Owners of brand smartphones Xiaomi often eagerly await the arrival of new software versions, which bring not only a fresh interface design, but also important security improvements. The transition to Android 12 became a landmark event for the company's ecosystem, as it marked the introduction of a new shell MIUI 13based on this operating system. Many users are wondering when exactly their device will receive the coveted update, because the speed of the gadget and access to new functions depend on this.

The process of distributing firmware from the Chinese giant occurs in stages, first covering flagship models, and then gradually moving down to devices in the middle and budget segments. Release schedule may vary depending on the region of sale of the smartphone and the specific modification of the processor. It is important to understand that the release date for the global version (Global ROM) often differs from the release date for the Chinese version (China ROM), which creates additional confusion among equipment owners.

In this article we will analyze in detail the current situation with updates, consider lists of devices that have already received or are guaranteed to receive the new OS, and also discuss the nuances of installation. You will learn how to check for an update manually and what to do if the long-awaited version still does not arrive on your device.

Features of the transition to Android 12 in the MIUI 13 shell

Updating to Android 12 in conjunction with the shell MIUI 13 brought a number of significant changes in the visual style and functionality of the system. One of the main innovations was the Material You concept, which allows you to dynamically change the color palette of the interface depending on the wallpaper selected by the user. This feature makes the use of a smartphone more personalized and pleasing to the eye.

In addition to visual improvements, the developers paid special attention performance to memory optimization. The new RAM management system allows you to keep more applications in the background without unloading them, which is especially important for models with a small amount of RAM. The notification system and control panel have also been redesigned, making them more intuitive.

⚠️ Attention: The settings interface in Android 12 is significantly different from previous versions. Familiar menu items may have been moved or renamed, so the first time after the update, navigating the system will be a little more difficult.

Data security has also reached a new level thanks to the introduction of privacy indicators. You will now always see a green icon in the top right of your screen if an app is using the microphone, or an orange icon if the camera is active. This gives the user complete control over which apps have access to his personal information in real time.

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Before installing a major update, back up important photos and contacts to cloud storage to avoid data loss in the event of possible failures.

Official update release schedule for different series

Company Xiaomi adheres to a clear strategy for releasing updates, which prioritizes the flagship devices of the series Mi and the top models of the line Xiaomi 11 and Xiaomi 12. These smartphones are the first to get access to beta versions, and then to stable builds of the new operating system. For them, the transition to Android 12 was the smoothest and fastest.

Smartphones of the popular sub-brand POCO, especially the F and X series models, are also in the priority of updates due to their high popularity among enthusiasts. However, owners of devices in the series Redmi Note may face a longer wait, since this line is huge and requires careful testing of the firmware on multiple hardware configurations.

Below is a table reflecting the approximate timing of the release of a stable version of the update for various categories of devices. It is worth remembering that these dates are indicative and may shift depending on testing results and detected bugs.

Device series Examples of models Update status Indicative period
Mi / Xiaomi flagships Mi 11, Xiaomi 12, Mi 10T Completed Q1 2022
POCO sub-flagships POCO F3, POCO X3 Pro Completed Q2 2022
Middle segment Redmi Redmi Note 10, Note 11 In progress / Completed Q2-3 2022
Budget segment Redmi 9, Redmi 10 Partially / Questionable Q4 2022

Device owners who have not yet received the update should not panic ahead of time. Often delays are associated with the need to adapt drivers to the new security requirements of Android 12, which requires additional time on the part of engineers.

📊 Have you already received the update to Android 12?
Yes, it arrived automatically
No, but I'm looking forward to it
My device is not on the list support
I installed custom firmware

List of devices guaranteed to receive Android 12

You can determine whether your smartphone will receive the update by checking the official list of supported devices. The company publishes lists of models that are guaranteed to be updated to the new OS version within a certain period after release. For Android 12, this list turned out to be quite broad and covered devices released since 2020.

First of all, support was given to processors Snapdragon 888 and Snapdragon 870, which ensured high performance of last year's flagships. The list also included many models based on MediaTek Dimensity chips, which was good news for fans of processors from the Taiwanese company.

  • 📱 Xiaomi 11 series: Xiaomi 11, 11 Lite 5G NE, 11i, 11 Ultra, 11 Pro.
  • 📱 Mi 10 series: Mi 10, Mi 10 Pro, Mi 10T, Mi 10T Pro, Mi 10S.
  • 📱 POCO series: POCO F3, POCO F3 GT, POCO X3 Pro, POCO X4 Pro 5G.
  • 📱 Redmi series Note: Redmi Note 10, Note 10 Pro, Note 10S, Note 11, Note 11 Pro.

Folding smartphones such as Mi Mix Folddeserve special attention, which were also included in the update app. This underscores the company's commitment to keeping software up to date, even on experimental form factors.

If your model is not on this list, this does not always mean that it will never receive an update. Sometimes the company releases additional waves of updates for older flagships, extending their life cycle, but you shouldn’t count on this as a guarantee.

Why are some powerful smartphones not included in the list?

Sometimes the reason for exclusion is not the processor power, but the amount of permanent memory or specific camera drivers that cannot be adapted to the new security requirements of Android 12 without losing stability.

How to check for an update manually

It often happens that an update is already available for your model, but the notification of its availability has not yet arrived via the OTA (Over-The-Air) channel. In this case, you can initiate checking for a new firmware version yourself through the device settings. This is a simple and safe way to try to speed up the process.

To do this, go to the main settings menu and find the section responsible for information about the phone. The path may differ slightly depending on the version of the current shell, but the logic remains the same for all devices. Xiaomi.

Follow these steps:

  1. Open the application Settings on the main screen.
  2. Click on item About phone, which is usually located at the very top of the list.
  3. In the window that appears, find the large version logo MIUI and click on it.
  4. The system will contact the update server and check for a new one version.

If an update is available, you will see a button Download and install. If the system reports that you have the latest version installed, it means that the release has not yet begun for your region or specific serial number.

⚠️ Attention: Do not try to frequently press the check update button. Too frequent requests may lead to temporary blocking of your IP address on Xiaomi update servers.

☑️ Preparing for manual update

Done: 0 / 4

Updating problems and ways to solve them

The process of installing a new one operating system does not always go smoothly. Users may encounter various errors, ranging from the inability to download the firmware file to the device freezing during the installation process. Understanding the causes of these problems will help you avoid data loss and nerves.

One ​​of the most common reasons for failure is the lack of free space in the internal memory. Android 12 and MIUI 13 require significant space for unpacking installation files and temporary storage of data during system migration.

Errors associated with an unstable Internet connection are also common. If the download fails at 99%, the firmware file may be corrupted and the system will not be able to verify it. In this case, you will have to delete the downloaded file and start the download again.

  • 🔋 Battery low: If the phone turns off during the installation process, it may go into Recovery mode or stop turning on altogether.
  • 💾 Corrupted file: Incomplete downloading results in an error checking the integrity of the update package.
  • 🌍 Regional restrictions: Sometimes the servers in a particular region are overloaded or an update for it has not yet been released.

If you encounter an error during installation, try clearing the cache of the Component Update application. To do this, go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find Component update (or Updater) in the list and click Clear → Clear cache. After that, try checking for updates again.

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The most common cause of errors is Unstable Wi-Fi. Use only reliable home networks to download large update packages.

Alternative methods for installing firmware

If the official over-the-air update does not arrive for a long time, advanced users can use alternative installation methods. One such method is to manually install the firmware file through the Recovery menu. This method requires more caution, but allows you to bypass queues on servers.

To do this, you will need to download the full firmware package (Recovery ROM) for your specific model from the official website or trusted resources. The file must have an extension .zip and weigh several gigabytes. After downloading, you need to rename it to update.zip and place it in the root of the phone’s internal memory.

Next you need to go to Recovery mode:

Turn off the phone.

Press the Volume Up + Power buttons simultaneously.


Hold until the Mi logo appears.

In the Recovery menu, select a language (usually only English and Chinese are available), then press Wipe Data (if a clean installation is required) or immediately Install to install over the current system. Select the file update.zip and confirm the action.

⚠️ Attention: Manually installing the firmware via Recovery with data clearing (Wipe Data) will delete all information from your phone. Be sure to make a backup copy before starting the procedure!

There is also an update method via a computer using a utility Mi Flash Tool, but it is intended for advanced users and requires an unlocked bootloader. For most smartphone owners, OTA methods or installation via Recovery without unlocking are sufficient.

What is Fastboot ROM?

This is a firmware version designed for installation via a computer in Fastboot mode. It allows you not only to update the system, but also to completely restore the phone's functionality in case of serious failures, but requires an unlocked bootloader.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Will I lose data when upgrading to Android 12?

When updating using the standard "over-the-air" method (OTA) or through the Recovery menu without the Wipe Data item, all your data (photos, contacts, applications) will be saved. However, it is always recommended to make a backup copy in case of unexpected failures.

Why do friends receive updates, but not me?

Updates are distributed in waves. Even for the same model in the same region, different users may receive firmware at different times. This depends on the serial number of the device and the load on the servers.

Is it possible to roll back to Android 11?

It is officially impossible to roll back to the previous version of Android without completely clearing the data. Returning to the old version requires unlocking the bootloader and completely flashing the device, which will delete all data.

Will Android 12 speed up the operation of an old smartphone?

On older devices, the new OS may work even slower due to increased resource requirements. Android 12 is optimized for more modern hardware, so on smartphones 2019-2020 the performance increase may be unnoticeable or not at all.

Where can I download the official firmware?

The only safe source is the official website miui.com or the built-in update application in the phone. Downloading firmware from third-party forums carries the risk of infecting the device with malware.