How to install Android 9 on Mi A1 (tissot)
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[Unofficial] Android 9 Pie GSI on Xiaomi Mi A1

Hiram K.·
Guides and Tips

Xiaomi Mi A1 can now run an unofficial, Android Pie port. The Android 9 release promises many new features. Some include:

  • Enhanced notifications
  • Support for several, physical cameras
  • Enhanced forms autofill

But officially, the Mi A1 doesn’t support project Treble. Yet thanks to senior XDA member joeyhuab, you can “Treble-ize” the Android One device.

How to install Android 9 on Mi A1 (tissot)

Related:

Check if your device supports Treble using a terminal app, like Termux.

Download, install, and open the app.

Run the command: getprop ro.treble.enabled

You’ll get either true or false

If you get true, then your device supports Treble.

How to Install Android Pie on Xiaomi Mi A1

You’ll need to note a few, important things first:

  • The Android 9 Pie GSI (Generic System Image) ROM is unstable/experimental. Don’t expect to use it as a daily driver.
  • This guide will repartition your device’s userdata partition. So, remember to backup your files.
  • You’ll need an unlocked bootloader.

Related: how to unlock bootloader on Xiaomi Mi A1.

  • This guide works for only Mi A1 devices that run stock ROM.

Required files:

You’ll need a few files for the exercise. Download these first. See links below.

After collecting these files, install Android Pie on your Xiaomi Mi A1 with these steps.

  • Allow USB debugging in Settings/System/Developer options
  • Flash the TWRP with Tissot Manager installer using fastboot.

    Related: How to flash TWRP custom recovery on Xiaomi Mi A1

  • Boot into TWRP custom recovery
  • Format userdata partition
    • Go to Wipe/Advanced Wipe
    • Press Format Data, then Yes
  • After formatting, enable Treble support:
    • On the main TWRP screen, go to Advanced/Tissot Manager
    • After reading the disclaimer, press Next, then Repartition/Shrink Userdata
    • After this, the custom recovery will bring up the dual boot options screen. Choose Single-boot
    • Enable Treble support by selecting the Repartition option
    • After repartition, press Reboot TWRP
  • Then, flash the vendor image:
    • Choose Mount/Enable MTP in TWRP
    • Connect your Mi A1 to a computer using USB and copy the vendor image to the phone’s internal memory
    • Install the file by choosing Install Image from the Install option in TWRP
    • Then, locate the vendor image file in memory and select it for installation
    • Select the target partition.
      • In the Select Partition to Flash Image option, choose Vendor Image
      • Then swipe to confirm flash
  • After flashing the vendor image, you can finally install Android Pie:
    • In TWRP, choose Mount then Vendor partition
    • Choose Mount/Enable MTP
    • Connect your device to PC, then copy the Android 9 GSI files (from the folder you named android9 earlier) to the device’s internal storage
    • In TWRP, go to Install/Install Image
    • Then, install the A/B system image file named P_PR1_AB.img to the System partition
    • Go to the Install menu again in TWRP then flash Post-sGSI 1 and Post-sGSI 2 files.
    • Flash a treble-compatible kernel of your choice. (Use Moun Kernel 5.4, ProjectK r17, or Velocity r8.)
    • Enable root by flashing Magisk v16.7
    • Reboot your device

Hope this tutorial worked for you! Share your experience and thoughts in the comments below.