[Tips & Tutorials] MIUI Stable/Developer/Ported/Global /China/Recovery/Fastboot ROMs Explained! || http://goo.gl/wPVoxW ||

Fellow MIUIers,

After seeing many doubts by users about MIUI ROM for China, Global, Fastboot or Recovery, I guess I'll just combine the data from two older threads by our administrator @meredithhan plus some new elements into this all-in-one thread. I hope it helps to explain the doubts and questions you have, before you even have them.

Stable, Developer or Ported: What are the Differences?

Stable ROMs are made by MIUI Official Developers, usually updated once per month, bi-monthly or even longer without a specific update frequency. Stable ROMs are, as the name suggests, the most stable ROM with the least amount of bugs. Users who stick to this ROM usually prefer a stable and bug-free release and doesn't want to try out new features immediately. The nomenclature of MIUI 6 stable version is V6.X.X.0 XXXXXXX, with the first two X representing the version number and the other seven representing the country code and Android Version.

Developer ROMs are also made by MIUI Official Developers but is updated weekly. The usual update changelog and changelog preview you see on the forums are the changelogs for the Developer ROM. Developer ROMs receive new features weekly but are more prone to bugs and thus is not recommended for users who uses only one phone. The nomenclature of the Developer ROM is X.Y.Z, with X representing the year, eg 5 for 2015, Y for month and Z for day. Developer ROMs have incremental ROM pack downloads which contain the services and elements that have been changed rather than the full ROM.

Ported ROMs are made by unofficial or third-party developers and are mostly based on the Developer ROM. They are usually named after the date of release, just like the Developer ROM. Ported ROMs contain much more bugs than Developer ROMs as the ROM it's based on is not made for the device. Users will have to contact the porter to have the bugs solved. Some of the developers will upload incremental ROM packs like the Developer ROM to allow for users to update to the weekly release if they stopped in between the week.

China or Global: Which Should I Use?

Users are often confused whether it's safe to use the China Build for their devices as they fear the compatibility of hardware or software. In fact, you don't have to worry at all, the China Build will work on your phone like a charm, just like the Global Build. The difference between the two builds:

• China Build

The China Build doesn't contain Google Apps and Services (GAPPS) and contains some Chinese apps and services, which according to some is called bloatware, but for Chinese people those are actually very useful. The problem of not having GAPPS can be easily solved by heading to this thread: Find all the Google Apps in Google installer! Just install the app then in it contains all the Google apps, Google Service Frameworks, Google Account Manager and Google Play Services necessary for you to use it as a full fledged normal Android phone.

• Global Build

Preferred by many, this build comes with full GAPPS without the Chinese apps and services. Usually updated at a later period than the China build, the Global Build comes with English as the default language, with multilanguages for certain devices. In exchange for full GAPPS, users lose some features such as online music and Xunlei download accelerator, but gains some more usable storage space. The Global Build usually comes with only Stable ROMs, but the Redmi 1S is the first devices to receive a Global Developer Build that's updated bi-weekly.

 

Recovery or Fastboot: What are They and How They're Used

Recovery ROM vs Fastboot ROM - The Difference

A Recovery ROM comes in the form of a .zip file while Fastboot ROMs come in the form of a .tgz. Both are used to flash and will achieve the same effect of bringing in a full ROM to the phone, but utilizes two different ways to flash it. Recovery ROMs are usually used to flash the current ROM you're using or to flash an update file. The Fastboot ROM adds in the capability of flashing to an older ROM without much fuss.

Difference Between Fastboot ROM and Recovery ROM files

You can also check the Android version of the ROM via the ROM file name:

Or in Settings > About Phone

• Flashing with Recovery ROM

The Recovery ROM can be used to flash in a new ROM via two ways. One is through the Updater app and the other is via the Mi Recovery or any other custom recoveries.

- Flashing through Updater app: 
The process is easy, just place the ROM file in any folder in your phone, then head over to Update app and tap on the three button menu on the top right corner and select "Choose Update Package". After that, the phone will open up Explorer and you just have to locate the file and let it update.

- Flashing through Mi Recovery
Similar to flashing with Updater app, the process involves placing the ROM file in the phone, but rather than placing it in any folder, you'll have to place it in the root folder of your internal storage. After that boot into Recovery by either long pressing Power button + Volume+ button or tap the "Reboot to Recovery mode" button in the Updater app. Once in Recovery, select "Install update.zip to System 1" and the flashing process will initiate right away. 

• Flashing with Fastboot ROM

Flashing with the Fastboot ROM can only work with a PC installed with any tools that allow for Fastboot flashing, including the MiFlash or Mi PC Suite, then boot your phone to Fastboot mode (Long pressing Power button + Volume- button) and connect it to your PC. The Fastboot ROM file contains three different Fastboot script files, in two languages, one in .bat for Windows and another in .sh for Linux

- flash_all will wipe the phone clean before flashing a new ROM into it. All user data, including your personal files, folders and apps will be removed. This script is usually used when users are flashing back to an older ROM or want to start anew.

- flash_all_except_storage will wipe all apps and user data from your phone but leave the files in your internal storage untouched. This script is usually used when users want to flash back to an older ROM or when you want to remove all apps without affecting your personal files.

- flash_all_except_data_storage will just flash in an update without touching your settings, apps, user data or your personal files. This is usually used when users just want to flash to a newer ROM without affecting anything else.

Source (http://en.miui.com/thread-106428-1-1.html)