A ROM is the “read-only memory” on your Xiaomi device. A custom ROM is new “read-only memory” that is created by developers not employed by Google or the original smartphone manufacturer. Just like with most things in life, it’s difficult to please everyone, and creating one giant operating system that everybody loves is always going to be an impossible task. That’s where new read-only memory or ROMs come into play.

There are several reasons why people want to install new ROMs on the Xiaomi Mi 4i smartphone. The main reason is to get the latest version of Android. It’s not uncommon for community developers to create an unofficial version of custom ROMs to help update quicker. Another popular reason is to eliminate the Xiaomi bloatware. Bloatware refers to all the packages your carrier might install on the device before they let you buy it off the shelf. We refer to it as bloatware because it takes away from your performance and bloats the device’s software.

Xiaomi Mi 4i

Files You Need

  • Sometimes custom ROMs can need to be reinstalled on rooted firmware. You might need to root the Xiaomi Mi 4i before a custom ROM can be installed on the smartphone.
  • You always need to flash a custom recovery on the Xiaomi Mi 4i before you can install any custom ROM on the smartphone. You rely on the stock recovery being replaced with a custom recovery so you can upload your custom ROM zip files.

Cyanogen Mod 13:

Xiaomi won’t let you experience the real taste of Android interface and features, but now its time for you to experience it using this Cyanogen Mod 13 custom ROM. CM 13 custom ROM is based on Android 5.0 Lollipop with stock interface and features. This build of CM 13 ROM is not official that means this custom ROM is not made by CM team, this custom ROM is ported by some third-party developers. First you should read about the features of this custom ROM below.

Features: Android 5.0 Lollipop stock interface, modofied Google Now launcher with landscape orientation, customize-able home screen and app drawer, paged and continuous app drawer, live display, ambient display, custom dpi, USB debugging is enabled by default, customize-able notification drawer, customize-able quick setting toggles.

Download CyanogenMod 13 ROM

Resurrection Remix 5.5.9:

Resurrection Remix custom ROM is entirely based on Cyanogen Mod builds. But by making it more smooth and fast Resurrection Remix custom ROM is more popular than any other custom ROMs which are also based on Cyanogen Mod. Resurrection Remix custom ROM have some more unique and useful features and UI customization options than all other custom ROMs. Developers also made this custom ROM slim that you can have more space and RAM empty for better performance.

Features: Android 5.1 Lollipop based, navigation bar customization, navigation ring targets, career label, smart pull down, clock customization, time and date, clock color, batter battery backup, theme chooser, download themes from Google Play Store, toast animations, gesture anywhere, app circle bar, double tap to wake up, 3 finger gesture for taking screenshot, music control using volume rocker keys while sleep.

Download Resurrection Remix 5.5.9 ROM

Cyanogen Mod 12.1:

Cyanogen Mod 12.1 custom ROM is based on Android 5.1 Lollipop, this custom ROM has nothing fancier than CM 13 custom ROM just lacks some features which makes this custom ROM more stable, fast and reliable. You’ll feel no difference between both the custom ROMs until you know the are different. Although both the customs are unofficial but this custom ROM has lesser bugs related to CM 13.

Features: based on Android 5.1 Lollipop, better battery management, better storage, “Clash of Clans” game is working perfectly, no random reboots or shutdown, hardware double tap to wake up, compiled with Uber tool chain for better performance, debloated, zip aligned, deodexed.

Download CyanogenMod 12.1 ROM

Tipsy OS:

If you know anything about slim custom ROMs then you’re gonna love this. This custom ROM is a slim build of Cyanogen Mod 12.1 custom ROM which means this custom ROM don’t have lots of customization and tweaking options. This custom ROM is only for those who hungers for fast performance and battery performance.

Features: Android 5.1 Lollipop stock interface, customize-able status bar and navigation bar, enable/disable navigation bar, status bar clock alignment, battery bar icon, 3minit battery customization, status bar tinting.

Download Tipsy OS ROM

Euphoria OS 1.1:

Euphoria OS 1.1 is also based on CyanogenMod 13 with lots of simplicity and smoothness. If you play hard-core and high graphics games on your phone then this custom ROM is best for you because this custom ROM leaves enough storage space and RAM for faster performance and more games and apps. Euphoria OS makers made some unique features that come only with Euphoria and nothing else and I’m sure you’ll love.

Features: AOSP based, theme chooser, customize quick settings, delta updates, disabled tether checking, advanced reboot, adb notification control, slim heads up, right swipe put into background, clock widget, HSPA+ icons, audio FX, less frequent notifications, expanded sound panel, privacy guard, forward lookup, speed dial, vibrate on answer.

Download Euphoria OS 1.1 ROM

Flyme OS 4.5:

Meizu’s official firmware Flyme OS is now available for your phone, the simplicity and functionality of the ROM is extraordinary. Every Chinese based custom ROM is home screen based with no app drawer or anything, just a home screen like in iOS. Flyme OS 4.5 is the latest version which is based on Android 5.0 Lollipop and consist of some features of it like fast charging, some privacy settings and more.

Features: Android 5.1 Lollipop-based, simple and fast interface, tabbed settings menu, smart touch with lots of touch based settings, Flyme OS supported themes and theme store.

Download Flyme OS 4.5 ROM

Carbon ROM:

Carbon ROM is the first custom ROM that I’ve installed and used on my Android smart phone and since then I have fallen in love with this custom ROM.This is the first custom ROM whose features are entirely made by the Carbon ROM team and not taken from any other custom ROM which makes this custom ROM unique, you won’t find these features on any other custom ROM.

Features: CM theme engine, AudioFX equalizer, AOSP and CM audio features, some extra slim features, CM shortcuts, daydream, wake up on charge, adaptive brightness, weather with custom style, brightness control, notification count, custom navigation ring, clear all tasks button.

Download Carbon ROM

BlissPOP ROM:

BlissPOP custom ROM is just like Resurrection Remix custom ROM and made from CM 12.1 build and most the features of these custom ROMs are also similar But if you want me to recommend you one of them, then I’ll say, go for BlissPOP because i personally used both custom ROMs and realized that BlissPOP is smoother than Resurrection Remix.

Features: CM 12 based, CM 12 theme engine, battery bar options, brightness control, mobile and WiFi icon options, network traffic indicator, notification count, left-handed mode, memory bar, clear all tasks button.

Download BlissPOP ROM

We will share more of the best custom ROMs for the Xiaomi Mi 4i when they become available. Note that the list here for the Mi 4i is not necessarily every custom ROM available. The list consists of the ROMs we personally prefer.