The Xiaomi Mi 5X (codename tiffany), launched in 2017, is a historically significant device, primarily known as the MIUI-powered twin of the world-famous Mi A1 Android One phone. The Mi 5X was released for the Chinese market and featured Xiaomi’s rich MIUI software experience. It was praised for bringing a dual-camera system with portrait mode to an affordable price point, all housed in a sleek full-metal body. Powered by the incredibly efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset, it was a reliable mid-range performer. This page provides the official China Fastboot ROM for restoring the device, along with the community-driven Xiaomi.eu ROM and the TWRP custom recovery needed to install it for a global-friendly experience.
Important: The Mi 5X (tiffany) runs MIUI. Its global, stock-Android counterpart is the Mi A1 (tissot). While their hardware is nearly identical, their software partitions are different. Flashing the wrong type of firmware without the correct procedure will brick your device.
Quick Device Specs
- Device: Xiaomi Mi 5X (tiffany)
- Release year: 2017
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625
- Display: 5.5″ LTPS IPS LCD
- Battery: 3080 mAh
- Original MIUI: Android 7.1.2 (Nougat), MIUI 9
Required Downloads
| File / Tool | Download Link |
|---|---|
| Xiaomi Mi Flash Tool | Download Latest Version |
| Xiaomi USB Drivers | Included with Mi Flash Tool |
| Bootloader Unlock Tool | Official Mi Unlock Page |
Official & Custom ROMs / Recovery
| Region | Build | Android | Type | Download | Codename |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | V11.0.3.0.ODBCNXM | 8.1 | Official Fastboot ROM | Download | tiffany |
| Xiaomi.eu (Custom) | V11.0.3.0.ODBCNXM (Based) | 8.1 | Custom Recovery ROM | Download | tiffany |
| TWRP (Custom Recovery) | 3.3.0 | — | Custom Recovery | Download | tiffany |
How to Flash Official ROM (Mi Flash Tool)
Use this method to restore your phone to the official China MIUI firmware.
- Boot into Fastboot mode (Power + Volume Down).
- Extract the official China firmware (.tgz file) and select the main folder containing the
/imagesdirectory in Mi Flash Tool. - Select clean all for a safe installation (you can use clean all and lock to return to a fully stock, locked state).
How to Install TWRP & Flash Xiaomi.eu ROM
Use this method to get a multilingual experience with Google Apps on your Mi 5X.
What is TWRP? TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) is a powerful custom recovery that replaces your phone’s limited stock recovery. It is the essential tool needed to install, or “flash,” custom software like the Xiaomi.eu ROM (.zip file). It also allows you to make full system backups, root your device, and perform other advanced tasks.
Disclaimer: This is an advanced process. Proceed at your own risk.
- Unlock the Bootloader: This is a mandatory first step. Use the official Mi Unlock Tool.
- Flash TWRP:
- Boot your phone into Fastboot mode (Power + Volume Down) and connect it to your PC.
- Using ADB & Fastboot tools on your PC, flash the downloaded recovery-TWRP-3.3.0…img file with the command:
fastboot flash recovery recovery-filename.img
- Boot into TWRP: After flashing, immediately boot into recovery by holding Power + Volume Up.
- Install Xiaomi.eu ROM:
- In TWRP, it’s recommended to first go to “Wipe” and select “Format Data” to prevent encryption issues.
- Transfer the Xiaomi.eu .zip ROM file to your phone.
- In TWRP, tap “Install,” select the .zip file, and swipe to confirm the flash.
- Reboot your system once complete.
FAQs
Q1. What is the difference between the Mi 5X (tiffany) and the Mi A1 (tissot)?
They are hardware twins. The Mi 5X (tiffany) was released in China and runs Xiaomi’s MIUI skin. The Mi A1 (tissot) was the global version and runs pure, stock Android as part of the Android One program.
Q2. Can I flash the Mi A1’s stock Android ROM on my Mi 5X?
Yes, it is physically possible through a process known as cross-flashing. However, it is an advanced and highly risky procedure that can easily brick your device if not done perfectly. The safer and recommended option for a global-friendly experience on the Mi 5X is to install the Xiaomi.eu ROM.
Q3. Why did the Mi 5X stop receiving updates at Android 8.1 Oreo?
The Mi 5X was released with Android 7.1 Nougat and received one major OS upgrade to Android 8.1 Oreo. This was a standard software support cycle for a mid-range device from that time.
Q4. What is a “Recovery” ROM?
A Recovery ROM is a .zip file (like the Xiaomi.eu ROM) that is designed to be installed from a custom recovery environment like TWRP. It cannot be flashed using the Mi Flash Tool, which is for .tgz fastboot packages.
Troubleshooting
- Drivers: If your PC does not recognize the phone in fastboot mode, reinstall the Xiaomi USB drivers, run Mi Flash Tool as Administrator, or try a different USB port (USB 2.0 is often more stable).
- Fastboot errors:
- “error: not catch checkpoint” → This common error means you have selected the wrong folder. In Mi Flash Tool, be sure to select the parent folder that was created when you extracted the .tgz file, not the images folder inside it.
- “Anti rollback error” → You are attempting to flash an older firmware version than what is currently on the device. Xiaomi’s Anti-Rollback Protection (ARB) prevents this.
- TWRP Issues:
- TWRP asks for a password → This means your phone’s storage is encrypted. The standard fix is to go to the “Wipe” menu in TWRP and choose “Format Data”. This will erase everything on your internal storage, so back up first.
- Stuck on boot after flashing → If the phone doesn’t boot up after flashing a custom ROM, reboot to TWRP, perform a full wipe (Cache, Dalvik, System, Data), and then re-flash the ROM .zip file.
