Mi Box 3 [USA] [Android TV MDZ-16-AB] Downgrade from Nougat 7.0 beta to MM 6.0 stable

[unoaman]

Hello everyone,

<<DISCLAIMER>> The procedure is causing Serial no. wipe out and DRM issuse. Please follow this on your own risk. Or wait till solution is available for Serial no. and DRM issue

I've been spending a little bit of free time trying to research the downgrade possibility released Mi Box (Android TV MDZ-16-AB) from Nougat 7.0 beta to the stable MM 6.0.
It had been known that it is not possible due to locked bootloader of 7.0 firmware.

As researching i came across 4pda thread where one claims that its possible and have some steps to do so.

Disclaimer:
1. This is not my original creation. I am just trying to help others but capturing bit and pieces together from various places into a tutorial.
2. All credit goes to zalgy, MAKS.UA and hostel5 who posted the the original content on the 4pda.ru forums and I am just re-posting it here
3. If posting like this is not ok, moderators please let me know.

Warning: Do it at your own risk. I am not responsible for any damage to your device, laptop, desktop, you or your pet.

Link to original thread:
https://4pda.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=777248

translated snapshot: in attachment

Steps:
1. Flash the box with Nougat 7.0 beta 1028 firmware.
once-7.0-1028.zip
for those already on the older Nougat Beta (build 924 or something): you will notice that your remote won't work in recovery, so you're unable to choose the *.zip file on your USB-Stick to update unless you have a USB-Hub and plug in a keyboard in addition to the USB-Stick.

There is a solution (thanks to the update guides for the other Miboxes):
Warning: I can confirm that this procedure wipes out user data and your box will be reset to factory default

a. create a file called "xiaomi_update" (yes, without any fileending) an write into it "--update_package=/udisk/update.zip".
b. Save it to your USB-Stick (FAT32 formated) and copy once-7.0-1028.zip also to USB-Stick and rename your once-7.0-1028.zip file to update.zip.
c. Plug it into your MiBox, boot to recovery with the known trick (press back and OK simultaneously while plugging in power) and the update starts all by itself.
After update the box may reset to factory default. configure the box and move to next step

2. Download below file and extract it. pull out rom3s.img and put it on the box internal storage in the download directory.
XIAOMIS3_FLASH_FILES_GLOBAL.zip

3. Connect the cable to the device , enable debugging.

3.1. Turn on developer options and ADB Debugging.
3.2. Setting> About> last item in the list> Click OK 7 times.
3.3. Go to Setting> developer option> Debugging> Turn ON​

4. Open the command line and go to adb and follow below steps

adb devices

Se if your device is listed and ready.

adb root

Gives root access

5. We need to backup for worst scenario

adb shell 
dd if=/dev/block/mmcblk0 of=/sdcard/backup-3_once.img bs=1024 count=524288 
exit 
adb pull /storage/emulated/0/download/backup-3_once.img

to roll back to the original version, rename backup-3_once.img to rom3s.img and completely follow the whole instructions

6. Flash the rom3s.img file already placed in download folder

adb shell
dd if=/storage/emulated/0/download/rom3s.img of=/dev/block/mmcblk0

7. After flash is finished writing exit

exit

8. Reboot to recovery

adb reboot recovery

9. Download once-6.0.1-1304.zip and put it on a USB stick

In case above firmware gives problem then download MiBOX3S_USA_once_r454.zip from 4PDA.ru unrar it and put it on a USB stick

10. Insert the USB stick in mibox and flash the firmware as usual through recovery.

After flash is complete your MI box should be on Marshmallow now.
I can confirm that the remote does work in recovery if you are on 7.0 beta 1028 release.

Note: I have not tried it on my box yes as i am travelling and wont be able to access my box until end of this month. My box is on 7.0 beta 1028 release so i m half way and would be doing the other half as soon as i get access to my box
Please leave comments when you give it a try.

 

[bachikho]

anyone try this yet, it seems that DRM will be lost (so no Netflix, no Google cast...)?

 

[djanilson]

help me?

Can someone help me? I did this Nougat Downgrade 7.0 beta procedure for MM 6.0 Stable. and netflix is no longer working

 

[djanilson]

Can anyone make a backup copy of "backup-3_once.image" and send me please? because I forgot to back it up and now neither netflix nor google cast is working

 

[DroidVPN]

I succesfully rolled back from Beta nougat to MM using this guide.

The only issue now is the serial number of the device has been erased. Do you know how to change it back?

Can anyone make a backup copy of "backup-3_once.image" and send me please? because I forgot to back it up and now neither netflix nor google cast is working

I can confirm that netflix is not working Unfortunately I dont think you can restore your old "backup-3_once.image" since you cannot get root access on ADB so maybe we can just upgrade to the beta again.

 

[djanilson]

I succesfully rolled back from Beta nougat to MM using this guide.

The only issue now is the serial number of the device has been erased. Do you know how to change it back?



I can confirm that netflix is not working Unfortunately I dont think you can restore your old "backup-3_once.image" since you cannot get root access on ADB so maybe we can just upgrade to the beta again.

friend, I got back to nougat version 7.0 beta 1028. and I get to use the adb commands. I think if I could get this backup "backup-3_once.image" I would be able to revert to my box. to run Netflix and Google cast again. plus I do not have this "backup-3_once.image", I forgot to back it up

 

[DroidVPN]

Is netflix still not working after you flash 7.0 beta 1028?

 

[janneriiki]

I am currently on Beta 1028 and unable to use "adb root".
I would like to flash the recommended firmware linked in the guide but both the Beta 1028 firmware and the stable MM firmware are about 150kb in size. Does anyone have the correct download links?

 

[djanilson]

Is netflix still not working after you flash 7.0 beta 1028?

Netflix is ​​still not working.

 

[DroidVPN]

I am currently on Beta 1028 and unable to use "adb root".
I would like to flash the recommended firmware linked in the guide but both the Beta 1028 firmware and the stable MM firmware are about 150kb in size. Does anyone have the correct download links?

You can get the firmwares here: mediafire.com/folder/9k82rbe2nc0vw/MDZ-16-AB

 

[bigtalker]

anyone try this yet, it seems that DRM will be lost (so no Netflix, no Google cast...)?

You are absolutely correct. DRM will totally disappear. You are better off to stick with the Nougat beta, either build 928, 1024 or 1035.
Typically shortsighted move by the guys on the Russian site. They have zero appreciation of the critical need for DRM for most westerners.

 

[PaulieP]

Hello everyone,

9. Download once-6.0.1-1304.zip and put it on a USB stick

In case above firmware gives problem then download MiBOX3S_USA_once_r454.zip from 4PDA.ru unrar it and put it on a USB stick

10. Insert the USB stick in mibox and flash the firmware as usual through recovery.
.

A few problems here. First , once-6.0.1-1304.zip is a bogus download, it's like a 135K file from Uploadify. It's not a complete firmware at all.

Secondly all the download links for MiBOX3S_USA_once_r454.zip are for the accursed Yandisk, so no direct download, and even if you try to register for an account with them and verify your phone number, it will still say access restricted.
So - for all intents and purposes you can't download the 6.0.1 firmware from either method you list.

Do you have an actual, direct working download link for the firmware? Are you able to upload to MEGA or somewhere else if you have a local copy? Thanks.

 

[Jonathan Araujo]

Do not downgrade through this procedure or you will lose access to netflix and google cast. I did and I'm breaking my head to try to restore the DRM.

firmwares: http://www.mediafire.com/folder/9k82rbe2nc0vw

A few problems here. First , once-6.0.1-1304.zip is a bogus download, it's like a 135K file from Uploadify. It's not a complete firmware at all.

Secondly all the download links for MiBOX3S_USA_once_r454.zip are for the accursed Yandisk, so no direct download, and even if you try to register for an account with them and verify your phone number, it will still say access restricted.
So - for all intents and purposes you can't download the 6.0.1 firmware from either method you list.

Do you have an actual, direct working download link for the firmware? Are you able to upload to MEGA or somewhere else if you have a local copy? Thanks.

 

[xmtbx]

After downgrade to MM, Netflix TV and googlecast is not working, I thought those things will recovery back, when upgrade to Nougat again; but the situation turn worse, now new problem is wifi 5Ghz is loss too. Can anyone help me to solve this problem?

 

[Jonathan Araujo]

I have the same problem and I have not found a solution yet, now it is expected to leave the official 7.0 update to see if it solves this or will be the way to buy another box.

After downgrade to MM, Netflix TV and googlecast is not working, I thought those things will recovery back, when upgrade to Nougat again; but the situation turn worse, now new problem is wifi 5Ghz is loss too. Can anyone help me to solve this problem?

 

[bigtalker]

I have the same problem and I have not found a solution yet, now it is expected to leave the official 7.0 update to see if it solves this or will be the way to buy another box.

I honestly wouldn't expect the official update to resolve this issue, especially since reflashing an earlier Nougat beta still fails to restore to original condition. Seems like the mangling of partition data by installing foreign rom has created irreversible glitch.

It's up to the goofs who proposed this issue to create a fix to restore original conditions prior to their meddling.

 

[venioni]

Hi,i want to ask someone who has the mi tv box 3 international AB makes backup the official MM 6 rom and share.
the commands is
1)adb devices = must show the device ID
2)adb root
3)adb shell
4)dd if=/dev/block/mmcblk0 of=/sdcard/backup-3_once.img bs=1024 count=524288
5)exit
i think with this way we can go back to MM and work again the netflix and google cast,i have try to go back to MM from Nougat but I loose the netflix and google cast ,now i am going back to nougat from my backup who create before and alls works again ,netflix and google cast.
Thanks in advance.

 

[hungphutho]

I have a way to downgrade 6.0 100% DRM, Netfix, google cast working
https://www.facebook.com/daivietpda/posts/1438613586186415

 

[Taejilovely]

Can i downgrade from 7.0 to 6.0 mibox 3s 19aa like this??? Thank you.

 

[venioni]

I have a way to downgrade 6.0 100% DRM, Netfix, google cast working
https://www.facebook.com/daivietpda/posts/1438613586186415

This post hasn't instruction on how we can downgrade from Nougat? do you have any instruction to downgrade nougat to MM 6?