How to update to MIUI 12.5

This tutorial shows you how to install an MIUI 12.5 firmware on your Android Xiaomi phone and tablet. Currently MIUI12.5 stable version has been released, for models that have not yet received the stable version push, flashing the development version or even the beta version may lead to abnormal behavior while using the device.. Also, this is going to restore a brand new version of ROM and you need to backup important data on your device, which can be done through Xiaomi’s Cloud Backup or Mi PC Suite. To do this, your Xiaomi device must also be qualified to install MIUI12.5, otherwise, it will need to be unlocked BL (during this process of unlocking the bootloader, your device will be wiped of all current data).

The following tutorial is only applicable if you need to unlock BL.

Prepare for flashing

Backing up your device

Before brushing your device, you should make sure that all your important data is backed up to a safe location. This will ensure that you can restore your data after the update is complete.

You can easily back up your important data on your phone in any of the following ways.

  1. Xiaomi Cloud backup

    Usually, the Xiaomi Cloud Backup will automatically back up the following data for you.

    • Applications, desktop layouts, and wallpapers
    • Alarm clock and world clock
    • Notification management settings
    • Other MIUI and system app settings

    Because of the app permission and compatibility issue, you cannot backup and restore the data inside the third party app, you may need to manually backup other documents that cannot be backed up.

  2. Mi PC Suite

Unlock the device’s BL

If it hasn’t unlocked Bootloader. Then you will have to complete this step. This is to install a custom ROM or recovery.

Please Download Xiaomi Unlock Tool, then connect your phone to the computer and follow the instructions. It may take a few days before you are granted access to unlock BL.

Download custom recovery

Third-party recovery allows you to install your own ROM.

The most popular custom recovery is TWRP, you can find your phone model at its homepage and download the corresponding recovery file. For MIUI 12.5, a derivative of TWRP, SHRP TWRP, has been released to decrypt the MIUI-EU ROM /data, this is its homepage.

Download MIUI 12.5 ROM

Once you have installed the custom recovery on your phone, all that is left to do is download and install the MIUI 12.5 ROM. This will depend on the exact model of your device, and the matching link can be found on the All Xiaomi models page. Of course, the page MIUI 12.5 also clearly lists the current models that have received the MIUI 12.5 update, but the updates on this page are not live.

  • Please download the ZIP compressed archive ROM file.

Give your device a full charge

It is always recommended to do the updating with enough power. Once your phone is 100% charged (or already plugged in), you can proceed with the flashing operation.

Start installing MIUI 12.5 firmware

Install the downloaded recovery and start it

  1. Put your phone into Fastboot mode. After powering off your device, enter it by pressing and holding Power button + Volume down. Then, use USB to connect to your computer, run cmd or bash and execute the command fastboot getvar product to confirm your device model.

  2. To start installing recovery, run the command fastboot flash recovery <downloaded recovery.img file path>.

  3. Then, reboot to recovery mode, hold down the volume up key and execute fastboot reboot to reboot and wait for a moment. You will see the phone is now in the new recovery mode.

Installing ROM via the recovery

The main interface of TWRP is as follows.

TWRP reference image

Click install to select the downloaded MIUI 12.5 ROM in zip format, and then confirm the installation. It will take a while to install, just restart your phone when it’s done.

Set up your MIUI 12.5 phone

Set up your device. After updating to MIUI 12.5, your phone is now essentially factory-new, you need to select location information, your preferred language, and other setting options before you can enjoy the new MIUI 12.5.