don’t see the device because of conflict with other drivers (e.g., Samsung or Huawei).

Decision:

• Reinstall the driver manually (Method 3) by selecting Android ADB Interface.
• Execute in command line: adb kill-server adb start-server
• Check if the device is determined by the command: adb devices (should appear serial number of the phone).

2. Driver signature enforcement error on Windows 11

Windows 11 blocks unsigned drivers by default. To get around this:

1. Open Command Prompt (Administrator) and do: bcdedit /set testsigning on bcdedit /set nointegritychecks on
2. Restart the PC and re-install the drivers.
3. After installation, return the settings back to: bcdedit /set testsigning off bcdedit /set nointegritychecks off

💡

If MiFlash can’t see the phone after installing the drivers, try connecting it in EDL (9008) mode. To do this, turn off the device, press Volume up + Volume down and connect the cable to the PC. Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 should appear in Device Manager.

Drivers for specific Xiaomi models

Some Xiaomi devices require special drivers, and below is a list of models with nuances:

For new models (released after 2023), it is recommended to download drivers from the XDA-Developers or 4PDA forums, as official packages from Xiaomi may be outdated.

💡

If your Xiaomi model is equipped with a MediaTek chipset (not Qualcomm), standard MiFlash drivers will not work. In this case, download MediaTek USB Driver or use the SP Flash Tool for firmware.

How to check if the drivers are installed correctly

To make sure that the drivers are working, follow the following steps:

1. Connect your phone to your PC in the mode you want: For ADB: enable USB debugging and select File Transfer. For Fastboot: transfer your phone to Fastboot-mode.

Command line.

adb devices

(The serial number of the device must appear).

fastboot devices

Device Manager

• The ADB mode should be Android ADB Interface.
• Fastboot is the Android Bootloader Interface.