Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus smartphone (codenamed vince) often face the need to flash the device. The reasons can be very different: from the banal desire to update Android to more difficult situations when the device is locked, forgotten the pattern lock or the system stopped booting. Unlike many competitors, the Xiaomi ecosystem has its own unique security features that require a special approach to recovery.
Before you start taking action, you need to understand exactly what happened to your gadget. If the device is just slow, a standard reset may help. However, if the phone has turned into a brick, hangs on the Mi logo or requires an account that you do not remember, you will need to work deeply with the software. The firmware process requires care, but it is quite feasible at home with basic knowledge.
In this article, we will look at all the steps from diagnosing the status of the bootloader to installing custom or official firmware through the engineering mode, you will learn what tools you need, how to circumvent the blocking of your Mi Account by legal and technical methods, and what to do if nothing helps. The main thing is not to panic, since in 99% of cases the Redmi 5 Plus can be resuscitated.
Diagnostics of device status and types of locks
The first step is always to determine the current state of the smartphone. Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus can be in several loading modes, each of which gives its own capabilities and imposes limitations.
The simplest case is when the Recovery menu is running, which is a service mode that allows you to reset to factory settings or update the system, and if the phone only responds to a connection to a PC and shows the rabbit logo in an orange frame, then Fastboot mode is active, which is the best scenario for firmware, because it allows you to overwrite all the memory parts.
The worst case scenario is a so-called “dead brick” where the screen does not light up and the computer makes a USB connection sound but does not identify the device. However, even in this case, the Redmi 5 Plus can often be saved through EDL (Emergency Download Mode), which operates at a low level of the Qualcomm controller. It is also important to distinguish between a software lock (forgotten password) and a hardware lock on the Mi Cloud account.
⚠️ Note: If the lock screen displays a message “This device is locked to Mi Account,” it means cloud-based. Without entering a password from this account, it is impossible to unlock the phone using standard methods, you will need support or complex manipulations with server authorization.
For accurate diagnosis, connect the phone turned off to your computer by holding down the volume button. If you see a bunny fixing an android on the screen, or you see a FASTBOOT with the Mi logo on it, you're lucky, the device is available for firmware. If the screen is black, try clamping both volume buttons and plugging the cable in, this can put the device into Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 mode.
⚠️ Warning: Do not confuse bootloader lock with account lock. Locked bootloader prohibits installation of unofficial firmware, but does not interfere with the system.
Tools required and driver preparation
The success of the operation depends on 90% of the correct preparation of the workplace. For the firmware Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus you need a computer running Windows, high-quality. USB-cable (preferably original or certified) and a stable Internet connection. The software part requires the installation of specific drivers, without which the PC simply will not see the phone in the desired mode.
You will need the following components:
- 📦 Xiaomi USB Drivers – basic driver package for mode ADB and Fastboot.
- 🔧 Mi Flash Tool - the official utility for firmware devices in Fastboot mode.
- 📥 Firmware – a system image file (usually in the format.tgz for Fastboot or.zip for Recovery).
- 🔑 Mi Unlock Tool – utility for official unlocking of the bootloader (requires a Mi Account and waiting 168 hours).
Pay special attention to installing Qualcomm drivers if you plan to work with the mode EDL. Without them, the computer will not be able to recognize the phone when it is in a deep boot state. Often, an unknown device with a yellow exclamation mark appears in Device Manager, which is a signal that you need to manually specify the path to the drivers. qhsusb_bulk.
Download firmware should only be from trusted sources, such as the official website miui.com or authoritative forums like 4PDA and XDA Developers. For the Redmi 5 Plus model, it is important not to confuse the region: the global version (Global) has built-in Google services and multilingualism, and the Chinese (China) may require additional localization.
Official unlocking of the bootloader (Bootloader)
Most firmware problems arise from a locked bootloader. Xiaomi shuts it down by default for security reasons. To install a custom recavator (TWRP) or reflash the phone if it is locked regionally, this one needs to be removed.The official method requires a Mi Account tied to the device.
The process is as follows:
1. In the phone settings (Settings → About Phone), press 7 times on the MIUI build number to activate the developer menu.
2. Go to Advanced Settings → For developers and include a paragraph OEM-unlock USB-debugging.
3. Select “Mi Unlock Status” and link your account.
4. Download the Mi Unlock Status utility on your PC, log in to the same account, transfer your phone to Fastboot and click Unlock.
The system will warn you that unlocking is only possible after a certain time (usually 168 hours or 7 days), this is protection against data theft. After the waiting period, repeat the procedure and the bootloader will be unlocked, all data on the phone will be destroyed.
☑️ Checking before unlocking
There are methods of instant unlocking through third-party services, but they are often paid and carry risks.The official path, although long, ensures that you do not get a brick due to a server error. Once successfully unlocked, an Unlocked warning will appear when you turn on the phone, which can be removed later.
Fastboot Firmware with Mi Flash Tool
Fastboot is the primary tool for Redmi 5 Plus recovery, allowing you to completely rewrite partitions of memory, including system, boot and user. This is done using the official Mi Flash Tool, which is suitable if the phone turns on before the Fastboot logo or hangs on the screensaver.
Algorithm of action:
1. Download the firmware archive (should be in.tgz format) to the root of the C disk so that the path is short, for example C:\rom\.
2. Launch the Mi Flash Tool on behalf of the administrator.
3. Transfer the phone to Fastboot mode (press Power + Volume Down) and connect to the PC.
4. Press the Refresh button in the program - the serial number of the device should appear.
5. At the bottom, select the firmware method: Clean all (complete cleaning, recommended) or Clean all and lock (cleaning and locking the bootloader).
Press Flash and wait. It takes 5 to 15 minutes. Don't turn off the cable or touch the phone. If the log shows a green success sign, the firmware has been successful. The phone will automatically restart.
⚠️ Warning: When selecting the “Clean all and lock” option, make sure the firmware matches the region of the device. If you pour global firmware onto a Chinese machine and lock the bootloader, the phone will stop booting and you will need to pay to unlock the device. IMEI.
Using TWRP Recovery to Install Firmware
If the bootloader is already unlocked, the best tool is the custom TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project), which allows you to install firmware in.zip format, make full system backups (Nandroid backup) and clear partition cache more flexibly than the standard menu.
To install TWRP on Redmi 5 Plus:
1 Download the twrp.img file specially assembled for the codename vince.
2. Transfer the phone to Fastboot.
3. Open the Command Prompt (CMD) in the file folder and type the command:
fastboot flash recovery twrp.img4 Immediately after the command, log in to the Recovery with a button combination or command fastboot boot twrp.img.
From the TWRP menu, go to Wipe and make Advanced Wipe by selecting Dalvik, Cache, System, and Data. Then go to Install, select the firmware archive, and swipe for installation, which is ideal for switching between Android versions or installing custom builds (LineageOS, Pixel Experience).
What if TWRP doesn’t see internal memory?
To avoid this, immediately after installation TWRP I need to patch it. Disable_Dm-Verity_ForceEncrypt Or quickly switch to recovery mode again.
EDL mode: saving the “bricks” and bypassing the locks
When the phone does not respond to any buttons and is not detected in Fastboot, there is EDL (Emergency Download Mode) mode. On the Snapdragon 625 processor, which is located in the Redmi 5 Plus, this mode is activated by closing certain contacts on the board or a special combination of buttons when connecting the cable.
For the entrance EDL without opening the case often works method: clamping both volume buttons, connect USB-cable to PC and hold until the Qualcomm port device manager HS-USB QDLoader 9008.If this does not help, you will have to remove the back cover and close the test points on the board (Test Point) when connecting the power.
The firmware in this mode has its own characteristics:
- 🔒 Requires authorization of Xiaomi account (Mi Account) in the program-shifter.
- 👤 Officially stitch in EDL Only authorized service centers can be used.
- 🛠 There are paid services of one-time authorization or modified versions of software.
Using EDL is the last line of defense, and if it doesn't work, it's probably hardware (a burned memory or power controller), but in most cases, EDL revitalization brings the phone back to life, allowing it to be flashed in a standard way.
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When you're firmware through EDL use USB-cable without additional thickenings and hubs. Connect the phone directly to the motherboard ports at the back of the system unit for voltage stability.
Compatibility table for Redmi 5 Plus
Mistaking firmware is the most common cause of problems. Below is a table to help you determine which type of image is right for your situation. Never flash Recovery firmware through Fastboot and vice versa.
| Type of firmware | File extension | Installation mode | Data retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recovery (Stable/Dev) | .zip | TWRP / Stock Recovery | Possibly (on update) |
| Fastboot | .tgz | Mi Flash Tool | No (full reset) |
| OTA (Online) | .zip (internal) | Phone settings | Yes. |
| Recovery (Global to CN) | .zip | TWRP | Reset required |
Pay attention to the prefix in the name of the firmware file. MIUI_GLOBAL It is intended for international versions, MIUI_CN — There's also firmware for China. MIUI_RU (localization for Russia), which are based on the Chinese version, but have built-in services Google and Russian.
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The safest way to recover is to use Fastboot and the official global firmware, which ensures that all communication modules are up and running and that there are no software errors.