[Updated] PSA: MIUI 13 Update (Download Access) app on Google Play Store is likely fake

This story is being continuously updated…. New updates are being added at the bottom…..

Original story (from July 7) follows:

Xiaomi is busy releasing the MIUI 12 update for several smartphones from its lineup. The update recently went live for the Redmi Note 8 Pro and is likely to be pushed for more devices soon.

This new skin from Xiaomi brings a ton of new improvements and features. Moreover, the user interface has seen a facelift as well. It will take a few more months for it to make its way to all supported devices. Speaking of which, you can check out our MIUI 12 update tracker for more details.

However, even with the MIUI 12 testing and rollout in the works, it hasn’t stopped reports for MIUI 13 from surfacing. We recently covered a report surrounding the MIUI 13 development survey. Therefore, the chances that the upcoming MIUI version is in its early stages of development are high.

But that’s not even the most exciting part of this situation. A Redditor recently spotted an application that claims to give users early access to MIUI 13. This MIUI 13 app is also listed on the Google Play Store which makes the matter even more interesting.

The app details on the Play Store reveal that it has been published by Madhav Developers. Furthermore, it has just over a hundred downloads at the moment and is in early access too. If you’ve read the headline, you probably already know what to expect of this application.

If you see the screenshots provided by the developer, you will notice that the Mi 9 SE “MIUI 13” version is labeled as 20.4.27. Not only is this not an MIUI 13 build, but it isn’t even the latest software version for the device. Hence, the application is undoubtedly fake and may even have malicious code.

It’s unclear how Google allowed the application to go live on the Play Store. Xiaomi has also not yet warned users from downloading the app. At present, it seems the application is just meant to serve ads for the developer to make a quick buck. Hence, it would be a wise idea to report the fake MIUI 13 app and save others the trouble who may assume it is legit.

IST 11:00 am: Recent development suggests that Xiaomi might have already started working on the MIUI 13 update, as an alleged MIUI 13 screenshot with new Power Off animation has now surfaced. More details here.

IST 06:05 pm: With the second round of the Mi Engineer Face to Face Q&A, Xiaomi engineers have offered some insights into the development of MIUI 13 stating that it is MIUI engineers are focusing on optimizing the animations to run more smoothly. More on that here.

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