Xiaomi to Gray Market Importers: "You’re on Your Own" with Android 16

Sunday, 25 January 2026 at 11:57

If you’re one of the thousands who grabbed a Redmi Note 13 Pro or a POCO M6 Pro from a random importer to save a few bucks, you need to read this before you go to sleep tonight. There’s a "ticking time bomb" in the latest update notification, and Xiaomi has basically said they won't be handing out any lifelines.

We’re talking about the Android 16 (HyperOS 3) rollout. For most, it’s a shiny new upgrade. For those with "Fake ROMs," it’s a one-way ticket to a permanent bootloop.

Key Points

The "Bricking" Update: Android 16 (HyperOS 3) is causing permanent bootloops on specific imported Redmi and POCO models.
Security Region Lock: The new OS performs a strict check that prevents Chinese hardware from running Global software.
Official "No Fix" Policy: Xiaomi has explicitly stated they will not support or fix devices purchased through gray market channels.
Emergency Recovery: Repeatedly force-restarting a looping device may trigger a safe-mode rollback to HyperOS 2.2.
Update Dead End: Affected users are essentially blocked from all future Android versions and must remain on their current software.

The "Fake ROM" Trap

Here’s the deal: many third-party sellers take Chinese-spec hardware and "hack" a Global ROM onto it so it works in Europe or India. It’s a common trick to sell phones cheaper. But with HyperOS 3, Xiaomi has introduced a brutal new security check.

During boot-up, the phone now checks if the software region matches the hardware's birth certificate. If it sees "Global" software on a "Chinese" motherboard, it refuses to talk to the modem. The system panics, fails to verify the data, and just keeps restarting. Forever.

If You’re Already Stuck in a Loop...

Don't throw the phone at the wall just yet. There’s a weird, manual workaround that’s been saving a few people. If your phone is stuck on the logo, try force-restarting it 10 or 15 times in a row. Seriously. Some users are reporting that after enough failed boots, the system triggers a "panic rollback" and spits you back into HyperOS 2.2. If you get back in, go straight to settings and kill automatic updates. Consider it a second chance.

The Hard Truth: There is No Patch

Xiaomi isn't being shy about this. They’ve stated quite bluntly that because these devices were "unofficially modified," they won't be releasing a fix. In their eyes, if you didn't buy it through an authorized channel, it’s not their problem.

The Result: Your phone is likely stuck on HyperOS 2.2 for life.
The Risk: Since these bootloaders are often locked by the sellers after the "hack," you can’t even flash a custom ROM to fix it yourself.