A few months ago, Xiaomi started Android 9 Pie beta program for the Mi Box S. It went through 3 beta OTA updates, excluding a beta 0, all the way down to a stable Android 9 release. However, that was a complete and utter disaster as some users reported bricked devices and Bootloops. For those users who didn’t brick their devices stumbled upon several bugs that made the Mi Box S close to unusable. Today, Xiaomi restarted Android 9 Pie Beta program for the Mi Box S. This time it get a new OTA 2 Beta 1 update. So download and install this new Xiaomi Mi Box S Android 9 Pie OTA2 beta 1 update.

Moreover, as we reported in our earlier post about the Mi Box 3 receiving Android 9 Pie update, we also stumbled upon a Facebook Group post meant for Xiaomi Mi Boxes. According to the post, one of the admins claimed that they are in contact with the software developers at Xiaomi and the developers are looking into the existing problems that came with Android 9 update for the Mi Box S.

So finally the day has come! Xiaomi is releasing yet another OTA update for the Mi Box S based on Android 9 Pie. Also, as reported by several Mi Box S users who have already installed this update, is is very stable and has close to no bugs. So if you have installed any update prior to this which left your the Mi Box infested with bugs, then this new Android 9 Pie OTA 2 beta 1 is highly recommended. It can also be termed as Beta 4!

According to the changelog or update log screenshot posted by user u/Askmetech, the the OTA comes with the following bug fixes:

Chromecast not working

HULU playback freeze

Special H264 decode error

BT audio is not sync with video

HDMI compatibility

Pop sound when STB in standby mode

Gboard not working when connecting an external Keyboard

Here is a screenshot for the same:

Moreover, some Mi Box exclusive features include support for reading and writing over USB, new settings menu user interface (similar to other Pie devices), USB audio, new UI for volume keys, a screenshot shortcut, and more.

The new update also includes the features from previous updates:

Reading and writing via USB

New settings menu interface

Audio via USB

Special access for apps, such as overlap

Amazon Prime video as system app

New interface when pressing the volume button

Screenshot while holding on / off button pressed

Options to manually select audio formats, such as Dolby Digital plus and AAC

Fixed frontal light automatically on/off after suspend.

Fixed system language change automatically

Integrated the latest GTVS.

Here we have listed the latest Android 9 Pie OTA2 Beta 1 update zips for the Xiaomi Mi Box S with build number R2582. This is the full firmware (or full OTA update). So regardless if your device is on Android 9 Pie beta program or the stable Android 8.1 Oreo channel, you can still manually install the new OTA zip via recovery method listed below. The OTA2 beta 1 comes in a huge package of 655 MB in size.

Download Android 9 Pie:

Mi Box S Android 9 Pie | Direct download OTA2 beta 1 update (latest)

Mi Box S Android 9 Pie beta 3/stable | Post link beta 1 (previous)

The OTA update download link will be available soon directly from Android’s repository. This will be the full OTA update zip consisting of stable Android 9 Pie which can easily be sideloaded onto Mi Box S via stock recovery from beta channel or stable channel.

As the update is official stable version, you will most likely receive the OTA update notification. Simply go to settings > about device > system updates. Alternatively, you can manually update your Mi Box S to Android 9 Pie once the OTA download link is available (above); which won’t be long.

You will need to reboot Mi Box into recovery mode and choose the option to apply updates from storage or SD card. Select the file and install. This is standard update protocol for most of the Android devices.

Warning: This is ONLY for the Mi Box S, do not attempt to install on the original Mi Box.

Step 1: Preparation

Download the latest Android 9 Pie beta build from the download section above to PC.

Rename the update file to update.zip .

. Transfer the update file to a USB drive formatted to FAT32.

Now, connect the USB drive to the Mi Box S.

Reboot Mi box to recovery mode.

Step 2: Reboot into recovery mode on your Mi Box S

Turn off Mi Box S completely.

Turn on Mi box while pressing the BACK key and OK key on remote.

To do so, put the remote as close as possible to the device, press and hold “center” key and “back”key at the same time, and connect the Mi Box S to the power outlet.

Wait for the Mi Box S to enter into recovery mode.

Step 3: Installation of Android 9 Pie