The smartphone Xiaomi Mi 6, released in 2017, was originally supplied with the MIUI shell based on Android 7.0 Nougat. Official support for the device by the manufacturer has long been discontinued, and the latest firmware versions available through the About Phone menu are based on Android 9 Pie. However, the legendary processor Snapdragon 835 is still capable of providing comfortable work with modern applications if you install a more recent operating system.
The only way to get Android 10 on this device is to install custom firmware (Custom ROM). This process requires the user to have certain technical skills, the availability of a computer, and a willingness to take risks, since any manipulation of the system partition could theoretically lead to the gadget becoming inoperable. However, the developer community has created many stable builds that give a second life to this flagship.
In this material we will analyze in detail the entire path: from preparing tools to the first boot in the new system. You will learn how to unlock the bootloader, install recovery TWRP and correctly install the operating system. It is important to understand that after completing the procedure, warranty obligations (if they are still formally valid) will be canceled, and all data on the device will be permanently deleted.
⚠️ Attention: The described actions involve interference with the device’s app code. The author of the article is not responsible for possible malfunctions of the smartphone, loss of personal data, or physical damage that occurs while following the instructions. You perform all operations at your own peril and risk.
Preparation of the workplace and backup
Before taking active steps, you must carefully prepare the software environment on your computer. You will need the current version of drivers to connect your smartphone in MTP, ADB and Fastbootmodes. Without correctly installed drivers, the computer simply will not see the device in the desired mode, and the process will freeze.
The most critical stage is saving personal information. During unlocking the bootloader and installing a new recovery, the internal memory will be completely cleared (Wipe Data). Save contacts, photos, documents and music to an external drive or cloud storage. It is also recommended to take screenshots of important application settings in order to restore them manually later.
For work you will need the following components:
- 📱 Xiaomi Mi 6 smartphone with at least 60% battery charge.
- 💻 Computer or laptop running Windows, macOS or Linux.
- 🔌 Original or high-quality USB cable with support for data transfer.
- 📦 Set of tools Platform Tools (ADB and Fastboot).
Make sure that your Mi account has a linked phone number, as this is a mandatory requirement for the unlocking procedure. If the SIM card was recently replaced, you may have to wait 7 days (168 hours) after pairing before Xiaomi servers allow unlocking.
Unlocking the bootloader (Unlock Bootloader)
The bootloader (Bootloader) is a app that runs before the operating system starts and checks the integrity of its components. By default it is locked, which prevents the installation of modified partitions. To install Android 10, you need to unlock it through the official utility Mi Unlock Tool.
First activate developer mode. To do this, go to Settings → About phone and quickly click 7 times on the item "MIUI Version". After the message "You have become a developer" appears, return to the main settings menu, open Advanced → For Developers and enable the "USB Debugging" and "Bootloader Unlock" items.
Next, follow these steps:
- 🔧 Download and install the utility Mi Unlock on your computer.
- 🔗 Connect your smartphone to the PC via a USB cable as usual.
- 🚀 Launch the app, Log in to your Mi account and click the "Unlock" button.
If you see a message about waiting, it means the server needs time to check the security of your account. In this case, just wait until the timer ends without trying to bypass the wait with third-party scripts, as this may result in the device being blocked. After successful unlocking, the phone will automatically reboot and clear the data.
Use the USB port built directly into the computer's motherboard (at the back of the system unit), rather than the front panel or USB hub, to avoid problems with power and data transfer.
Installing custom TWRP recovery
Shtotnoye_recovery_ does not allow you to install firmware that is not signed with Xiaomi digital keys. Therefore, it is necessary to install a modified recovery bootloader, the most popular of which is TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project). This is an environment that allows you to make full backups, clean up partitions and install ZIP archives.
The installation process is carried out in Fastboot mode. Turn off your smartphone completely. Then hold down the power and volume down buttons at the same time until an image of a hare repairing an android or the inscription FASTBOOTappears. Connect the device to the computer.
Open the command line or terminal in the folder with ADB/Fastboot tools and enter the command to flash the recovery partition:
fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.x.x.x-sagit.imgAfter the process is successfully completed (finished. total time: x.xxxs), you cannot simply reboot the phone with the button, otherwise the stock firmware will overwrite TWRP. You must immediately press the combination of buttons Volume Up + Power and hold them until the TWRP logo appears. If you are in the MIUI menu, it means that the stock recovery has been activated, and the login procedure through the buttons must be repeated.
⚠️ Attention: The TWRP image file must be strictly compatible with the model sagit (code name Mi 6). Using an image from Mi 6X or other devices will result in a “brick” (bootloop) and the need for flashing via EDL mode.
Selecting and preparing Android 10 firmware
There are many builds of Android 10 for Xiaomi Mi 6, based on the LineageOS, Pixel Experience, ArrowOS and others projects. The choice depends on your preferences: some people need pure Android without unnecessary applications, others need additional interface customization functions.
The downloaded firmware file (usually has an extension .zip) must be placed in the internal memory of the smartphone or on a microSD card. Also, for Google services to work (if they are not built into the firmware, as is the case with LineageOS without GAPPS), you will need a separate package GApps (Google Apps), corresponding to the version of Android 10 and the processor architecture (arm64).
Main criteria for choosing firmware:
- 🛡️ Stability: presence of "Stable" tags or "Release" from the developer.
- 📅 Update date: it is advisable to select assemblies that were updated no earlier than 3-4 months before the current date.
- 🔋 Optimization: availability of fixes for the camera, Bluetooth and sensors.
Where to look for firmware?
Official sources - XDA Developers forums (Xiaomi Mi 6 section) and Telegram channels dedicated to development for the sagit device. Avoid dubious sites with intrusive advertising.
In addition to the system itself, sometimes you need to update the basic modules (firmware), especially if you are moving from a very old version of MIUI. Carefully read the description (Readme) of the selected firmware: it always indicates whether preliminary firmware is required for a specific base layer.
Installation process and data clearing
When in the TWRP menu, the first thing you need to do is clear the partitions. This is a critical stage: trying to install a new system over the old one without cleaning will cause file conflicts and cyclic reboots.
Go to the section Wipe and select Advanced Wipe. Check the boxes Dalvik / ART Cache, System, Data and Cache. Do not touch the section Internal Storageif you want to save the downloaded ZIP firmware file inside the memory, or Micro SDif the file is on the card. Click Wipe and confirm the action with a swipe.
Now let's move on to installation:
- Return to the TWRP main menu and select
Install. - Find the previously saved ZIP archive with Android 10 firmware.
- Swipe to confirm installation (
Swipe to confirm Flash). - Wait for the process to complete, then repeat the procedure for the archive with GApps (if required).
After successful installation of all components, press the button Reboot System. The first launch may take from 3 to 10 minutes, as the system optimizes applications. Not panic if the screen remains black for a long time or the logo hangs - this is normal behavior during the first boot.
☑️ Checklist before flashing
System setup and troubleshooting
After a successful download, you will see the Android 10 welcome screen. The system will work much faster and smoother than stock MIUI 11/12 on this hardware. However, questions may arise about the operation of some functions specific to Xiaomi devices.
One of the common problems is the operation of the camera. Custom firmware often replaces the stock camera app with Google Camera (GCam), which better utilizes the capabilities of the Snapdragon processor. It is recommended to find and install a GCam port adapted specifically for Mi 6 sensors.
Comparison of characteristics of the stock and custom system:
| Parameter | MIUI (Stock) | Android 10 (Custom) |
|---|---|---|
| Android version | 9.0 (Pie) | 10.0 (Q) |
| Security updates | Absent | Regular patches |
| Background processes | A lot of system garbage | Optimized |
| root access | Requires complex installation | Easy via Magisk |
If you encounter problems with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, try resetting the network settings in the menu System → Reset settings. Also make sure that you are using an up-to-date kernel that is compatible with your firmware version, as sometimes developers release separate kernel updates to improve battery life.
Installing custom firmware is the only way to get modern Android on Xiaomi Mi 6, but it requires carefully following the instructions on each stage.
Is it safe to update banking applications on custom firmware?
By default, an unlocked bootloader may raise suspicions in banking applications (Google Pay, Sberbank, etc.). However, by installing a rights manager Magisk and activating the function of hiding root access (Magisk Hide) for specific applications, you can successfully bypass these checks. You may also need a patched file boot.img.
What to do if the phone goes into an endless reboot (Bootloop)?
You need to enter Recovery mode (TWRP) again. If the system does not boot, try doing Wipe Data again. If this does not help, the downloaded firmware may be damaged or incompatible. In this case, you need to download the archive again and reflash the device. As a last resort, returning to the stock firmware via the Mi Flash Tool will help.
Is it possible to return to the official MIUI after installing Android 10?
Yes, it is possible. To do this, you need to download the official global firmware in .tgz (Fastboot version) format, unpack it and flash it through the Mi Flash Tool app in Clean Allmode. This will automatically lock the bootloader and return the phone to its factory state.
Will battery life worsen after switching to Android 10?
In the first 2-3 days after installation, the system indexes files and optimizes batteries, so the discharge can be fast. After this period, autonomy usually stabilizes. On the Snapdragon 835 processor, Android 10 often works even more economically than the heavy MIUI, due to the absence of unnecessary background services.