Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A is one of the most popular budget smartphones of 2017, which is still used by many users. However, device performance may degrade over time, and official support from Xiaomi has long been discontinued. In such cases, relevant firmware becomes the only way to restore your smartphone to its former speed, fix bugs or get new features.

In this guide, we will look at all the possible ways to update software on Redmi Note 5A: from official versions MIUI to custom firmware like LineageOS or Pixel Experience. You will learn how to properly prepare the device to avoid brick (breakdowns), and what to do if the phone does not turn on after flashing the firmware. We will pay special attention A unique feature of this model is the lack of official support for unlocking the bootloader via Mi Unlock Tool after 2020, which complicates the installation of custom firmware.

Official MIUI firmware for Redmi Note 5A: where to download and how to update

Latest official version MIUI for Redmi Note 5A (codename ugg for global version and ugglite for version with 2 GB RAM) - MIUI 12.5 based on Android 7.1 Nougat. Xiaomi no longer releases updates for this model, but stable versions can be downloaded manually.

List of official sources for downloading firmware:

To update your smartphone with official firmware, follow these steps:

  1. Download the firmware file in the format .zip (For example, miui_HMNote5AGlobal_V12.5.1.0.NCGMIXM_...).
  2. Transfer the archive to the root folder of the phone’s internal memory (not to folders!).
  3. Go to Settings → About phone → System update.
  4. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Select firmware file.
  5. Confirm the installation and wait for the reboot.
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If after the update the smartphone takes a long time to boot (more than 10 minutes), do not panic - this is normal for the first launch after the firmware.

Important: official firmware is installed without data reset, but we recommend making a backup via Settings → Advanced → Backup and reset. If you are upgrading from MIUI 9 or older may be required full reset (wipe) via recovery.

Unlocking the bootloader on Redmi Note 5A: bypassing 2026 restrictions

Xiaomi closed the possibility of officially unlocking the bootloader for Redmi Note 5A through Mi Unlock Tool after 2020. This means that the standard method with account linking Mi and waiting 72 hours no longer works. However there are workarounds:

Ways to unlock bootloader in 2026:

  • 🔓 Via EDL mode (Emergency Download Mode) using an authorized account Xiaomi (purchase of credits from trusted sellers is required).
  • 🛠️ Exploit via vulnerability (For example, DirtyCOW) - works on older versions of MIUI, but requires root rights.
  • 📱 Buying an unlocked phone - some sellers on AliExpress or Avito offer devices with an already unlocked bootloader.

The most reliable method today is to use EDL mode. To do this you will need:

  1. Install drivers Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 (you can download here).
  2. Connect your phone in EDL (press Volume up + Volume down and connect the USB cable).
  3. Use tool Mi Flash Tool with an authorized account.
What happens if you interrupt bootloader unlocking?

If the unlocking process is interrupted (for example, by disconnecting the cable or exiting the Mi Flash Tool), the phone may go into a “hard brick” state - it will not turn on, will not be recognized by the computer as a device, and can only be restored through JTAG or replacing the motherboard. In 90% of cases it is beyond repair at home.

⚠️ Warning: Unlocking the bootloader through unofficial methods (especially EDL) may lead to IMEI blocking or activation of protection Anti-Rollback. The latter makes it impossible to install older versions of MIUI, which is critical if the new firmware is unstable.

Installing custom firmware: from TWRP to LineageOS

After unlocking the bootloader, you can install custom recovery (TWRP) and alternative firmware. For Redmi Note 5A available:

  • 🤖 LineageOS 16/17.1 (Android 9/10) - the most stable custom firmware.
  • 📱 Pixel Experience - firmware with pure Android and functions from Google Pixel.
  • ⚡ Havoc-OS or CrDroid — firmware with advanced customization settings.
  • 🔄 MIUI Pro — modified versions of MIUI without advertising and with optimizations.

Step-by-step installation instructions LineageOS 16 (Android 9 Pie):

Unlock bootloader|Download TWRP for Redmi Note 5A (ugg)|Download LineageOS and GApps firmware|Back up your data|Charge your phone at least 70%-->

  1. Install TWRP Recovery via fastboot: 
    fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.6.2_ugg.img

    fastboot boot twrp-3.6.2_ugg.img

  2. B TWRP execute Wipe → Advanced Wipe and mark Dalvik, Cache, System, Data.
  3. Install the firmware LineageOS And GApps (Open GApps, option pico or nano).
  4. Reboot into the system (the first launch may take 10-15 minutes).

Important: some custom firmware requires disable AVB check (Android Verified Boot). For this purpose in TWRP you need to run the command: 

fastboot --disable-verity --disable-verification flash vbmeta vbmeta.img

File vbmeta.img usually comes bundled with firmware.

Official MIUI|LineageOS|Pixel Experience|Other custom firmware|Haven't tried it yet-->

Solving errors after flashing: bootloop, lack of network, bugs

Even if the firmware is installed correctly, problems may arise. Let's look at the most common ones and how to solve them:

Problem Possible reason Solution
Bootloop (infinite reboot) Incompatible firmware, incorrect wipe, damaged firmware file Repeat the installation with a full wipe, check the firmware version (ugg/ugglite)
No network (IMEI invalid) Partition damaged modem or nvram when flashing Repair IMEI via Maui META or reflash modem from stock firmware
The camera doesn't work Missing drivers or libraries libmmcamera Install a camera patch or use supported firmware Camera2API
Rapid battery drain Unoptimized kernel or background processes Install the kernel FrancoKernel or calibrate the battery via Battery Calibration

If after flashing the phone does not turn on at all (black screen, no response to buttons), try:

  1. Connect to charger for 30 minutes - sometimes it helps with a low battery.
  2. Clamp Power + Volume up for 20-30 seconds to force a reboot.
  3. If all else fails, flash your phone through EDL mode (authorized account required).
⚠️ Attention: If after the firmware LineageOS or other custom firmware stopped working fingerprint or NFC, this is due to the lack of proprietary drivers from Xiaomi. There is no solution - these functions only work on the official MIUI.

Rollback to the old version of MIUI: bypass Anti-Rollback

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A equipped with protection Anti-Rollback (ARB), which blocks the installation of firmware older than a certain version. For example, if you upgraded to MIUI 12.5, return to MIUI 11 It won't work in an official way.

Bypassing ARB is possible, but requires:

  1. Unlocked bootloader.
  2. Modified boot.img with ARB check disabled.
  3. Installations via TWRP with pre-patch disable_arb.zip.

Step by step instructions:

  1. Download the desired version of MIUI (for example, MIUI 10) and patch disable_arb.zip.
  2. B TWRP Install the patch first, then the firmware.
  3. Execute Wipe → Format Data (this will delete all data!).
  4. Reboot.

Important: bypass Anti-Rollback may lead to lost IMEI or unstable operation of the communication module. Before the procedure, save a backup copy of the partition nvram through TWRP or SP Flash Tool.

Performance optimization after flashing

Even after installing new firmware Redmi Note 5A may work slowly due to weak processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 and 2/3 GB of RAM. To speed up your device:

List of optimizations:

  • ⚡ Disable animation: go to Settings → About phone, press 7 times on MIUI version, then in Developer Settings install Window animation = 0.5x.
  • 🗑️ Limit background processes: in Developer Settings select Process limit → Maximum 2 processes.
  • 🔄 Use lightweight launchers: replace the standard launcher with Nova Launcher or Lawnchair.
  • 🛡️ Disable unnecessary Google services: through ADB do: 
    adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.gms

    (this will disable Google Play Services updates, but some apps may stop working).

For custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience) we recommend:

  • Install kernel FrancoKernel or Perseus for better CPU/GPU control.
  • Use Greenify to hibernate background applications.
  • Activate zRAM (RAM compression) in the developer settings.
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The greatest performance increase comes from replacing the standard MIUI firmware with LineageOS without GApps (only with microG) - this frees up to 500 MB of RAM.

FAQ: answers to frequently asked questions about Redmi Note 5A firmware

Is it possible to flash Redmi Note 5A without unlocking the bootloader?

Yes, but only official firmware MIUI through System update or Mi Flash Tool in mode fastboot. Custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience) require an unlocked bootloader.

Why doesn't the mobile network work after updating the firmware?

This is due to partition corruption modem or lack of IMEI. Solutions:

  1. Repair IMEI via Maui META or SN Write Tool.
  2. Reflash modem from stock firmware via TWRP.
  3. Check if your firmware supports your region (for example, the global version of MIUI may not work with Russian operators).
How to return stock firmware if the phone does not turn on?

If the device is able bootloop or soft brick:

  1. Boot into fastboot (press Power + Volume down).
  2. Flash the official firmware via Mi Flash Tool with option Clean All.
  3. If your phone is not detected, use EDL mode (authorized account required).

If the device is able hard brick (does not respond to buttons, is not detected by the computer), only JTAG or replacing the motherboard will help.

Which firmware is best for gaming on Redmi Note 5A?

For games we recommend:

  • MIUI 12.5 with background processes disabled (better compatibility with games).
  • LineageOS 16 with core Perseus and activated zRAM.
  • Havoc-OS with performance settings for weak devices.

Important: only light games like Brawl Stars, Clash Royale or PUBG Mobile on minimum settings. For Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile There is not enough power.

How to update Redmi Note 5A to Android 11 or 12?

Officially Redmi Note 5A Does not support Android above 7.1 (Nougat). However, there are unofficial ports:

  • LineageOS 18.1 (Android 11) - works with bugs (no camera, problems with Wi-Fi).
  • Pixel Experience 11 - similar problems.
  • Project Treble — allows you to install GSI firmware (Generic System Image), but requires a modified vendor.

Recommendation: it is better to stop at Android 9/10 (LineageOS 16/17.1), since new versions are extremely unstable.