This article will guide you on how to install or reinstall Android One default fastboot ROM on Xiaomi Mi A1. Some users may need this tutorial to help them reset their phones into stock factory settings and hence maybe you do. Moreover, this will also be useful if you want to upgrade the current version of ROM into a newer version just in case you could not do it via OTA; for instance, upgrading from Android 7.x Nougat to Android 8.x Oreo. The best part of this method is the fact it is the ultimate solution if your device is bricked. Of course, the “bricked device” here means a soft-brick which is not related to or caused by any hardware damage.
Prerequisites
You will firstly need the following items:
- A Xiaomi Mi A1 device (codename Tissot);
- A compatible USB data cable type C. Make sure it is a USB data cable and not USB charging cable only;
- A Windows-based laptop / PC. We strongly suggest you use Windows 8/8.1/10 with a 64-bit system;
- Your phone should have enough juice. Just make sure it has at least 65% battery power remaining;
- Download the latest version of Mi Flash Tool;
- Download Minimal ADB & Fastboot Driver;
- Download the latest version of Android One fastboot ROM for MiA1 into your computer;
- A spare time of your life which is not more than 30 minutes;
Attention: Please read thoroughly the article before really implementing the steps. Make sure you understand what you are going to do prior to doing it. We hold NO responsibility for any risks of a broken device so please proceed with caution. Do not forget to create a backup of all your important data and files including Contact, Call logs, messages, photos, apps, and so on.
You might also like to read: TWRP v3.1.1 custom recovery for Mi A1.
Also please do not hesitate to click on any image(s) to click its larger version.
Steps to Flash Android One
Step 1 – Extract and install Minimal ADB & Fastboot driver into your computer. It is recommended to firstly disable Windows Driver Signature Enforcement mechanism prior to installing the driver. You can re-enable that Windows feature again once you have installed the driver (and the Mi Flash tool).
Necessary reading: Windows Driver Signature Disabler and Enabler tool.
Step 2 – Enable Developer options and OEM Unlock options in your phone.
Step 3 – Next, you need to first unlock the bootloader of your device. The unlocking mechanism is easy since you need no permission from Xiaomi to do this. You can read our previous guide to explain more about this Step 2 and Step 3. Read:
How to unlock Mi A1 Android One Bootloader.
Step 4 – At this point, we assume you have already unlocked your device bootloader. Now go ahead extract the downloaded Mi Flash tool package and install it on your computer.
Step 5 – Next, decompress or extract the downloaded Android One fastboot ROM package (.tgz) into any drive in your computer. It is better to firstly create a folder named A1 or ROM and so on. Just make sure the folder name has no space in it (bad example: Mi A1 or MI A1 ROM). You can make use of WinZip, WinRAR, 7Zip or any tool compatible to extract .tgz extension.
Step 6 – Turn off your phone completely. Next, press the Volume Down (-) and Power button simultaneously until it reboots into Fastboot mode (which is also known as bootloader mode). You will see the Fastboot logo being displayed.
Step 7 – Now open up the Mi Flash Tool that you have installed previously. Simply double-click on the XiaomiMiFlash.exe icon on the Desktop.
Step 8 – Now connect your phone that is in Fastboot mode to your computer using its USB data cable.
Step 9 – Click the [Select] button of Mi Flash tool and locate the location of the extracted Android One ROM files.
Step 10 – Next, click the [Refresh] button of Mi Flash tool. Make sure your device is recognized and displayed in the tool under the “Device” column.
Step 11 – You will then have to choose one of the available 3 options at the bottom of the tool. It is recommended to choose the “Clean all” which is the safest one.
Useful information about the options:
- Clean all: All data and user configuration will be cleaned, and the lock state of the device is “Unlocked” after flashing.
- Save user data: All data and user configuration will be saved, and the lock state of the device varies with the device model after flashing.
- Clean all and lock: All data and user configuration will be cleaned, and the lock state of the device is “Locked” after flashing.
Step 12 – Finally, click the [Flash] button of the Mi Flash tool to start installing the ROM into your phone.
Step 13 – The tool will start flashing. Just sit tight and wait for the tool to do its job. Once finished, the progress bar will be completely green along with the “Flash done” and “Success” messages being displayed.
That’s all and congratulation. You can now disconnect the phone from your PC and turn it on into normal mode. Please be aware that initial booting time usually takes longer than usual. Just be patience. Do not forget to setup your Google Account during the first use of your Mi A1 after reinstalling.
Finally, have you tried this and successfully flashed Android One ROM on your phone? Do not hesitate to share your experience with us and with many other readers in the comment section below this post.