Installation ADB-Xiaomi drivers: a complete guide to debriefing errors

Working with Xiaomi smartphones through ADB (Android Debug Bridge) opens up access to advanced features from installing custom firmware to debugging system applications. However, without properly installed drivers, even simple adb device connection will end in error, a problem that is especially relevant for Redmi, POCO and Black Shark devices, where the manufacturer often blocks standard connection methods.

Many users are faced with a situation where Windows does not recognize the phone in fastboot or EDL mode, and unknown hardware with a yellow exclamation mark appears in the Device Manager, the reason is the lack of digital driver signatures or conflict with universal Google drivers. In this article, we will discuss three official installation methods (through Mi Flash Tool, manual installation and universal package), and also solve typical errors such as unauthorized device or no permissions.

Xiaomi devices require a bootloader to fully work with ADB. Without this, many commands (such as fastboot oem unlock) will be blocked. We will discuss separately at this stage and explain how to circumvent the limitations of MIUI without the risk of “bricking” the phone.

📊 What Xiaomi model are you setting up?

Redmi Note 12/13

POCO F5/X5

Black Shark 5/6

Mi 11/12/13

Another model

What is ADB and why is it needed by Xiaomi?

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is a debugging tool that allows you to control an Android device from a computer via the command line. For Xiaomi smartphones, it is necessary in the following cases:

🔓 Unlock the bootloader (fastboot oem unlock) before installing custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience).
📱 Installation TWRP or other custom recap for backup and recovery.
🐞 Debugging system applications (e.g., error correction) MIUI or remove the bloatware).
🔄 Recovery of a “brick” phone through fastboot modes or EDL.

Without ADB, you won’t be able to perform most low-level access operations, for example, even a simple adb pull /system/build.prop command will require drivers to be installed correctly.

Important: Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12+ have additional protection enabled – Mi Unlock Status. If the phone is not tied to the Mi Account, unlocking the bootloader will not be possible. This applies to the models of Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4 and later.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB On devices with a locked bootloader, it can cause a data reset.Always back up via adb backup or Mi Cloud before experimenting.

Preparing Xiaomi Phone for ADB Connection

Before installing the drivers, you need to configure the smartphone itself, which is often missed, which makes Windows unable to see the device even after installing the drivers.

Step 1: Enable the Developer Mode:

Go to Settings. → The phone.
Click 7 times on the MIUI version (you will be notified "You became a developer").

Step 2: Activate the USB debugging:

Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
Turn on the switches: 🔧 Debugging by USB 🔄 Unlocking OEM (important for unlocking the loader!) 🔒 Installation through USB (fitting APK through ADB)

Step 3: Connect your phone to your PC:

🔌 Use the original. USB-cable (cheap cables often do not support data transmission).
🖥️ When you first connect to the phone will be asked to Allow debugging USB? — Check "Always Allow from this Computer" and click "Allow.

Original connected USB-cable|Debugging is on. USB|Allowed access to data on the phone|Minimum Android drivers installed (via the SDK Platform Tools)|Antiviruses are disabled (they can block the installation of drivers)-->

If Android ADB Interface with an exclamation point appears in Device Manager after you connect, this means that the driver is installed but does not have a digital signature, and we will discuss the solution to this problem in the next section.

Method 1: Installation ADB-Drivers via Mi Flash Tool (official method)

Mi Flash Tool is a tool from Xiaomi for fastboot device firmware, which includes all the necessary drivers, including signed versions for ADB and Fastboot.

Instructions:

Download the Mi Flash Tool (version 2023.4.1 or later).
Install the program by following the installation wizard (important! select the Install Mi USB Driver option).
Connect your phone in fastboot mode (turn off the phone, then press Volume Down + Power).
Start Device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager).
Find a device with a yellow sign (usually Android Bootloader Interface), right-click → Update the driver → Search for drivers on that computer.
Specify the path to the driver folder (usually C:\Program Files (x86)\Xiaomi\MiPhone\Google\UsbDriver).

After installation, check the connection with the command:

fastboot devices

If you see the serial number of the phone (for example, 1234567890abcdef fastboot) in response, the drivers are installed correctly.

⚠️ Attention: On Windows 11 You may have a driver not signed error, in which case you need to disable the driver signature verification via gpedit.msc (for the Pro version) or bcdedit. /set nointegritychecks on in CMD on behalf of the administrator.

How to disable driver signature verification in Windows 10/11

1. Press Win + R, enter gpedit.msc (Pro/Enterprise only). 2. Go to User Configuration → Administrative Templates → System → Driver Installation. 3. Enable the Digital Signature option of Device Drivers and select Ignore. 4. Reboot PC. For Windows Home, use the bcdedit/set testsigning on CMD (administrator) command.

Method 2: Manually install drivers through Device Manager

If the Mi Flash Tool didn’t help or you prefer manual control, you can install the drivers manually, which is suitable for power users, as it requires selecting the right.inf files.

Step-by-step:

Download Android SDK Platform Tools (with drivers included) usb_driver).
Connect your phone in fastboot or ADB mode (on debugging over USB).
Open Device Manager and find the device with the error (e.g. Xiaomi Composite MDB Interface).
Right-click → Update the driver → Select the driver from the list → Install from the disk.
Please specify the path to the file: ADB: android_winusb.inf (file usb_driver). For Fastboot: android_winusb.inf (Choose Android Bootloader Interface).

Critical detail: for Xiaomi devices with Qualcomm chipset (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro)+ 5G or POCO F4 GT) Additional QDLoader Driver is required HS-USB Driver for mode EDL. It can be downloaded from the Qualcomm package. QPST.

Connection mode	Name of device in Controller	Required driver	File.inf
ADB (debugging)	Android ADB Interface	Android Composite ADB Interface	android_winusb.inf
Fastboot	Android Bootloader Interface	Android Bootloader Driver	android_winusb.inf
EDL (emergency)	QHUSB_BULK qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008	Qualcomm QDLoader	qcusbser.inf

💡

If Windows refuses to install the driver, try connecting the phone to another. USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0 on the back of the PC. Some ports USB 3.0 (blue) may not work properly with fastboot mode.

Method 3: Universal Driver Package (15 seconds ADB Installer)

For those who don’t want to mess with manual installation, there is a 15 seconds ADB Installer utility that automatically installs all the necessary drivers for Xiaomi, Samsung, Google Pixel and other brands.

How to use:

Download 15 seconds of ADB Installer (version 1.4.3 or later).
Run the adb-setup-1.4.3.exe file on behalf of the administrator.
Type Y (Yes) for all questions: Do you want to install ADB and Fastboot? [y/n] → y Do you want to install device drivers? [y/n] → y
Once completed, restart the PC.

Solution: Open Device Manager, find Android Bootloader Interface, right-click → Properties → Driver → Roll back.

❓ Can we determine ADB-driver Mac/Linux?

On macOS and Linux, you don't need to install drivers - enough: Install adb and fastboot via brew install android-platform-tools (Mac) or sudo apt install adb fastboot (Linux). Add a rule for accessing the device (on Linux): echo 'SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="2717", MODE="0666"' | sudo tee /etc/udev/rules.d/51-android.rules sudo udevadm control --reload-rules Sudo udevadm trigger Note: For Xiaomi on Linux, an additional rule for idVendor may be required=2717 (it ID manufacturer for Xiaomi in fastboot mode).

❓ How do you check that ADB working properly?

Follow the following commands in the terminal: adb devices Expected result: List of devices attached 1234567890abcdef device If the device is displayed unauthorized - confirm access on the phone. If the list is empty - check the drivers and cable.

❓ Do I need to unlock the bootloader to work with ADB?

No, ADB It also works on a locked bootloader, but with limitations: ✅ Available adb commands pull/push, adb install, adb shell. ❌ Fastboot flash, fastboot oem unlock are blocked. Unlock is mandatory for full access (firmware, change system partition). On new Xiaomi devices, this requires binding Mi Account and waiting. 7 days (on some models — 360 hours!).

❓ Why After Updating MIUI ADB quit?

The debugging permissions are probably reset. Solution: Disconnect your phone from your PC. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers. Disable and turn on USB Debugging again. Connect your phone again and confirm your PC request. If that doesn't work, try removing the ~/.android folder on your PC (which stores ADB authorization keys).