TUTORIAL: Xiaomi Mi Box and Xiaomi Mi Box S how to recover it from a Brick

Today we present a small guide to recover from a Brick or similar the Xiaomi Mi Box, a team from which you have our Review available and that includes Android TV as an operating system. This procedure can make a unBrick if out device is damaged or with serious errors in the boot system.

• These procedures are with a last resort, AndroidPCtv.com is not responsible for the results.
• If it does not work for you, we recommend use your store’s warranty.

Table of Contents

BASIC RESTORATION XIAOMI MI BOX / MI BOX S

In this case we do not need any type of tool to revive our Xiaomi Mi Box or Mi Box S, just follow a few simple steps, remember that this procedure is exclusively for the exact version of your Xiaomi Mi Box, read the full post before doing anything.

1. Android for Mi Box 3 (MDZ-16-AA Chinese) download updates from HERE
2. Android TV 6/7/8 for Mi Box 3 (MDZ-16-AB International) download update from HERE, HERE, HERE or HERE
3. Android TV 9 for Mi Box S (MDZ-22-AB) download update the Firmware Version Beta 3
4. !!! NEVER DO DOWNGRADE ANDROID VERSIONS !!! Using this method
5. Rename the firmware “.zip” that we download to update.zip and copy it to a USB flash drive formatted as FAT32.
6. OPTIONAL if the updates is not detected:
   With a text editor we create a TXT file without extension called xiaomi_update with the following line of text:
   –update_package=/udisk/update.zip–wipe_data
7. Copy it to the pendrive where we have the firmware and insert it into the USB port of the Mi Box.
8. We will enter the recovery mode of Xiaomi Mi Box, for this we disconnect it from the mains, then we take out the battery from the remote control and reinsert it while holding the BACK and OK buttons on the remote control very close to the TV -Box. With the two buttons pressed we connect the Mi Box to the power grid.
   
9. When you see the Android doll on the screen, we release the 2 buttons of the remote control and wait without touching anything 5-10 minutes until the system is rebooted with the system recovered.

FULL RECOVERY XIAOMI MI BOX / MI BOX S

This method downgrades and completely restores the Xiaomi Mi Box 3 (MDZ-16-AA) or Mi Box S (MDZ-22-AB), to carry out the process you have to open the TV-Box, so the responsibility and loss warranty is up to you. This is the only system to revive this hardware from a total brick.

Requirements

• Lever or guitar pick to open the TV-Box case.
• USB Type-A to USB Type-A cable for flashing.

Open Xiaomi Mi Box S (MDZ-22-AB), locate bridge and flash

• Download the Recovery firmware for Xiaomi Mi Box S (MDZ-22-AB) – Downgrade Android TV 8.1
• Disassemble the plastic casing by prying in the perimeter.
• Disassemble the metal cover on the base plate by prying in the perimeter.
• The bridge to enter flash mode is made between the orange dot on the board and the metal frame, use a clip o metal wire.

• Follow the steps in the manual Update for Amlogic Box with method 1-B with .IMG file, use tool 2.0.9
• Mark the checkbox:
  – NORMAL ERASE
• DO NOT check the Checkbox:
  – ERASE BOOTLOADER (or we will delete DRM certificates)
• Load .IMG file and press START.
• Do the bridge connection with a clip or metal wire, isolate your fingers with plastic if is possible.
• Keep the bridge between the two points and connect the Mi Box to our PC with the USB cable (this power up the box).
• A chime will sound and the device will be detected, you can now disconnect the bridge.
• The flash will start and we will wait until it finishes at 100%.

Open Xiaomi Mi Box 3 (MDZ-16-AA), locate bridge and flash

• Download the Recovery firmware for Xiaomi Mi Box 3 (MDZ-16-AA) – Chinese Android
• Disassemble the plastic casing by prying in the perimeter.
• The bridge to enter flash mode is made between the two points next to the metal protection.

• Follow the steps in the manual Update for Amlogic Box with method 1-B with .IMG file, use tool 2.0.9
• Mark the checkbox:
  – ERASE ALL
• DO NOT check the Checkbox:
  – ERASE BOOTLOADER (or we will delete DRM certificates)
• Load .IMG file and press START.
• Do the bridge connection with a clip or metal wire, isolate your fingers with plastic if is possible.
• Keep the bridge between the two points and connect the Mi Box to our PC with the USB cable (this power up the box).
• A chime will sound and the device will be detected, you can now disconnect the bridge.
• The flash will start and we will wait until it finishes at 100%.