The smartphone Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro, also known by its code name Kenzo, has not received official updates from the manufacturer for a long time. However, enthusiasts continue to support this device, releasing current versions of the operating system Android and shell MIUI. The software upgrade process allows you to give your phone a second life, ensuring compatibility with modern applications and increasing data security.
Updating the firmware is not just changing numbers in the settings, but a complex procedure that requires preparation. The owner of the device is faced with a choice between official methods, which are no longer available for new versions, and custom solutions from the developer community. It is important to understand that any intervention in system files carries risks, but with a competent approach, the result justifies the effort.
In this material we will analyze in detail all the available methods for installing new firmware. You will learn how to prepare your device, what tools you will need, and how to avoid common mistakes that can turn your smartphone into a brick. Let's start by assessing the current state of the system.
Device preparation and backup
Before starting any manipulations, it is critical to save all important data. The flashing process often involves completely clearing the internal memory of the smartphone. Use cloud services or a computer to create a backup of contacts, photos and documents.
Make sure the battery is charged at least 60-70%. A sudden power outage while writing system partitions may result in irreversible damage to the bootloader. Connect your phone to the network or make sure the battery charge is stable.
⚠️ Attention: The procedure of unlocking the bootloader and installing a custom recovery will completely delete all data from the device. Copy the files to external media in advance.
You will also need to enable developer mode. To do this, go to Settings → About phone and quickly click 7 times on the item MIUI version. After the message about enabling developer mode appears, go to Advanced → For developers and activate the item Factory unlocking.
☑️ Preparing for firmware
Official update methods and their limitations
The standard update path through the settings menu for Redmi Note 3 Pro today is practically useless. The official Xiaomi servers stopped supporting this model several years ago. The maximum version that can be obtained over the air (OTA) is limited to old builds MIUI 9 or MIUI 10 based Android 6.0 or 7.0.
Nevertheless, it is worth checking for updates. Go to Settings → About phone → System update and click the check button. If the system finds the package, you can install it, but this will not give access to the modern features of Android 10, 11 or 12.
There is a method for manually installing the official firmware through Recovery mode. To do this, you need to download the archive with the extension .zip from the official website, rename it to update.zip and place it in the root of the internal memory. Then, in recovery mode, select the item Apply update.zip.
If the automatic update does not find the package, try downloading the full firmware (Recovery ROM) manually from the miui.com website and installing it through the “Select package” menu in the system update.
However, if your goal is the latest Android, the official methods reach a dead end. The further path lies through unlocking the bootloader and installing third-party software.
Unlocking the bootloader: a necessary step
To install custom firmware, you need to unlock the bootloader (Bootloader). This is a process that is officially supported by Xiaomi, but requires time and account linking. Without an unlocked bootloader, the phone will not allow you to write modified system images.
You will need the utility Mi Unlock Tool on your computer. Download it from the official website, install the drivers and log into the app using the same Mi account that is linked to the phone. Switch your smartphone to Fastboot mode by holding down the volume down and power buttons.
| Stage | Action | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Linking an account in settings | Required |
| 2 | Waiting period (from 7 to 15 days) | Required |
| 3 | Launch Mi Unlock and connect | Technical |
| 4 | Unlock confirmation | Final |
After connecting the device, the app will show the binding status. If you have recently linked your account, the system will require you to wait a certain number of hours or days. This is a security measure to prevent device theft.
What to do if the timer does not run?
Sometimes the wait timer freezes. Try logging out of your Mi account on your phone, rebooting your device, logging in again, and re-enabling unlock permission in the developer menu.
When the timeout is up, connect your phone in Fastboot mode and press the button Unlock in the utility. The process will take a few minutes, after which all data will be deleted and the bootloader will be open for modifications.
Installing custom TWRP recovery
The standard recovery menu does not allow installing firmware that is not officially signed by Xiaomi. To do this, you need to install third-party recovery, the most popular of which is TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project).
Find an image twrp.imgspecifically compiled for the device Kenzo. Boot your phone into Fastboot mode and connect it to your PC. Open a command line or terminal in the tools folder ADB and Fastboot.
Enter the command to flash the image:
fastboot flash recovery twrp.imgImmediately after executing the command, do not reboot the phone in the usual way. Press the button combination Volume Up + Powerto force entry into the newly installed TWRP. If you simply reboot the system, the standard Xiaomi bootloader can replace TWRP with stock recovery.
⚠️ Attention: Make sure that you are downloading the TWRP image specifically for Redmi Note 3 Pro (Snapdragon 650). The version for Redmi Note 3 (MediaTek) will not work and may damage the device.
In the TWRP menu, first of all, make a full backup of the current system (Boot, System, Data sections). This is your insurance in case the new firmware turns out to be inoperative. Save a copy to an SD card or OTG-connected drive.
Searching for and installing custom firmware
The developer community has created many firmwares for Redmi Note 3 Pro. You can choose pure Android (LineageOS, Pixel Experience) or modified versions MIUI (Xiaomi.eu). Pure Android will provide high speed, and Xiaomi.eu will retain the familiar interface with additional functions.
Download the selected archive with firmware and package GApps (Google Apps), if it is not built into the image. Move the files to your phone's internal memory. In the TWRP menu, select Wipe, then Advanced Wipe and mark the sections Dalvik / ART Cache, System, Data and Cache. Do not touch the partition Internal Storage, otherwise you will delete the firmware files themselves.
After cleaning, return to the main menu and click Install. Select the archive with the firmware and swipe to confirm installation. If the firmware requires installing GApps separately, repeat the installation procedure for the second archive without rebooting between them.
Custom firmware based on Android 11 and 12 work stably on Redmi Note 3 Pro, but the camera may perform worse than on stock MIUI due to the lack of proprietary processing algorithms.
When the process is complete, click button Reboot System. The first launch may take from 5 to 15 minutes. Be patient and do not interrupt the process, even if the screen remains black for a long time or shows the logo.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
When switching to new software, users often encounter problems. One of the common mistakes is the “bootlap” (endless reboot). This may happen due to incompatibility between the recovery and firmware versions or errors when wiping partitions.
If the phone does not boot, log into TWRP again and try doing Wipe Data / Factory Reset. If this does not help, you may need a “clean” installation with formatting the Data partition (from the Wipe menu, select Format Data and enter yes), but this will delete all files.
- 📱 Fingerprint does not work: check if the selected firmware supports scanner drivers for Kenzo. Often it is necessary to install specific patches.
- 📶 Network or IMEI disappears: this is a critical error, often associated with damage to the EFS or Modem partition. Restoring the EFS partition backup is required.
- 🔋 Rapid battery drain: give the system 2-3 days to calibrate energy consumption statistics. In the first days after flashing, the battery may discharge faster than usual.
⚠️ Attention: Menu interfaces and item names may differ in different versions of TWRP or firmware. Always read the instructions (README) attached to the specific firmware file on the developer forum.
To solve complex problems, use system logs. TWRP has the ability to save installation logs, and in a running system you can use applications like MatLog to send reports to developers.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to return to the official Xiaomi firmware after a custom one?
Yes, it is possible. You will need to download the official firmware in Fastboot format (with the .tgz extension), unpack it and flash it through the Mi Flash Tool utility in Clean All mode. This will completely remove the custom recovery and return the phone to its factory state.
Will the banking application work on custom firmware?
By default, banking and Google Pay applications may not work due to an unlocked bootloader and lack of security certificates. To solve this problem, you need to install Magisk and use modules to hide root access and pass SafetyNet verification.
Do you need to unlock the bootloader to update via OTA?
No, you do not need to unlock the bootloader to install official OTA updates. However, as mentioned earlier, there are no new official updates for Redmi Note 3 Pro.
What are GApps and why you need them?
GApps (Google Apps) is a package of Google services (Play Market, Gmail, YouTube, etc.). Many custom firmwares are distributed without them due to licensing restrictions. If you want to use the application store, you need to install GApps immediately after flashing the system.