Why is my Xiaomi not getting MIUI updates

In the comments, you often ask why the MIUI update is not coming to Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO? Why isn’t MIUI updating on your phone while similar smartphones of friends have already received the new firmware version? Fair questions to which there are several answers.

It’s important to understand that the update that arrives on your phone is an OTA update. It should not be confused with a firmware file: Recovery ROM and Fastboot ROM cannot come to your device over the air.

MIUI update waves

The easiest reason for an OTA update not arriving is that your device is not in the first wave of the newsletter. Xiaomi sends out stable updates for smartphones and tablets in “waves”. This means that devices of the same model are updated in stages: first one part of the devices, later the new MIUI comes to the next models. The order of the mailing is random, you cannot sign up for the first wave.

The time gap between OTA waves can vary from a few days to months. This variation in dates is due to the fact that OTAs may be suspended due to minor bugs or may be recalled for improvements due to critical bugs. This is done without an official announcement from the developers. Users are left to wait for a re-release, which could take anywhere from a week to several months.

A recalled OTA Update can be identified by the following sign: the MIUI update arrived and then disappeared. The reason is simple — it’s been recalled for revision. Be glad you didn’t install MIUI with critical bugs and wait for the re-release.

It is possible to predict the approximate timing of the OTAs. To do so, just understand how popular the smartphone model is. If its popularity is off the charts, owners can wait very long for the next wave, as Xiaomi needs to update a large number of devices. And if the model was not popular, they might send out the OTAs in one wave.

How to speed up OTA release

Changing the region to Indonesia sometimes helps to get MIUI updates first. The fact is that this region receives new versions right after MIUI China.

How to change the MIUI region to Indonesia:

1. Open Settings.
2. From the settings list, select Additional Settings.
3. Tap on Region.
4. Select Indonesia from the list.

Many Xiaomi owners who don’t want to wait often resort to this method.

Why OTA updates are not coming

There are cases when you don’t have to wait for an OTA update at all. And it’s not because the particular phone was deprived of support (we mark such models in the catalog with EOS). In the most cases it’s not possible to receive OTA updates because of users’ actions or repairing the handset in the service center.

Why are you not getting MIUI OTA Update:

• Not received. We talked about waves of updates above. Wait your turn, which can take anywhere from a week to several months. Or download the official OTA update (smartphones, tablets) from the catalog.
• Unlocked bootloader. If the bootloader was unlocked on the phone (e.g. to install TWRP recovers), OTA update will not come. It is necessary to lock bootloader. The easiest way to flash the phone with the stock firmware is via Fastboot using MiFlash Pro software. In this case the bootloader will be autolocked.
• Super user rights. If your phone has root rights, you won’t be able to get updates. You need to remove root access from your phone and perform a factory reset. If after that there are no OTA updates, try performing a full flash via Fastboot.
• Custom firmware. Even if the custom firmware is based on MIUI, it won’t update. You need to install the official stock firmware through Fastboot using MiFlash Pro.
• Incorrect firmware. It is important to download the firmware for the region of the device. For example, if you have a Chinese Xiaomi smartphone, Global ROM on it will not receive OTA updates.
• System failure. Sometimes the reason why your smartphone doesn’t receive OTAs is a MIUI system glitch. Try performing a factory reset (Hard Reset). Before doing so, it is recommended to save all user data from the internal memory, as it will be deleted.
• Result of viruses. Probably the system files have been seriously corrupted by malware. Check for viruses with standard MIUI tools in normal mode. If this doesn’t help, run the safe mode and repeat the procedure (some viruses are only removed this way).
• Motherboard replacement. If your phone was repaired and the motherboard was replaced with a different serial number (for example, the board from the Chinese version of the smartphone was installed on the global version), then the OTA updates will not come, as they are bound to the hardware. Here the only way out is to go to a repair shop and demand a replacement for the original part.
• The update is not out. OTAs are not released for all firmware. For example, an intermediate version of MIUI can only get Recovery ROM or Fastboot ROM. It turns out that other phones whose owners upgraded via Recovery ROM or Fastboot ROM will have the latest version MIUI, but you will have an older one.
• The phone was purchased from a mobile operator. Ordinary phones may already receive updates, but tethered (so-called “locked phones”) may receive them much later due to the specific update schedule of the mobile operator.

These are all the main reasons why your phone might not receive the OTA updates. If you want to tell us about your case, welcome to the comments!