The Xiaomi Redmi 6A (codename cactus), released in 2018, was a hugely popular ultra-budget smartphone designed to be the most accessible entry point into the Xiaomi ecosystem for millions. It was one of the first devices to feature the efficient MediaTek Helio A22 chipset, built on a 12nm process that brought improved performance and battery life to the entry-level segment. With its modern 18:9 aspect ratio display and AI-powered features like face unlock, it offered great value for its price. This page provides the official ROMs for China, Global, and Russia, along with the necessary tools and guides for both restoring official software and installing custom ROMs.
Important: The Redmi 6A is a MediaTek device. You must use SP Flash Tool to flash official firmware. The standard Mi Flash Tool for Qualcomm phones will not work. This firmware is not compatible with the dual-camera Redmi 6 (cereus).
Quick Device Specs
- Device: Xiaomi Redmi 6A (cactus)
- Release year: 2018
- Chipset: MediaTek Helio A22
- Display: 5.45″ IPS LCD
- Battery: 3000 mAh
- Original MIUI: Android 8.1 (Oreo), MIUI 9
Required Downloads
| File / Tool | Download Link |
|---|---|
| SP Flash Tool (for Official ROMs) | Download Latest Version |
| MediaTek VCOM USB Drivers | Download Drivers |
| Bootloader Unlock Tool | Official Mi Unlock Page |
Official & Custom ROMs
| Region | Build | Android | Release Date | Download | Codename |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | V12.0.2.0.PCBCNXM | 9.0 | 2021-06-18 | Download | cactus |
| Global | V11.0.9.0.PCBMIXM | 9.0 | 2020-09-16 | Download | cactus |
| Russia | V11.0.4.0.PCBRUXM | 9.0 | 2020-06-22 | Download | cactus |
| Xiaomi.eu (Custom) | V10.0.1.0.OCBCNFH (Based) | 8.1 | — | Download | cactus |
| TWRP (Custom Recovery) | 3.5.0_9-0 | — | — | Download | cactus |
How to Flash Official ROM (SP Flash Tool)
Use this method to unbrick your phone or restore official MIUI firmware.
- Install the MediaTek VCOM drivers on your PC. You may need to disable Driver Signature Enforcement in Windows.
- Extract the official firmware .tgz file and the SP Flash Tool .zip file into separate folders.
- Run
flash_tool.exefrom the SP Flash Tool folder. - Click the “Scatter-loading File” button and select the
MTXXXX_Android_scatter.txtfile from the extracted firmware folder. - Ensure the dropdown menu is set to Download Only.
- Power off your phone completely.
- Click the green Download button in SP Flash Tool, then connect your powered-off phone to the PC with a USB cable. The flashing process will start automatically.
How to Install TWRP & Flash Custom ROMs
Use this method if you want 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’s 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).
- Connect it to your PC.
- Using ADB & Fastboot tools on your PC, flash the downloaded twrp-3.5.0_9-0-cactus.img file with the command:
fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.5.0_9-0-cactus.img
- Boot into TWRP: After flashing, immediately boot into recovery by holding Power + Volume Up.
- Install Custom 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. Why must I use SP Flash Tool for the Redmi 6A?
The Redmi 6A is powered by a MediaTek Helio A22 chipset. SP Flash Tool is the specific software required for flashing MediaTek-based devices. Mi Flash Tool, which is for phones with Qualcomm Snapdragon chips, will not work.
Q2. Can I flash a Redmi 6 (cereus) ROM on my Redmi 6A?
No, absolutely not. The Redmi 6 uses a more powerful Helio P22 chipset and has different hardware like a dual camera and fingerprint scanner. Their firmwares are not compatible, and cross-flashing will brick your device.
Q3. The Xiaomi.eu link is for Android 8.1. Is it safe to flash on my phone with Android 9?
Downgrading the Android version is extremely risky and not recommended. The provided Xiaomi.eu link is for a very old MIUI 10 build. If your device is already on an official Android 9 ROM, flashing this old custom ROM could easily cause a hard brick.
Troubleshooting
- SP Flash Tool Errors:
- BROM ERROR → This can be caused by using the wrong ROM, a bad USB connection, or incorrect drivers. Ensure you have the correct cactus firmware and that VCOM drivers are properly installed.
- Tool doesn’t react after clicking “Download” → Make sure the phone is completely powered off. If it still doesn’t work, try holding Volume Down while connecting the USB cable to force detection.
- TWRP Issues:
- TWRP asks for a password → This means your data partition is encrypted. You will need to select “Format Data” within TWRP’s Wipe menu, which will erase all your internal storage.
- Stuck on boot after flashing custom ROM → Make sure you wiped the necessary partitions (Cache, Dalvik, System, Data) before installing the new ROM as recommended by the ROM’s developer.
