How to Flash a Xiaomi Fastboot ROM with Mi Flash Tool

Step-by-step guide to flashing an official Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO fastboot ROM with Mi Flash Tool: unlock, download, extract and flash safely — plus fixes for common errors.

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Published 2026-07-09 06:38:33 date

A fastboot ROM is a complete firmware image that you flash to a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO device from a computer while the phone is in Fastboot mode. Because it rewrites every partition, it is the most reliable way to update MIUI or HyperOS, switch regions, or recover a phone stuck in a bootloop.

Before you start

  • Unlocked bootloader. Fastboot flashing requires an unlocked bootloader. See our guide on unlocking the bootloader.
  • Backup. A full fastboot flash erases your data. Back up photos, contacts and app data first.
  • Battery above 50%. An interrupted flash can brick the device.
  • The correct firmware. Download the fastboot ROM for your exact model and region. Find yours on the device pages or search from the home page.

What you need

  1. The official Mi Flash Tool (MiFlash) installed on a Windows PC.
  2. Xiaomi USB drivers.
  3. The fastboot ROM package (a .tgz file) for your device, extracted to a short folder path such as C:\rom.
  4. A good USB-A to USB-C cable.

Step-by-step

  1. Extract the downloaded .tgz until you have a folder containing an images subfolder and a flash_all script.
  2. Power off the phone. Hold Power + Volume Down until the Fastboot logo appears.
  3. Connect the phone to the PC with the USB cable.
  4. Open Mi Flash Tool, click Select and choose your extracted ROM folder, then click Refresh — your device should be listed.
  5. At the bottom right, choose the flash mode. “Clean all” is the safest for a clean install. Avoid “Clean all and lock” unless you specifically want to relock the bootloader.
  6. Click Flash and wait. When it finishes you will see “success”. The phone reboots automatically.

Common errors and fixes

  • “Device not found” — reinstall the USB drivers, try another USB port/cable, and confirm the phone is in Fastboot mode.
  • “Anti-rollback” / error 0x8000ffff — you are trying to flash an older build than the device allows. Flash the same or a newer build.
  • Stuck at a partition — use a rear USB port on a desktop and a data-capable cable.

Prefer no computer?

If your bootloader is locked or you just want a routine update, use a recovery ROM instead — it installs directly on the phone. Not sure which one you need? Read Fastboot vs Recovery vs OTA.

Browse firmware by brand: Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO.