How to completely remove recovers from your Xiaomi phone: 5 working ways

Recovery on Xiaomi smartphones is a special recovery mode that allows you to install firmware, reset settings or restore backups. However, sometimes users are faced with the need to remove it: whether it is custom recovery like TWRP, which interferes with MIUI updates, or stock, which works with failures. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to remove the recovery on Redmi, POCO and Mi devices, including nuances for locked and unlocked bootloader.

Before you start, it's important to understand that removing a recovery is not like erasing it in the usual sense. In fact, you're overwriting the recovery section with a stock or empty version. On some models (such as the Xiaomi 12T or Redmi Note 11), this can lead to problems with air updates (OTA) if you don't follow the sequence of actions. We'll also tell you how to avoid a breeze (turning your phone into a brick) and what to do if something goes wrong.

Why you might need to remove the recovery on Xiaomi

The reasons for removing the recavera range from banal to critical:

• 🔄 Problems with OTA-Updates: Castomic Recovery (for example, TWRP OrangeFox often blocks installation of official updates through Settings → Update of the PO.
• 🛡️ Security: Some versions of custom recoveries contain vulnerabilities that can be exploited to access data unauthorisedly.
• 📦 Warranty Restoration: Before contacting the service center, Xiaomi requires the device to be returned to a drain state, including the original Recovery.
• 🐞 Failures: Damaged Recovery can cause cyclic reboots or errors when trying to enter recovery mode.

For example, users of POCO F3 and Redmi K40 often find that after installing TWRP, the phone stops seeing MIUI updates. This is because the system checks the integrity of the recovery partition before installing OTA. In such cases, returning to the drain Recovery is the only way to return functionality.

⚠️ Note: Removing the backup on devices with a locked bootloader (for example, after purchase) may make it impossible to boot the system. Before starting, check the bootloader status with the fastboot oem device-info command - if the response is Device unlocked: False, first unlock it through the Mi Unlock Tool.

Preparation for Recavery Removal: What to Do in Advance

Incorrect preparation is the main reason for the “bricking” of Xiaomi phones. To minimize the risks, follow the following steps:

1. Create a backup of data: Removing the Recovery may require resetting settings. Use Mi Cloud, Google Drive or physical copying on your PC.
2. Charge your phone at least 60%: Interrupting the process due to battery drain is almost guaranteed to lead to a breeze.
3. Install the necessary drivers: 🖥️ Drivers. ADB/Fastboot For your OS (download from the Xiaomi website or through the SDK Platform Tools). 🔌 Drivers for a particular model (e.g. Qualcomm) HS-USB QDLoader 9008 for devices on Snapdragon).

Download the stock firmware

Xiaomi Firmware Updater

MIUI Downloads

Pay special attention to the choice of firmware. For example, for the Redmi Note 10 Pro (sweet) you need to download a file marked recovery (for example, sweet_global_images_V12.5.3.0.RKFMIXM_20210728.0000.00_11.0_global). Firmware for another regional version (e.g. Chinese instead of global) can cause network or language pack issues.

Method 1: Removing the Recovery through Fastboot (recommended)

This method is suitable for most Xiaomi models, including the Redmi Note 9 Pro, POCO X3 Pro and Mi 11 Lite. It involves overwriting the recovery section with a stock version via Fastboot mode.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off your phone and press the Power button + Volume down to log into the Fastboot.
2. Connect the device to your PC and open the command line in the folder with ADB/Fastboot.
3. Check the connection command: fastboot devices must display the serial number of your device.
4. Download the stock firmware for your model and unpack it. In the folder, look for recovery.img (or recovery-signed.img).
5. Recavator: fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
6. Reboot the phone: fastboot reboot

If you see custom recavers again after the reboot, you have activated the anti-rollback function on your device, and you have to flash the full system image.

Original connected USB-cable|Drivers installed (checked in Device Manager)|File. recovery.img phone model|Battery's more charged. 50%|Antivirus disabled (can block fastboot)

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⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Pro) have a recovery section with a signature. Attempt to flash unsigned image may result in FAILED (remote: 'Not allowed in Lock State'. In this case, unlock the bootloader first using the Mi Unlock Tool.

Method 2: Remove via ADB (for unlocked devices)

If your Xiaomi is already unlocked and custom recapvery is working, but you want to return stock, you can do it directly from the system via ADB. This method is suitable for devices with MIUI 12 and later.

Instructions:

1. Activate USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times on the line with the version, then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers).
2. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
3. Download stock recovery.img and place it in the folder with ADB.
4. Open the command line and execute: adb push recovery.img /sdcard/ adb shell su dd if=/sdcard/recovery.img of=/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/recovery reboot recovery

After the reboot, check that the recaveri has been replaced with stock. If the su command is not working, then you do not have root rights - in this case, use Fastboot.

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If after the firmware recovery phone is stuck on the MI logo, try to go to Fastboot mode and execute the command fastboot erase userdata, and then reflash the recovery section again.

Method 3: Recovery via MI Flash Tool (for "bricks")

If the phone stopped turning on (brick) after a failed attempt to remove the Recovery, the only way out is to completely flash through the MI Flash Tool. This method is suitable for devices on Qualcomm processors (for example, Redmi Note 10S, POCO X3 NFC).

What you need:

• 💻 Mi Flash Tool (download from the official website of Xiaomi).
• 📁 Full firmware in.tgz or.zip format for your model.
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (preferably original).

Recovery process:

1. Unpack the firmware in a folder without Cyrillic symbols.
2. Launch the Mi Flash Tool and click Select to select the folder with the firmware.
3. Turn off the phone and press Volume Down + Power to log into the Fastboot.
4. Connect the device to a PC. The program should display its serial number.
5. Select Clean all mode (if you want to save data – Clean all and lock, but this will block the bootloader!).
6. Press Flash and wait until it is completed (usually 5-10 minutes).

⚠️ Note: If after the scaling of the MI Flash Tool phone requires a Mi Account that was previously linked, and you do not remember it – you will have to contact the service center to unlock it. FRP (Factory Reset Protection).

Method 4: Removal through stock Recovery (for beginners)

If you have a stock recavator installed but it doesn't work properly (e.g., doesn't see an update or gives you bugs), you can try "reset" it without using a PC, which is suitable for devices with MIUI 13/14 and does not require unlocking the bootloader.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone and press the Power button + Volume up to enter the stock Recovery.
2. Choose a language (usually English or Chinese).
3. Go to Wipe & Reset → Wipe All Data (this will delete all user data!).
4. After reset, select Reboot → Reboot to System.
5. After download, check the updates in Settings → Software Update. The system should automatically restore the recavers on the next OTA.

Important: This method only works if the recovery partition has not been physically overwritten by the custom version. If TWRP was previously installed, resetting through the stock recavator will not return it to its original state.

Method 5: Removal through EDL-regime (advanced)

EDL (Emergency Download Mode) is a "emergency" firmware mode that is used when the phone does not respond to the Fastboot. It requires special equipment (EDL cable or testpoint) and is suitable for advanced users.

When you need an EDL:

• 🔌 The phone does not turn on or respond to Fastboot.
• 🔄 Firmware through MI Flash Tool ends with an error SLA Auth Error.
• 🛠️ Restore the anti-rollback version.

Step-by-step:

1. Download firmware in.mbn format (for example, for Qualcomm devices).
2. Install the Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 driver.
3. Connect the phone in EDL mode: For most models: Press Volume up + Volume down + Power on the phone turned off and plug in the cable. For the Xiaomi 12/13 series: it may be necessary to close the test points on the motherboard.

Mi Flash Tool

Flash

EDL-The mode allows you to flash the phone even with a damaged bootloader, but requires accuracy).

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Use EDL only as a last resort. Most tasks are short of Fastboot or ADB.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When removing a recover, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 🔍 Compatibility of firmware with your model (for example, firmware for Redmi Note 10 is not suitable for Redmi Note 10 Pro).
• 🔌 Quality. USB-Cable (try another cable or port on PC).
• 🛠️ Version MIUI (on some devices with MIUI 14 requires a new version of the Mi Flash Tool).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions