Xiaomi Mi 8 SE is the iconic smartphone with Snapdragon 710 processor, which is still popular due to its compact size and performance. However, over time, support for official MIUI updates for this model is discontinued, and users face the need for manual updates. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to update firmware on the Mi 8 SE – from standard OTA to custom builds.
It is important to understand that the upgrade process depends on the current version of MIUI, bootloader status and even the region of the device. We will take a detailed look at each method, point out possible risks and give recommendations for preparation. If your Mi 8 SE has not received updates for a long time or is unstable, this guide will help to restore it to the current time.
1. Update Preparation: What to Do Before Firmware
Before you start updating MIUI, there are a few critical steps that need to be taken, and neglecting them can lead to a device blink (complete failure) or data loss, starting with checking the current firmware version and the bootloader status.
Open Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. Write down the full build name (e.g. MIUI Global 12.5.3 Stable). This will help you choose the right file to update. Also check bootloader status:
- 🔒 Locked bootloader: standard status for most devices, allows you to install only official firmware via Recovery or Fastboot.
- 🔓 Unlocked bootloader: required to install custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS or Pixel Experience).
Next, you must follow the following steps:
Backup data via Mi Cloud or locally | Check battery power (minimum 60%) | Download the correct firmware version for your model (codename sirius) | Connect your device to stable Wi-Fi (for OTA) | Make sure there is enough free space on your phone (minimum 3GB)
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If you are upgrading from a very old version of MIUI (e.g. 10 or 11), it is recommended to use the Fastboot method – it is more reliable than OTA for large version jumps.
Pay special attention to backup. Use the built-in Settings feature → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local backup or third-party applications like Swift Backup (requires root). On the Mi 8 SE with the unlocked bootloader, the backup via TWRP saves even application data, but takes up significantly more space.
Method 1: Air Update (OTA)
The easiest and safest method is an air-to-air update (OTA), which is suitable if your device has already received official updates before and does not have modified firmware, which takes 10 to 30 minutes and does not require a connection to a PC.
Step instructions:
- Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
- Press the Check Updates button. If the update is available, the system will prompt you to download it.
- Confirm the download and wait for it to complete (the weight of the file is usually 1.5-2.5 GB).
- After downloading, click Reboot and install.
If the update is not available, the following reasons are possible:
- 🌍 Your region is not supported (for example, Chinese firmware on a global device).
- ⏳ Xiaomi servers are temporarily unavailable (try it later).
- 🔧 Device modified (Magisk installed, system files modified).
Once a month (check regularly)|Only when critical bugs appear |Never update - everything works |Install custom firmware-->
If OTA-Update is not available, but you are sure it should be, try changing the firmware region through Settings → Additionally. → Region (e.g. Russia to Global) After changing region, restart your device and check for updates again.
What to do if OTA-Update is suspended during the installation phase?
Method 2: Update via Recovery (manual installation)
If OTA is not available or you want to install a specific version of MIUI, you can use manual installation via Recovery, which is suitable for official firmware in.zip format and does not require unlocking the bootloader.
First, download the necessary firmware from the official Xiaomi website:
- 🔗 For the global version: https://new.c.mi.com/global/miuidownload/index
- 🔗 For the Chinese version: https://new.c.mi.com/miuidownload/index
Select the Mi 8 SE (codename sirius) and download the latest stable version (Stable) or weekly (Developer).
Follow the instructions:
- Place the downloaded.zip file in the root directory of internal memory (not in the folder!).
- Turn off your phone and press the power button + volume up to enter Recovery.
- Select the language (if required), then go to Install update.zip to System.
- Confirm the installation and wait until the process is completed (usually 5-10 minutes).
- After successful installation, select Reboot → System.
If Recovery does not have Install update.zip, your device has custom recoveries (e.g. TWRP).
- Choose Install.
- Find the downloaded.zip file and confirm the installation.
- After completion, run the Wipe → Wipe Cache/Dalvik and reboot.
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Installation via Recovery saves user data, but can reset some settings (such as fingerprints or a pattern lock).
| Type of firmware | Is it good for Recovery? | Do you need unlocking? | Are the data stored? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official Stable (Stable) | Yes. | No. | Yes. |
| Official Weekly (Developer) | Yes. | No. | Yes. |
| Castomic (e.g. LineageOS) | Only through TWRP. | Yes. | No (total reset needed) |
| Port from another device | No. | Yes. | Risk of a brick |
Method 3: Update via Fastboot (for power users)
The Fastboot method is the most reliable way to flash the Mi 8 SE if other options don't work.
- 🔄 Recovery of the device after failure.
- 📥 Installation of firmware with a large jump in versions (for example, with MIUI 10. MIUI 14).
- 🔧 Correction of errors related to damage to system files.
This method will require:
- 💻 Computer with Xiaomi drivers installed and Mi Flash Tool.
- 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (preferably original).
- 📄 Firmware in.tgz or.zip format for Fastboot.
Step-by-step:
- Download the Mi Flash Tool from Xiaomi’s official website and install it on your PC.
- Unpack the archive with firmware in a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\Mi8SE_fastboot).
- Turn off the phone and press the power button + volume down to enter Fastboot mode (the image of a hare in a hat-eared will appear).
- Connect the device to your PC. In the Mi Flash Tool, press Refresh, it should appear. COM-port.
- Select the folder with the unpacked firmware and click Flash. At the bottom, select the mode: Clean all – complete clean (recommended when changing the version of MIUI), Clean all and lock – clean + lock the bootloader (only for official firmware!), Save user data – data storage (not always stable).
Wait for the process to be completed (usually 5-15 minutes) and the phone will reboot automatically.
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If the Mi Flash Tool gives a critical partition flashing error is not allowed, then your bootloader is locked and the firmware is not intended for your region, EEA Global instead).
⚠️ Warning: Using Clean all and lock mode on a device with an unlocked bootloader and custom firmware will lead to a blink. In this case, you will need to re-unblock through the Mi Unlock Tool.
5. Solving common errors in the update
When updating MIUI to Mi 8 SE, users often face typical problems, and consider the most common ones and how to fix them.
| Mistake. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Couldn't verify update (in Recovery) | A damaged firmware file or version mismatches. | Download the firmware again and check the checksum (MD5). |
| This package is for "sirius" devices; this is a "" | The firmware is not intended for Mi 8 SE (codename sirius). | Download the firmware for sirius, not for Mi 8 (dipper). |
| Hanging on the MI logo after the update | Version conflict or damage to system files. | Recovery via Recovery (Wipe data) or scroll through Fastboot. |
| Anti-rollback check (in Fastboot) | Trying to install an older version of MIUI than the current one. | Find firmware with a newer build date or use the Anti-Rollback Patch (for power users). |
If the device does not turn on or boots into an infinite loop after the upgrade, try the following:
- Go to Recovery and do Wipe data.
- If that doesn’t work, run your device through Fastboot with a Clean All mode selection.
- Custom firmware may require re-installation of TWRP and kernel.
To install custom firmware will require:
- Unlock the bootloader via Mi Unlock Tool (the process takes up to 720 hours of waiting for new Xiaomi accounts).
- Install custom TWRP recavers (the version should support sirius).
- Complete reset (Wipe System, Data, Cache, Dalvik) before installation.
- Swipe the firmware and then GApps (if they are not included in the build).
Examples of stable builds for the Mi 8 SE (check the relevance on the XDA Developers or 4PDA forums):
- 🔹 LineageOS 20 (Android 13) – Link to the thread.
- 🔹 Pixel Experience 13 – Link to the thread.
- 🔹 MIUI 14 by Xiaomi.eu - link to the thread.
⚠️ Attention: Castom firmware may contain bugs that affect the operation of the camera, module NFC Before installing, check user reviews on forums and back up. EFS (file IMEI and modem data).
7.Optimizing after the update: what to do first
After a successful MIUI update or custom firmware installation, it is recommended to follow several steps to ensure stable operation of the device:
- Cache reset: Go to Recovery and select Wipe → Wipe Cache. This will help avoid lags.
- Disable unnecessary services: In Settings → Applications → Application Management, disable auto-run for unnecessary system applications (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music).
- Battery setting: Activate Charge Saving mode and turn off background activity for social media.
- Check security updates: In custom firmware, updates come through Settings → System → System Update.
If you have performance issues after the update, try:
- 🔄 Perform soft reset (reboot via Settings) → Additionally. → Reboot).
- 🧹 Clear the data of the Google Play Services application (Settings) → Annexes → All applications → Google Play Services → Warehouse → Clear the data).
- 📉 Reverse the settings to factory (if the problem is critical).
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Once you have custom firmware installed, be sure to check the basic features: camera, mobile network, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. If something doesn't work, look for patches or alternative builds.