Journeying back to 2017, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime, known in India as the Redmi Y1 (codename ugg), was a highly popular entry-level device. It stood out by bringing key features like a fingerprint scanner and a front-facing selfie flash to a very affordable price point.
It is critical to distinguish this model from its lower-end sibling: this guide is exclusively for the ugg variant, which has a fingerprint scanner. In 2025, this device is a vintage classic. Its final official software update was MIUI 11, based on the long-outdated Android 7.1 Nougat. For the hobbyists and users still running this phone for basic tasks, a clean firmware flash is the only way to restore its original performance, fix bootloops, or wipe it for a new purpose.
This is the definitive restoration guide for your Redmi Note 5A Prime / Y1:
Why You Might Need to Flash Your Redmi Note 5A Prime / Y1
For a vintage device like this, flashing is about survival and maintenance.
Quick Device Overview (Codename: ugg)
Required Tools & Downloads
Download the 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 Note 5A Prime / Y1.
➡ Your phone will reboot into a completely clean, official MIUI 11 system.
FAQs
Q1: How do I know for sure if I have the ugg (Prime/Y1) or ugglite (Y1 Lite) version?
The easiest way is by checking the hardware. The Redmi Note 5A Prime / Y1 (ugg) has a circular fingerprint scanner on the back. The standard, lower-end version (ugglite) does not have a fingerprint scanner. You must flash the correct firmware for your model.
**Q2: Is it safe to use this phone with my personal accounts in 2025?
No. It is strongly recommended to use this phone for offline tasks only. Android 7.1 Nougat has not received security updates in many years and is vulnerable to known exploits. Do not use it for banking, primary email, or any sensitive social media accounts.
**Q3: 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, stable builds of newer Android versions for the ugg model are very rare due to its age and entry-level processor.
**Q4: My phone is extremely slow. Will this flash make it fast?
It will make it as fast as it can possibly be. A clean flash will significantly improve performance over a device that has been in use for years. However, you must have realistic expectations. The Snapdragon 435 is very old hardware, and the phone will still be slow compared to modern devices.
Troubleshooting & Common Errors
It is critical to distinguish this model from its lower-end sibling: this guide is exclusively for the ugg variant, which has a fingerprint scanner. In 2025, this device is a vintage classic. Its final official software update was MIUI 11, based on the long-outdated Android 7.1 Nougat. For the hobbyists and users still running this phone for basic tasks, a clean firmware flash is the only way to restore its original performance, fix bootloops, or wipe it for a new purpose.
This is the definitive restoration guide for your Redmi Note 5A Prime / Y1:
- ✔ A critical clarification between the ugg (Prime/Y1) and ugglite models
- ✔ Download links for the final official MIUI 11 (Android 7.1) firmware
- ✔ All the necessary tools and drivers to communicate with this older device
- ✔ A step-by-step guide to unbrick your phone and restore it to a clean factory state
- ✔ Realistic advice on the limitations and uses for this phone today
Why You Might Need to Flash Your Redmi Note 5A Prime / Y1
For a vintage device like this, flashing is about survival and maintenance.
- Restore Usable Performance → On older hardware, a clean flash is the best way to clear out software clutter and make the phone as responsive as possible for basic tasks.
- Fix Fingerprint Scanner Issues → If your fingerprint scanner has become buggy or unresponsive due to software issues, a full firmware flash can restore its drivers and functionality.
- Unbrick a Bootlooping or Bricked Device → The most reliable method to recover a phone that is stuck on the Mi logo or completely unresponsive.
- Attempt to Remove Mi Account or Google FRP Lock → Flashing the stock firmware is a mandatory first step in any unlocking procedure for a second-hand device.
- Maximize Limited Storage → A clean installation frees up the maximum possible space on the 16GB or 32GB internal storage.
Quick Device Overview (Codename: ugg)
- Model: Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime / Redmi Y1
- Release Year: 2017
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 435
- Display: 5.5” HD IPS LCD
- Key Feature: Rear-mounted fingerprint scanner (distinguishes it from the ugglite version)
- OS at Launch: MIUI 8/9 on Android 7.1.2 Nougat
- Final Official OS: MIUI 11 on Android 7.1.2 Nougat (End of Life)
- Codename: ugg
CRITICAL WARNING: This firmware is ONLY for the Redmi Note 5A Prime / Y1 (codename ugg), which has a fingerprint scanner. It is NOT compatible with the standard Redmi Note 5A / Y1 Lite (codename ugglite). Flashing the wrong firmware will brick your device. Due to its very old Android 7.1 software, this phone is not secure for online banking or sensitive data.
Required Tools & Downloads
Download the 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 7.1) | V11.0.1.0.NDKCNXM |
| Fastboot ROM (Global) | Official MIUI 11 (Android 7.1) | V11.0.2.0.NDKMIXM |
| Xiaomi.eu ROM (Custom) | Older MIUI 10 (Android 7.1) build | V10.3.2.0.NDKCNXM |
Flashing Method: Using Mi Flash Tool (Fastboot Mode)
This is the most direct and reliable method for completely restoring your Redmi Note 5A Prime / Y1.
- 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 phone will reboot into a completely clean, official MIUI 11 system.
FAQs
Q1: How do I know for sure if I have the ugg (Prime/Y1) or ugglite (Y1 Lite) version?
The easiest way is by checking the hardware. The Redmi Note 5A Prime / Y1 (ugg) has a circular fingerprint scanner on the back. The standard, lower-end version (ugglite) does not have a fingerprint scanner. You must flash the correct firmware for your model.
**Q2: Is it safe to use this phone with my personal accounts in 2025?
No. It is strongly recommended to use this phone for offline tasks only. Android 7.1 Nougat has not received security updates in many years and is vulnerable to known exploits. Do not use it for banking, primary email, or any sensitive social media accounts.
**Q3: 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, stable builds of newer Android versions for the ugg model are very rare due to its age and entry-level processor.
**Q4: My phone is extremely slow. Will this flash make it fast?
It will make it as fast as it can possibly be. A clean flash will significantly improve performance over a device that has been in use for years. However, you must have realistic expectations. The Snapdragon 435 is very old hardware, and the phone will still be slow compared to modern devices.
Troubleshooting & Common Errors
- Mi Flash Tool shows a "sahara" or "xbl" error: This is a common error on very old Qualcomm devices. It can indicate a bad USB connection, but it can also mean that the eMMC (internal storage) chip has failed due to age, which is a non-repairable hardware fault.
- 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 for a stable boot.
- Fingerprint scanner not working after flash: First, ensure you have flashed the correct ugg firmware. After a successful flash, go to Settings and delete all old fingerprints, then register them again. If it still doesn't work, it may be a hardware failure.
- "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.