How to update Android to Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T: all ways + error solving

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T is a popular smartphone with long support for updates, but many users face problems when trying to install the latest version of MIUI. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of updating (including hidden), explain why the phone may not see the new firmware, and show how to bypass typical errors like Couldn't verify update package or hanging on the Mi logo.

Important: Redmi Note 8T (codename willow) officially received the latest global update to MIUI 14 based on Android 12, but informal firmware (for example, Xiaomi.eu or Pixel Experience) allows you to upgrade to Android 13/14.

If you've never manually updated your smartphone, don't worry: 90% of the processes are automated, the main thing is to back up the data (photos, contacts, SMS) and make sure that the battery is above 50%.

1. Check the current version of MIUI and Android

Before you upgrade, you need to understand which firmware is installed now, which will help you avoid version conflicts and choose the right file to download.

Open Settings → About the phone. Pay attention to three key parameters:

• 📱 Version. MIUI — for example, MIUI Global 14.0.5 (stable) or 23.12.18 (weekly).
• 🤖 Android Version: Redmi Note 8T It could be 10, 11 or 12.
• 🔢 Assembly number - for example, QKQ1.200216.002. It will be useful for searching for custom firmware.

If there is no System Update in the About Phone section, then your version of MIUI is very outdated (previously 12.5), in which case an update via Recovery will be the only working option.

⚠️ Attention: On the Redmi Note 8T With a locked bootloader, you can't install firmware older than the one that was pre-installed, for example, if you bought a phone with a bootloader. MIUI 11 on Android 10, you won’t be able to officially upgrade to Android 12 without unlocking.

Method 1: Air Update (OTA)

The easiest and safest method is automatic updates over the Internet, suitable for users who have already received a notification about the new firmware.

Instructions:

1. Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (update weighs 1.5-3 GB).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
3. Click Check Updates. If the update is available, the Download button will appear.
4. After download, click Set and wait for the reboot.

If the Check Updates button is inactive or writes No Updates, but you know they are:

• 🔄 Restart your phone and try again.
• 📶 Try connecting to another network (sometimes the provider blocks Xiaomi servers).
• 🕒 Wait 2-3 days – updates roll out in stages.

⚠️ Attention: If during installation OTA You get a Can't verify update error, which means the firmware file is corrupted. → folder downloaded_rom And download again.

💡

If the update is loading too long, download it to your PC via a direct link (see section below). 4) and put it in a folder. downloaded_rom The system recognizes it as OTA.

3. Method 2: Update via Recovery

If OTA doesn’t work or you want to install a specific version of MIUI (like rolling back to a stable build), use Recovery mode. This method requires manually downloading firmware from the official website.

Step-by-step:

1. Download the correct firmware for Redmi Note 8T (willow code) from MIUI Downloads. Choose Recovery ROM (not Fastboot!).

2. Rename the file to update.zip (required!) and place it in the root of internal memory (not in folders!).

3. Turn off the phone, then press Volume Up + Power to enter Recovery.

4. From the Recovery menu, select the language (if there is an option), then:

Install update.zip to System One


→ Select the file update.zip




→ Confirm installation

5. Once completed, select Reboot to System.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone has been stuck on the Mi logo for more than 10 minutes after the Recovery update, don't turn it off. Wait 20 to 30 minutes - the first download after the update can take a long time. If the screen is out, press the power for 15 seconds for a forced reboot.

Method 3: Update via Fastboot (for experienced)

This method is suitable if:

• 🔧 You want to completely reflash your phone (for example, after a crash).
• 🔓 You have unlocked the bootloader (bootloader).
• 📦 You need to install custom firmware (for example, Pixel Experience).

For Redmi Note 8T, unlocking the bootloader erases all data and requires binding the Mi Account. Without this, Fastboot firmware is impossible.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/Linux and installed drivers ADB/Fastboot.
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 📄 Firmware in.tgz format (for Fastboot) from Xiaomi website.
• 🔧 MiFlash utility (download here).

Instructions:

1. Unpack the firmware.tgz in a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\MIUI\willow).
2. Turn off the phone and press Volume Down + Power to enter the Fastboot (Rabbit Screen).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and start MiFlash.
4. In the program, click Select, specify the folder with the firmware, then Refresh (should appear). COM-port).
5. Select Clean All or Clean All and Lock (if you want to lock the bootloader after you have been firmware).
6. Press Flash and wait until it is completed (10-15 minutes).

5. Solving common mistakes

Even with the right actions, the update can go wrong, and let's look at the typical problems and their solutions.

If Google services are missing after the update (for example, after installing Chinese firmware), download the Google Apps (GApps) package for your Android version from the OpenGApps site and install it via TWRP.

💡

Before installing custom firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu), be sure to unlock the bootloader and make a backup of the persist partition - otherwise you will lose IMEI and mobile network!

6. How to upgrade Redmi Note 8T to Android 13/14 (unofficially)

The Redmi Note 8T doesn’t officially get Android 13, but there are two ways to upgrade:

1. Xiaomi.eu is an unofficial firmware with support for Android 13, but without data encryption.
2. Custom ROMs (e.g. Pixel Experience, LineageOS) – require an unlocked bootloader and TWRP installation.

Instructions for Xiaomi.eu:

1. Download the latest version from the forum (see Willow).
2. Install TWRP via Fastboot: fastboot flash recovery twrp.img fastboot boot twrp.img
3. In TWRP, make Wipe → Format Data (enter yes).
4. Install Xiaomi.eu and GApps (if you need Google services).

⚠️ Note: Unofficial firmware may contain bugs, such as: - Does not work NFC - The camera can brake without patches for GCam. - Banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff) refuse to work due to the lack of Google certification.

7. Frequent questions after update

8.Conclusion: Which mode of updating to choose?

So let's summarize:

• 🔄 OTA — The easiest way, but not always available.
• 📦 Recovery – a universal method for official firmware.
• ⚡ Fastboot – for experienced users or after crashes.
• 🛠️ Castom firmware - if you want Android 13/14, but require unlocking.

If your Redmi Note 8T is stable and the new MIUI version doesn’t bring any critical improvements, take your time to update. Sometimes fresh builds contain bugs that Xiaomi doesn’t fix until weeks later.

💡

Before any update, check out reviews on forums (such as 4PDA or Xiaomi.eu) where users share experiences and warn about problems.