Xiaomi Redmi 3S / 3X / Prime (land) Firmware Flash File Download [Stock ROM]

How to Flash via Fastboot (Mi Flash Tool)

1. Unlock your bootloader using the official Mi Unlock tool. This is a mandatory first step.
2. Extract the downloaded .tgz firmware file to a folder on your PC.
3. Open Mi Flash Tool. Click Select and choose the extracted ROM folder.
4. With your phone powered off, boot into Fastboot mode (Hold Volume Down + Power). Connect it to the PC.
5. In Mi Flash Tool, choose the clean all option. Avoid “clean all and lock” unless you are absolutely certain you are flashing the correct stock ROM for your device’s original region.
6. Click Flash and wait for the process to complete. The first boot may take 5-10 minutes.

FAQs

Q1. What’s the difference between Redmi 3S, 3X, and Prime?
All three variants share the same codename land and identical hardware:

• Redmi 3S: Indian market name
• Redmi 3X: Chinese market name
• Redmi 3 Prime: Higher storage variant (3GB RAM/32GB storage)
  They all use the same firmware, so you can flash either China or Global ROM on any variant.

Q2. Why is my battery draining faster than expected?
Given the device’s age, the most likely cause is battery degradation. Lithium-ion batteries typically last 2-3 years before significant capacity loss. After ensuring no apps are causing wake locks (check in Battery settings), consider replacing the battery for a hardware solution. A clean flash can help optimize software efficiency.

Q3. Can I install newer Android versions on my Redmi 3S?
Yes! The Snapdragon 430 has good custom ROM support. You can install various custom ROMs including LineageOS 14.1 (Android 7.1), 15.1 (Android 8.1), and even 16.0 (Android 9) through community projects. These provide better performance and modern features compared to the stock Android 6.0.

Q4. My device is stuck in EDL mode and won’t exit. What can I do?
If your device is stuck in EDL (Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008) mode:

1. Disconnect the phone
2. Hold the Power button for 30+ seconds to force a hard shutdown
3. Try booting normally or into Fastboot mode (Vol Down + Power)
   If it still boots to EDL, you may need to flash the complete stock ROM using Mi Flash Tool while in EDL mode.

Troubleshooting (Land-Specific)

• “Antirollback check error” in Mi Flash Tool: The device has Anti-Rollback (ARB) protection. You cannot flash older ROM versions. Check your current ARB version with fastboot getvar anti and ensure you’re flashing a ROM with the same or higher version number.
• Device not detected in Fastboot mode: This is usually a driver issue. Install the latest ADB/fastboot drivers and try a different USB cable and port (preferably USB 2.0). Check device detection with fastboot devices in the command prompt.
• Phone boots directly to Fastboot mode: This indicates a corrupted boot.img or system partition. Flash the complete stock ROM using the “clean all” option in Mi Flash Tool to restore all partitions.
• Wi-Fi or Bluetooth turning on: This can be caused by a corrupted persist partition. Flashing the stock ROM usually restores this partition. If not, the issue may be a failing Wi-Fi/BT chip, which is a known issue on some units.
• Error 7 when flashing custom ROMs in TWRP: This indicates the ROM is not compatible with your firmware version. Ensure you’re using the correct TWRP version and that you’ve installed the latest firmware package before installing the custom ROM.
• Slow performance after years of use: Besides a clean flash, consider replacing the thermal paste on the chipset if you’re comfortable with phone disassembly. Thermal throttling can significantly impact performance on older devices.