Smartphone manufacturers usually support their devices in terms of software for a few years from the release date, usually two. During this time, users regularly receive updates that add new features to the operating system. To update Android on your Xiaomi Mi 11, you need to follow a few simple steps, but first get ready for the process. This guide works on Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 11 and Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite.
How to see Android version on Xiaomi Mi 11
Please know the current software version before installing updates. If your Android is already up to date, there is no need to reinstall it. See which version of Android you have:
- Open your phone settings.
- Press “About phone”.
- Find the entry “Android version”.
This is where the current software version will be indicated. In early 2021, it’s Android 11, but Google will soon release another update to Android 12.
Preparatory phase to update Xiaomi Mi 11
Each new version of the software contains many new features, but after installing them, there may be problems in the operation of some smartphones. This happens when users skip the preparatory phase. Before updating your Xiaomi Mi 11, you must have these two basic requirements:
- make sure the device has at least 30% charge;
- restore the device to factory default settings.
The first point is clear, but the second requires an explanation. Restoring factory settings means deleting all files from the device memory. Helps you avoid errors while installing updates. Of course, nobody wants to lose their personal data, that’s why you need to create a backup before restoring:
- Open settings.
- Go to the “Accounts and backups” section.
- Select Google Drive.
- Back up your data.
These steps will help you save your data to cloud storage. You can restore the backup after updating your operating system. If there is not enough space on Google Drive to save all the information, you can create a backup copy using the “Backup and Restore” option. Move the resulting file to another device (such as a computer) and after installing the updates, restore it to the smartphone memory. After creating a backup, you can start resetting your phone to factory settings:
- Open settings.
- Go to the “Backup and Restore” section.
- Choose “Factory data reset”.
- Click on “Reset Device”.
- Confirm the operation.
Now restart your smartphone and then go straight to the new software installation process.
Ways to update Android on Xiaomi Mi 11
There are several ways to update the Android operating system on your Xiaomi Mi 11, including classic and alternative options. We recommend that you consider the upgrade methods in the order presented in this article.
Update over the air
This is the simplest and most common way to update your smartphone. The main condition here is to complete the preparatory steps and have an Internet connection. To update Android on your phone you need to:
- Open settings.
- Press “System” or “About phone”.
- Go to “System Update”.
- Click on “Update”.
If updates are available, you will be prompted to download the firmware file and click “Install”. After that, the device will reboot and be ready for further use.
How to update Xiaomi Mi 11 manually via settings
This option is for those cases when your device cannot find an update over the air. To install the latest firmware version, download the installation file from the manufacturer’s official website. After inserting the zip file into the device memory, follow these steps:
- Open your device settings.
- Go to the System Update section.
- Press the three-dot button, then click the “Select Firmware File” button.
- Select the folder where the zip file was saved.
- Confirm installation of updates.
The further process is the same as presented earlier in the over-the-air updates. That is, your phone will restart, and after installing the firmware, you will be able to use it.
Manual update via recovery mode
This method is similar to the previous one because here too you have to download the firmware file to your phone first, but the rest of the process is very different. To install updates, you need to enter recovery mode.
First of all, turn off your smartphone and hold both the power button and the volume up button for a few seconds. If nothing happens, change the combination with the power button and the volume down button.
If everything was done correctly, the recovery menu will appear on the screen. Use the volume keys to navigate and the power button to confirm actions.
If you want to perform an over-the-air update, select “Reboot system now”. The “Apply update from ADB” option is required to install the firmware from internal memory and “Apply update from SD card” is for installation from the memory card. After selecting the desired option, confirm the operation and wait for the process to finish.
What to do after installing updates
When the update is complete, turn on your smartphone and check the operation. If everything is fine, you can restore the backup.
If the backup has been uploaded to Google Drive, all you need is to log into your Google account and the data will be restored automatically. If the backup file was placed on another device, you need to reload it on your smartphone.
If the backup did not restore automatically, try to do it manually. To do this, open the settings, go to the “System” section and reset the data.
