Xiaomi Mi A1 finally getting the Android Oreo 8.1 update
Xiaomi's one and only Android One smartphone, the Mi A1, has finally started receiving the Android Oreo 8.1 software update, including the Android security patch released for June. The update, as per several users, is currently being rolled out in India and the Philippines, and although the update has a minor bug, that can be worked around. Here's all about it.
The Xiaomi Mi A1 will receive Android P update too
The Xiaomi Mi A1 was launched in September 2017 with Android 7.1 Nougat. It received the Android Oreo 8.0 update in January this year and, being an Android One phone, is also slated to receive the new Android P update later this year.
How to get the update, and what it offers
The update is being rolled out over-the-air (OTA). To download it, go to Settings > About Phone > System Updates. You should automatically get the update. In case you don't, tap on 'Check for Updates'. Notable changes include the security patch, a new power menu layout, a Settings/System UI theme which adapts to the color of the wallpaper, and better audio quality.
The update has a bug which wipes SMS history
However, the update comes with a bug which wipes a phone's SMS history, and currently, there's no fix for the bug. However, this inconvenience can be easily avoided by using a third party app to back up your SMS history, and restoring the same post the update. While there are many such apps, here's one we used: SMS Backup & Restore (Kitkat)
