The Xiaomi Mi 5s (codename capricorn), launched in 2016, was the refined and powerful “S” upgrade to the Mi 5 flagship. It featured a premium full metal unibody and was a pioneer in biometric technology with its under-glass ultrasonic fingerprint scanner. The device was a true performance powerhouse, running on the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor. It was also highly acclaimed for its photography, featuring the excellent 12MP Sony IMX378 camera sensor—the same one found in the original Google Pixel. For owners of this classic flagship, this page provides official fastboot ROMs for China and Global, the popular Xiaomi.eu custom ROM, and the TWRP recovery for advanced modifications.
Important: You must verify your device is a Mi 5s (capricorn). This firmware is not compatible with the standard Mi 5 (gemini) or the larger Mi 5s Plus (natrium). Flashing the wrong firmware will hard brick your phone.
Quick Device Specs
- Device: Xiaomi Mi 5s (capricorn)
- Release year: 2016
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821
- Display: 5.15″ IPS LCD
- Battery: 3200 mAh, 18W fast charging
- Original MIUI: Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), MIUI 8
- Key Features: Metal Unibody, Under-Glass Ultrasonic Fingerprint Scanner, Sony IMX378 Camera
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 | V11.0.2.0.OAGCNXM | 8.0 | Official Fastboot ROM | Download | capricorn |
| Global | V10.2.3.0.OAGMIXM | 8.0 | Official Fastboot ROM | Download | capricorn |
| Xiaomi.eu (Custom) | V11.0.2.0.OAGCNXM (Based) | 8.0 | Custom Recovery ROM | Download | capricorn |
| TWRP (Custom Recovery) | 3.2.3 | — | Custom Recovery | Download | capricorn |
How to Flash Official ROM (Mi Flash Tool)
This is a quick checklist for this device. For a complete tutorial on installing drivers, unlocking the bootloader, and troubleshooting, please read our master guide:
Read Our Ultimate Guide to Mi Flash Tool
Use this method to unbrick your phone or restore official MIUI firmware.
- Boot into Fastboot mode (Power + Volume Down).
- Extract the official 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 Custom ROMs
Use this method to install the Xiaomi.eu custom ROM or other community-developed ROMs.
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 that allows you to install custom software (.zip files), create full backups of your system (a “Nandroid”), and perform other advanced maintenance. The official ROMs on this page do not require TWRP.
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-3.2.3…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 Custom ROM:
- In TWRP, it is recommended to first go to “Wipe” and perform a Factory Reset.
- Transfer the Xiaomi.eu .zip ROM file to your phone’s storage.
- In TWRP, tap “Install,” select the .zip file, and swipe to confirm the flash.
Device-Specific Troubleshooting for Mi 5s (capricorn)
The Mi 5s has some unique hardware that requires special attention.
- Ultrasonic Fingerprint Scanner Issues: The under-glass fingerprint scanner on the Mi 5s was new technology. For best results on stock MIUI, ensure the screen area and your finger are clean and dry. If you flash a custom ROM and the scanner stops working, it is a very common issue caused by missing firmware blobs. You must flash the latest official MIUI fastboot ROM first to update all vendor partitions before installing a custom ROM to ensure it works.
- Hard Brick Recovery (EDL Mode): If your Mi 5s becomes completely unresponsive (hard bricked), the only way to recover it is via EDL Mode (Qualcomm 9008). This requires opening the phone and shorting two specific test points on the motherboard while connecting it to a PC, which forces Mi Flash Tool to detect it.
- Model Confusion Brick: Ensure your device is the Mi 5s (capricorn). Flashing firmware for the Mi 5 (gemini) or the larger, dual-camera Mi 5s Plus (natrium) will cause a hard brick due to significant hardware differences.
- Using an Older Mi Flash Tool: For a classic flagship like the Mi 5s, the latest Mi Flash Tool can sometimes have compatibility issues. If you encounter random errors during flashing, try using a stable older version of the tool (like MiFlash20160830).
FAQs
Q1. What’s the difference between the Mi 5s (capricorn) and the standard Mi 5 (gemini)? The Mi 5s was a major upgrade. It featured a more durable full-metal body (vs. glass), a more powerful Snapdragon 821 processor (vs. 820), a superior Sony IMX378 camera, and the new under-glass ultrasonic fingerprint scanner.
Q2. What was the final official update for the Mi 5s? The Mi 5s launched with Android 6.0 Marshmallow and received its final major OS upgrade to Android 8.0 Oreo. The MIUI 11 build provided here is the last official software update for this model.
