Let's take a step back in time to 2015, a pivotal year for Xiaomi. This was the year the company launched the original Xiaomi Mi Note (codename virgo), its first major attempt to challenge the premium, large-screen flagships of the era. With its beautiful curved glass design, powerful Snapdragon 801 processor, and high-quality display, the Mi Note was a statement piece that paved the way for the brand's future success.
In 2025, the Mi Note is a true vintage classic, a piece of smartphone history. Its official software journey concluded long ago with MIUI 9.5, based on the ancient Android 6.0 Marshmallow. This guide is not for finding a new daily driver; it is a restoration manual for the hobbyists, collectors, and enthusiasts who want to revive this iconic device for nostalgic purposes or simple offline tasks.
This is your complete restoration guide for the original Mi Note:
Why You Might Need to Flash Your Mi Note
For a vintage device, flashing is about preservation and restoration, not performance.
Quick Device Overview (Codename: virgo)
Required Tools & Downloads
Download the final official firmware and the necessary tools to begin your restoration project.
Flashing Method: Restoring with Mi Flash Tool (Fastboot Mode)
This is the definitive method for bringing a vintage Mi Note back to its final, official software state.
➡ Your Mi Note will reboot into a perfectly clean, official MIUI 9.5 system, just as it was in 2018.
FAQs
Q1: Can I install any modern apps on this phone?
Almost none. The Google Play Store will show that nearly all modern apps are "not compatible with your device" because they require a much newer version of Android than 6.0 Marshmallow.
Q2: Can I get newer Android versions on the Mi Note?
Not officially. The Mi Note (virgo) had a strong developer community in its prime. You may be able to find very old, unofficial custom ROMs for Android 7 (Nougat) on forums like XDA, but these are also ancient and will likely have bugs.
Q3: Why would I flash this phone in 2025?
For the love of technology and history! It's a fun project for collectors and enthusiasts. A revived Mi Note makes a great offline MP3 player (it has a headphone jack!), a stylish bedside clock, or simply a beautiful object to have on a shelf.
Q4: Which ROM should I use? The Global or China one?
For any user outside of mainland China, the Global V9.5.1.0 ROM is the best choice. It is the newest official build and includes multiple languages and the basic Google framework.
Troubleshooting & Common Errors
In 2025, the Mi Note is a true vintage classic, a piece of smartphone history. Its official software journey concluded long ago with MIUI 9.5, based on the ancient Android 6.0 Marshmallow. This guide is not for finding a new daily driver; it is a restoration manual for the hobbyists, collectors, and enthusiasts who want to revive this iconic device for nostalgic purposes or simple offline tasks.
This is your complete restoration guide for the original Mi Note:
- ✔ A nostalgic look at one of Xiaomi's most important historical flagships
- ✔ Download links for the final official MIUI 9.5 firmware to restore your device
- ✔ All the necessary tools and drivers to communicate with this vintage hardware
- ✔ A step-by-step guide to unbrick your Mi Note and bring it back to life
- ✔ Critical security warnings about using such an old device today
Why You Might Need to Flash Your Mi Note
For a vintage device, flashing is about preservation and restoration, not performance.
- Restore a Piece of Smartphone History → The primary goal is to revive a classic phone for a collection, for nostalgic reasons, or to appreciate how far technology has come.
- Unbrick a Non-Booting Device → If you've found an old Mi Note in a drawer that's stuck on the Mi logo or won't turn on, a clean flash is the only way to attempt a software-level repair.
- Perform a "Factory Fresh" Restoration → This guide allows you to completely wipe all old personal data and restore the phone to the exact software it was running at the end of its official support life.
- Repurpose for Offline Tasks → A freshly flashed Mi Note is perfect for simple, offline-only tasks like being a dedicated MP3 player, a bedside alarm clock, or a digital photo frame.
Quick Device Overview (Codename: virgo)
- Model: Xiaomi Mi Note
- Release Year: 2015
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 801
- Display: 5.7” FHD IPS LCD
- Key Feature: Premium 3D curved glass design, Xiaomi's first flagship phablet
- OS at Launch: MIUI 6 on Android 4.4.4 KitKat
- Final Official OS: MIUI 9.5 on Android 6.0 Marshmallow (End of Life)
- Codename: virgo
SECURITY WARNING: The Mi Note has not received security updates since ~2018. Its software (Android 6.0) is over a decade old and contains numerous critical, unpatched security vulnerabilities. DO NOT use this phone for any online activity. Do not log into personal accounts, banking apps, or handle any sensitive data on this device.
Required Tools & Downloads
Download the final official firmware and the necessary tools to begin your restoration project.
| Tool / File | Purpose / OS Version | Download Link |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Flash Tool | The official tool for flashing Fastboot ROMs. | Download Latest Version |
| Xiaomi USB Drivers | Ensures your PC can communicate with your phone. | Driver Pack |
| Mi Unlock Tool | Required to unlock the bootloader. | Official Unlock Page |
| Fastboot ROM (China) | Official MIUI 9.2 (Android 6.0) | V9.2.3.0.MXECNEK |
| Fastboot ROM (Global) | Official MIUI 9.5 (Android 6.0) | V9.5.1.0.MXEMIFA |
| Xiaomi.eu ROM (Custom) | Vintage MIUI 8.5 (Android 6.0) build | V8.5.1.0.MXECNED |
Flashing Method: Restoring with Mi Flash Tool (Fastboot Mode)
This is the definitive method for bringing a vintage Mi Note back to its final, official software state.
- Unlock Bootloader: Your phone's bootloader must be unlocked. Use the official Mi Unlock Tool. You may need an older version of the tool for a device this old.
- Boot into Fastboot Mode: Power off your Mi Note. 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 & Flash: Connect your phone to the PC. On modern PCs, use a USB 2.0 port if possible. Click "refresh" in Mi Flash Tool, and ensure "clean all" is selected at the bottom.
- Start Flashing: Click the "flash" button and wait for the process to complete. It will show a "success" message when done.
➡ Your Mi Note will reboot into a perfectly clean, official MIUI 9.5 system, just as it was in 2018.
FAQs
Q1: Can I install any modern apps on this phone?
Almost none. The Google Play Store will show that nearly all modern apps are "not compatible with your device" because they require a much newer version of Android than 6.0 Marshmallow.
Q2: Can I get newer Android versions on the Mi Note?
Not officially. The Mi Note (virgo) had a strong developer community in its prime. You may be able to find very old, unofficial custom ROMs for Android 7 (Nougat) on forums like XDA, but these are also ancient and will likely have bugs.
Q3: Why would I flash this phone in 2025?
For the love of technology and history! It's a fun project for collectors and enthusiasts. A revived Mi Note makes a great offline MP3 player (it has a headphone jack!), a stylish bedside clock, or simply a beautiful object to have on a shelf.
Q4: Which ROM should I use? The Global or China one?
For any user outside of mainland China, the Global V9.5.1.0 ROM is the best choice. It is the newest official build and includes multiple languages and the basic Google framework.
Troubleshooting & Common Errors
- Mi Flash Tool shows a "sahara" or "xbl error": This is a very common error on these old Snapdragon 800-series devices. It can indicate a bad USB connection, but after more than a decade, it often points to a hardware failure of the eMMC (internal storage) chip, which is not repairable.
- Device not detected by PC: This is a frequent driver issue, especially on modern operating systems like Windows 11. You may need to manually install the drivers or disable Windows Driver Signature Enforcement to get your PC to recognize such an old device.
- Bootloop after flashing: Ensure you used the "clean all" option. On vintage hardware, a full wipe is the only way to ensure a stable system. Force the phone back into Fastboot mode and flash again.
- Mi Unlock Tool fails: The process for unlocking these older devices can be difficult. It may require an older version of the Mi Unlock Tool and binding an active Mi Account to the device, which can be challenging if you can't boot into the system.