The Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus, famously known as the Redmi Note 5 in India (codename vince), is a true legend from late 2017. It perfected a winning formula that made it an instant classic: a modern 18:9 display, the incredibly power-efficient Snapdragon 625 processor, and a massive 4000 mAh battery. This combination created an "Endurance King" that won a massive, loyal fanbase.
In 2025, this beloved device has long since reached its End of Life, with its final official update being MIUI 11 based on Android 8.1 Oreo. For the huge community of enthusiasts still using this durable workhorse, a clean firmware flash is the best way to restore its legendary battery life, improve its day-to-day performance, and create the perfect stable base for its vast and mature custom ROM scene.
This is your complete guide to maintaining and upgrading the legendary vince:
Why You Might Need to Flash Your Redmi 5 Plus / Note 5
For this classic device, flashing is about restoration and unlocking its true potential.
Quick Device Overview (Codename: vince)
Required Tools & Downloads
Download the final official firmware for your region or the optimized Xiaomi.eu ROM.
Flashing Methods
Method 1: Flashing Official MIUI 11 Stock ROM (Fastboot Mode)
This is the foundational method for all users. It's the best way to unbrick or restore your phone to its original factory condition.
➡ Your phone will reboot into a perfectly clean, official MIUI 11 system.
Method 2: Installing the Optimized Xiaomi.eu ROM (Custom Recovery)
This is the recommended path for the best possible MIUI experience on the Redmi 5 Plus.
➡ Your phone will now run a lighter, ad-free version of MIUI, which can improve performance and battery life.
FAQs
Q1: Can I get Android 9, 10, or newer on my Redmi 5 Plus?
Not officially. However, the Redmi 5 Plus (vince) is a legend in the custom ROM community with incredible developer support. You can find many stable, unofficial builds of almost every version of Android, from Pie to well beyond Android 10, on forums like XDA-Developers.
Q2: Is the Indian Redmi Note 5 the same as the Global Redmi Note 5 Pro?
No, and this is a critical point of confusion. The Indian Redmi Note 5 is just a rebranded Redmi 5 Plus (vince). The Redmi Note 5 Pro (whyred) is a completely different, more powerful phone with a Snapdragon 636 and dual cameras. Their firmware is not interchangeable.
Q3: My battery life has become poor. Will this really help?
Yes, it has an excellent chance of helping. A clean flash is the best way to eliminate years of software clutter and rogue background processes that drain the battery, often restoring the phone's famous multi-day endurance.
Q4: Is it safe to flash the old Russian MIUI 9 ROM?
While you can, it is not recommended. It is a very old build with outdated security patches. The final MIUI 11 ROMs are much more secure and stable. The MIUI 9 link is provided for historical or specific downgrade purposes only.
Troubleshooting & Common Errors
In 2025, this beloved device has long since reached its End of Life, with its final official update being MIUI 11 based on Android 8.1 Oreo. For the huge community of enthusiasts still using this durable workhorse, a clean firmware flash is the best way to restore its legendary battery life, improve its day-to-day performance, and create the perfect stable base for its vast and mature custom ROM scene.
This is your complete guide to maintaining and upgrading the legendary vince:
- ✔ A critical clarification of the Redmi 5 Plus vs. Redmi Note 5 (India) vs. Redmi Note 5 Pro naming
- ✔ Download links for the final official MIUI 11 firmware to restore your device
- ✔ The optimized, ad-free Xiaomi.eu ROM for the best possible MIUI experience
- ✔ Instructions on how to unbrick your phone and prepare it for custom ROMs
- ✔ A tribute to one of the most popular and moddable phones of all time
Why You Might Need to Flash Your Redmi 5 Plus / Note 5
For this classic device, flashing is about restoration and unlocking its true potential.
- Restore Legendary Battery Life → If your phone's famous battery endurance has faded, a clean flash is the best way to eliminate rogue processes and software clutter that cause abnormal drain.
- Improve Day-to-Day Performance → A clean installation of MIUI 11 will make the Snapdragon 625 feel as snappy and responsive as possible, removing years of accumulated software lag.
- Unbrick After a Bad Flash → With one of the most active custom ROM scenes ever, vince is often experimented on. This guide is the ultimate "undo button" to return to a working state.
- Create a Clean Base for Custom ROMs → Flashing the latest stock firmware is the recommended first step before installing newer, unofficial versions of Android, as it ensures all your low-level files are up to date.
- Install a Lighter, Ad-Free MIUI (Xiaomi.eu) → The best choice for squeezing every last drop of performance out of the stock MIUI experience.
Quick Device Overview (Codename: vince)
- Model: Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus / Redmi Note 5 (India)
- Release Year: 2017
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625
- Display: 5.99” FHD+ IPS LCD (18:9 aspect ratio)
- Battery: 4000 mAh
- OS at Launch: MIUI 9 on Android 7.1.2 Nougat
- Final Official OS: MIUI 11 on Android 8.1 Oreo (End of Life)
- Codename: vince
IMPORTANT: This guide is for the Redmi 5 Plus (codename vince). In India, this same device was sold as the Redmi Note 5. This is NOT the Redmi Note 5 Pro (codename whyred), which is a different, more powerful phone with dual cameras. Flashing the wrong firmware will brick your device.
Required Tools & Downloads
Download the final official firmware for your region or the optimized Xiaomi.eu ROM.
| Tool / File | Purpose / OS Version | Download Link |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Flash Tool | For flashing official 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 |
| Custom Recovery (TWRP) | Required to flash the Xiaomi.eu ROM. | Official TWRP for Vince |
| Fastboot ROM (China) | Official MIUI 11 (Android 8.1) | V11.0.3.0.OEGCNXM |
| Fastboot ROM (Global) | Official MIUI 11 (Android 8.1) | V11.0.2.0.OEGMIXM |
| Fastboot ROM (Russia) | Older Official MIUI 9 (Android 7.1) | V9.6.3.0.NEGRUFD |
| Xiaomi.eu ROM (Custom) | Optimized MIUI 11 (Android 8.1) | V11.0.3.0.OEGCNXM |
Flashing Methods
Method 1: Flashing Official MIUI 11 Stock ROM (Fastboot Mode)
This is the foundational method for all users. It's the best way to unbrick or restore your phone to its original factory condition.
- Unlock Bootloader: Your device's bootloader must be unlocked. Use the official Mi Unlock Tool. This will erase your data.
- Boot into Fastboot Mode: Power off your phone. 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, click "refresh", ensure "clean all" is selected at the bottom, and click "flash".
➡ Your phone will reboot into a perfectly clean, official MIUI 11 system.
Method 2: Installing the Optimized Xiaomi.eu ROM (Custom Recovery)
This is the recommended path for the best possible MIUI experience on the Redmi 5 Plus.
- Unlock Bootloader & Install TWRP: Ensure your bootloader is unlocked and you have installed a compatible TWRP custom recovery for vince.
- Boot into TWRP: Hold Power + Volume Up from a powered-off state to boot into the TWRP recovery.
- Wipe Data: This is mandatory for a clean install. 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 phone will now run a lighter, ad-free version of MIUI, which can improve performance and battery life.
FAQs
Q1: Can I get Android 9, 10, or newer on my Redmi 5 Plus?
Not officially. However, the Redmi 5 Plus (vince) is a legend in the custom ROM community with incredible developer support. You can find many stable, unofficial builds of almost every version of Android, from Pie to well beyond Android 10, on forums like XDA-Developers.
Q2: Is the Indian Redmi Note 5 the same as the Global Redmi Note 5 Pro?
No, and this is a critical point of confusion. The Indian Redmi Note 5 is just a rebranded Redmi 5 Plus (vince). The Redmi Note 5 Pro (whyred) is a completely different, more powerful phone with a Snapdragon 636 and dual cameras. Their firmware is not interchangeable.
Q3: My battery life has become poor. Will this really help?
Yes, it has an excellent chance of helping. A clean flash is the best way to eliminate years of software clutter and rogue background processes that drain the battery, often restoring the phone's famous multi-day endurance.
Q4: Is it safe to flash the old Russian MIUI 9 ROM?
While you can, it is not recommended. It is a very old build with outdated security patches. The final MIUI 11 ROMs are much more secure and stable. The MIUI 9 link is provided for historical or specific downgrade purposes only.
Troubleshooting & Common Errors
- Bricked after flashing a custom ROM: This is a rite of passage for many vince users. Don't worry. As long as your PC can see the phone in Fastboot mode (Power + Vol Down), you can always use Method 1 to flash the official Fastboot ROM and completely restore it.
- Bootloop after flashing Xiaomi.eu: You must use the "Format Data" option in TWRP before flashing. Wiping caches is not enough and will cause a bootloop when moving from the encrypted stock MIUI ROM.
- Mi Flash Tool shows a "sahara" or "xbl" error: This is a common error on older Qualcomm devices. It can indicate a bad USB connection or a failing eMMC (storage) chip. Always try a different USB 2.0 port and cable first. If the error persists, the phone's hardware may have failed.
- "The system has been destroyed": This is a generic Xiaomi error for a failed boot. It is easily fixed by forcing the phone back into Fastboot mode and flashing the stock firmware again.