Let's take a look back at a device that defined the ultra-budget market in 2017: the Xiaomi Redmi 5A (codename riva). Famously marketed in India as the "Desh ka Smartphone" (The Country's Smartphone), it brought a reliable smartphone experience to millions of new users at an unprecedentedly low price point.
In 2025, this historic device is now a piece of vintage technology. Its official software support ended years ago with a final update to MIUI 11, based on the very old Android 8.1 Oreo. For hobbyists, collectors, or anyone needing to revive this classic for simple, offline tasks, a clean firmware flash is the only way to restore basic functionality, fix a bootloop, or wipe the device for a new purpose.
This is your complete restoration manual for the legendary Redmi 5A:
Why You Might Need to Flash Your Redmi 5A
For a vintage device like this, flashing is about basic maintenance and repair.
Quick Device Overview (Codename: riva)
Required Tools & Downloads
Download the final official firmware for your region and the essential flashing tools.
Flashing Method: Using Mi Flash Tool (Fastboot Mode)
This is the most direct and reliable method for completely restoring your Redmi 5A.
➡ Your Redmi 5A will reboot into a completely clean, official MIUI 11 system.
FAQs
Q1: Is the Redmi 5A usable at all in 2025?
For the most basic offline tasks like being an alarm clock or a pocket calculator, yes. For anything involving an internet connection, it is not recommended due to severe security vulnerabilities and extremely slow performance.
Q2: Can I get a newer version of Android on this phone?
Not officially. You would need to search for unofficial custom ROMs on forums like XDA. However, due to the entry-level processor and low RAM, stable builds of any newer Android versions are very rare and will likely perform poorly.
Q3: My 16GB storage is always full. How can I manage it?
A clean flash is the best first step. After that, you must use a microSD card for all photos, videos, and music. Only install the absolute essential "Lite" or "Go" versions of apps and regularly clear your app caches.
Q4: Why was this phone called the "Desh ka Smartphone"?
This was the marketing tagline used by Xiaomi India during its launch. It translates to "The Country's Smartphone" and was meant to emphasize its incredible affordability and accessibility, positioning it as the phone for every citizen in India.
Troubleshooting & Common Errors
In 2025, this historic device is now a piece of vintage technology. Its official software support ended years ago with a final update to MIUI 11, based on the very old Android 8.1 Oreo. For hobbyists, collectors, or anyone needing to revive this classic for simple, offline tasks, a clean firmware flash is the only way to restore basic functionality, fix a bootloop, or wipe the device for a new purpose.
This is your complete restoration manual for the legendary Redmi 5A:
- ✔ A tribute to the "Desh ka Smartphone" that changed the market
- ✔ Download links for the final official MIUI 11 (Android 8.1) firmware
- ✔ All the essential tools and drivers needed to communicate with this vintage hardware
- ✔ A step-by-step guide to unbrick your phone and give it a fresh start
- ✔ Critical security warnings about using such an old device in the modern day
Why You Might Need to Flash Your Redmi 5A
For a vintage device like this, flashing is about basic maintenance and repair.
- Restore Basic Usability → If your Redmi 5A has become unusably slow, a full "clean all" flash is the only way to restore its original factory performance for simple tasks like calls and texts.
- Unbrick a Bootlooping or Bricked Device → The definitive method to recover one of the most widely sold phones of its time if it's stuck on the Mi logo or completely unresponsive.
- Free Up Critical Storage Space → This is essential on a 16GB device. A clean flash is the only way to clear out all old data and maximize the tiny amount of space available.
- Attempt to Remove Mi Account or Google FRP Lock → Flashing the stock firmware is a mandatory first step for technicians and second-hand users trying to unlock a device.
- Repurpose a Vintage Phone → A clean flash is perfect for wiping a device completely before turning it into a dedicated offline music player, alarm clock, or remote control.
Quick Device Overview (Codename: riva)
- Model: Xiaomi Redmi 5A
- Release Year: 2017
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 425
- Display: 5.0” HD IPS LCD
- Key Feature: "Desh ka Smartphone," massive sales volume in the entry-level segment
- 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: riva
SECURITY WARNING: The Redmi 5A is running critically outdated software (Android 8.1) and has not received security updates since ~2019. It is NOT secure for any online activity. Do not use it for banking, personal email, or any sensitive accounts, as your data will be at risk.
Required Tools & Downloads
Download the final official firmware for your region and the essential flashing tools.
| 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 11 (Android 8.1) | V11.0.6.0.OCKCNXM |
| Fastboot ROM (Global) | Official MIUI 11 (Android 8.1) | V11.0.2.0.OCKMIXM |
Flashing Method: Using Mi Flash Tool (Fastboot Mode)
This is the most direct and reliable method for completely restoring your Redmi 5A.
- Unlock Bootloader: Your phone's bootloader must be unlocked. Use the official Mi Unlock Tool. This will erase all 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" in Mi Flash Tool, and ensure "clean all" is selected at the bottom. This step is mandatory.
- Start Flashing: Click the "flash" button and wait for the process to complete. It will show a "success" message when done.
➡ Your Redmi 5A will reboot into a completely clean, official MIUI 11 system.
FAQs
Q1: Is the Redmi 5A usable at all in 2025?
For the most basic offline tasks like being an alarm clock or a pocket calculator, yes. For anything involving an internet connection, it is not recommended due to severe security vulnerabilities and extremely slow performance.
Q2: Can I get a newer version of Android on this phone?
Not officially. You would need to search for unofficial custom ROMs on forums like XDA. However, due to the entry-level processor and low RAM, stable builds of any newer Android versions are very rare and will likely perform poorly.
Q3: My 16GB storage is always full. How can I manage it?
A clean flash is the best first step. After that, you must use a microSD card for all photos, videos, and music. Only install the absolute essential "Lite" or "Go" versions of apps and regularly clear your app caches.
Q4: Why was this phone called the "Desh ka Smartphone"?
This was the marketing tagline used by Xiaomi India during its launch. It translates to "The Country's Smartphone" and was meant to emphasize its incredible affordability and accessibility, positioning it as the phone for every citizen in India.
Troubleshooting & Common Errors
- Mi Flash Tool shows a "sahara" or "xbl" error: This is a common error on very old Qualcomm devices like the Snapdragon 425. It can indicate a bad USB connection, but after many years, it often points to a hardware failure of the eMMC (internal storage) chip, which is not repairable.
- Bootloop after flashing: This is almost always solved by re-flashing using the "clean all" option in Mi Flash Tool. A full wipe is not optional on this device; it's required.
- "The system has been destroyed": This is a standard Xiaomi boot failure message. It does not mean the hardware is broken. The solution is to boot into Fastboot mode and re-flash the stock firmware.
- Device not detected by PC: This is a driver issue. Reinstall the drivers from the link above, restart your PC, use a good quality data cable, and try a USB 2.0 port if you have one.