How to Download and Install MIUI 7 on Your Xiaomi Smartphone

Xiaomi has announced the launch of MIUI 7 global beta ROM 5.8.22 for its smartphones. The MIUI 7 update will not be available for Xiaomi smartphones over-the-air (OTA) just yet, which means you will have to manually download and install the build if you are interesting in getting on board the MIUI 7 train.

Here's the list of what's new in MIUI 7:

Highlights
New - Added four new system UIs (08-14, for India only)
New - XXL text (08-14)
New - Showtime: Set profile picture/video to show in your contacts' device when you call them (08-14, for India only)
New - Baby album: Group all baby images in one place, supports sending all images as a package and set the album as daily lock screen. (08-14, For India only)
Optimisation - System response speed increased by 30%, battery life improved by 10%. New - Quick OTP(For India only)
New - Smart SMS Filter (For India only)

System
Optimisation - System response speed increased by 30%, battery life improved by 10%.

Contacts
New - Contact cards: Exchange contact cards with your friend to view his/her profile picture and detailed information (08-14)
New - Showtime: Set profile video to show in your contact's device when you call them (You need to exchange contact cards with the contact first) (08-14, For India only)

Messaging
New - Added XXL text for the app (08-14)
Optimisation - Searching results display the newer messages on top (08-17)

Lock screen, Status Bar, Notification Bar
New - Added notification page fold/unfold animated effects (08-07)
New - Block notifications in notification shade by one press (08-18)
Optimisation - Optimised Notification shade brightness bar interactive style (08-07)
Optimisation - Optimised battery icon on status bar (08-07)
Optimisation - Optimised status bar display effects when using large font (08-10)
Optimisation - Optimised notifications' height when using large font (08-10)
Optimisation - Optimised 'Manage notifications' page display effect when using large font (08-10)
Optimisation - MiHome app icon does not show in lock screen in Parental controls mode (08-11)
Fix - Roaming icon did not disappear in some situations (08-10)
Fix - Block button in some featured themes overlapped with clock widget (08-12)
Fix - Notes widget display error when using large font (08-12)
Fix - Pressing on toggles did not fold notification shade in Performance mode (08-19)

Home screen
New - Child mode (08-14)
Optimisation - Optimised display effect of live blur (08-07)
Optimisation - Optimised built-in widgets display effect when using large font (08-10)
Optimisation - Optimised One-handed mode launching speed (08-10)
Optimisation - Removed Settings and Security from Parental controls - Accessible apps list (08-11)
Optimisation - Assistant and Google Now cannot be launched in Parental controls mode (08-11)
Optimisation - Optimised prompt text when setting wallpaper in home screen editing mode (08-12)
Fix - Home screen reloaded after deep cleaning (08-11)
Fix - A specific icon displayed repeatedly when using some themes (08-21)

Themes
New - Added four default themes (08-14)
Gallery
New - Baby album: Group all baby images in one place, supports sending all images as a package and set the album as daily lock screen. Optimisation - Optimised start page images grouping method (08-19)
Optimisation - Optimised baby albums' UI details (08-19)
Fix - 'No images or videos' icon showed for a moment when entering baby album (08-19)
Fix - The baby's age did not show under baby album cover when he/she is under 1 month old (08-19)
Fix - Sometimes, shared album creator's avatar did not show (08-19)

Music
Optimisation - Optimised playing status bar style in playing page (08-18)
Fix - Audio settings background display error in some devices (08-18)

Settings
Fix - Sound settings page texts were cut off when using XXL text (08-18)

Browser
Optimisation - Improved app cold start speed (08-14)
Optimisation - Background RAM usage decreased by 15% - 30% (08-14)

Notes
New - Added XXL text for apps (08-14)

Others
New - XXL text (08-14)

Clock / Calculator
New - When it's your birthday, the ringtone of morning alarm will change to "Happy Birthday "

Mi Credit
Optimisation - Updated Mi Credits centre home screen shortcut icon (08-20)
Optimisation - Optimised display effect when using XXL text (08-20)

As the name clearly suggests, the MIUI 7 ROM is still in beta, which means the performance is likely to be unstable and it can even lead to data loss. Now that you know the risks of installing beta software, but want to proceed anyways, we suggest you backup your Xiaomi smartphone before proceeding.

As of this moment, MIUI 7 is available for the following Xiaomi smartphones: Xiaomi Mi 4i, Xiaomi Mi 4, Xiaomi Mi 3, Xiaomi Redmi 1S, Xiaomi Redmi 2, Xiaomi Redmi Note, and Xiaomi Redmi Note 4G.

Here's how to download and install MIUI 7 on your Xiaomi smartphone:

1) Identify your smartphone and download the MIUI 7 build corresponding to your smartphone.

MIUI 7 for Xiaomi Mi 4i - Recovery ROM
MIUI 7 for Xiaomi Mi 4 - Recovery ROM
MIUI 7 for Xiaomi Mi 3 - Recovery ROM
MIUI 7 for Xiaomi Redmi 1S - Recovery ROM
MIUI 7 for Xiaomi Redmi 2 - Recovery ROM
MIUI 7 for Xiaomi Redmi Note - Recovery ROM
MIUI 7 for Xiaomi Redmi Note 4G - Recovery ROM

Most users should download the Recovery ROM for their smartphone. Flashing Recovery ROM will not wipe your user data or the files in internal storage and it's simple to use, so unless you are planning to start afresh we suggest you follow this method.

2) Once you've downloaded the Recovery ROM corresponding to your device, rename the downloaded ROM file to update.zip on the computer.

3) Connect your Xiaomi smartphone to your laptop via a Micro-USB cable, and copy the ROM file downloaded into the root directory of the internal storage of your device (do not put it in any other folder).

4) Enter the Recovery mode of your device. There are 2 methods to do it as follows:

Method 1: Launch Updater app on your device, click the ... icon at the top-right corner, and select Reboot to Recovery mode to enter.

Method 2: You can also turn off your device and then hold both Volume+ button and Power button at the same time to enter Recovery mode.

5) Once in Recovery mode, you can use Volume +/- to select up/down, and Power button to confirm.

After entering Recovery mode, choose the language you use, select Install update.zip to System One and confirm, and then your device will begin updating automatically. Wait until the update is completed, choose Reboot to System One, and then your device should boot to the MIUI 7 version.

To flash Recovery ROM, you just need to put the ROM file into your device's root directory, and flash it in Recovery mode by following steps.

Installing a Fastboot ROM is a little bit more complicated, and you can follow the instructions below.

1) Download the MIUI ROM Flashing Tool from the Xiaomi website.

2) Download the Fastboot ROM for your device from the links below.

MIUI 7 for Xiaomi Mi 4i - Fastboot ROM
MIUI 7 for Xiaomi Mi 4 - Fastboot ROM
MIUI 7 for Xiaomi Mi 3 - Fastboot ROM
MIUI 7 for Xiaomi Redmi 1S - Fastboot ROM
MIUI 7 for Xiaomi Redmi 2 - Fastboot ROM
MIUI 7 for Xiaomi Redmi Note 4G - Fastboot ROM

3) Switch off your Xiaomi smartphone. Hit the Volume- key and the power button at the same time to enter Fastboot mode. Now plug in your device to a Windows PC or laptop via the Micro-USB cable.

4) Double-click on the Fastboot ROM file you downloaded to your PC in step 2 to decompress it. Open the folder where this decompressed ROM is saved and copy the folder path.

5) Now decompress the flashing tool you downloaded in step 1. Then double-click on it to install it. After this, open MiFlash.exe and in its address bar, paste the folder path copied in the previous step. Now click the Refresh button and MiFlash will recognise your device.

There are three options you can choose from at the bottom: Flash all will flash all the files, and wipe all userdata and all files in internal storage. Flash all except storage will flash updated files, wipe user data, but will not delete files in internal storage. Flash all except data and storage will only flash the updated files, and will not wipe user data and files in internal storage.

To preserve your user data make sure you select Flash all except data and storage. After this, click Flash button towards top right to flash the ROM to your Xiaomi smartphone.

6) Wait till the progress bar fills up. You will then see a message next to it that reads: "The operation completed successfully". Your device will automatically reboot and have MIUI 7 installed.

How was your experience installing MIUI 7 on your smartphone? Let us know via the comments. For more tutorials, head to our How To section.