The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 (codename nitrogen) holds a special place in the hearts of smartphone enthusiasts. Released in 2018, it was the last and arguably the greatest in Xiaomi's legendary line of "phablets." With its colossal 6.9-inch screen and a monstrous 5500 mAh battery, it was the undisputed king of media consumption and battery endurance, a niche that has been left vacant ever since.
For the dedicated fans keeping this giant-screen dream alive in 2025, the end of its software support brought a familiar challenge. The Chinese variant of the Mi Max 3 received a final, polished MIUI 12.5 update, while global users were left on the earlier, less stable MIUI 12.0 build. This guide is a tribute to the phablet king, providing the tools to not only restore your Mi Max 3 but to upgrade it to the superior MIUI 12.5 experience it deserves via the trusted Xiaomi.eu custom ROM.
This is the ultimate resource for the Mi Max 3 fanbase:
Why You Might Need to Flash Your Mi Max 3
For a beloved legacy device, flashing is about optimization and preservation.
Quick Device Overview (Codename: nitrogen)
Required Tools & Downloads
Download the firmware for your goal—either the official MIUI 12.0 build for your region or the MIUI 12.5-based Xiaomi.eu ROM for a significant upgrade.
Flashing Methods
Method 1: Flashing Official MIUI 12.0 Stock ROM (Fastboot Mode)
Use this method to perform a clean installation of the final official firmware for your Global or Russian device.
➡ Your phone will reboot into a fresh, official MIUI 12.0 system.
Method 2: Upgrading to MIUI 12.5 via Xiaomi.eu ROM (Recommended)
This is the best way to get a modern, stable, and feature-rich experience on your Mi Max 3.
➡ Your Mi Max 3 will now boot into a clean, debloated, and fully optimized MIUI 12.5 system.
FAQs
Q1: Why was the Mi Max series discontinued?
Xiaomi shifted its product strategy to focus on its main Mi and Redmi lines. While the Max series had a very dedicated fanbase who loved large screens and batteries, it was considered a niche product. The role was partially filled by the ever-growing screens of the Redmi Note series.
Q2: Will I get Android 11 on my Mi Max 3?
No. Official support from Xiaomi, and by extension Xiaomi.eu, ended with Android 10. To get newer Android versions, you would need to search for unofficial, third-party custom ROMs (like LineageOS) on community forums like XDA-Developers.
Q3: Is the Xiaomi.eu MIUI 12.5 ROM really better than the official Global MIUI 12.0?
Yes, significantly. It is based on a much later and more stable version of MIUI that fixed many of the early bugs and performance issues. For a media-focused device like the Mi Max 3, having a smoother UI makes a huge difference.
Q4: Is it safe to flash the provided TWRP image?
The link is from AndroidFileHost, a trusted source for developer files. The filename specifies it is for the Mi Max 3 (XIAOMI_MAX3), which is a positive sign. However, as with any non-official software, you should always proceed with caution and understand the risks.
Troubleshooting & Common Errors
For the dedicated fans keeping this giant-screen dream alive in 2025, the end of its software support brought a familiar challenge. The Chinese variant of the Mi Max 3 received a final, polished MIUI 12.5 update, while global users were left on the earlier, less stable MIUI 12.0 build. This guide is a tribute to the phablet king, providing the tools to not only restore your Mi Max 3 but to upgrade it to the superior MIUI 12.5 experience it deserves via the trusted Xiaomi.eu custom ROM.
This is the ultimate resource for the Mi Max 3 fanbase:
- ✔ A clear path to upgrade your global device to the superior MIUI 12.5 build
- ✔ Download links for all final official Fastboot ROMs (Global, China, Russia)
- ✔ The community-trusted Xiaomi.eu ROM for the best possible experience
- ✔ A direct link to a working TWRP custom recovery for flashing
- ✔ Step-by-step guides to keep the last of the phablets running smoothly
Why You Might Need to Flash Your Mi Max 3
For a beloved legacy device, flashing is about optimization and preservation.
- Upgrade to the Superior MIUI 12.5 → The best reason to flash today. The Xiaomi.eu ROM brings the bug fixes and performance optimizations of MIUI 12.5 to global devices, making the massive 6.9-inch UI much smoother.
- Fix Annoying MIUI 12.0 Bugs → Resolve the notification, control center, and floating window glitches that were common on the initial MIUI 12.0 release and were especially noticeable on the large screen.
- Maximize Performance & Battery Life → A clean installation of a more optimized ROM ensures the Snapdragon 636 processor runs as efficiently as possible, restoring the legendary battery endurance of the Mi Max 3.
- Unbrick or Fix a Bootloop → The essential recovery guide for when your device is stuck on the Mi logo and refuses to boot.
- Return to Official Stock Firmware → For purists who wish to restore their device to the final official software version for their region.
Quick Device Overview (Codename: nitrogen)
- Model: Xiaomi Mi Max 3
- Release Year: 2018
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 636
- Display: 6.9” FHD+ IPS LCD
- Battery: 5500 mAh
- OS at Launch: MIUI 9 on Android 8.1 Oreo
- Final Official OS: MIUI 12.0 (Global) / MIUI 12.5 (China) on Android 10
- Codename: nitrogen
Software Notice: As the last of its kind, the Mi Max 3's support ended differently across regions. The Chinese market received a final, refined MIUI 12.5 update. This guide shows global users how to install a custom ROM based on that superior version to get the best and final software experience.
Required Tools & Downloads
Download the firmware for your goal—either the official MIUI 12.0 build for your region or the MIUI 12.5-based Xiaomi.eu ROM for a significant upgrade.
| Tool / File | Purpose / OS Version | Download Link |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Flash Tool | For flashing official Fastboot ROMs. | Download Latest Version |
| Xiaomi USB Drivers | Ensures PC-to-phone communication. | Driver Pack |
| Mi Unlock Tool | Required to unlock the bootloader. | Official Unlock Page |
| Custom Recovery (TWRP) | Required to flash the Xiaomi.eu ROM. | TWRP 3.3.1 for Nitrogen |
| Fastboot ROM (China) | Official MIUI 12.5 (Android 10) | V12.5.1.0.QEDCNXM |
| Fastboot ROM (Global) | Official MIUI 12.0 (Android 10) | V12.0.1.0.QEDMIXM |
| Fastboot ROM (Russia) | Official MIUI 12.0 (Android 10) | V12.0.1.0.QEDRUXM |
| Xiaomi.eu ROM (Custom) | MIUI 12.5 Upgrade Path (Android 10) | V12.5.1.0.QEDCNXM |
Flashing Methods
Method 1: Flashing Official MIUI 12.0 Stock ROM (Fastboot Mode)
Use this method to perform a clean installation of the final official firmware for your Global or Russian device.
- Unlock Bootloader: Your Mi Max 3's bootloader must be unlocked using the Mi Unlock Tool. This will erase all your data.
- Boot into Fastboot Mode: Power off your phone. Then, press and hold Power + Volume Down until the Fastboot logo appears.
- Extract Firmware: On your PC, extract the downloaded .tgz Fastboot ROM twice until you have a folder with an images directory.
- Launch Mi Flash Tool: Open the tool as an administrator. Click "select" and choose the extracted firmware folder.
- Connect Device: Connect your phone to the PC. Click "refresh" in Mi Flash Tool to see your device's ID appear.
- Select "clean all": At the bottom of the tool, ensure the "clean all" option is selected for a bug-free installation.
- Flash: Click the "flash" button and wait for the process to complete with a "success" message.
➡ Your phone will reboot into a fresh, official MIUI 12.0 system.
Method 2: Upgrading to MIUI 12.5 via Xiaomi.eu ROM (Recommended)
This is the best way to get a modern, stable, and feature-rich experience on your Mi Max 3.
- Unlock Bootloader: Ensure your bootloader is unlocked.
- Flash TWRP: Boot your phone into Fastboot mode. Flash the downloaded TWRP image file with the command:
fastboot flash recovery recovery-TWRP-3.3.1-1208-XIAOMI_MAX3-CN-wzsx150.img - Boot into TWRP: Hold Power + Volume Up to boot into the newly installed TWRP recovery.
- Wipe Data: This is a mandatory step. In TWRP, go to Wipe → Format Data and type "yes" to confirm.
- Transfer ROM File: Connect your phone to the PC and copy the downloaded Xiaomi.eu .zip file to its internal storage.
- Install the ROM: In TWRP, tap Install, select the ROM .zip file, and swipe the slider to begin flashing.
- Reboot: Once finished, tap "Reboot System."
➡ Your Mi Max 3 will now boot into a clean, debloated, and fully optimized MIUI 12.5 system.
FAQs
Q1: Why was the Mi Max series discontinued?
Xiaomi shifted its product strategy to focus on its main Mi and Redmi lines. While the Max series had a very dedicated fanbase who loved large screens and batteries, it was considered a niche product. The role was partially filled by the ever-growing screens of the Redmi Note series.
Q2: Will I get Android 11 on my Mi Max 3?
No. Official support from Xiaomi, and by extension Xiaomi.eu, ended with Android 10. To get newer Android versions, you would need to search for unofficial, third-party custom ROMs (like LineageOS) on community forums like XDA-Developers.
Q3: Is the Xiaomi.eu MIUI 12.5 ROM really better than the official Global MIUI 12.0?
Yes, significantly. It is based on a much later and more stable version of MIUI that fixed many of the early bugs and performance issues. For a media-focused device like the Mi Max 3, having a smoother UI makes a huge difference.
Q4: Is it safe to flash the provided TWRP image?
The link is from AndroidFileHost, a trusted source for developer files. The filename specifies it is for the Mi Max 3 (XIAOMI_MAX3), which is a positive sign. However, as with any non-official software, you should always proceed with caution and understand the risks.
Troubleshooting & Common Errors
- Bootloop after flashing Xiaomi.eu: You must use the "Format Data" option in TWRP before flashing. A simple "Wipe" of caches is not enough when moving from official stock MIUI to the Xiaomi.eu ROM.
- TWRP asks for a password or shows encrypted data: This happens if you didn't format data. Boot back into TWRP, go to Wipe -> Format Data, type "yes", and then transfer the ROM file again.
- Mi Flash Tool "can't find file" error: This error means you haven't extracted the .tgz Fastboot ROM correctly. Ensure you extract the file twice, until you have a folder that contains the images sub-folder.
- "The system has been destroyed": This is a generic Xiaomi error for a failed boot. It's not permanent. Simply force the phone back into Fastboot mode (Power + Vol Down) and flash the stock firmware again.